Additional information
| Brand | SolCook |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 9 Quarts |
| Product Dimensions | 12"D x 17"W x 24"H |
| Power Source | Solar Powered |
| Product Care Instructions | Wipe with Damp Cloth |
| color | Sunny Yellow |
| Special Feature | Portable |
| Material | Corrugated Polypropylene, reflective film, wood |
| Item Weight | 3 pounds |
| Wattage | 1.5 KW |
| Included Components | Folding rack |
| Style | Modern |
| Voltage | 220 Volts |
| Manufacturer | SolCook LLC |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Date First Available | September 10, 2020 |
Angela boatwright –
After spending time looking at reviews of different sun cookers, I went with this one and love it. It went together easily following the YouTube tutorial (although good instructions do come with it). Instead of trying rice for the first time, I did chicken and potatoes which came out perfect! (There are some good YouTube videos I watched first of other people cooking with it.) Using black-colored cookware inside of two large clear pyrex bowls got the temp up to 180 degrees after 5 hours on a sunny day. Because this cooker allows for flex in the body or “wings”, maximum sun can be had using a couple of clothespins to secure the position. I haven’t used the large clear bags yet that came with it (instead of the pyrex bowls), but I plan to try that tomorrow with a terra cotta cooker. Yum! It’s like a slow cooker except you do need to tend it every couple hours to keep it facing the sun as direct as possible. Great for camping or if you run out of propane after losing power to a hurricane or whatever. I’m probably going to just keep using it because it’s fun to keep learning how to make different things with it!
Ramon –
The key to this product is studying the recommended usage instructions and finding the best fit pan situation to amplify the sun power. In the instructions it does admit it usually takes practice to find your perfect location for cooking and sometimes it is necessary to move about. Placement of the solar peg is important too. Adjusting the flaps works best with either clothespins or any kind of clamp and does require some intuition. It managed to cook a chicken soup within about 5 hours starting early in the morning it was in about a 5 quart volume of combined meat, veggies and water. Everything was thoroughly cooked and tasty. Pork chops were tasty but I probably could have pulled them out a bit sooner to avoid the toughness but it was my first attempt! Beans should work but again depending on the thickness of the metal pan the dark color of the metal and the amount of liquid and beans being attempted. I’ve tried 2 times the first time failed because I didnt know what I was doing and did 4 cups beans and 12 cups of water.
The second time I halved everything but was trying to cook to much at once. The items you want cooked must be on the flat level base of the cooker. I also stopped using the flimsy grill they provided because the heat transference was poor with it there. (And all the videos of success showed pans directly on the box. I am awaiting some new pans and am excited to keep cooking with the sun!
Petra –
I love this for camping and would use it at home, too. It just makes too much sense to save energy, avoid waste, and enjoy the flavors of slow cooking. It’s great for drying food, also. Shiitakes will be perfectly dried within a 2 – 3 hours, and without sacrificing any flavor; to the contrary! Although the material is handy and light for traveling, it’s still plastic, and I’m unsure about the durability, since the reflective foil started to bubble within the first month of use, mainly for lunch, stored upside down when not in use – definitely not in any harsh weather other than midsummer sunshine. For anyone who thinks (like me, initially) this cooker may be too large and cumbersome to travel with: Don’t hesitate! It’s super quick and easy to assemble once you know how it comes together. 3 minutes and it’s ready to go! And it folds down to a very compact size. There are numerous ways to fold it. So, no worries about fitting it inside your car. It’s so light and packable, I wouldn’t rule out backpacking with it – definitely if cooking for 2 or more people.
Mary Ann Christiansen –
It will be great in an emergency
lane –
Pay attention to the assembly instructions. Helps to mark folds and flaps with a marker before assembly… READ DIRECTIONS! Watch His Videos! Lots of great info frm the maker on line…
We’ve cooked a 3 lb pork roast and onions in a dark colored glass bowl over an 6 hr period… Did Great!
Re-aim oven Every Hour, the shadow pin is for this… Planning to use ours to melt candle wax next…
Damp wipe with soft cloth maintains reflection… Get dark colored glass bowls at junk stores low cost, a glass lid is important too. Cookware MUST absorb heat or pass sunlight through to heat up well… Used/New Pyrex is yer friend as is bright daylong sunlight… Read Directions Again… Re-Locate/Re-Aim…
Start large item cooking early, also room temperature food will cook much faster than cold, Duh…
Use on a table, secure it against wind es critters… Plastic clamp/clips work well to maintain aperture…
Old school ‘Granny Ware’ black metal roasting pans es lids or pots works great too… Ceramic Bean Pots…
Looking fwd to many more meals outta ours with zero fuel cost… Lane In Columbus, Ohio.
RKW –
Ok, I did think I would be able to cook much with only “solar power”, but this solar cooker is great. I’ve made rice, bread, corn on the cob, pinto beans (into frijoles), corn bread and lintels. The design of the ASSC is ingenious and the sun focus pointer is equally impressive! If you have sun, you need to use it to cook with.
John T. Turner –
It was cold outside but the sun was out. I cooked oatmeal successfully. Took hours. Realistically I believe it’s more like a 2-3 season cooker. I’ll try again in June. It did however get the pot hot despite freezing temps outside.
I got it for a “just in case” scenario. Like having extra food and water.