Solar cooker

Summer’s here, which means easy livin’. 

What makes summer so easy?  Not just because it’s hot, but also because it’s barbecue season – which means far, far less dishes to clean.  But can you barbecue without actually having a barbecue?

Yes, you can – provided you like projects.  Solar cooking is gaining in popularity, and why not?  It combines the delicious outdoor flavour of barbecuing with the environmentally-friendly aspect of zero emissions. 

Some solar cookers are recognizably industrial-grade appliances – just like your BBQ.  But where’s the fun in that?  Planet Green shows how you can build your own with aluminum foil and an umbrella.  Yes, an umbrella – what else were you using it for in the summer?

Sure, you also need some tools, as well as glue, a tripod and sunglasses.  You also need time, steady hands and patience.  That comes with the territory when you’re playing eco-MacGyver, and nobody could fail to be impressed with a homemade solar cooker.

Solar cooking, it’s worth noting, is different than barbecue and (especially) baking.  Temperatures don’t get anywhere near as hot in a solar cooker; pizzas or anything you want browned aren’t really a good idea.  But solar cooking doesn’t have to be about sacrifice. 

There are some advantages.  No air circulation and the relatively low temperatures are great for dishes you want to keep moist – and unburned.  Think of solar cookers as outdoor crockpots. Just like crockpots, they work best over a long period of time, and produce tender, succulent flavours.

Plus, they look cool.  Where can you go wrong?