Whether you are a homesteader, camper, or stuck in a power outage, solar cookers can allow you to cook up tasty meals without fuel.
These portable cooking devices come with reflective surfaces that trap sunlight. Consequently, light energy turns into heat energy to cook food kept inside a hot pot or conductive container.
Over the years, the market for solar cookers has shifted from camping items to homeware. That’s because many families and individuals are adopting sustainable ways to keep the environment safe.
If you’re interested in eliminating the preventable consumption of nonrenewable fuels, you should consider a solar cooker. Its eco-friendly design promotes low-impact cooking. In turn, frequent usage can reduce your carbon footprint.
Moreover, it can be an economic investment to save dollars spent on electric and gas stoves. Therefore, you should consider the feasibility, size, and functionality before purchasing.
For your consideration, we have rounded up the best solar cookers online to give you a nudge in the right direction. Let’s have a look.
The 5 Best Solar Cookers 2023: Which One Should You Choose?
Portability and user-friendliness are some of the most important things to consider when buying a cooker. Cost-effectiveness serves as another valuable factor in this virtual shopping pursuit.
It would help if you ask the following questions before purchase:
- Price: What’s the price of an excellent solar cooker?
- Usability: Can beginners use it well, and can you pack it for camping trips?
- Size and Capacity: What’s the size of the cooker? Does it accommodate your cooking needs?
Your responses will allow you to buy a cooker that aligns with your environmental and budget goals. Now we’ll help you achieve this feat by introducing some stellar options.
Here are the best solar cookers for 2023:
Best Solar Cooker for Beginners: Haines 2.0 Solar Cooker (+ 4-Quart Dutch Oven)
The Haines 2.0 Solar Cooker (12x 7 inches) and 4-Quart Dutch Oven provides users with the best of both worlds. This eco-friendly product has everything you need to cook delicious meals under the sun.
The panels are color-coded to simplify the setup. You won’t have any trouble adjusting the panels or disassembling them because the cooker’s core components snap on and off with ease.
Additionally, its strategically-placed reflectors allow you to shift the petal panels according to the direction of the sunlight. In this way, the heat energy reaches the pot from all angles.
These adaptable design features ensure that your cooker receives sufficient energy to cook, bake, fry, boil, stew food.
What’s more, beginners and individuals interested in cooking on the go will appreciate its portable size. The cook (without the dutch oven) weighs around 20 ounces. That makes it easy to carry around when camping or on a road trip.
Key Specs:
- USP: Easy setup with color-coded assembly points
- Versatility: The adaptable design accommodates multiple cooking styles
- Temperature: 325 F
- Weight: 2.6 lbs.
- Size: 12 x 7inches
Pros
- User-friendly
- Can cook one quart of water within 40 minutes
- Portable and lightweight design
- Versatile uses for solar cooking
- Adjustable reflectors help maximize energy efficiency
- Highly durable construction
- Reasonably-priced
Cons
- No manufacturer’s warranty
- It would help if you placed weights to prevent it from moving during windy weather
- Not suitable for cooking big meals
Overall Verdict: Is It Worth the Price?
It’s a sustainable solar cooker. We give it a 4.5/5 for usability, size, and budget. You can’t go wrong with this one regardless of your experience with solar-powered cooking products.
However, the small size can pose a problem during rough weather. You can place weights to sort out the minor inconvenience.
Click here to buy it from Amazon.
- Top Ranked Solar Cooker
- Cook Delicious Meals Using the Power Of the Sun
- For Home Use, Camping or Keep On Hand for Power Outages and Emergencies
- Adjustable to Maximize Sun Power
- Easy to Set-Up and Store
The Family Pick: SolCook All Season Solar Cooker (Camper)
Most cookers that operate on sunlight come in small sizes. They might be easy to use but are unsuitable for cooking for larger gatherings. SolCook introduced the Camper (17x 12 inches) to fill this void.
The manufacturer upgraded one of the best solar cookers in its inventory for a supersized design. Like the previous renditions, you can reposition the panels to adjust sunlight.
In addition to this, the kit comes with a compact “sun tool.” It modifies the orientation of your cooker to reach optimum solar radiation coverage throughout the day.
The specialized design and foldable flaps are a surefire hit among families and friends adopting a sustainable lifestyle. But, at the same time, the large size might limit usage outside your premises.
Yet, we believe it’s an excellent fixture for day-to-day cooking and backyard parties.
Key Specs
- USP: A well-designed and large-scale solar cooker for outdoor parties
- Versatility: Multiple uses and higher heat threshold
- Temperature: Cook food at up to 400 F
- Weight: 4.5 lbs.
