Have you ever been to a campsite only to be told no campfires are allowed? Were your kids looking forward to cooking s’mores but no longer can? Will your lack of morning coffee ruin your camping experience? Worry no more, as a solar oven may be just what you need!
Solar ovens are easily one of the best cooking utensils any camper can add to their backpack. By using solar energy, you can be eating all your favorite meals in minutes without the worry a campfire can bring. They are also perfect for anyone looking to lower their carbon footprint.
So whether you frequently camp during the summer or you are just looking for an alternative to the traditional backyard barbecue – here is our guide to finding the best solar oven for you today!
The Best Solar Ovens of 2021
- All American Sun Oven – Best Overall
- GOSUN Survival Gear Solar Oven – Best For Easy Use
- Sunflair Mini Portable Solar Oven – Best Budget
- Sunflair Portable Solar Oven Deluxe – Best Runner-Up
- GOSUN Fusion Solar Oven – Best Hybrid
- GDAE10 Portable Solar Cooker – Best For High Temperatures
- Zoomarlous Solar Oven – Best For Portability
- YNNG BBQ Solar Cooking Grill – Best For BBQ
From hybrid solar ovens to small portable designs, we have covered the highest-rated solar ovens available on the market right now. Check out our solar oven reviews below to find your next favorite solar cooking oven!
Solar Oven Reviews
Best Overall: All American Sun Oven
Key Features:
- Comes with a range of accessories
- Large cooking space for multiple meals
- Extremely portable design
- Available at an affordable price
If you are looking for the best overall solar oven that is designed for all types of users, then look no further than the All American Sun Oven. This comprehensive package contains everything you need to enhance your outdoor cooking experience.
The portable All American sun oven comes with a dual-purpose leveling rack, ensuring your food cooks evenly and preventing spillage inside. This makes it perfect for cooking all sorts of camping snacks from corn dogs to cookies.
In terms of size, few solar ovens on the market will offer as much cooking space as this option does. With enough room for at least 5 people’s meals, you will be cooking up food for the entire family in no time. Pair this up with the portability provided and you will never go hungry on a camping expedition again.
The All American sun oven is supplied with an array of bonus accessories meaning you don’t need to splash out on a bunch of extras. From a water pasteurization indicator to a baking and dehydrating rack, it also comes with a unique cookbook helping you get to grips with it instantly.
Regardless of whether you are looking for a reliable camping companion or you are just looking for emergency preparedness, the All American Sun oven may very well be the oven you need!
Best For Easy Use: GOSUN Survival Gear Solar Oven
Key Features:
- Portable clamshell-like design
- Can be set up in seconds
- Comes with a range of useful accessories
- Reaches high cooking temperatures quickly
Ease of use is the name of the game when it comes to the GOSUN Survival Gear Solar Oven. This exceptional portable solar oven offers everything you need to cook on the go without needing to spend hours to get to grips with it.
Ideal for beginners due to how easy it is to use, this portable stove can be deployed in seconds thanks to an intuitive design. The foldable design allows you to shut your cooking tube in a clamshell style, which, when paired up with the carrying handles, offers a compelling portable solar oven.
Unlike some other affordable solar ovens, this one completely lowers the risk of any potential fire hazards. The external vacuum tube offers incredible levels of insulation, keeping the exterior of your solar oven cool to the touch – no matter how hot the inside gets.
The GOSUN solar oven is also one of the hottest ovens featured today, reaching a maximum temperature of 550°F. By capturing ultraviolet light and directing it to your food, all your favorite snacks and camping meals will be cooked in no time.
Accessible products available at an affordable price are few and far between. This is why the GOSUN Survival Solar Oven is a standout product. Don’t sleep on this fantastic camping solar cooker, grab it while you can!
Best Budget: Sunflair Mini Portable Solar Oven
Key Features:
- Incredibly lightweight & portable design
- 30-day return policy
- Available at an affordable price
- Comes with a food thermometer
One of the biggest benefits of a solar oven over a camping stove is its incredible portability. Carrying a bulky and heavy tool around with you can be a pain, which is why the Sunflair Mini Portable Solar Oven is incredibly convenient.
With one of the smallest designs featured today, this portable solar oven can easily be packed away into your backpack to offer portability like no other.
