Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the show segmentWith all the sunshine here in Arizona, solar cooking seems like a perfect fit!
Our sunshine is some of the best in the country and the dry air helps heat the air faster according to Jackie Harsha, author of
Heaven Sent Food-a guide to solar cooking.
People can cook anywhere there is sunshine, whether it is a patio, a yard, a tailgate, or a balcony, says Harsha.
So how much does solar cooking cost? Is it safe? Where can you get an oven? Harsha answered these questions and more on Sonoran Living:
Q: How can you reduce carbon footprint by using solar cooking in Arizona?A: The sun is abundant here and food cooked in solar ovens or cookers is delicious. People can cook anywhere there is sunshine.
Some companies are letting their employees cook their lunches on the patios at work.
Some people cook their weekly meals on weekends when the sun is shining. For every $1 people spend on cooking energy, they spend $2 on cooling their houses down in the summer here.
Q: How much does it cost to get a solar cooker or oven?A: It can be very inexpensive. People can make their own or buy one commercially made. Prices vary from $25 to $300.
People can make one using cardboard, aluminum foil, glue, and cooking bags.
Q: Is solar cooking safe?A: Yes. The temperatures in the ovens exceed 200F and some get as hot as 400F here in the Valley. Parabolic cookers cook quickly and are very hot.
They should be used with care around children and pets. (I don't have one to use in the demo. Parabolics can burn wood quickly at their focal points.)
Q: How does the food taste?A: Great. The even heat brings up the natural sweetness in all foods, so you can use less sugar and fat to have delicious food.
Solar cooking uses a bit less liquid, too. Corn on the cob is extraordinary, as is chicken, peaches, apricots, apples, and wheat breads. Almost everything tastes better cooked using sunshine.
People start preferring the taste of solar cooked food, too, and are less likely to go out to eat instead of heating up their homes, which is usually a healthier alternative, says Harsha.
Q:Where can I learn more about solar cooking?A: A good place to learn about how solar cooking benefits everyone is
SolarCooking.wikia.com.
This site is a nonprofit that promotes solar cooking world-wide and also in the US.
The cookbook,
Heaven Sent Food-a guide to solar cooking also has many delicious recipes for the experienced and novice cook.
