32 replies to this topic

[r. zimm]

I just used my oven to bake potatoes but I never bake just one. I put in 4 potatoes tonight and eat the two small ones, saving the others for lunch.

It may not be much, but I'm thinking Green!

[Shortpoet-GTD]

r. zimm, on 07 December 2012 - 03:45 PM, said:

I just used my oven to bake potatoes but I never bake just one. I put in 4 potatoes tonight and eat the two small ones, saving the others for lunch.

It may not be much, but I'm thinking Green!

It all adds up. Good for you-thinking outside the box.

[tigerlily78]

Sounds fairly green to me. Using a toaster oven rather than a standard oven might be even more green, but you have to make do with what you have.

I have been keeping my eyes peeled for a used or discounted solar oven. How cool would it be to bake those potatoes in the yard without any electricity or gas at all?

[r. zimm]

Solar would be nice but in South Florida even though it is sunny it is also cloudy so it would be inconsistent heat wise. If you find one though, it's worth picking up for experimentation. Thanks for the idea.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

tigerlily78, on 08 December 2012 - 03:41 PM, said:

Sounds fairly green to me. Using a toaster oven rather than a standard oven might be even more green, but you have to make do with what you have.

I have been keeping my eyes peeled for a used or discounted solar oven. How cool would it be to bake those potatoes in the yard without any electricity or gas at all?

Solar ovens-Yay!
But for most toaster ovens-electric-coal.
Regular ovens-gas fired-slightly less emissions.
http://www.kompulsa....nces-consuming/

[r. zimm]

My oven is electric and actually the worst part is that here in Florida most of the year if you use your oven you have to crank down the A/C because the place gets too hot! In the "winter" it's not so bad.

Many folks use propane grills outside so as not to heat up the house but I have yet to get one.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

I'm a microwave cooker.  I don't know how Green that is.  But, it's easier on my arthritis.  We have a regular gas stove/oven, but I rarely use it.

However, I never cook for just one meal.  When I do vegetables, I cook enough for 3-4 days.  If I make a rice dish, I cook a lot.  I eat it for a couple of days and I freeze the rest.  I don't mind leftovers at all.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

FamilyTreeClimber, on 10 December 2012 - 12:28 AM, said:

I'm a microwave cooker.  I don't know how Green that is.  But, it's easier on my arthritis.  We have a regular gas stove/oven, but I rarely use it.

However, I never cook for just one meal.  When I do vegetables, I cook enough for 3-4 days.  If I make a rice dish, I cook a lot.  I eat it for a couple of days and I freeze the rest.  I don't mind leftovers at all.

Microwaves are pretty green because they cook so quick.

[Dustoffer]

I got a Global Sun Oven for $170 in 1998 and another for the same price in 2005.  Of course they are only used when it is +40*F or higher on a sunny enough day(300 days of sun here).  In the winter we use the propane oven, cooking as much as posssible at once, and it helps heat the house.   With the sun ovens, if it is cloudy, we estimate the time of clouds and add it to the total cooking time.  Many days we have enough time to cook several times.   It generally takes about double the time of a regular oven or stovetop, and keeps all the flavors and nutrition in.   So, for instance, if we cook a chicken with potatoes on the side it takes 2 hours, and if there is an hour of clouds it takes 3 hours.  Fish and veggies take 1/2 hour, and cake 1 1/4 to 1/12 hour.  Casseroles/stews in a dark pot take 3 hours.  We have to re-aim it every hour.  Cooking temperature is generally 300*F.

[johnygreen]

Great!
Creating Thinking!
Yes it is also eco frienly.

[ChanellG]

Dustoffer, on 10 December 2012 - 07:02 AM, said:

With the sun ovens, if it is cloudy, we estimate the time of clouds and add it to the total cooking time.  Many days we have enough time to cook several times.  ...and if there is an hour of clouds it takes 3 hours.  Fish and veggies take 1/2 hour, and cake 1 1/4 to 1/12 hour.  Casseroles/stews in a dark pot take 3 hours.  We have to re-aim it every hour.  Cooking temperature is generally 300*F.

Wow, that's amazing! How long did it take you to get the hang of using it? I've often thought about trying to make one. There are lots of articles online for doing it now. I tried to share a link to one I just found, but for some reason I keep getting a "only quality posts allowed" error message.

