Storing Your Solar Oven When It's Not in Use
Solar ovens are for outdoor cooking, but there are times when you don't use them for weeks or months at a time. This may occur during colder seasons, rainy spells, or when you are simply not planning any camping or outdoor excursions. During this time, it’s important to store your solar oven properly.
As a solar oven is an outdoor cooking device, if left in the wrong place, it can be exposed to dust, moisture, and dirt. Proper off-season storage can help keep the oven in good shape and make it easier to use when you are ready for your next trip.
Clean it before you put it away
Before storing your solar oven, make sure it is properly cleaned. After the oven has cooled down completely, remove any leftover food, oil, or stains.
Check the cooking tray and any parts that can be removed and clean them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The inside of the oven should be free of food particles and residue as well.
You do not need to use strong cleaning products unless they are recommended for your particular model. Normally a gentle wash will remove ordinary dirt and food particles.
Let Everything Dry Properly
Allow plenty of time for the oven to dry out completely after cleaning. This is especially important if you used water in the cleaning process.
Do not cover or pack the oven when it is still damp. If the oven is not used for a long time, moisture can build up inside the oven and cause problems.
Let the different parts air dry before moving the oven to where it will be stored. This small step can make a big difference over the long run of storage.
Check Out Your Walls, Ceiling and Floor Reflective Surfaces
Reflective surfaces are important in a solar oven because they direct sunlight into the cooking area. Before storing your oven, check these surfaces for dust, fingerprints, or dirt.
Clean them carefully in a manner recommended by the manufacturer. Avoid rough materials that could scratch the surface.
Also look for any visible damage. If a reflective panel is loose or damaged, it’s best to deal with that before you next use the oven.
Check for Damage to the Oven
The off-season is actually a good time to inspect your solar oven. Spend a few minutes looking over the major parts such as the cooking chamber, tray, lid, handles, reflectors and other parts.
Check for anything loose, cracked, bent or missing. Small problems are easier to deal with when you discover them at home rather than during a camping trip.
If your solar oven came with a product guide, see if there are any specific maintenance or storage instructions for your model.
Find a Safe, Dry Place to Store
It is very important where you keep your solar oven during the off-season. Ideally it should be kept in a clean, dry place, protected from the rain, excessive humidity and unnecessary dust.
A storage room, garage, cupboard, or another protected indoor space may work depending on the size of the oven and your available space.
Keep it where it’s not going to get knocked over easily. Also, avoid placing heavy items on top of the oven because they could damage the structure, lid, or reflective surfaces.
Dust Protection
If you won’t be using your solar oven for a long time, putting something over it may be a good idea to keep it extra protected. The manufacturer may offer a storage cover, which can be a convenient option.
You can also use the original packaging if you still have it and if it is suitable for storage.
The key is to ensure the oven is thoroughly dry before covering it. A cover should protect the oven from dust without trapping moisture inside.
Keep Accessories Together
Trays, cooking containers, stands and other accessories are commonly part of solar ovens. These smaller items can easily get lost when the oven is not being used.
Keep the accessories together in one place instead of storing them in different areas. You can use a small box or storage container for this purpose.
This will save time when you decide to use the oven again because you will not have to search for individual parts before your trip.
Skip Unnecessary Exposure
While solar ovens are meant to be used outdoors, that doesn’t mean they should be left outside when not in use.
Unnecessary exposure to rain, dust, humidity and other outdoor conditions during the off-season will make maintenance more difficult. These problems are solved by storing the oven in a protected place.
If you can’t store it indoors, pick the most sheltered spot you can find and cover it with something appropriate.
Check the Oven Before Your Next Journey
After the off season, take a few minutes to check over the solar oven before you start using it again. Remove the cover and observe for dust, moisture or any sign of damage.
Clean the oven if necessary and make sure the tray, lid, reflectors, and other components are properly positioned.
It may also be wise to try the oven out at home before heading out on an extended camping or road trip. This gives you a chance to make sure everything is working as expected.
Conclusion
Properly storing a solar oven in the off-season doesn’t involve a complicated routine. The main points are to clean it, dry it completely, check the important parts, and store it in a dry and protected place.
With these simple steps you will be able to keep your solar oven ready to go for your next outdoor adventure. When camping season rolls around again, you can take it out of storage, give it a quick look-over and get back to solar cooking without a lot of fuss.
