Solar cooking may sound a little scary at first, but once you get the basics, it is one of the simplest and most fun ways to cook. If you've bought a GoSun solar oven or are thinking about getting one, a few key tips will help you get excellent results from your first cook.
Here's a look at the best solar cooking tips that beginners should know to enjoy delicious meals that are fuelled by free sunlight alone.
1. Position your solar oven to face the sun.
The cardinal rule of solar cooking is to get yourself properly oriented with the sun. The GoSun solar oven uses reflective panels to focus sunlight onto the vacuum tube, the cooking chamber.
TIP: Relocate your oven to follow the sun and check it every 30 to 45 minutes. Place your oven in the right place for the best heat, and your food will cook faster and more evenly.
2. Preheating Is Good, but Use It Judiciously
A solar oven works best when preheated, similar to a regular oven. Open the reflectors and place the oven in direct sunlight to warm up the cooking chamber while you prepare your items.
GoSun Pro Tip: The GoSun vacuum tube can get very hot. Never place a frozen or ice-cold cooking tray directly into a fully heated tube, as the sudden change in temperature can cause thermal shock and damage the glass. Please remove the ingredients from the fridge and let them warm up a bit before cooking.
3. Cut food into smaller, uniform-sized pieces.
Of course, big chunks of meat or big veggies take longer to cook because solar cooking is a steady, gentle heat.
Tip: Cut potatoes, veggies, chicken, and other ingredients into uniform small pieces. This helps heat to be distributed evenly to all parts of the dish, reducing cooking time and providing more consistent results.
4. Make the most of natural hydration
One of the best things about the GoSun ovens is the evacuated tube technology that holds the moisture in during the cooking process. The meat remains moist, tasty, and tender.
Tip: When you cook in a solar oven, you usually don't need to add a lot of extra water or oil. Because very little steam escapes during cooking, use a little less water when making rice or pasta than you would in a conventional pot.
5. Don't Let Gloomy Days Get You Down
Many beginners believe that solar cooking ceases to work the moment clouds show up. But fortunately, that's not so.
Tip: GoSun's cutting-edge solar technology can still capture sunlight even on partly overcast days. Your supper will cook well even if it takes a little longer in less sunshine. Be patient and do not open the oven or cooking tray too often, as this will prolong the cooking process and important heat will escape.
Conclusion
Solar cooking is a fun, economical, and environmentally responsible way to prepare delicious meals. It takes some practice, like anything new, but if you learn how to maximise sunshine, you can cook anything from standard meals to camping feasts without power or gas.
Start your eco-friendly cooking journey with GoSun today and see how easy, sustainable, and fun solar cooking can be.
