Farnsworth letter: Solar ovens

I have used my solar oven for many years. It sits on my desk, on a table just outside my kitchen door. It weighs 20 pounds, has a handle and is easy to transport. It is a box with a black interior, has four wings made from bright aluminum to transport the sun for cooking. It also contains a thermometer just inside the box. I position it for maximum sun and use dark pans for the food to be cooked. I can cook anything that I can cook in my regular oven. There is no need to stir food. It travels well in a car or camper. If you are traveling by bike, you may want to use a “Back Pack” miniature solar oven. These are made with cardboard and aluminum foil. The pattern is available at your extension office. Ask for the 4-H project called “Outdoor Cooking” on page 11. These small ovens will only reach 275 degrees, making them useful for limited cooking. However, they do prevent forest fires in restricted areas as do the larger ovens. Become a solar oven user. You can build your own oven or purchase it online from Sun Oven Inc.

This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Farnsworth letter: Solar ovens."