I may have to give it a try making one just for the fun of it.

[Earthling]

ChanellG, on 15 December 2012 - 10:37 AM, said:

Wow, that's amazing! How long did it take you to get the hang of using it? I've often thought about trying to make one. There are lots of articles online for doing it now. I tried to share a link to one I just found, but for some reason I keep getting a "only quality posts allowed" error message.

I may have to give it a try making one just for the fun of it.

The "quality post" message should disappear when you have 50 posts to your credit.

I think.

You can always post the title of the link.

[Dustoffer]

It didn't take long to get the hang of using the Global Sun Oven we bought for $170.  Later we bought a book from Oregon on sun oven cooking.  The next one took some shopping to get it for the original price(plus it had a built in angling post and thermometer).  Some places wanted $100 more!   Making one of the same quality would have been difficult.  The home made ones are not as hot, insulated, or rugged.  I have seen others that look good at reasonable prices, in the past couple years.

[r. zimm]

Sounds like there is more planning involved for sure. I guess we do pay for convenience on way or another.

[ChanellG]

Dustoffer, on 15 December 2012 - 11:39 AM, said:

It didn't take long to get the hang of using the Global Sun Oven we bought for $170.  Later we bought a book from Oregon on sun oven cooking.  The next one took some shopping to get it for the original price(plus it had a built in angling post and thermometer).  Some places wanted $100 more!   Making one of the same quality would have been difficult.  The home made ones are not as hot, insulated, or rugged.  I have seen others that look good at reasonable prices, in the past couple years.

i saw a small one advertised online for less than $50. I wouldn't want to invest in one though unless I knew someone who had one and had the opportunity to check it out myself firsthand.

I'd rather experiment with making one myself just for the fun of it and to see how they work. I could always purchase a hardier one later on if I decided I would use it enough.

[Earthling]

ChanellG, on 16 December 2012 - 10:23 AM, said:

i saw a small one advertised online for less than $50. I wouldn't want to invest in one though unless I knew someone who had one and had the opportunity to check it out myself firsthand.

I'd rather experiment with making one myself just for the fun of it and to see how they work. I could always purchase a hardier one later on if I decided I would use it enough.

I've seen some being used on YouTube and I wasn't over impressed, they reminded me of something one might do on camping trips.

[r. zimm]

"I've seen some being used on YouTube and I wasn't over impressed, they reminded me of something one might do on camping trips."

Or on an episode of "Lost" or "Survivor"

But that is one thing that makes a difference, especially to us "modern" people. If it is too hard to use or takes to much time, we have no interest in it. What does that say about us, or at least, our culture?

[ChanellG]

Earthling, on 16 December 2012 - 11:18 AM, said:

I've seen some being used on YouTube and I wasn't over impressed, they reminded me of something one might do on camping trips.

Well, if your electricity goes out, you may have to cook as if you were on a camping trip. Not everyone has a gas stove, so I guess it would be good to have the option. I just think it would be an interesting experiment. It would certainly be gratifying to cook in an oven you made yourself.

[Earthling]

r. zimm, on 16 December 2012 - 06:23 PM, said:

"I've seen some being used on YouTube and I wasn't over impressed, they reminded me of something one might do on camping trips."

Or on an episode of "Lost" or "Survivor"

But that is one thing that makes a difference, especially to us "modern" people. If it is too hard to use or takes to much time, we have no interest in it. What does that say about us, or at least, our culture?

It's called progress, another reason why we don't use stone tools too often, or ride in horse drawn vehicles much.
¿Entiendes?

[Earthling]

ChanellG, on 16 December 2012 - 07:58 PM, said:

Well, if your electricity goes out, you may have to cook as if you were on a camping trip. Not everyone has a gas stove, so I guess it would be good to have the option.

Are you saying that you rely completely on electricity for cooking?
Mrs E's main cooker is butane gas fired, plus she has a small elecric oven grill as back-up and an occasionally used microwave.
Then we have a fireplace that can be used for cooking and a barbecue, so all our bases are covered.

Quote

I just think it would be an interesting experiment. It would certainly be gratifying to cook in an oven you made yourself.

Whatever floats your boat, go for it, have fun in the process and don't forget to report back with your findings.