Making the Most out of Parabolic Solar Cookers on the Road
November 19th, 2009
Many people have heard of solar power and how it is very useful in several different applications. One of the most common memories that people have is the fact that they have used a magnifying glass to concentrate the sunlight to burn small holes in paper or wood. This concept has been applied in a big way to make it possible to cook large things in pots and specialized pressure cookers with a special mirror called a parabolic solar cooker. These mirrors are concave and are pretty large. They capture a large amount of sunlight and focus it to a specific point about a few feet away. These can be used to cook food efficiently as the temperatures can get well above 450 degrees if it is a very sunny day.
The science behind it is very simple, the sunlight rays are captured by the concave mirror from several different angles. Just like a magnifying glass, the light is focused to a single point but back towards the sun. By adjusting where the cooking vessel is, you can get different temperatures to cook a wide range of items. Cooking meat will take higher temperatures to ensure that all of the bacteria is killed and so that it is safe to eat. Parabolic solar cookers may take somewhat longer to cook than a fire or gas stove but it does conserve fuel usage and there are no harmful effects to the environment.
Parabolic solar cookers are friendly to the environment by using solar energy to do its cooking. The only problems with it are that it cannot be used during very cloudy days and that it does not work at night. Cooking times will vary because of clouds and the time of day as well. The most efficient time to cook your meals is during 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM when the sun is at its peak of providing light. Although early morning use and late afternoon use are also possible with adjustment of the angle in which the sun rays are caught and whether or not the food can be supported while at that angle to be cooked.
Most people think that you need to know a lot of mathematics or be a professional to understand how to use the parabolic solar cookers but it is actually very simple. You get an instruction manual or you can learn how they work online through the manufacturer. They are made of very high grade materials and it is important that they remain clean to ensure that they work efficiently to cook your food. Improper usage of the parabolic solar cooker can lead to undercooked food or even cause fires. It is important to never allow your hands or any article of clothing or body part into the focused beam of light to prevent burns.
The parabolic solar cooker is perfect for any campers that use RVs or any large vehicle that can enjoy cooking with a renewable resource as well as reduce their impact on the environment. It is important that people who are concerned with their energy use to also look into cooking with parabolic solar cookers as they can be used whenever and wherever there is strong sunlight to provide the ability to get the high temperatures needed to cook efficiently. There are many different options and sizes of parabolic solar cookers and the largest options can focus a beam that is intensely hot. They can be a fire hazard so it is important to only operate them in safe locations.
