1/ What conditions must be met to cook with the SolarCooker?

• Clear Blue sky 
 – Correct position of the sun to get optimal irradiation
• Proper structure and position of the SolarCooker
• Appropriate choice of dish
 – Dark colored or black pot

2/ Will the outside of the SolarCooker become hot?

No. The oven can easily be touched and turned without risk of burns. Therefore it is also safe in the presence of children playing in the garden.

3/ It is beyond 30 ° C and still my SolarCooker doesn’t work properly.

The ambient temperature is not a prerequisite. What you really need is a clear blue sky for optimal solar radiation.

4/ How do I know if the SolarCooker is in the right position?

The SolarCooker should aim at an optimum angle to the sun. A useful trick is this: on the back of the black panel you will see the reflection of a crescent from angle to angle. If the black plate immediately glows, your position is also correct.

5/ Why should I sometimes turn the SolarCooker?

For the cooking area around the black plate to remain warm, you always need the proper radiation. Rotating with the sun every half an hour is plenty enough.

6/ When can you cook with the sun?

When the basic conditions are met you can cook with the SolarCooker (see 1). In theory in Western & Southern Europe solar cooking is possible from april till september – between 10 am and 17 pm – depending on the season.

7/ Can I cook when there is wind?

A summer breeze can not hurt, but put your SolarCooker in a sheltered place. The wind cools off your baking tray and container and efficiency diminishes.

8/ Why are there different levels possible for the baking tray?

Regardless how warm it is, you’re still depending on the position of the sun. For example, the position of the sun in Belgium and the Netherlands is quite different than in southern Europe or Africa. Therefore, it ‘s possible to change the baking tray in height. For Belgium and the Netherlands, you can always use the highest position.

9/ What different dishes can I cook?

The SolarCooker is ideal for making soups, casseroles, stews, tajines, spaghetti, sauces, tea and coffee . If the sun is high in the sky, you can bake meat or fish. Making a cake and bread can succeed but requires some solar cooking experience. Cover the top with some aluminum foil to avoid burning.

10/ Why is my food burning on a point ?

It has to do with the position of the sun in spring and the amount of radiation that is currently too fierce. At that moment, there is a central focal point instead of a cooking zone. That moment is of short duration. One solution is to cover the top with some aluminum foil.

11/ What can you not cook in the SolarCooker?

Remember that the SolarCooker works like an oven by definition and is ideal for cooking casseroles to prepare. For grilling, you need a special grill. Pancakes are not oven made and therefore not suitable for the SolarCooker.

12/ For how many people can I cook with the SolarCooker?

Expect a maximum of 8 persons.

13/ Can I cook several dishes simultaneously with the SolarCooker?

Yes. It works if you pile up two pots above each other so two meals will warm and be ready at once .

14/ How long does it take to prepare a dish?

That depends on the conditions (see 1): position of the sun, the wind, the brightness of the sky and the season. Usually you can count on 20 minutes to boil one liter of water. Preparing a pot of soup of 3 liters will take about one hour.

15/ Why is a black cooking pot ideal?

Black or dark-colored containers are ideal to absorb and retain the heat. The cover can be made in glass, but do not forget to cover a handle out of plastic or wood with aluminum foil or it could melt.

16/ Why should you not use a shiny aluminum pan?

Shiny pans are not suitable because they reflect the light and therefore will not hold the heat.

17/ Why do I have to cover the handle of the lid?

If the handle is made of wood or plastic cover them with some foil. This avoids that they may melt by the heat. The handle of a pan does’nt need to be done because it is not in the cooking zone and therefore is not exposed to high temperatures.

18/ Why can I not leave the SolarCooker unused in the sun?

In optimal solar radiation, the metal plate furnace could overheat and become distorted if there is no pot on it. If you are not using the oven, always turn it away from the sun.

19/ How shall I clean my SolarCooker?

Put your SolarCooker out of the sun before you clean it. Make it clean with a damp soft cloth with some dishwash stuff on it.

20/ I don’t manage to boil my water in the pot .

Check whether there is sufficient solar radiation and the sky is bright blue colored. Understand that the hours vary from day to day to achieve a quick result. Check again all the conditions. Is your furnace properly positioned towards the sun? Is the black baking sheet fitted correctly? The broad side must be to the rear.

21/ What to do if the black cooker begins to smoke?

When first using the SolarCooker, often some paint down the plate burns off. This is normal, so do not worry. When the sun is directly above the plate, you will obtain a high temperature. Therefore, never leave the hob behind uncovered. Turn him away from the sun or always put on a pot.