Solar Cooking Tips - How to
The Global Sun Oven is very easy to use for a huge range of foods and locations. You will find it easy to master this skill!
Here are a few tips to help you get even more out of your Solar Cooker!:
Your New Sun Oven
First of all Congratulations!!
This new device will serve you faithfully for years if you treat it right. Soon you will be enjoying the Sun-Cooked benefits of the Sun Oven!
First - be sure to remove all of the protective plastic from the reflectors. Fold out the reflectors and secure them in place by turning the locking tab at the bottom.
Now install the self levelling base inside the oven. This is simply a tray that fits over the two bolts that can be seen at either side of the cooking chamber.
Next make sure there is nothing in the oven, close the glass door and secure the latch.
Point the oven to the sun. Stand behind the Sun Oven and move left or right until it is pointing at the sun. If needed, raise the built in leg to ensure the Sun Oven is pointing directly at the sun.
Leave until it reaches cooking temperature & allow it to remain there for a period before putting any food in.
This first - time cooking while empty is not needed from now on. Just point & Shoot :)
This new device will serve you faithfully for years if you treat it right. Soon you will be enjoying the Sun-Cooked benefits of the Sun Oven!
First - be sure to remove all of the protective plastic from the reflectors. Fold out the reflectors and secure them in place by turning the locking tab at the bottom.
Now install the self levelling base inside the oven. This is simply a tray that fits over the two bolts that can be seen at either side of the cooking chamber.
Next make sure there is nothing in the oven, close the glass door and secure the latch.
Point the oven to the sun. Stand behind the Sun Oven and move left or right until it is pointing at the sun. If needed, raise the built in leg to ensure the Sun Oven is pointing directly at the sun.
Leave until it reaches cooking temperature & allow it to remain there for a period before putting any food in.
This first - time cooking while empty is not needed from now on. Just point & Shoot :)
General Cooking Tips - How to Get good results
In general Solar Cooking with the Sun Oven is very easy and logical - these tips are just to help you refine or for those who might not find it logical.
Recipes - Nearly any recipe can be used - the only thing that is normally different is the cooking time. In general we add 10 - 15% on to the time quoted in a recipe. In days of partial / light cloud cooking times will increase. It is not recommended to use the Sun Oven although it may be ok for drying / low temperature tasks.
Cookware - Again nearly anything can be used - but dark pots with lids work best
Temperature - Face directly to the sun (eliminating all shadows) for highest heat. To regulate or lower this, turn the oven away from the sun slightly.
Unless using for a low heat application, pre-heat the Sun Oven before putting food inside.
Gloves - WARNING! The inside of the oven gets hot! Do NOT pick up pots without heat protection after cooking. As with any oven - beware of heat / steam when opening the door.
Steam - Generally, steam on the inside of the lid indicates the food is ready. If you are boiling water or similar this steam will reduce the temperature of the oven. Cover to avoid this or open the lid of the Sun Oven slightly.
Browning - If you have cooked a roast etc in a covered dish or pot with a lid, you may want to cook for a while at the end to crisp it up.
Remember if you keep opening the lid, the oven will cool down & cooking time will increase.
Ready for a time - If you want food ready sometime away, face the Sun Oven to point to where the sun will be when it needs to be cooked. ie If you go to work in the morning & want your food ready for when you come home at night - point the SunOven to where the sun will be in the afternoon. The food will then be cooked in the afternoon before sun down, and stay hot for when you return home!
Recipes - Nearly any recipe can be used - the only thing that is normally different is the cooking time. In general we add 10 - 15% on to the time quoted in a recipe. In days of partial / light cloud cooking times will increase. It is not recommended to use the Sun Oven although it may be ok for drying / low temperature tasks.
Cookware - Again nearly anything can be used - but dark pots with lids work best
Temperature - Face directly to the sun (eliminating all shadows) for highest heat. To regulate or lower this, turn the oven away from the sun slightly.
Unless using for a low heat application, pre-heat the Sun Oven before putting food inside.
Gloves - WARNING! The inside of the oven gets hot! Do NOT pick up pots without heat protection after cooking. As with any oven - beware of heat / steam when opening the door.
Steam - Generally, steam on the inside of the lid indicates the food is ready. If you are boiling water or similar this steam will reduce the temperature of the oven. Cover to avoid this or open the lid of the Sun Oven slightly.
Browning - If you have cooked a roast etc in a covered dish or pot with a lid, you may want to cook for a while at the end to crisp it up.
Remember if you keep opening the lid, the oven will cool down & cooking time will increase.
Ready for a time - If you want food ready sometime away, face the Sun Oven to point to where the sun will be when it needs to be cooked. ie If you go to work in the morning & want your food ready for when you come home at night - point the SunOven to where the sun will be in the afternoon. The food will then be cooked in the afternoon before sun down, and stay hot for when you return home!
Specific Cooking Techniques - How to Get even better Results!
How to Cook Curries - well to be honest this is not a tip - it's pretty much do whatever & it will work great. From sloppy Vindaloo to a dry Rendang, the Sun Oven will give great results! With curries you can attain even more flavor by cooking slowly over a longer period - turn the Sun Oven away from the sun to lower the temperature.
How to Get Great Roasts - If using the Roasting Dish a roast is very easy. Either with a lid or with-out you will get great results. Experiment to achieve the results you like. Some people like dryer more crispy meat (lid off) others (like myself), like juicier meat (lid on).
Baking Breads / Cakes - Pre-heating the oven is important for baking breads. If you find that you leave the door open for too long or the temperature drops too much, allow it to heat up before putting the bread in. You may find it easier to put in a heat pad (a ceramic like stone that warms up as the oven gets hot). These can be helpful in gas / elec ovens as well. They are cheaper & can also be used to keep dishes hot for longer when serving.
Drying Fruit / Leather - leave the glass door open & cover the opening with the fly screen food cover (sold separately). The temperature can be regulated as per normal and air flow will allow the leather to dry over the course of 6-10 hours depending on the density and thickness of your fruit. Our trials have led to much better results than commercial dryers that take 10 - 16 hours & use a LOT of electricity.
How to Get Great Roasts - If using the Roasting Dish a roast is very easy. Either with a lid or with-out you will get great results. Experiment to achieve the results you like. Some people like dryer more crispy meat (lid off) others (like myself), like juicier meat (lid on).
Baking Breads / Cakes - Pre-heating the oven is important for baking breads. If you find that you leave the door open for too long or the temperature drops too much, allow it to heat up before putting the bread in. You may find it easier to put in a heat pad (a ceramic like stone that warms up as the oven gets hot). These can be helpful in gas / elec ovens as well. They are cheaper & can also be used to keep dishes hot for longer when serving.
Drying Fruit / Leather - leave the glass door open & cover the opening with the fly screen food cover (sold separately). The temperature can be regulated as per normal and air flow will allow the leather to dry over the course of 6-10 hours depending on the density and thickness of your fruit. Our trials have led to much better results than commercial dryers that take 10 - 16 hours & use a LOT of electricity.
If you find anything missing here - please let us know!