Global Sun Ovens

[KF7EEC]

Have you guys ever used a Global Sun Oven. I'm thinking about getting one and wanted you guys thoughts, good deals, etc.

Thanks!

[thermocouple]

Michael, I've never heard of a "Global Sun Oven". Basically a solar oven? Post some details, sounds interesting.

[KF7EEC]

Yeah its a solar oven.

Here is the maker: http://www.sunoven.com

Here are a couple of companies who sell it.
http://www.terrasano.net/sunoven.html

http://shop.solardirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_81&products_id=65

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/IndividualItemPages/SunOven.html

http://www.solarovens.net/

[DMGNUT]

I've never used mine, but as I live in AZ (about the best place I can imagine to have and use one of these), I picked one up after seeing it used at an Emergency Preparedness Fair. Free fuel is hard to pass up.
If you have a limited budget, there are a few sites on line that offer detailed instructions for building your own from basically card board and foil.

[KF7EEC]

I've never used mine, but as I live in AZ (about the best place I can imagine to have and use one of these), I picked one up after seeing it used at an Emergency Preparedness Fair. Free fuel is hard to pass up.
If you have a limited budget, there are a few sites on line that offer detailed instructions for building your own from basically card board and foil.


Yeah, I figured Vegas was a great place for one too. I've seen some of the plans and I don't know if I'm just being lazy or what, but I'm not very interested in making one! :)

I haven't seen a presentation on them yet. I take it you were impressed from the Emergency Preparedness Fair since you purchased one. It's too bad you haven't used yours as I'd like to know how well it works "real world".

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it!

[phylm]

I would like to know of any sites you might have that give instruction on making solar ovens. Going to check out Michael Cox's Solar Oven sites. Thanks.

[KF7EEC]

I would like to know of any sites you might have that give instruction on making solar ovens. Going to check out Michael Cox's Solar Oven sites. Thanks.


here is one that I found: http://solarcooking.org/plans/funnel.htm

again, I haven't made one, so I don't know if its any good or not. I was at a store today in St George, UT that sells Food Storage, Paintballs, and Violins :). They sell the Global Sun Oven and the owners said they have one and they like it. I didn't get one today, although I did think about it.

[phylm]

Thank you so much for the solar oven-making site. It is just what I was looking for! :wink5:

[bokbadok]

I made a solar cooker out of cardboard boxes last year. It worked fine -- it simmered water -- except that it wasn't heavy enough to stay put if the wind came up. Especially with reflectors on - they act like sails. I am planning to get it out again and refine some features and figure out a way to make it more stable and wind resistant.

I'm considering making a larger, more weatherproof box from plywood with a double pane glass window and a rear access door. Having something I can leave outside without worry that the rain will melt it would make it more convenient and require less babysitting. Must think on that more.

I went to the local D.I and bought enamel pots with lids - one came in navy blue, but the other was white and needed black paint to make it oven worthy. You could also use a small cast iron dutch oven if your solar oven is large enough.

As for the Global Sun Oven - I am skeptical that it can achieve temperatures of 360 to 400 F. If anyone can confirm that from experience, I'd love to hear it.

[kamoil]

I have a Global Sun Oven and Love it!!!

I purchased mine from http://www.thesolarcook.com . There are videos to watch on how to use it and all sorts of instructions.

Wendy Dewitt used to be the AZ regional preparedness person. She created a instruction/cookbook that uses the Global Sun Oven. Although, she said you can use any other sun oven with the recipes. I have attached her booklet! She always said to give it out freely!

I use mine alot! It keeps the food very moist!! I have cooked anything from a roast dinner to brownies!! I will put a roast in before church and it will be ready when I get home. The best part is, I don't have to heat up the house!! And in AZ, that's important!!

I chose the Global because it had the panels and the box with a glass door. You can purchase just a box oven or just a funnel oven. This was the best of both worlds. It has a handle and a latch to lock the panels down for easy carry. It is a solid peice of equipment.

Wow, I sound like a salesman...but I just really like it!

I hope this helps,
Kam:l0 (17):

[DMGNUT]

Here's a good site for a "home made" oven that functions on very little charcoal. I had a good site for a solar oven too, but it's not working now.

http://www.lilieslane.com/Resources/Preparedness/Applebox_oven.html

The Global Solar Oven that I saw at the Preparedness Fair was running at 325F and they were baking chocolate chip cookies in it.

[jewelbeth]

I have used the Global Sun Oven. I live in FL, so plenty of sunshine, when the wild fires aren't burning. I baked the slice and bake cookies the first time in the oven. Figured it would take longer in the solar oven, so cooked them for about 30 minutes. I was chipping them out of the pan and pieces were flying across the kitchen. Note, do not over bake cookies, projectile cookie pieces will be the result. After the cookies I baked 2 BEAUTIFUL loaves of bread. They were perfect! The ovens are a little pricey, but well worth the money. I will be using one now that electricity prices are going up due to gas increases and also to keep the house cooler in the summer since I don't have to turn on the oven.

[DMGNUT]

When I purchased mine, the makers were applying a portion of the money to make and donate solar ovens (large village size ones) to desert regions of Africa where there is basically no fuel for cooking. I don't know if they still do this or not, but that's how I justified paying the slightly elevated price.

[bokbadok]

I bought one today, from the solarcook.com. She had the best price, postage included of all the sites I found. I'll let you know how the experiments go.

[KF7EEC]

My wife & mother together purchased one for me for my birthday. I've cooked a few things in it so far and its worked well. I need to use it more, but so far, so good.

[bokbadok]

So my Global Sun Oven arrived this afternoon. Any suggestions as to what I should cook first?

[KF7EEC]

So my Global Sun Oven arrived this afternoon. Any suggestions as to what I should cook first?

I haven't made much yet, but the first 2 things I made were hotdogs and chilli.

http://michael.coxfam.org/index.php/2008/04/13/sun-oven-cooking/

[bokbadok]

I attempted Jiffy Muffin mix. I used paper liners in a 6-cup dark muffin pan. They rose, collapsed, and finally were finished 40 minutes after putting them in the oven (it was 350 degrees). I think perhaps next time I'l try cooking them covered by a dark pan to speed up the cooking time and hopefully avoid the collapsing event. They tasted yummy, though.

[Earthling]

I notice Camp Chef has come out with a propane camp oven with 2 burner stove top. Does anyone know if it is any good?

http://www.campchef.com/catalog/item//0/0/C-OVEN/256/Outdoor+Camp+Oven+2+Burner+Range+and+Stove.html

[DMGNUT]

I've never seen (or even knew Camp Chef had) an oven, but I have 2 of their stoves (a 3 burner and a 2 burner), and I'm pleased with their quality.
Personally, I went with a Butterfly oven, which is basically a double walled box that can be set on top of any stove burner to create an oven. Cost is only about $50. I like that I can use it on my Kerosene stove or my Volcano stove. I haven't even used it yet, as it's just more of a back-up to my dutch ovens.
The only draw back I can see to this Camp Chef oven, is if you're gona use it for emergency situations. It's easier and safer to store quantities of kerosene, mineral spirits, charcoal, etc., then to have a bunch of LP bottles. Admittedly, I do have quite a few LP bottles and camp stoves, but they're more for family outings and scouting activities, as opposed to being my primary goto items in an emergency.
They do make for another great back-up system though, if I ever actually needed them for such.