Featuring a foldable design that allows you to shrink this oven down to the size of a laptop, this is ideal for those looking to save packing space. The oven itself also only weighs around 1lb, 12oz so it is extremely lightweight.
In terms of performance, this excellent budget solar oven is no slouch. The Sunflair Mini Portable Solar Oven has been designed to cook some of the most popular camping snacks. From baked apples to Hot Dogs, this ideal cooking tool has got you covered.
Durability has also been considered. Though the portable design may suggest a weak structure, this is far from the truth. The Sunflair Mini Portable Solar Oven can take more than a few bumps. You are also covered by a 30-day return policy allowing you to try before you buy.
Any campers or cookers who are wanting leave behind a low carbon footprint should check this superb portable product out. It offers everything you would expect from a solar oven twice the price in a package half the size!
Best Runner-Up: Sunflair Portable Solar Oven Deluxe
Key Features:
- Covers every temperature range you will need
- Comes with an array of additions
- Extremely lightweight and portable
- No real assembly is required
A favorite among campers around the world, the Sunflair Portable Solar Oven Deluxe is a highly recommended addition to any trip outdoors. Easily one of the most versatile solar ovens available thanks to its high heat levels and decent capacity, flip open your cookbook and choose any of your favorite meals!
Lightweight and surprisingly small thanks to a modular design, this solar oven can be folded away and put in the trunk of your car with ease. You can also fold it up for larger backpacks giving you heat on the go.
Ideal for larger families, this solar oven offers enough cooking room for 4-8 people. Gather all your camping buddies around, as we are certain they will all appreciate the performance of this stellar solar cooker.
To round out this incredible option, it comes with all the accessories and additional tools you will need. This package includes a solar oven thermometer, 2 conducting baking trays, 2 dehydrating racks, an enamelware pot, 2 silicone pots, and a useful carrying bag. What other products can boast that many additions to an already outstanding purchase?
So whether you are new to the world of solar ovens or you are just looking to upgrade your current one, this is the option for you. Available at an amazing price and regularly included in sales, be sure to add this to your shopping cart.
Best Hybrid: GOSUN Fusion Solar Oven
Key Features:
- Combines solar and electrical energy
- High maximum temperature
- Provides 4-6 servings per load
- Portable design can be deployed in seconds
If you aren’t ready to take the leap and rely solely on a solar oven then the GOSUN Fusion is perfect for you. Combining the best of both electrical and solar ovens, this hybrid oven has been designed to offer everything you could need, and more!
With an anodized aluminum reflector frame and a lightweight design, this premium solar oven is one of the best available to date. Unlike most solar ovens, this can be used at night thanks to the addition of an electric cooking option. This also means it is more powerful than your traditional solar oven.
In terms of how many people this can cook food for, expect your entire family to leave with full stomachs. Offering enough room for 4-6 meals per load, this is the ideal solar cooker for large families or tight-knit campmates.
When it comes to setting this incredible solar cooker up, you can get to cooking all your favorite meals in seconds. Due to its use of an extremely portable but deployable design, even amateurs can set this up with minimal fuss.
Few solar ovens are designed to accommodate so many different types of people as the GOSUN Fusion is. Thanks to a hybrid electric / solar design, there will never be a time you can’t use this incredible solar oven.
Whether during shadowy days or in the middle of moonlit nights, cooking food outdoors doesn’t get much better than this!
Best For High Temperatures: GDAE10 Portable Solar Cooker
Key Features:
- Incredibly high-temperature range
- Self-healing polymers provide durability
- Adjustable temperature during solar oven cooking
- Easy to clean design
Reaching high temperatures with a solar oven can be difficult if the right weather isn’t available. Thankfully, the GDAE10 Portable Solar Cooker is designed to make the most of solar power by bringing a high-quality cooking tool to your campsite.
Offering the highest temperature range out of all the solar ovens featured today, this impeccable solar cooking utensil is the perfect option for foodies who love to camp. Due to its unique satellite design, the GDAE10 can reach high temperatures up to 7 times faster than a charcoal grill.
Controls have also been considered in this fantastic product. The max temperature range can easily be controlled by simply adjusting the reflectors, letting you find the heat you need. Give that ham joint a crisp outside or gently boil your favorite soups with ease.
