Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Drying in a Solar Oven
A fun project for the homestead is to build a solar oven to use instead of an electric dehydrator.
Being able to harness the energy from the sun is a much more energy-efficient way to dehydrate
your food than running a dehydrator all day long. The trickiest part is temperature regulation.
A solar oven works almost like a cold box. A clear glass top allows the heat of the sun to enter the
box. Many solar ovens also have reflective floors to create radiant heat as well.
Many people prefer to supplement their seasonal produce drying by using the solar oven to cut
back on energy costs, noise, and free up counter space indoors. And some homesteaders do all, or
almost all, of their dehydrating using their outdoor solar ovens! Who knows, you might try it and
find yourself hooked on the traditional and old-fashioned technique.
This solar oven can be used to dehydrate herbs, create jerky, and even bake foods, making it a great energy-
free cooking alternative.
(Photo courtesy of Erik Burton)
A solar oven hot box design needs a clear top to collect the heat of the sun. It will need a deep-
enough box area to hold the food items being heated and vent holes in the sides of the box to allow
moisture to escape. Be sure to screen these vents so bugs and pests can't get inside and get to your
food!
There are as many ways to build a solar oven as there are homesteaders. Most use whatever prod-
ucts they have on hand. If you want a place to start, though, there are full plans for a solar oven at
BackyardFarmingGuide.com, courtesy of the University of Tennessee.
