My husband and I recently went to a Self Reliance Expo and I bought a sun oven. You have the initial cost of it but after now I can cook using solar power every day and save the cost of using my regular oven, plus, in summer, I don't heat the house so the A/C works harder.

So far, I've cooked all types of soups, a chicken and veggie dinner, bread, muffins, beets and I've dehydrated a pile of spinach in it.

It doesn't have to be warm out, only bright, so even in winter, you could use it. I really love it!

Awesome!

What do you do when the sun is not out?

As long as it's bright out, the oven will work. I haven't tested it yet to see how sunny it actually has to be but I guess I'll find out as it gets toward winter.

If you can, we would love to hear how it all works out for you. No pressure to do this as I know how busy our lives can be.

I'll try to do a follow up during the winter. Today, for instance, it is rainy and cloudy. I guess as far as home preparedness, you need several methods to cook just in case.

Yes, I agree and I guess that is why I have been slow in getting anything solar, but I still have an interest.

Thanks for the update

BoomerGal, does your solar oven have a temperature gauge inside? How cold can it be outside before you can't use it?

[quote=BoomerGal]As long as it's bright out, the oven will work. I haven't tested it yet to see how sunny it actually has to be but I guess I'll find out as it gets toward winter. [/quote] So you mean you cannot cook in the evening?

Lisa, yes there is a temperature gauge. You set it out to preheat and the temps get up to about 350 usually. You can put a frozen chicken into the oven in the morning and it will cook all day and never burn. You can then take it out in the evening for dinner.

It doesn't matter how cold it is outside, it just has to be bright so you can cook in the winter on a sunny or bright day.

I cooked a chicken starting in the morning, then added a pot of veggies about mid day as they don't take as long to cook. You can cook several things at once, yet they are all done at the same time and not ever dried out or burned.

Freddie, you can't cook in the evening if the sun isn't out or it isn't bright outside but I put my meals in about mid-day and take them out at dinner time. I live in Texas so we have long daylight.

When the days get much shorter, I can cook the meal, take it out and reheat at dinner time, I guess.

BoomerGal:

How do you keep it from not being stolen while you are away or do you stay home when using it?

I am presuming it is outside?

Thanks,