The solar oven itself is also easy to clean. Simply mix hot water and soap to create suds and use a cloth to wipe away any residue left behind from your cooking. This means you no longer need to scrub for hours just to get that shine you crave.
For such a lightweight package, the GDAE10 Solar Cooker is surprisingly durable, thanks in part to the self-healing polymers used during its construction. No need to worry about long-term damage when it comes to this superb solar oven.
If you find yourself craving food that requires high temperatures regularly or you just want to cook a side dish in minutes, this is the solar oven for you!
Best For Portability: Zoomarlous Solar Oven
Key Features:
- Incredible customer service
- Small and extremely portable design
- Straightforward use perfect for solar cooking newbies
- Extremely safe construction
As the name might suggest, the Zoomarlous Solar Oven is easily one of the most portable solar ovens on the market right now. Featuring a small but robust vacuum tube design, this is the ideal sun oven to pack up and go.
Perfect for solar oven cooking amateurs, the Zoomarlous has an easy-to-use design. Fill the vacuum tube up with the food you are craving and leave the sun to do its thing. You will be eating cinnamon apple chunks in no time.
Unlike some other competing solar oven manufacturers, Zoomarlous are determined to offer the customer service you deserve. Whether you are calling for a general inquiry or to ask for a full refund, their 24-hour service will provide any assistance you need.
Although the solar oven itself is fairly small in size, it is large in cooking power. Due to its intelligent design, the Zoomarlous sun oven can harness solar power to its full potential, cooking your food in minutes. It is also incredibly safe to use as it features a cool-to-the-touch exterior.
Portability is key when it comes to this fantastic solar oven from Zoomarlous. So whether you have a small trunk or you are looking for the perfect oven to pack away in your backpack, ovens rarely come as portable as this.
Best For Barbecue: YNNG BBQ Solar Cooking Grill
Key Features:
- Powerful sun oven performance
- Handy carrying case for added portability
- Large enough for cooking multiple meals
- Zero carbon emissions
Commonly overlooked, but a great place to use your new solar oven is in your backyard. During the summer season, barbecues are perfect excuses to get your family together. Few solar ovens on the market are as well-designed for barbecue cooking as the YNNG BBQ Solar Cooking Grill.
Extremely effective at cooking a range of food thanks to its high-temperature range, this solar oven is perfect for cooking all sorts of BBQ snacks. From prawns to hotdogs, the YNNQ BBQ solar oven can keep up with the best charcoal grills.
On top of this, unlike charcoal options, there will be no smoke emitted from this oven. If you are anything like us, then you will be able to appreciate the clear air whilst cooking burgers for the entire family.
The self-contained design is highly portable and is supplied with a unique carrying case. So whether the barbecue is in your backyard or your brother’s, you can easily bring this solar oven with you. It is also incredibly easy to set up, meaning less time waiting and more time cooking.
With summer just around the corner, you may be looking for the ideal option to host your family BBQ. Consider lowering your smoke emissions and offering a sun cooking experience that all the family can appreciate with this remarkable solar cooker!
Solar Oven Buying Guide
When purchasing products online, you will want to ensure that it covers all of your needs. You don’t want to deal with the hassle of returning any unwanted goods after all. But what should you keep your eyes peeled when it comes to solar ovens?
Below you will find some of the most important factors you should consider before splurging on a brand new solar oven. From its capacity to how long it will take to cook your food, we have covered all the important features!
Ease Of Use
Ease of use is a convenience, but one that is sometimes worth paying for. Spending hours to get to grips with your new solar oven may not be possible if your next camping trip is coming on.
Most solar ovens are fairly easy to use thankfully, you just need to find a constantly sunny spot and set it up. If you have never used a solar oven before then there’s no need to stress as almost all affordable solar ovens will come with an instruction guide.
As long as the solar panels are pointing up and there are sun rays directly aimed at the cooking area, you will be able to fully access your solar cooking experience. The more convenient solar panel cookers are, the more expensive they tend to be. But the price will only marginally increase if so.
Heat Potential
A cooker is only as good as how well it can cook your food. If it has a low heat potential, then cooking will take longer – meaning you will be sat waiting around for your food longer than necessary. As solar ovens use solar power to cook any food, they will take longer than a traditional kitchen oven. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in one, however.
