101 Reasons Why I Recommend A Sun Oven

I have 101 reasons why I recommend a Sun Oven for you today! Just so you know, I live in Southern Utah where I have a lot of sunshine to heat my Sun Oven. I received an email yesterday from a reader asking me if we can use a Dutch oven in a Sun Oven. Here’s the deal with that idea, if your Dutch oven is large the weight alone would tip the inner “cradle” inside the Sun oven that holds the pans so they bake evenly. If you want to use a Dutch oven I suggest using rocks with charcoal in a protected area, or a firepit in the ground with charcoal or wood. Keep in mind that the Sun Oven is perfect for camping because you have zero fire issues with no flame, no fuel required to bake your meals.

I have written a post on how to open the box if you purchase a Sun Oven because people are sometimes afraid they won’t know how to use it. Here’s the link: How To Use A Sun Oven. Paul Munsen designed this genius machine. You open the box, remove the film on the shiny reflectors, and boil some vinegar water and wipe it out. The instructions are included in the box and are easy to follow. Paul sent me my first Sun Oven about 4 years ago so I could write a review. I loved it so much I bought a second one. Plus, I have been writing posts about them for four years now. It is not uncommon for me to have both of my ovens cooking outside in my backyard several days a week. Just think about this, once you purchase this baby you will never have to pay for fuel, charcoal, propane or electricity again! The old style is black like mine and the new ones are blue. All American Sun Oven- The Ultimate Solar Appliance

Your meals will never burn, yes you heard me right! I have to tell you a funny story. I put my whole wheat bread in both ovens one day and ran down the street to visit a friend and totally forgot my bread for two hours. It was perfectly fine even though it baked an extra hour and a half.

Whatever you bake in your conventional oven you can bake in your Sun Oven, if you have sunshine. You can start your meal before you go run errands and position the oven so it gets the best angle of sunshine while you are gone and it will be cooked when you get home. Of course, you can’t start the meal one hour before the sun goes down or the food will not be cooked. I typically start my bread, cookies, casseroles, corn or whatever between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. I have the older style Sun Oven but it works great for me. I learned how to position it for the sun. The new ones have a built in unit to help you turn it correctly to get the best angle of the sun. Here is how I position my Sun Oven, check out the squares on the sides of the oven:

101 Reasons I Recommend A Sun Oven:

These are all the things I have cooked or baked in my Sun ovens. I want you to know how much I love these ovens because they save me money on utilities!! They are perfect for power outages, but also everyday use as well. I have actually cooked more than 101 items, but this just shows you all the stuff you can bake in one of these great cooking sources. If the pan or pans fit and you have the sunshine to keep the temperature correct you can bake anything. Remember, you use the recipes you have right now, no special recipes required. It’s an awesome oven, I promise.

bake bread
bake brownies
make hard boiled eggs (I bake mine in a muffin tin)
boil macaroni
boil rice
boil quinoa
bake a cake
bake a whole chicken
cook corn on the cob in the husks
bake potatoes
bake yams or sweet potatoes
make funeral potatoes (we call them cheesy potatoes in Utah)
boil water
bake cupcakes
bake cookies
bake chicken casseroles
make macaroni and cheese
make a green bean casserole
bake a ham
bake barbecued chicken
dehydrate fruits with the racks
dehydrate vegetables with the racks
dehydrate herbs with the racks
bake a quiche
bake pork chops
bake chopped onions
bake cauliflower
bake zucchini
bake yellow crookneck squash
bake sliced carrots
bake pumpkin bread
make soups
make lasagna
make beans (if you soak them overnight)
make oatmeal
make muffins
baked beans
bake sliced beets
scrambled eggs
pulled pork
bake a pork shoulder roast
make carnitas
make shredded pork for burritos
make shredded beef for tacos
sun roasted cooked chickpeas drained with olive oil and a little chili powder added
bake some salmon
bake asparagus
bake a turkey (up to 20 lbs.)
make Spanish rice
bake garlic cloves (peeled)
peach cobbler
apple pie
flan cake
cherry pie
pumpkin pie
pecan pie
lamb chops
meatballs
good old Shepherd’s pie (cooked hamburger, tomato soup, and mashed potatoes)
corn muffins
bran muffins
banana muffins
pumpkin muffins
apple crisp
chicken noodle soup
mini egg muffins
bake chili with beans (I use precooked beans with my recipe)
bake white chicken chili (I use canned chicken and white navy beans from a can)
bake shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, and shredded yellow straight neck squash
bake chicken legs with the skin on with olive oil drizzled on them with salt and pepper
bake chicken thighs with the skin on with olive oil drizzled on them with salt and pepper
bake chicken breasts with the skin on with olive oil drizzled on them with salt and pepper
bake turkey breasts with the skin on with olive oil drizzled on them with salt and pepper
bake chicken tenderloins and then shred the baked chicken and use it in recipes during the week
bake some apples (remove the cores) with cinnamon and sugar
bake peeled peaches with a little cinnamon and sugar
make mashed potatoes with or without the peelings (place the one-inch cubes covered in a pan of water)
boil spaghetti without having to watch it boil (set and forget it covered in water)
make spaghetti sauce from scratch
make lime cilantro rice
make refried beans (I use canned pinto beans drained)
boil Kamut (Trademarked)
chicken and broccoli casserole
chicken tetrazzini
bake enchiladas
make meat stuffed bell peppers
make cooked quinoa stuffed bell peppers
chicken and rice casserole
scalloped potatoes
bread pudding
turkey dressing
ham and bean soup
taco soup
cheesy cauliflower casserole
rice pudding
sweet and sour chicken
baked short ribs
spicy chicken wings
poppy seed chicken
chili macaroni
hamburger layered dinner

Sometimes things just sound too good to be true. How could one inexpensive Sun Oven possibly cook all these food options, just like a regular kitchen oven? Well, it is true because I’ve done it! I’m sure there are dozens of other things you can find to try in yours. Be creative and enjoy saving money at the same time. Happy cooking in your very own Sun Oven.