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.

Bread Secrets

This past weekend was fantastic for cooking in the sun. Temperatures weren't too hot to keep people inside, but the sun was unabated from cloud cover. LaRue, a Utah dealer of the Sun Oven, was out in West Jordan at a Mother's Day Garden Fair for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and in addition to showing people just how the Sun Oven works from the booth space she had, she taught two classes that proved very useful.

The photo included with this post shows one of her many secrets to baking bread. She baked this bread the previous day to use as an example of how well the Sun Oven can cook breads. Because of how the Sun Oven cooks, the bread will not turn brown as it cooks. In order to get this affect, you have to grab a little squirt bottle and spray a little water on top. This concept is similar to when you go swimming and the water on your skin gets a little more tan because the water magnifies the rays of the sun, thus turning your skin (or the bread crust) brown.

If anyone else has some secret methods for baking bread, or anything else, please share them at sunovensusa@gmail.com.

Sun Ovens in the Utah News

Natalie Barron with Bee Provident Supplies in Lehi, Utah was at the EarthFest at the University of Utah during Earth Day 2009. While at the event, Fox13 reporter Scott McKane came to cover EarthFest and ended up interviewing Natalie about the Sun Oven. It was aired later that day on KSTU Fox 13.

For those living in Davis or Weber County, you may be interested in an article from the Standard Examiner, "Baking while the sun Shines." Jeff Demoss interviewed Paul Munsen with Sun Ovens International while he was here on tour. Demoss also interviewed Delois with Survival Solutions in Layton, who sell the Sun Oven. It is a great article, and if you are interested in reading it, click here.

Both Bee Provident Supplies and Survival Solutions are dealers of the Sun Oven, and there are also other dealers throughout the state.

News segments in Utah media

Mike and Natalie Barron (Bee Provident Supplies) did a great segment this morning on KJZZ at 9:25 a.m. They had set the Sun Oven up around 8:40 a.m. and by showtime, the oven had reached 320 degrees. They had cooked some bread over the weekend and that was used in the segment to show that you really can cook in the Sun Oven.

The Barron's are from Utah County and recently became a dealer of the Sun Ovens. To find a Utah dealer in your area, click here.

The weather in Utah is supposed to be in the low 70s for the next few days, so it is perfect weather for cooking in the Sun.

If anyone missed any of the other news segments that featured the Sun Oven, check out the links to the stories below, listed in chronological order.

KSL Studio 5 - Paul Munsen talks about the Sun Oven in studio

Good Things Utah - Paul Munsen shows the Global and Villager Sun Ovens

The Spectrum (St. George) - Paul Munsen is part of a class in St. George on solar cooking

KCSG (St. George) - Paul Munsen shows and discusses both the Villager and Global Sun Ovens

KSL5-News - Jed Boal reports on the Global Sun Oven

Enjoy the stories and share them with your friends. If you are doing something in your area with the Sun Oven (i.e. teaching a class, using it regularly, cooking something unique, etc.), e-mail sunovensusa@gmail.com and we will share your stories with everyone.

Free Solar Cookings Class - Friday (April 17)

The Villager Sun Oven is being featured at two upcoming classes during its last week full week on tour in Utah. Don't miss your chance to cook with the power of the Sun. The classes are free to attend and both the Villager and the Global Sun Oven will be on display, and food will be cooked (as weather permits).

Don't forget about the classes in Logan at Macey's this Saturday. See previous posts for more information on those classes.

Here are the details for the two classes held this week in Salt Lake County. We will see you there.

Wednesday, April 15 from 11-1 p.m. and from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
3131 East Delsa Drive (3995 South)
Salt Lake County
Call LaRue with any questions - (801) 278-9473

Friday, April 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Cove at Herriman Springs
7200 West 14200 South
Salt Lake County
Call Michelle with any questions - (801) 253-7355

Update on Tour Schedule

Today, Paul Munsen will be in Vernal at the Garden Show, featuring the Sun Oven. There wasn't space for the Villager Sun Oven to be at the event, but the Global Sun Oven will be there. Here is a quick rundown of the schedule for the remainder of the month with events that relate to the Villager Sun Oven Tour:

• Friday, April 10 - Annual Spring Home & Garden Show And Outdoor Expo at Vernal's Western Park.
• Saturday, April 11 - Class at Kitchen Kneads begins at 10 a.m. 7579 S Redwood Rd., West Jordan (801) 561-9616
• Saturday, April 11 - Civil Defense Volunteers of Utah meeting at 7:00 pm at the Salt Lake City and County Building
• Wednesday, April 15 - LaRue Howells will be doing a demo on Solar Cooking, which will include the Villager and Global Sun Ovens from 11-1 p.m. (801) 278-9473
• Friday, April 17 - LaRue Howells will be doing a demo on Solar Cooking, which will include the Villager and Global Sun Ovens from 11-1 p.m. (801) 278-9473
• Saturday, April 18 - Class at Maceys begins at 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. 50 North Highway 165, Logan/Providence (435)-753-3301
• Wednesday, April 22 - Earthfest at the Union Plaza at the University of Utah from 10:30AM-1:30PM

Also, keep an eye out in the Standard Examiner in Ogden, Utah for an upcoming article on the Villager and Global Sun Ovens, as well as KJZZ and other news media.

Great story on KSL's Studio 5

Paul Munsen with Sun Ovens International did a great job on a five-minute segment on KSL's (Channel 5) Studio 5 at 11 a.m. yesterday. Prior to the segment, he cooked some cinnamon rolls in the Global Sun Oven, then as the segment was winding down, he and the host, Darin, got to bite into them. They were delicious.

Click here to view the segment online.

It was a great segment because it showed the practical uses of the Sun Oven and how easy and fun it is to cook in it. I know the weather is a little "unsure" at this time of year, but knowing that the Oven works, especially with a hot Utah summer just around the corner, it's a great time to look at getting one.