Global Sun Oven - Solar Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)First use yesterday. Wash, DC area. Late winter, sunny. Ambient temp was high 50s to low 60s. Max temp of about 325, with the built-in thermometer showing 310 - 315 most of the 1.5 hours it was in use. Adapted a recipe from "Glorious One-Pot Meals" by Elizabeth Yarnell (available from Amazon) using an old one quart Pyrex dutch oven and doubling the cooking time.
The finished meal cooked up nicely. The original recipe called for 45 minutes @ 450 degrees. I'm an inexperienced cook, but interestingly, the lower temp and necessarily longer cooking time seemed to produce more liquid.
My one caveat is to follow the directions to pre-heat the oven and clean its interior well before your first use. The interior is plastic. I let the oven heat up a little, then ran a wet paper towel over everything. Off-gassing of the plastic that likely would have occurred had I followed the manufacturer's directions, instead occurred while my meal was cooking. Result was a slight plastic-y (and assuredly carcinogenic) taste in that first dish.
Good build quality, but clearly from a small factory. Not meant to be pejorative. In fact, I like the idea of the company being a small business, particularly in the U.S. However, we're used to perfect looking, assembly line manufactured, robotically assembled stuff and this isn't. The plastic shell appears to be custom fabricated. The other parts are off-the-shelf components that have been adapted for this use and clearly assembled by hand. Hence, you'll find exposed, untrimmed rivets and an entirely functional but somewhat roughly finished wooden frame to which the hardware is attached.
All in all, I like it and it's worth its purchase price -- generally between $240 and $300 depending on the retailer.
Pro:
Works as advertised. Good build quality. Easily maintained temps above 300 degrees.
Con:
Plastic interior -- SEE BELOW!
23 Augusst 2008 Update -- after reading the comments on my and others' reviews, have double-checked and the interior is in fact metal. Nevertheless, follow the instructions and pre-heat a time or two before first use to allow the interior paint to finish curing, off-gas, etc.
Enjoy! Good stuff!

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The Global Sun Oven® is the world's most widely used solar oven. Solar cooking has been around for centuries, but up to now, not many people have had the opportunity to try cooking with the sun. Using the most advanced materials, the Sun Oven takes all the hassles out of solar cooking to create the ultimate solar appliance.The sun oven can be used in the winter as well as summer. It has been used very successfully at below zero conditions at a base camp on Mt. Everest.Measures 19" x 19" with an average depth of 11". The total weight is only 21 pounds. You can bake bread, make cookies, pizza, muffins, or anything you could prepare using a conventional oven. The Global Sun Oven® lets you harness the power of the sun to cook without fuel and is currently being used in over 126 countries around the world.Sundance Solar is proud to carry this high quality solar appliance that is designed to last a lifetime.

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Kuhn Rikon 12-Quart Duromatic Stockpot Pressure Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)I just received my 12 quart Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker a week ago and I've used it three times already. I was replacing my 30 year old 6 quart Presto cooker mainly because I wanted a larger utensil. I wasn't dissatisfied with my Presto, but until I tried this Kuhn Rikon, I didn't realize that such a gap existed in terms of quality.
I am so glad I chose this Kuhn Rikon 12 quart model. It is a very well built, heavy gauge stainless steel cooker with a nice heavy bottom to help heat it evenly. The handles are sturdy don't get hot while cooking on my gas range. The lid attaches and twists into place very easily with no awkwardness or sticking. The lid gasket is thick and heavy duty. There is no jiggler weight to get lost.
The unit is very quiet. It is so quiet that I almost didn't notice when it had come up to pressure the first time I used it. You have to visually monitor it until you reach your cooking pressure and adjust your heat source to maintain it. There is no escaping rush of steam or hissing jiggler to alert you. But this is in no way a drawback. The cooker comes up to pressure quickly, and thanks to the red lines on the pop up pressure indicator, it is easy to adjust your heat to maintain the desired pressure. The faintest wisp of steam escapes from under the top steam deflector during cooking.
If you want to release pressure quickly, you can push down on the central pressure valve with your bare finger without getting burned. It gets a little warm, but does not get hot. All of the steam is deflected by the round deflector on top. You can also push the pressure stem down with a spoon if you prefer.
There are no negatives with this cooker from a usability perspective. I believe it is the best pressure cooker on the market. The only thing stopping this cooker from completely cornering the market is the hefty price. If it were priced 50% lower, it would easily take over market share from other contenders.

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If you cook for a crowd try the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic 12-Quart Hotel Pressure Stockpot, large enough to deliciously cook a 17-20 pound turkey.Serves 10-20.Everything about it is thicker and heavier to stand up to daily use year after year.The pan has a unique 11-inch diameter so there is lots of cooking surface for browning and sauteing.The aluminum heat-conducting base is especially thick. The short, stay-cool handles save space on the stovetop and for storing. This pressure cooker features an automated lid-locking system and safety release back-up system to give you ultimate peace of mind.Its spring-loaded valve eliminates guesswork.You see the exact pressure and know exactly when to start and stop cooking.So, there is no danger of overcooking and no noisy steam escapes.It's blissfully quiet.Cook healthy delicious meals in minutes, not hours.Easy to use with its interior fill lines, automatic locking system, and precision spring-loaded pressure release valve.Cooking with a Duromatic Pressure Cooker not only saves an incredible amount of time, it produces exquisitely delicious food.Vitamins are sealed in, instead of boiled away, vegetables keep their bright colors and flavors are so intense less seasoning is needed.While you are saving time you are also saving money and natural resources. Using a Duromatic Pressure Cooker also conserves energy.Included is Quick Cuisine Cookbook, a $14.00 value - free.

