[Stoves] solar cooker response (changing thread name)

[Nikhil Desai]

Andrew:

You ask, "I aslo (sic) wonder how a 900W microwave compares if it is only
heating for a few minutes."

Comparing what? I don't know about energy efficiency, nor do I care, though
my sense is, the induction stove is quicker. I would put a mug of water to
boil in a microwave, half a liter in a kettle, and two liters on an
induction stove.

(Yes, I confess to boiling water. I just don't measure efficiency.)

What matters to me is 1) the purpose, and 2) whether I need to use a glass
or ceramic container or a metal pot and whether I just need to pour out
small quantities in three different containers.

What you may want to think about is a combined microwave/convection oven (a
picture below). I inherited one from a friend; it has some 40+ programs for
cooking and reheating a wide variety of Indian dishes. I the microwave for
making rice, roasting some dry breads (lentil or rice flour) and the grill
to warm up sandwiches.

A few year ago in Vanuatu, I ran out of gas over a 5-day weekend. I cooked
a whole Indian meal in microwave, including a milk-based sweet, and used my
landlord's toaster for warming breads.

Whatever cannot be cooked with electricity at home will get outsourced
sooner or later. Plus those that can be -- e.g., breads (including
tortillas, injeras).

Fuel-based cookstoves will remain for those who remain poor. It's not as if
we have developed usable alternatives for poor households.

Nikhil




[image: Inline image 1]


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nikhil Desai
(India +91) 909 995 2080
*Skype: nikhildesai888*


On Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 3:18 PM, Andrew Heggie <aj.heggie at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 12 June 2017 at 18:42, Roger Samson <rogerenroute at yahoo.ca> wrote:
> > Yes solar thermal cooking is not very popular unless you are in fuel
> short and dry environment. I worked in central China (Gansu) and they had
> the leading program in the world at the time but it was still mainly used
> for boiling potatoes and drinking water. The locals still cooked their
> noodles and sauces on biomass stoves. Biomass stoves remained their primary
> stove with solar cookers a secondary appliance.
>
>
> I have no experience of solar cooking but can understand this in that
> cooking fits into a routine, so lighting the stove and cooking the
> meal or heating a drink will be almost automatic to the cook and
> having to decide whether to deploy the solar cooker  would need a bit
> more consideration. Whereas Anand's solar drying use would be pre
> planned and less subject to the vagaries of sunshine at any one
> moment.
>
>
> >
> > If you look at the numbers its electrical cooking fueled by solar panels
> that looks like its going to get very cheap. In terms of  convenience and
> safety it doesnt get better than electrical cooking. I think it will
> largely replace gas stoves in the future.
>
> Have you access to any of these numbers? Following on from some of
> Nikhil's exhortations to use induction hobs I purchase a simple single
> pot one. I am impressed, it heats up very quickly for a stir fry and
> if I were a better organised cook I could boil rice and set it to
> finish in a haybox, stir fry some vegetables and then add some pre
> cooked beans and have a meal on the table for four in 30 minutes.
>
> The question is how much electricity is used and what sized battery
> bank I would need to store it?
>
> I will try to remember to use a watthour meter soon unless you have
> already got figures.
>
> I aslo wonder how a 900W microwave compares if it is only heating for
> a few minutes.
>
> Andrew
>
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