I am so excited !! I have a brand new solar oven. It is the SunFlair Solar Oven
This little oven is made of a light weight UV-resistant plastic that reminds me of fold up windshield screens. It folds up to a very small size that fits into a carry bag. The oven comes with 2 collapsible silicone pots, 1 baking tray, 1 rack, 1 thermometer, 1 WAPI (Water Pasteurization Indicator), and a carrying bag (oops! I forgot to take a picture of the oven in the carry bag).
The SunFlair Solar Oven is a small, light weight oven that folds up into a carry bag for easy portability.
The oven opens up into a hexagon shape and has a zippered plastic cover that holds in the heat and “makes” the oven. I had trouble getting the zipper tab locked together, but once it was together, it did zip nicely around the edge. The trade off for light weight and portable is a lower temperature. Although it won’t get as hot as the bigger ovens, it is advertised to get up to 250°, and that is certainly hot enough to cook a meal. Of course, the lower temperature also means a longer cooking time – again, a trade off that I am willing to accept for a portable oven.
The collapsible silicon pots are very interesting. It is nice to know that wherever I take this oven, I will have an available pot. However, the pots are very small. They are only about 4 inches deep and 7 inches in diameter. I consider them to be a “personal” size , so two will be enough for us. But with a larger family, this would not be enough. However, in a true emergency situation, these small pots would still heat enough water to make coffee, cocoa, soup, oatmeal, etc for everyone. One more thought about these little pots, they are collapsible and you must be careful not to accidently collapse the pot! In order to safely move the pots, a baking tray is included. Put the pots on the tray, fill, and then move to the Sunflair. Of course, you don’t have to use the silicon pots, any dark thin wall pot will also work.
The SunFlair solar oven comes with two collapsible silicon pots that are about 7″ across and 4″ deep.
I really like the rack that comes with the oven. The rack lifts the pots off of the floor of the oven which helps heat the bottom of the pots and provides for more uniform cooking. Plus it allows for stack cooking which is always important.
At less that $100, the SunFlair is very affordable. I bought the expanded set that comes with an extra rack , an extra baking tray, and a 3 qt pot for $108.
I am anxious to give this oven a try. I’ll let you know how it works out.
P.S. I purchased the SunFlair Solar Oven from Amazon and was not paid for this review.
this is a great solar cooker…..unless there is wind. Then it flaps all over and won’t stay as warm.
Hello Lynn, I agree that wind is a problem for this little oven. That being said, many of the solar cookers have a problem in the wind. This oven can be weighted down with a rock or two placed on the inside if there is a small wind. But for high winds, this oven might not be the best choice. For best results, all solar cookers should be placed in a spot that is shielded from the wind, not only to safeguard the cooker from blowing over, but because the wind tends to cool down the cookers. Furthermore, there is a definite trade off between portability and insulation. The large cookers have more insulation to keep the oven hot, but are less portable. The small cookers have less or no insulation, but are more portable. Extra insulation, like a towel or small blanket, can be added around the back and sides to help hold in the heat. Also, on a breezy day, you can place your pot inside of a cooking bag and then place it into the Sunflair to add another layer of insulation. Thanks for the stopping by and thanks for the comment. Merry
We have been using the SunFlair here in Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico for a few weeks now. We have achieved 225 degrees on a really sunny day. Most temperatures are around 200F. There are a couple of small holes where the zippers meet and they allow hot air to escape. We do not have some clothes pins to squeeze them shut. This collapsable, portable, lightweight solar oven is convenient for travelling and hiking. We normally use a Global Sun Oven at home in Elkton Oregon to which there is no comparison to the Sunflair. We did build a box oven with oven roasting bag enclosure a couple of years ago in Litibu, Nayarit, Mexico and we achieved 250 degrees. Its portablility is much less convenient than the Sunfair.. all in all. pura vida. it is all good.
adios. gregorio
Hello Gregory, I appreciate your comments. I am so glad to hear that you are solar cooking. I also love the Sunflair. Minimizing the gaps near the zippers will certainly help the oven retain the heat. Folding the wings towards the back will lessen the gaps. Of course, you can pinch the gap with something like clothes pins or bag clips if available. However, cooking food emits steam which will collect on the plastic cover. The steam will need to be wiped away which means you will have to unzip the cover and quickly wipe the cover clear. The small open gaps can help the steam escape naturally. To maintain the highest temperatures, be sure to keep the oven focused into the direct sun, refocusing as often as necessary, every 30 – 60 minutes if needed. Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. Happy Solar Cooking. Merry
Thank you for your review. Hope to see it in the local market soon.
Looking forward to your results! This looks wonderful.