HELPFUL HINTS

FOR SOLAR COOKING

1. Best time to cook; 10 am to 3 pm.
2. If possible, pre-heat cooker before using for baking.
3. Keep reflective panels and window clean.
4. Have a thermometer that will register up to 350 degrees F.
5. Use a dark pot - It makes a BIG difference.
6. For maximum heat, adjust cooker every 30 minutes.
7. Use a wedge to level cooking vessel inside cooker when cooker is tilted at extreme angle.
8. On cookers with hinged reflectors, use paper clips to prevent panels from blowing shut when windy.
9. Keep the inside of the solar cooker painted black. Also, if a pot is not clean on the bottom, it will stick to the black paint.
10. It takes bright sunlight in late fall and winter to reach baking temperatures. In summer, 20 to 30 minutes of direct sunlight per hour will give baking temperatures.
11. Regular recipes work just fine.
12. Cakes do not bake well when maximum temperature is 260 degrees F. or less. Cookies and muffins do well at this temperature but baking time must be extended.
13. In the summertime, you can burn your baked goods.
14. Muffins and cookies will bake at 250 to 275 degrees F in 20 to 30 minutes.
15. Foods to cook that don't take temperatures above 25o degrees and don't take too much time are:

• Dry beans (presoaked)
• Split peas with fresh vegetables
• Lentils
• Casseroles.