| Mention solar power to someone and they | | | | course, use one that someone has discarded). Its |
| immediately think of solar panels. A parabolic solar | | | | parabolic shape is perfect for creating the oven, and |
| oven, however, has a much more practical use when | | | | all you need to do is coat the inside with a reflective |
| it comes to feeding ourselves. | | | | substance, such as a mirror finish reflective aluminum |
| Parabolic Solar Oven | | | | sheet. Other people prefer to start their parabolic |
| While searching for ways to reduce the use of | | | | solar oven with more of a bowl shape, as they |
| nonrenewable resources, you might encounter solar | | | | believe this allows food inside to cook better and |
| power. Solar power, or solar energy, is the use of | | | | helps to shelter the food from the wind. |
| the sun's rays to either create energy (electricity), | | | | Once you have the parabolic solar oven, you need to |
| charge a battery, heat water or other fluids, | | | | consider the cooking pot. The pot needs to be of a |
| passively heat homes through glass windows, or | | | | dark color. It also needs to be placed in the correct |
| even cook foods. When solar power is used to cook | | | | position. The parabolic solar oven should be oriented |
| food it's often in the form of a solar oven, which can | | | | to the sun. The pot should then be placed on a small |
| be used in place of firewood and other fuels in order | | | | stand so that it sits at the point of focus for the |
| to cook meals. One popular type of solar oven is the | | | | oven. If you imagine a magnifying glass, the pot |
| parabolic solar oven, used over others for many | | | | should be located where the glass focuses its beam. |
| reasons. | | | | Once in position, the oven should work for 60 to 90 |
| A parabolic solar oven collects the sun's rays by using | | | | minutes. If the food is not cooked by then or |
| a reflective surface in a parabola, or curved shape. | | | | another pot needs heating, the oven should be |
| There are many different styles of parabolic solar | | | | readjusted to the orientation of the sun. |
| ovens available, and there are instructions available to | | | | When using your parabolic solar oven, be sure to |
| create most of them. The parabolic style allows for | | | | always wear UV (ultraviolet) protective sunglasses |
| food to cook at much the same rate as a | | | | that are darkly tinted. The reflection off the aluminum |
| conventional oven, making it more convenient than | | | | that helps to cook the food at a quick rate also can |
| other outdoor cooking methods such as campfires. | | | | burn your retinas quite easily. You'll also want to |
| Additionally, since the parabolic solar oven doesn't use | | | | make sure to cover your parabolic solar oven |
| wood or other fuel, it's quicker to start cooking and | | | | whenever it's not in use - this will prevent accidental |
| requires little time to set up - whereas with a | | | | flashes of light from blinding people as well as |
| campfire, you've got to spend time hunting for | | | | prevent the oven from heating up when it's not |
| firewood, as well as lighting the fire and waiting for it | | | | needed. If you follow these simple steps, having your |
| to get hot. | | | | own parabolic solar cooker can be a great asset to |
| One easy way to start building your own parabolic | | | | your environmentally conscious lifestyle. |
| solar oven is by using a ready-made satellite dish (of | | | | |