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Best Solar Oven? Sport Oven
Which is the best solar oven?
What I like and dislike about my SOS Sport Oven I have had my Sport Oven for about a couple of years now and I still use it quite often, even though I have several other kinds of solar cookers available for use.
I will start off by listing the things that I do like about my Sport.
I like how light and easy it is to transport.
Though it is not super compact like some people would prefer; it is not too large or bulky to handle easily. (Compactness is difficult to achieve in a box cooker)
I like how very stable and sturdy the Sport is, it is probably the least affected by windy conditions out of all of my solar cookers because of the large base, or footprint, of the cooker; making it very immovable in a stiff breeze.
The reflector panels also remain very steady and do not move back and forth with a gust like most of the other cookers I have, and this because of the spring clips or attachments that come standard on the panels.
I like how my Sport Solar Oven has a wide interior, which is second only to the Tulsi in width. The Sport allows for larger cookie sheets, two loaf pans, two pie tins or two roaster pots at a time.
(One must also remember with any solar cooker that the greater the amount of food being cooked, the longer cook time required)
I use the Sport to bake cookies, cakes and breads, and to do many full size casserole dishes.
(I frequently cook bacon on cookie sheets in my Sport, over cooking (crisping) it if I forget and leave it too long.)
The interior of the Sport is deep enough for many sizes of pots, although not quite as deep as the GSO.
I like the fact also that the Sport is one of the least expensive of the manufactured solar box cookers, even, and notwithstanding the fact that it includes two black roaster pans and a thermometer, as well as a WAPI (Water Purification Indicator) in it's still very reasonable priced.
I like the extra insulating factor that the air pocket formed (molded) into the lid (cover) creates, allowing the oven to retain more heat.
The body of the oven is also very well insulated, allowing for more heat retention and allowing for food to be left inside of the oven to keep it hot even several hours after cooking is finished.
The fact that the Sport does not get quite as hot as the Global Sun Oven on average, but I will admit that it still cooks very well and very effectively; it just takes slightly longer.
I don't like the way that moisture creeps in between the two surfaces of the insulating air pocket of the oven lid or cover.
The interior sheet of the lid is attached using a transparent tape, but for some reason it lets a bit of moisture into the insulating air pocket.
The cover though, is made of very durable transparent lexan which makes it resistant to breaking, but it scratches with much use and cleaning and therefore it can look sort of dull; or not as clear as when first bought.
The Lexan transparent lid/cover can warp and discolor if temperatures are too excessive for too long, when oven is used with reflector panels in summer time...reflector panels should be used for early spring, late fall and winter.
* * (The Sport was not designed for extremely high temperatures like the GSO, but if used properly it is still as effective at cooking and baking as is any other solar box cooker, if not more so.)
I have somewhat solved the moisture in the air pocket problem by; un-taping the clear sheet on the bottom or inside of the lid, and cleaning it and airing it out.I then just re-tape it with clear packaging tape and it is back in good condition again.I do this every so often or as needed, and the integrity of the solar cooker is never compromised or lessened.
Another thing I dislike somewhat, yet at the same time I like, is the clips that secure and seal the lid to the oven.
The clips make it not quite as convenient or quick to access the food in the oven, and they are a little tight, but this also makes the solar oven very secure, air tight and wind resistant.
I have become very accustomed to the clips, and they are easier to use with use, thus they do not cause me much concern like some others cooks I have spoken with.
I guess though that I don't dislike them as much as some others.
The reflector panels are not the highest grade of material that could be used for an oven, when compared to such panels as those which the Global Sun Oven has.These are made of corrugated plastic, which does make them weather resistant and light weight, but the reflective material that is used to coat them is not as bright and smooth as the polished aluminum panels on the GSO or Hot Pot.
Nevertheless they do serve their purpose and they have held up well so far.
(The reflector panels do have spring attachments which make the panels very secure in windy conditions, so that is a plus.)
Another thing that I find a little difficult to have to deal with is; when it is necessary to tilt the oven to a steeper angle in the winter time in order to obtain the rays of the sun more directly. This consequently tips the pots of food within the oven to a steeper angle causing ingredients to spill out.Granted, this is a challenge with pretty much any kind or make of solar cooker when the sun is very low on the southern horizon, but can usually be remedied somewhat with a little ingenuity.
With all that being said, I do like my Sport Solar Oven and would never get rid of it. I use it constantly in conjunction with my other cookers because it has its special features that none of the other cookers have, allowing me more versatility when cooking varieties of foods.
* * Hi Nathan:
I love the Sport. I have used it the last two weekends to cook our “big” meal of the day (I didn’t get to use it before because it rained every weekend since I got it).
I cooked a roast and banana bread in the sport yesterday as well. Funny coincidences My roast was falling apart and was the best roast I have ever cooked. The banana bread came out well and I even had time to cook another loaf of bread.
I thought I would also get the Sun Oven so that I could bake more while I use the Sport to cook our main dish and veggies.
Solar cooking is a wonderful idea!!
Thanks so much for your wonderful customer support and your fabulous website. Take care, Mary Caroe, Texas
Rate A Solar Cooker: What is your favorite Solar Cooker, and Why?
The Global Sun Oven... The SOS Sport... The Hot Pot... The Cookit? Heavens Flame? Parvati? "Solar Burner"...or some other?
Which is your favorite and why do you like (it) more than any other?
What I like and dislike about my SOS Sport Oven
