Solar Cooker – Eco-Friendly and Economical
Go Green by Using Renewable Energy from the Sun to Cook
Apr 29, 2009
With the world looking towards renewable energy sources to power their lives, the Indian government is promoting the use of solar cookers to cook food. It aims to reduce the dependence on costly domestic cooking fuels such as LPG cylinders, kerosene, coal and wood and also help the environment by cutting down on polluting emissions from fires.
What is a Solar Cooker?
A domestic solar cooker also known as the box-type solar cooker looks like an aluminum suitcase. It has two lids; the outer lid is made of aluminum with a mirror on the inside and the inner lid is made of glass. Black boxes are provided for the food and they fit inside the case.
How is Food Cooked in a Solar Cooker?
The solar cooker is based on the Greenhouse Effect. It traps the sun's heat and uses it to cook food.
The solar cooker case is opened and the mirror inside is focused towards the sun. This way the sunrays are allowed to converge onto the glass lid which by heating up, heats the air inside the case.
The food to be cooked is filled into the black boxes and these are placed within the box of the cooker. The boxes are painted black so as retain heat.
Advantages of the Solar Cooker
- Cost Saving: Solar cookers provide an economical alternative to other cooking devices which use costly fuels. The cooker utilizes a free and widely available resource, sunlight. As for the solar cookers, they are provided by the Indian government at subsidized rates so that more poor families opt for this way of cooking.
- Uses Solar Energy: By exploiting a renewable energy source; i.e. the sun it helps to ease the burden on quickly depleting fossil fuels.
- Eco-Friendly: Since it runs on solar energy it is pollution-free. Many villagers in India use wood or coal for cooking. These fuels give out a great deal of smoke which can be a health hazard to the women who toil over the fire all day. The smoke irritates the lungs and leads to various respiratory diseases.
- Safe Way to Cook: Most accidents at home are caused by fire, usually from the cooking range. The solar cooker eliminates the need to make a fire and thus reduces the risk of such mishaps. Cooking in a solar cooker is a relatively slow process taking from one to three hours. This means that food is less likely to burn if not watched over.
- Food is Healthier: The food in the solar cooker is allowed to cook slowly and so best retains its taste and nutritional value. It also remains hot for a longer time if the glass lid is not opened.
Disadvantage of Solar Cooker:
The only disadvantage of the solar cooker is that it depends on regular sunshine. It can be used in countries which experience a dry sunny climate for al least six months a year. Solar Cookers International has compiled a list of twenty countries with the highest potential for solar cooking with India leading the list. Australia, Spain and parts of East U.S.A. also have the right weather for solar cooking.
A solar cooker is a inexpensive and simple device, and yet its extensive use can save this Earth.
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