Solavore Sport Solar Oven

solavore solar ovenThe Solavore Sport Solar Oven is another very popular solar oven. A few of my friends purchased the Solavore to cook off grid. It includes a nice case which is a really nice addition. The oven package is priced at the upper tier ($287) but includes a nice additional set of pots. The one unique aspect of this oven over others is that you can cook two pots side by side. I like this approach better than the other stoves, which required stacking pans vertically. Having two pots lets you cook your main dish and a side dish at once, which is very practical in many people’s cooking.

Price: $199-$287

Solavore Sport Oven Specs

Brand Price Size Capacity Stored Size Carrying Case
Solavore $199-$287 17x27x12 without reflector Large 17x27x12 Yes, included
Ease of Use Durability Heat Potential Cooking Speed Packaging Portability Accessories
Solavore

Who is this solar oven for?

The Solavore Sport Solar Oven is mainly for those who need to cook a lot of food but might not be able to afford the All American SUN OVEN.

How this solar oven cooked:

The Solavore Sport Solar Oven ranked near the high end for cooking times and temperatures, but it wasn’t the top solar oven choice in any of the categories I evaluated. As mentioned, being able to cook two roasts side-by-side was a perk.

What I liked about this solar oven:

The case was well designed: good handles with a strap to carry it, as well as an internal compartment for the reflector. It’s nice that I can put the pots in the oven, close it up, drop it in the bag with the reflector and literally carry all the pieces in one bag.

What I didn’t like about this oven:

For me, the Solavore Sport Solar Oven missed the mark on several fronts. My main complaint was the way the reflector attached. Additionally, the internal seams and components of the cooker were harder to clean than other solar ovens.

Solavore Sport Oven Photos

My Interview with the Solavore Sport Oven Manufacturer

Can you give a quick rundown of your company and who you are?

Solavore is a certified women-owned business operating as a social enterprise, i.e. our profits go toward helping families in the developing world migrate from wood-fire cooking.

What is the background or story of the design of this solar oven?

The Solavore Sport was designed by solar engineers who wanted to use their talents to help people in sun-rich, fuel-poor countries around the world. So they developed the Sport, family-sized cooker powered by the sun, weighing only 9 pounds, made from recycled nylon resin that is injection-molded under 1,000 tons of pressure, giving the cooker strength and durability to last ten years or more. Along the way, they kindled interest from people in the U.S. and around the developed world who love to cook outdoors, or who want to move toward off-grid living, or who want to be prepared for power outages caused by storms or other disasters. Today Solavore serves both markets, using profits from sales in the developed world to support sales in the developing world.

Who is this solar oven for and who isn’t it for?

Think of the Solavore Sport as a slow cooker. Without its detachable reflectors, you can cook just like a crock-pot on low; all day slow cook, with no worries about food burning or drying out. Add the optional reflectors and you have an oven made for baking, turning out two-layer carrot cake, yeasted breads, cookies and more, in just about twice the time of a household oven. Like any retained-heat box-type solar oven, the Solavore Sport is not meant for high-temperature cooking like grilling, frying, or boiling.

What is one tip you could share about getting the most out of your solar cooker?

Get started early. The morning skies are clearer than the afternoon skies just about anywhere in the world. You’re ahead of afternoon thunderstorms and the particulate that builds up in the afternoon. Get in the habit of buying your ingredients in advance and getting started early. Just like a slow-cooker, your efforts will be rewarded.

When people have trouble cooking in your oven, what advice do you offer most often?

In addition to the above tip, we troubleshoot: Too much water? No water required for vegetables, most meats, and fish. Rice and grains require 25% less water. Was the food cold or frozen? It’s best to bring ingredients to room temperature.

What’s your favorite recipe or dish to cook in your oven?

I am convinced that I get invited to more parties than ever, as long as I promise to bring solar-oven-baked two-layer carrot cake.

solar oven plans