Best Solar Cookers

The Sun Oven brand has been in the solar appliance business for over 28 years and has made its mark in numerous countries worldwide. The company presents a line of high-grade solar ovens that hold to their name. According to the “All American” theme, this stove accommodates every possible dish that surfaces from the continent’s melting pot of cultures. How does it manage to cook all of these? The secret is in its upgraded design to prepare meals at any temperature up to as much as 400°F. The package even comes with a thermometer to track the heat level throughout cooking time.

As part of its update, the solar oven now operates at a 15% higher temperature than the older model. But what’s even more enticing is that Sun Oven managed to create a product that is now 20% more spacious than the original, which in itself was not too small. It’s every owner’s dream of being able to cook more than one meal at a time on a solar appliance; the All American sun oven has just about done the trick and taken multitasking to the next level. Aside from the apparent improvements, many of its solar oven reviews boast about its dual function as a slow cooker and regular stove. As a bonus, the product comes with a digital cookbook of at least 40 recipes for cooking under the sun. No amateur will be left behind. With the All American sun oven, you won’t only be able to cook, steam, and boil, but there are also options for baking and dehydrating fruits and veggies.

If you’re considering making your trail mix sometime soon, the cooker will do the job within less than half an hour. Roasting is more likely to take about 80 minutes, but the solar oven will give you a well-baked and moist cake in just less than three-quarters of an hour. A good rule of thumb would be to keep the glass lid cracked open to keep natural juices from evaporating.

Whenever you think of diversity, no other product should come before this one. From Founder’s Day to Thanksgiving meals, feel free to switch things up for your family and guests with this lightweight and easily transportable solar oven.

At just 1.25 lbs., the Sunflair Mini claims to be the “world’s lightest and easiest solar oven.” And it’s not too far from the truth. This simple sun oven is excellent for both casual transport and emergencies. All significant parts, including its anti-crease plastic casing and silicone pot, are collapsable and can be stored in compact pockets. Take it along on a camping trip or day hike and see how easy it is to fit into your travel pack.

Have I mentioned how resilient this Mini version is? It is fully waterproof and floatable material and will survive any flood or storm that would otherwise write off an electric stove. As a health benefit, the Sunflair will prepare slow cooker meals and has a regular solar oven’s capacities. Unlike conventional models, however, this product does not promote as much moisture absorption from any foods. So you can enjoy cooking recipes from scratch with less oil than the instructions indicated.

In terms of space, the foldable pot is convenient, but other pans also work well. If you want to be more space-efficient, try cooking in either taller or broader metal containers. Typically, you can expect to work with temperatures of approximately 285°F, but the exact heat varies from season to season. No worries about that; there’s a thermometer included in all orders to help customers feel more independent. Similar to the All America, this solar oven features a small recipe guide with safety instructions and strategies to help beginners get their feet wet in the solar-powered lifestyle.

There’s also a one-month return policy on every purchase, but chances are you’ll want to keep this one for year-round opportunities to cook with a difference. It works efficiently in virtually any location, even in the vehicle.

“Join the solar revolution” with “America’s leading solar cooking brand” – GOSUN. For one of the fastest solar ovens at a great price, go for the Sport Survival Gear. Its reflective panels contain high-grade anodized aluminum coated with a layer of stainless steel. That’s part of the secret to its ability to reflect maximum heat even on cloudy days. The Sport is guaranteed to work for you so long as the sun is out or you notice a shadow.

This portable solar oven has high tech insulation. Its cooking vacuum prevents heat from escaping or conducting through the outer surface, so it’s safe to use around children. I like it when I can get started with a meal and finish preparing it at just about the same time. That makes the Sport one of my favorites because it can operate at super high temperatures of up to 500°F and generally cooks within 20 minutes. Even so, the heat still gets to the center of some of the thickest recipes. For sure, it’s one of the best choices out there right now for steaming, roasting, and baking. It’s also an excellent option for fast foods like omelets, hotdogs, and burger patties, or if you’re on the healthier side – some steamed veg. While most solar ovens can only handle small portions each use, a full tray from this brand can serve up to three persons.

After each use, I recommend cleaning out the grease with the brush included in the order, not that your preferred tool won’t work as well.

If you’re still wondering if a solar cookstove can reach such high temperatures, here’s this: Up to 80% of rays emitted on its panels convert to usable heat energy. So the short answer is yes. You won’t be missing a thing from the indoors.

Emergency Zone commits to “supplying peace of mind” to all its customers with this tactical solar oven. It comes with an accurate sundial that allows you to estimate the best angle to adjust the panels to ensure the most heat reflection onto the food. The SunCore is guaranteed to work as long as it’s bright outside. The built-in thermometer is a plus over the others on this list since you won’t have to monitor the temperatures ever so often manually.

However, it is a bit heavier than most others, yet is still lightweight at just 13 lbs. The placement trays have 304 food-grade stainless steel to keep them looking brand new, but overall the solar oven has a robust and long-lasting design. The solar panels function both for light reflection and also as a built-in casing for transportation. Although its features are close to a regular stove, note that this model is not waterproof and won’t be the best fit for liquid-based meals.

Other than that, it works well at penetrating raw food to give an even cook and still manages to have reasonable insulation. The outer handles don’t get too hot for the hands. I’d say the adjustable panels are somewhat unique to this solar oven because not many on the market will be able to work all season long like the SunCore. Consider that.

Haines offers this all-rounder portable solar oven for just under $100. The flower-like design is more than an exciting style. You can change the adjustable petals around the cooking dome to improve the reflection of UV rays. As the picture tells, the unique panels surround the center to ensure that all meals are quickly heated and cooked from all angles.

Solar oven reviews place the 2.0 at a range of up to 325°F and agree to its expertise in slow cooker recipes. The model proves to heat 60% faster than other heaters of its kind, bringing water to a boil within 40 minutes. The solar oven comes with a thermometer and a 4-quart pot to get buyers started right away upon purchase. The petals are strategic, yes, but they tend to limit the space efficiency within the dome. For instance, the pot included is pretty large but has no handles. I imagine the size takes the most advantage of the space available in the dome, and perhaps the manufacturer excluded the grips because of this. But that in itself poses a difficulty when safely handling the hot container. Bearing this in mind, I’d recommend wearing a thick pair of kitchen mittens.

That said, the pot also comes with a heat resistant cover for use when steaming and boiling. There’s also a cooking sleeve and a windshield screen included in the box for more optimized solar reflection. For a device weighing only 2.6 lbs., the Haines 2.0 makes an attractive bargain as an exceptional solar oven.

This odd-looking solar oven cleverly contains multiple reflector panels positioned to maximize the device’s use regardless of the sun’s intensity. As an added benefit, the cooker is waterproof and comprises of high tensile polymer board to withstand the harshest conditions.

As an eco-friendly company, SolCook does not include any extra packaging materials within the shipping container, just the stove, cooking rack, and two bags. It comes with a manual to help with assembling the different parts, which would come in handy for a newbie. There are also a few recipes within the booklet, coupled with advice on maintenance from the manufacturer. The reflectors make it possible to harness heat from as early as the morning to the evening’s start. It’s a smart choice if you’re into late afternoon roasting or if you love baking. One solar oven review explained that the ASSCC could accommodate varying pot sizes, so be sure that your purchase will fit a 28”x28”x24” rectangular compartment.

This solar oven’s elaborate design makes it by far one of the most resourceful options available this year. The bright color on the outside is just icing on the cake.