KSol & Sun Cook: Cook With The Sun
by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires on 06.20.05
At the Terra Foundation website (remember the Horturba table?) we found two interesting alternatives to take advantage of the solar heat to cook outdoors without electricity or gas expenses, and reducing smoke emissions.
First, the parabolic solar kitchen KSol is a panel similar to a television antenna that concentrates solar light in the center of it (see sample in the extended). It comes in two models which have a diameter of 1 and 1,4m respectively, are equivalent to a 600 and 300 W power, and can reach a maximum temperature of 200 degrees Celsius...
It looks a bit uncomfortable, but it can be worth giving it a chance. With the smallest model, you can obtain enough heat to prepare coffee for 6 people in 10 minutes. Their prices are 98 and 153 euros, without including shipping.
On the other hand, Sun Cook is a device close to a grill that redirects solar rays towards the center by a series of aluminum mirrors. We have to say it could be made in a more eco material, since some of its parts are plastic, but it looks like a greener alternative to making lots of smoke. The oven is 59 cm deep, 57 cm long and 28 cm high when closed. It can reach temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius, which would allow you to cook for up to 6 people. Plus, it's possible to bake without the need to be present controlling it. Its price, without shipping, is 210 euros. ::Terra Foundation
The whole 'cooking food with a parabolic dish' idea has been around for ages. We cooked hot dogs as a school science project this way when I was about 12 or 13. I'm sure it was around a long long time before that.
It's not about it being a breakthrough idea, but a commercial product that puts it to use..
I believe some groups were handing out something similar to women in impovershed Africa with amazing results.
It's being done in Central America as well:
http://www.solaroven.org/
Best book on solar history is _A Golden Thread_ by John Perlin and Ken Butti. Probably out of print but well worth looking at in a library.
Parabolic troughs as well as parabolic dishes can cook. In a pinch you can make a solar oven with a cardboard box, tin foil, and an oven bag.
I just bought a sun cook in New Zealand (on clearance for $299 NZ) and it seems great! It comes with a reciepe book which says that while a dinner will take about 2 hours to cook, it isn't costing or polluting anyone! My kids are excited and I feel independant!