- Size: 17x 12 inches
Pros
- A big camper-style cooker with higher capacity and space for two pots
- It comes with a sun finder tool to help adjust the orientation of its solar reflectors for maximum sunlight coverage
- An affordable and cost-effective investment for solar chefs
- You can convert it into a space-saving shape for storage
- Available in different colors
Cons
- The bright colors might not appeal to everyone
- Assembling this solar cooker isn’t easy
- It’s bulky
Overall Verdict: Is It Worth the Price?
SolCook’s Camper matches the needs of a multi-generational family and large group of friends. In addition, it enables solar chefs to continue cooking in environmentally-friendly conditions regardless of the party size.
The only problem one might face comes from its complicated construction. In addition, new users might require some learning time to handle the heat.
Due to this, we give this product a 4 out of 5 for usability, size, and price.
Click here to buy from Amazon.
- This will be your "go to" solar cooker. Use any size cookware, up to a turkey roaster.
- Best for solar cooking. The ASSC Camper, by SolCook is large and powerful. It can produce more cooked food than any other design of its size.
- Rugged and lightweight. The cooker is constructed using food grade virgin polypropylene (PP) flute board. PP is that weatherproof material that is used in political lawn signs and other outdoor applications. Extremely rugged and completely waterproof. It will not tear, fracture or become waterlogged
- The cooker arrives in a box that measures 18 in by 14 in by 4 in. We are a “green” shipper so absolutely no extra packing materials are used. Included in the package are a 14 page user/instruction manual, all required hardware, two extra large reusable cooking bags and the Sunsight, a device that aids in proper alignment of the cooker. A folding cooking rack is also include
- Although shipped compactly, the assembled cooker has a maximum dimension of 28” by 28” by 24”. The cooking floor measures 17” by 12” and will easily hold a turkey roaster. Once the cooker is out of its shipping box, it can be folded to just 1/2 inch thickness and 24” wide by 48” long. This configuration fits easily into very narrow spaces or under the bunk of your camper.
Budget Pick: JWN Portable Solar Cooker Bag
If you’re on a budget, The JWN Portable Solar Cooker Bag will be the perfect fit for you. It’s one of the best solar cookers for someone hesitant to make a more significant investment.
Luckily, the low cost doesn’t impact its effectiveness. You can trust its premium-grade quality and durable construction to last for years. Plus, the setup doesn’t require any effort.
That’s because it features a 2-in-1 design where the bag acts as the solar cooker. So you only need to open the flaps and get cooking wherever you find an excellent sunlit spot.
Besides that, you can cook everything from ramen noodles to a roast on your solar-generated cooking station. However, you might experience some minor setbacks in windy or cloudy weather.
Due to this, you should carry a thermometer to overcome inconsistencies by changing its angle.
Key Specs
- USP: Travel-friendly solar cooker that offers excellent value for cooks on a budget
- Versatility: Great for cooking simple meals that don’t require high temperatures
- Weight: 1.2 lbs.
- Temperature: 248 F
- Size: 26.8 in x 15.7 inches
Pros
- User-friendly setup
- Easy to carry for camping and as emergency gear
- High durability
- Adequate capacity to cook meals that serve 3-4 people
Cons
- Requires more sunlight and a hotter climate than other solar cookers
- It doesn’t come with a pot or solar cooking accessories
Overall Verdict: Is It Worth the Price?
We give JWN Portable Solar Cooker Bag full marks for offering an eco-friendly cooking solution at a reasonable price. Yet, we can’t deny that better cookers are out there to optimize sun radiation and heating parameters.
Therefore, we recommend this for users interested in testing solar energy cooking options while sticking to a budget. Alternatively, it does work as a handy emergency eco-cooking kit.
Click here to buy it on Amazon.
- Open size: approx. 68*40cm / 26.8"*15.7" (When Opened)
- Folding size: approx. 47cm *43.5cm / 18.5"*17.1" (Folding)
- Working Condition: sunny days
- Temp Range: 80°C-120°C
- Max Temp: 120°C
Best Traveling Solar Cooker: GoSun Go Camp Stove Solar Cooker
Are you looking for something less basic?
Campers, hikers, and solo hitchhikers can travel in style with the GoSun Go Camp Stove Solar Cooker.
The minimalist design allows you to carry it around whenever you’re stepping out for an outdoor trip. It’s equally appropriate for small solar-focused home cooking ventures in your yard.
Unlike others, this solar cooker comes in a compact case with a tubular oven-like contraption in the middle. The cylinder works like a mini-cooker made of stainless steel and an evacuated glass tube. These two design elements create a vacuum to optimize cooking time. It’s why you can cook up a tasty meal in less than 30 minutes when the sun’s out.
The camp-friendly solar cooker has a companion cooking kit. It includes a hardshell carry case that shields the delicate device from environmental elements when not in use.
There are food-safe cooking pans and a stainless steel tray. In addition to this, you receive an easy-to-follow user guide to learn solar cooking tips.
Amateur solar cooks can find this helpful and practical for their eco-focused cooking pursuits.