Solar ovens are incredibly portable options and the perfect replacement for traditional camping stoves. In terms of heat potential, a solar cooker will usually reach around 325°F, so try to make sure your chosen cooking appliance reaches this temperature.
Generally, you will want a solar cooker that sits anywhere between the 250°F to 350°F range as this will be sufficient for cooking most camping snacks. However, a more expensive solar cooker will usually reach, or at least maintain, higher levels of heat.
Price
Perhaps the one factor that everyone will consider when finding their next solar oven. Price will be at the top of everyone’s considerations list as you don’t want to spend too much on an oven if you don’t need to. As a solar oven is commonly fairly small, you shouldn’t expect to pay too much for one.
A typical solar oven should cost anywhere between $150 – 200, but this will change depending on the additional features it comes with. Almost all of the factors listed here will have an impact on the overall price of your chosen solar oven. Try to balance exactly what you need and what you can live without to ensure you get the best-priced product.
Capacity
Whether you are cooking just for yourself or a family of 5 will affect the needed capacity of your sun oven. Cooking capacity is usually determined by the size of your solar oven, so a larger oven will mean a higher cooking capacity.
As the capacity and size of your oven are almost always directly linked, you should expect to pay slightly more for a higher capacity. The larger the oven is, the number of materials needed during crafting will increase – leading to an overall higher price.
Before you decide on the best oven for you, try to determine how many people you will be cooking food for. As tempting as it can be to purchase the biggest oven you can find, it just may not be needed. A larger oven is also less portable, which will mean it can be harder to bring it along to the campsite.
Portability
The best solar ovens will usually be incredibly easy to transport. One of the biggest benefits of a solar oven over other types is its added portability, after all. Most solar ovens will consist of the main cooking chamber surrounding by solar panels used to cook your food. This means they can be easy to set up.
It can be hard to guess exactly how portable your solar oven will be if you are purchasing it online. However, there are some factors to look out for such as:
- A modular design (Removable panels)
- The size of the solar oven
- The weight of the solar oven
You can also check out customer reviews about a particular product to get a decent idea of how portable it is.
Another bonus to look out for that is supplied with most modern solar cookers is a carrying case. This is perfect for trekkers or people who want to take their solar oven with them wherever they go. Ideally, by opting for an oven with a carry case you will also save yourself some money as you won’t need to purchase your own.
You will rarely have to pay more for a portable design, as almost all solar ovens will be travel-friendly. We would recommend you try to find a portable option, instead of opting for a large bulky design where possible. You will thank us later!
Durability
Solar ovens will only really work outside as they use solar energy to cook your food. This means you will want your oven to be durable as it may need to compete with natural events such as heavy wind and rough terrain.
A solar oven is also mainly used during camping trips so it will have to be able to withstand a few bumps and bashes as you transport it. The trend tends to be, the more expensive a solar oven is, the more durable it will be. However, there are some outliers to this as you will find extremely durable budget options.
To guess how durable a solar oven is online, you will have to check what it is made from and what previous customers have said about it. A durable oven is a worthy investment as it will last you an incredibly long time.
Cleaning
Cleaning traditional ovens can be a pain and some solar box cookers are no different. Whilst everyone can appreciate cooking a good meal, nobody wants to clean up afterward. However, almost all of the sun ovens featured today are incredibly easy to clean.
Scrubbing away grease from a cooking rack doesn’t need to be a chore and thankfully most solar cookers will make it easy for you. Look for a design that requires minimal cleaning fuss or one that only needs warm water and soap to cut away the grease.
Although it’s not worth spending double the price just for a solar cooker that features a design that’s easy to clean, it can be a massive bonus to your purchase. You should also make sure that the reflectors themselves are easy to clean. Grubby reflectors will impact your cooking speeds so always try to keep them shining.
Accessories
Additions to your solar oven, such as a water pasteurization indicator or even a sturdy silicone pot can add a lot of value to your purchase. Splashing out on a duo of fantastic solar ovens only to discover you now need to spend more on accessories can be painful.
