Edition:
July 23, 2010
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Our sun really is remarkable – what other thing in the sky will render you sightless if you look directly at it? Now that’s a powerful heat source. Solar panels have become an increasingly popular way to harness the sun for electricity, but barring that multi-digit investment, how can you take advantage of the sun’s heat? You’ll be happy to know you can cook your meals using the sun, a car windshield shade and a few other household items.
While I realize all the environmental and fiscal benefits of using solar heat to cook food, I think the thing I like most about it is I don’t have to find room on my kitchen counter for yet another appliance. There are several types of solar cookers you can purchase and several types you can make yourself, but I like the windshield shade cooker for its simplicity.
The supplies you will need: one car/truck windshield shade (the silver and shiny kind), one black pot (like Graniteware), one wire rack (like a cake cooling rack), one large Reynold’s oven bag and one large bucket.
To assemble the cooker, open the windshield shade and form it into a funnel shape. Place it on top of the large bucket or a wheelbarrow that has been propped up and leveled off. You may need clothespins or large clips to secure the shade. Place the wire rack inside the oven bag. Place the pot (with whatever you’re cooking in it) in the bag on top of the rack. Close the bag with a twisty tie.
Put the whole shebang inside the funnel shaped windshield shade. An important point is to leave this in an area that gets sun all day. For me, that is my entire backyard. While this whole thing adds a certain trash element to the backyard, the results are worth the eyesore.
There are many websites devoted to solar cookery. If you’re looking for more details, I used this site for instructions on how to assemble my solar cooker: solarcooking.wikia.com.
What can you cook in a solar cooker? The question is what can’t you cook in a solar cooker. I’ve seen recipes for bread, pot roasts, spaghetti sauce and New York style cheesecake (no kidding) made in a solar cooker. I’ve been somewhat conservative in my solar ventures and have only made herbed rice and pinto beans. But I was pleased with the results both times and look forward to trying out more recipes this summer.
Steven Raichlen, master griller and author of “Planet Barbecue!” once commented that he likes any recipe that starts off with “Open a beer, drink half.” This recipe does include a cup of beer, but what you do with the rest of the bottle I will leave to your discretion. For my tee-totaling friends, you can substitute water or broth.
One last benefit of the windshield shade solar cooker is that once I’m done cooking with it, the windshield shade can go back to its other job: protecting my car steering wheel from a treeless Winco parking lot.
Climate Confusion Beans
Yields about 3 cups
1 cup dry pinto beans ½ to 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup beer 2 cups water 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 Tbsp. chili powder 1 tsp. granulated garlic
Salt to taste Place the beans in a large pot and soak for 24 hours in about 3 cups of water. Drain and rinse beans. Add soaked beans and all remaining ingredients to a large pot. If you are using a solar cooker, place the pot on a wire rack, then enclose in a large oven bag and seal. Place the ensemble in the prepared solar cooker and let cook until liquid is absorbed and beans are tender, about 8 hours. If you are cooking on an electric or gas stovetop, place pot on burner and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and let simmer for 2 to 3 hours or until beans are tender. Add salt to taste after beans are fully cooked.
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