Key Specs
- USP: Advanced design that saves packing space and retains 80% heat energy from the sun
- Versatility: You can use it to boil, roast, and even bake lean meat
- Weight: Nearly 2 lbs
- Temperature: 550 F
- Size: 14.17 x 7.09 x 3.35 inches
Pros
- The ultimate travel companion for solar cooks
- Higher efficiency rates for absorbing and retaining heat energy
- Consistent cooking performance It comes with a solar cooking kit to support usage
Cons
- Single-person use only
- Minor durability issues
Overall Verdict: Is It Worth the Price?
GoSun gets everyone’s attention with its compact, easy-to-pack, and user-oriented design. These specifications make it one of the best solar cookers for solo travelers and people who live alone. Moreover, it doesn’t put a dent in your wallet.
Therefore, you should try your hand at solar cooking with this valuable investment.
Click here to buy it on Amazon.
- ☀️ULTRA PORTABLE - The GoSun Go is the most portable model in the GoSun lineup. Weighing just 2 pounds (0.9kg), the GoSun Go is ready for adventure on land and sea, in the summer or winter months!
- ☀️FAST AND RELIABLE - Cooks a meal in as little as 20 minutes, reaching temperatures up to 550°F (290°C) in full sunlight. The GoSun Sport is effective at capturing ultraviolet light and holding its heat. If you can see a defined shadow, you can cook!
- ☀️JUST ADD SUN - If you have a sunny day, you will have a hot meal with the GoSun Go Portable Solar oven. GoSun's patented solar cooking technology absorbs a broad spectrum of radiation, so as long as you have a bit of sun, you're in business.
- ☀️INCLUDED - A durable evacuated glass tube oven, 2 parabolic reflectors, EVA frame, stainless steel cooking tray, stabilizer stand, User Manual and Mini Cookbook to help users get started. (sun dial, cooking cups, bag only with gosun go pro)
The Premium Choice: The All American Sun Oven Solar Cooker
The All American Sun Oven/Solar Cooker often ranks high on the “best solar cookers” list. However, we don’t find that surprising when comparing it to the competition.
That’s because this high-end product does have an edge over others. All thanks to its ingenious construction.
This premium pick features a sturdy cooking area with rust-resistant anodized aluminum reflectors and a rustic wooden box-like structure. It uses the collective conductive capabilities of the two components to increase solar energy collection.
In addition to this, the interiors feature an internal rack. You can re-adjust it to align with the sun’s rays.
Moreover, while other solar cookers provide two to three variations, this product offers ten height-related configurations. You’ll also like the sun tracker available in the kit—it allows maximizing the accuracy of angles you set for the sun reflectors.
In short, this sun-powered cooking station supersedes your average eco-consciously designed cooker.
However, its advanced technology and mechanism aren’t cheap. As a result, you might find the final price tag steeper than its counterparts. It’s why we recommend choosing other budget-friendly options.
Key Specs
- USP: You can cook faster and better with this upscale solar cooker.
- Versatility: It allows you to cook and bake tasty meals without overusing nonrenewable fuels
- Temperature: 360- 400 F
- Weight: 23 lbs.
- Size: 24 x 15.15 x 20.5 inches
Pros
- A no-fuss design with high usability rates
- Premium quality construction that retains maximum heat
- Multiple adjustments to generate solar power throughout the day
Cons
- Some might consider it too pricey
- It can’t withstand rainy or windy weather
- You can’t carry it around because of its weight and cumbersome design
Overall Verdict: Is It Worth the Price?
The All American Sun Oven Solar Cooker serves as the Masterchef cooking station for solar chefs. The reason for this lies in its detail-oriented design and customizable settings. For example, users can turn it around, shift sunlight angles and modify height according to individual requirements.
Due to this, we give it a 4 out of 5 on usability, price, and size.
Click here to buy it on Amazon.
- Save money and be prepared with the world's most well-respected solar cooking appliance. Use at home or for emergency preparedness.
- Includes: Lightweight, portable solar oven that reaches 360-400 degrees
- Includes: Dehydrating & Baking Rack Set, 2 Easy Stack Pots w/ lids, 2 Loaf Pans & one Multi-Fuel Water Pasteurizing Indicator
- Oven is American made
- Comes with the Sun Oven Cookbook
The Final Stance: Which Solar Cooker Should You Choose?
When it comes to size, usability, and price, Haines 2.0 wins on all accounts.
The outdoor stove uses precision and practical strategies to ensure your solar cooking ideas don’t go amiss. Moreover, the compactness allows you to save storage space when you’re out and about on a camping trip.
On the other hand, you should splurge if you have extra cash. Buy the All American Sun Oven Solar Cooker to enjoy the full advantage of a solar-powered cooking station.
In the end, your choice depends on your cooking needs. However, once you prioritize these variables, you can get the best solar cooker to suit your specs.