Thankfully, almost all solar ovens available today will come with a bevy of cooking utensils to ensure you have all you need for your favorite food. Ideally, you will want your solar oven to come with a thermometer and a cooking plate of some form. Whether that’s a cooking tray or a baking rack is completely down to your personal preferences.
You should also ensure that the solar cooking oven you choose comes with a carrying case as this can make transporting your oven far easier. It also means you will save space in your backpack for food and other camping essentials.
There’s no need to spend a fortune on utensils such as a thermometer when there are solar ovens that come with all the accessories you need. Try to save yourself some money and find the best cooking package that you can!
Cooking Speed
No one wants to sit around waiting for their great smelling food to finish cooking, but you also don’t want to undercook your food. Cooking speed can play a large role when it comes to deciding which of the best solar ovens are right for you. But what is the average cooking time and what should you aim for?
Cooking time of course generally changes to whatever you’re cooking; a pizza may take less time than a big cut of meat for example. However, by taking general food options such as cookies as an example you can usually figure out the average cooking speed of your solar oven.
As a solar oven often completely uses the sun to cook your food, it will take far longer than a typical cooking chamber. On average a solar oven should take around an hour to cook things such as baked eggs or melted cheese. For cookies, muffins, and other baked goods, expect anything up to around an hour and a half.
Solar ovens are the perfect portable option for campers or those looking for a green way to cook their favorite snacks. Don’t expect it to replace a traditional cooking chamber any time soon, but they are more than worth the price for a portable cooking option.
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FAQs
Do Solar Ovens Really Work?
Yes, solar ovens do work and they are incredibly effective at what they do. As a lot of campsites and camping areas won’t allow you to use a campfire, solar cookers can help make up for this. Most solar ovens run zero fire risk so almost all campsites around the world will allow you to use them.
However, they do require a little more patience than other cooking methods, such as a charcoal grill. Due to their entire reliance on the sun, food can take a little longer to cook when using a solar cooker. This sacrifice is more than worth it for a universally accepted and green cooking option, however!
What Is The Best Design For A Solar Oven?
There are so many fantastic designs when it comes to solar cookers, so choosing the best design can be super difficult. A common and powerful design is the satellite-based solar oven. As they usually feature the largest surface area, they can harness more power from the sun, cooking your food faster than traditional box designs.
Another incredible design that you should look out for is the vacuum tube style of a solar oven. Perfect for snacks and side dishes such as cinnamon apple chunks and s’mores, vacuum tubes are an incredibly popular option for a reason.
What Is The Best Insulator For A Solar Oven?
This depends entirely on what’s available to you and what is easily accessible. As you will be mainly using your solar oven at campsites, it can be hard to find the ideal insulator quickly. One of the most tried and tested options, however, is crumpled up newspaper.
Just be careful when using paper around high temperatures as it can be flammable if you aren’t extremely careful!
Another great insulator to use alongside a solar oven is wool, however, this can be fairly expensive. Wool is also fairly hard to find unless you happen to be camping near a field of sheep, so it’s not the best option if you are in immediate need of an insulator.
Ideally, plan and bring any insulation you may need with you. This could help you save a lot of time and hassle when insulation is needed.
What Are The Advantages Of Using A Solar Oven?
One of the biggest advantages of using a solar oven is that it will be allowed on almost every campsite you will ever come across. A lot of campsites throughout the U.S. will ban the use of campfires due to them being fire hazards. Solar cookers thankfully run little to no risk of causing a fire.
Solar ovens are also incredibly eco-friendly as they emit zero fumes. They also rely entirely on the sun as opposed to electricity, so your footprint will be minimized when using solar cookers over electric options.
Another fantastic bonus to most solar ovens which campers will love is their portability. A majority of modern solar ovens will be lightweight and come with a carrying case meaning you can boil a coffee at the top of your favorite peaks.
Final Thoughts
Overall, whether you camp regularly or are responsible for your family’s summer barbeques, solar ovens are an incredible investment. Thanks to their completely green design and their portability, few cooking options are as versatile as the solar oven.
Hopefully, we have helped you find your next cooking purchase and offered some guidance on what to look for when finding the product that is right for you. Keep your eyes peeled for the next big solar oven sale, we are certain you won’t regret purchasing a solar oven for your next camping adventure!
