This may sound silly, but does it cook well if it is a cloudy day?
47645
Not if it's mostly cloudy. It really needs to be mostly sunny. If it's really hot out, a few clouds won't hurt. Otherwise, it tends to cool off under the clouds. That said, I have used the oven in the winter on a calm, sunny day when it's 30 degrees out!
47646
Bright sunlight is best of course. Scatter clouds type conditions are OK, I monitor the temperature. I want to keep it around 190 degrees (slow cooker conditions) or higher. When the temperature drops below180 degrees or so, I transfer the cooking to my toaster oven. Overcast days (no shadows) will not work, hence the device name "Sun Oven". Actually, I have found the Sun Oven works great during the winter under clear skies and low humidity conditions. I really like using my oven. It cooks better than the conventional oven because you can over cook something by hours and the meat is still moist. Bright sunlight is best of course. Scatter clouds type conditions are OK, I monitor the temperature. I want to keep it around 190 degrees (slow cooker conditions) or higher. When the temperature drops below180 degrees or so, I transfer the cooking to my toaster oven. Overcast days (no shadows) will not work, hence the device name "Sun Oven". Actually, I have found the Sun Oven works great during the winter under clear skies and low humidity conditions. I really like using my oven. It cooks better than the conventional oven because you can over cook something by hours and the meat... » Read More Bright sunlight is best of course. Scatter clouds type conditions are OK, I monitor the temperature. I want to keep it around 190 degrees (slow cooker conditions) or higher. When the temperature drops below180 degrees or so, I transfer the cooking to my toaster oven. Overcast days (no shadows) will not work, hence the device name "Sun Oven". Actually, I have found the Sun Oven works great during the winter under clear skies and low humidity conditions. I really like using my oven. It cooks better than the conventional oven because you can over cook something by hours and the meat is still moist. « Show Less
47647
All solar cookers need sunlight to produce heat. Scattered clouds will allow for some warming but probably not much serious cooking.
47648
You really need bright sunlight for this oven to work. However, on a clear day this thing works great. It easily maintains 300 deg. F, and can often reach 350. We have cooked all sorts of things in it. The kids favorite is to bake cookies. Personally, I enjoy cooking a pot roasts by putting the ceramic from a crockpot into the solar oven. The solar oven temperature is roughly the same as a crockpot set on low.
47649
As long as there is enough sun to cast a shadow you can cook with the Sun Oven, but the cooking times will be significantly longer. The same goes for partly cloudy days when the sunlight might be intermittent. On these days it will function more like a slow cooker than and oven. That said, since I live in a sunny area I usually only use it on clear or mostly sunny days.
47650
Sun Ovens® work best on a sunny day if you are cooking at 350º or higher. It works well at lower temperatures, achieved on cloudy days, if making a slow cooking recipe. Preheat the oven to see the temperature you can achieve. Remember safe food handling temperatures.
47651
Full rain -- no -- overcast sun behind clouds but still feel the radiant heat.... yes. just takes longer to heat up and you have to dial it to the suns position so that you keep the radiant rays going direct to the oven..... if the sun is in and out of the clouds it works without dialing it in to the sun every hour it just takes longer to heat up and get to top temp.
451087
Yes, excellent. In fact, it's slightly cloudy at room temp but has a high smoke point and a good flavor when deep frying.
240923
Yes. Cook with a little more water than it calls for and it will be very mashable.
1206783
Have you checked the weather in the Northeast!!?? Seriously, I have not, but this cookware is very heavy duty and it should not be any problem at all in charcoal. Reminds me to the stuff we used in Boy Scouts some 45 years ago!
190221
I don't think (in my opinion) that it should be that cloudy, provided it was kept in a dark place at room temperature. I have heard they are one of the best. However it's always possible to have one that may not be the best. If it still smells like it did when you got it, it should be okay.
1244656
Hi, I´ve been cooking with the times or periods that every recipe recommends and I´ve not get any problems. If that happens try to reduce the temperatures or time of cooking.
1398514
I've used it in the rain and it does affect cooking time slightly. I typically figure 20 minutes per pound as a standard in relatively warm conditions, but I always use a meat thermometer to be sure. I use one with a probe and external unit so I don't have to open the smoker to see the meat temperature. I have enjoyed this cooker and this is my second unit as the first eventually rusted.
375630
I do not use any electric appliance in the rain. If one does he is looking for trouble. I own 2 of these grills,one up north and one downsouth in our winter home. They are the greatest.
1707180
I too am not a fan of using my stove in the summer. I have not found this pizza maker to be excessively hot. Also, you don't have to worry about heating the oven for a long period of time; it heats and cooks quickly.
970890
Yes, it works well. That's the reason I bought it, actually. Take the top off the shell, make a rich creamy egg custard base, 3/4 fill the shells with the custard and a pinch of fresh herbs, or a pinch of finely diced sautéed mushrooms and some sort of meat, or foie gras, and float the filled shells on 180°F water to set them. You can set the custards with steam, also.
1625023
Very well. The very outside is a little cooler. The finish does not require oil to cook
957272
I haven't had any issues with it on breezy days. The burners are set pretty low and light quick.
143490
The Indians cook with it and it comes out fine...so do I. But it is best not to use high temps if using it to fry/ saut. I haven't made cookies with it 'cause I'm dieting, but I think they would be delicious.
1305134
Yes, it cooked beautifully. I could not be more pleased with this item. I purchased one for myself and one for my daughter.
844291
The minimum I cook is one cup, and there is never any problem. I don't think it would be worth cooking less. It has never boiled and bubbled to the top
522007
I have not had any issues with the care of this item. It is easy to clean. It is not super heavy, but, heavy enough. I have cooked several different things in it and not had any trouble with it cooking things too fast because it isn't heavy enough. I is deeper than the blue speckled one that I have. It fits alot of stuff.
1478583
Yes, it does cook brown rice well. I followed the instructions on the bag of rice, and I think I added a little more water. It came out fine. However, white rice comes out better on top of the stove. I ususally bring 2 cups of water to a boil with salt, then add 1 cup of rice. I cook it on medium low for 14 minutes, then shut off the heat and leave it covered for about 10 minutes. It comes out so fluffy, it falls off your fork. In the rice cooker, I always get a gray gelatinous layer at the bottom of the pot, and it's kind of sticky.