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