SLC Mayor Becker Gets a Taste

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker had the opportunity to taste a solar cooked meal as part of the Solar Cooking Challenge. The weather was pretty sketchy that day, but Paul Munsen with Sun Ovens International was able to speak with the Mayor about the many benefits to using a solar oven.

The Sun Oven works great as an emergency prep tool. But there was also discussion about its use as a piece of camping equipment. This is a product with many uses, and one that can save money on utility bills because it does not use electricity or gas from a conventional oven.

Paul even shared the WAPI (Water Purification Indicator) with Mayor Becker. The WAPI is a simple little tool for knowing when water that is placed in the Sun Oven has been purified, since the water won't really come to a boil in the oven.

So Far So Good!

One day into the Solar Cooking Challenge, residents across Utah are responding to the call and whipping out some great meals in their solar ovens. Here are some photos that have been submitted so far from people in Syracuse, Spanish Fork, Delta, Farmington and South Jordan.

Meals have include a complete breakfast (eggs, toast and bacon), chicken fajitas, oats, chocolate chip pan cookies, muffins and cakes.

Way to go Utah. Even though the weather is a little cloudy today, let's get ready and hit it hard over the weekend and see how many more meals and photos will help contribute to cleaner air in Utah as we reduce the fuels burned and electricity used for cooking.

Keep cooking Utah.

Newspaper Article on Solar Cooking in Utah

The Salt Lake Tribune published a great article yesterday about solar cooking and the Solar Cooking Challenge, which kicks off today. Click here to read the article.

To submit your entry for the Solar Cooking Challenge, click here or on the link in the upper right-hand corner of the blog. And don't forget, the more meals you cook in it, and photos you submit, the better your chances are of winning some of the great prizes.

Plus, check below for information on the classes that are being held on Friday and Saturday of this week. Learn how to solar cook if this is something that you have never done before. Keep your eyes in the Utah media and look for stories about how easy solar cooking can be and the many benefits of solar cooked food.

Utah's Solar Cooking Challenge

Is Utah up for the challenge?

Estimates place more than 7,000 solar ovens in Utah, but only about 40 percent of them are being used on a semi-regular basis. The rest are setting in boxes next to the large food storage shelves in Utah basements. While solar ovens make a great emergency preparedness tool, there are many Green benefits to it, too.

Sun Ovens International is calling on all Utah residents to take part in the Solar Cooking Challenge from June 25 through July 1. As meals are cooked, people can show off their culinary cuisines via the link on the blog (forthcoming) and enter for a chance to win cool prizes - Sun Ovens, pots, pans, and cookbooks.

The goal is to cook 50,000 meals during the challenge, which is a lofty goal, but achievable through a commitment of Utah residents to open those solar oven boxes and give it a whirl. Some of the solar cooking benefits include:

No Emissions - Since there are no fuels being burned (i.e. propane, charcoal, wood, natural gas), there are no harmful emissions being released into Utah's air. The only thing emanating from the oven will be the smells of cooking food.

No Air Conditioning - When cooking in the conventional oven in the kitchen, the house inevitably begins to heat up as the heat from the even seeps into the kitchen and throughout the house. This means the air conditioning has to turn on and fight against the oven. By cooking outdoors, you eliminate this battle of energy consumers - Oven v. Air Conditioning.

Won't Burn - Solar cooking, at least in a Sun Oven, helps eliminate burnt foods. The sealed box keeps moisture in, while cooking in a conventional oven or on the stove allows the moisture to escape.

If you don't know how to cook in a solar oven, here are three classes that are taking place in Utah:

Friday June 26 10 am
Kitchen Kneads
3030 Grant
Ogden, UT 84401

Saturday June 27 10 am
Kitchen Kneads
7579 S Redwood Road
West Jordan, UT 84084

Saturday June 27 12:00-2:00 PM
Vernon Worthen Park
300 South 400 East
St George UT 84770

These classes are great opportunities to learn about the many benefits of solar cooking, see the oven in action and take advantage of the Solar Cooking Challenge June 25 through July 1.