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Fagor Duo Combi 5-Piece Pressure Cooker Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Fagor is the least expensive brand that I am aware of which also has the 'modern' features desirable in pressure cookers. To learn more about pressure cookers and what is desirable go to missvickie.com (a non-commercial site devoted to pressure cooker enthusiasts.) Some of these features deal with safety, e.g. you don't have to worry about plugging the steam escape with Fagor. Fagor cookers also reach a pressure of 15psi (which is important.) Unless a brand advertises that they do reach 15psi, assume that they don't. I suggest getting an extra gasket when you buy the item as you will need one at one point (they don't last forever). I must also compliment the company on its service. I bought this item, and sent in a rebate form (for a free stock pot). They sent me a nice paella pan by mistake. I was satisfied, however I called them to make sure that there was no mistake. They answered the phone right away (without the common maze of annoyingly slow and complex menu options.) The woman I talked to was very personable. This woman checked on what happened, called me back, and told me that they would also send the stock pot to me, and for me to go ahead and keep the paella pan. I will update this if needed as time goes on, as I have more experience using this item.


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Enjoy fast%2C easy%2C and healthy cooking with Fagor%27s Duo Combi pressure cooker set%2C featuring 4%2Dquart and 8%2Dquart pots and one Duo pressure cooker lid%2E Pressure cooking enables quicker cooking times while helping you retain essential nutrients and vitamins%2E Fagor%27s Duo line of pressure cookers offer dual pressure settings%2C a sleek black%2C ergonomically designed handle%2C automatic pressure release position%2C and visual pressure indicator%2E The pots and pressure cooker lid are made from premium quality 18%2F10 stainless steel%2C and they can be used on any type of cooking surface%2E This Duo Combi set also includes a glass lid that fits both pots and a stainless steel steamer basket with trivet%2E It%27s covered by a 10%2Dyear warranty%2E

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Fagor Futuro Pressure Cookers Review

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(More customer reviews)I received this model as a wedding gift and have never looked back. I was scared of pressure cooking - the burning of things, the exploding lids, the "is it done yet" questions. This pot has never failed me. I use it all the time to cook up legumes and veggies. No more store bought beans for our family. It cooks about 2 times as fast as my friend's cheap aluminum one, so it holds pressure well. The lid is easy to set up, the safety features don't get in the way, and as long as you remember to line up the marks on the lid with the ones on the handle, you will never have a problem. I've had it for over 2 years, use it very often and I'm yet to replace the gasket. Could not be happier.

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The Fagor Futuro model is the ultimate in the evolution of the pressure cookers. Pressure cooker is constructed with 18/10 stainless steel and comes complete with two short handles for easy storage, an automatic locking lid for added convenience, an easy-cleaning valve, a steamer basket that doubles as a food grater, and a "Tastefully Under Pressure" cookbook with over 90 delicious recipes.Exclusive triple valve safety system plus safety lock on handle prevents opening before all pressure is released. Visual pressure indicator on handle shows when all pressure has been released from cooker. Spring-type mechanism with two pressure settings: LOW (8psi) and HIGH (15psi). Works on all types of domestic stovetops: gas, electric, ceramic and induction. Simple-to-use dial format makes it easy to regulate and release pressure, and remove for cleaning!

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Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Top Pressure Cooker 7.4-Quart Review

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(More customer reviews)This pressure cooker is probably the best on the market and a perfect size for a family. But, watch what you are purchasing, there are 2 separate types of lids on the Duromatic pressure cooker. This is the superior lid as it is easier to see the pressure, and turn it down to appropriate settings-fast release, slow release, with minimal effort. The other Kuhn Rikon's are awesome too. As far as I can tell, they are the same, with the exception of the lid/release. If you have the extra money, this is worth it--especially if you are a beginner. I regret that I bought the duromatic set without realizing the difference in the lids. I guess on the bright side, it means that I have pressure cookers in different sizes now.
If you are nervous about pressure cooking, there are awesome books out there to help lead the way-including pressuring cooking for dummies. My favorite is Miss Vickies Book of Pressure Cooker recipes, also found on amazon. She also has a website that offers a lot of free information as well as free recipes (although some have a small charge).
So, cook your food faster, save energy, retain more nutrients, and serve delicious homemade meals that seem like you have spent all day in the kitchen.

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The Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Top 7.4-Quart Pressure Cooker features an automated lid-locking system and safety release back-up system to give you ultimate peace of mind.The spring-loaded pressure release valve is a large knob marked with easily visible red lines so cooks can see at a glance whether the correct pressure has been reached.When it's time to release pressure, just turn the knob to indicators for slow or quick release of steam.There is no need to hold down the release valve by hand.You see the exact pressure and know exactly when to start and stop cooking.So, there is no danger of overcooking and no noisy steam escapes.It's blissfully quiet.Cook healthy delicious meals in minutes, not hours.Easy to use with its interior fill lines, automatic locking system, and precision spring-loaded pressure release valve.A stainless steel steaming trivet is included.Cooking with a Duromatic Pressure Cooker not only saves an incredible amount of time, it produces exquisitely delicious food.Vitamins are sealed in, instead of boiled away, vegetables keep their bright colors and flavors are so intense less seasoning is needed.While you are saving time you are also saving money and natural resources. Using a Duromatic Pressure Cooker also conserves energy.The Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Top 7.4 quart is Kuhn Rikon's most popular and versatile size.Included is Quick Cuisine Cookbook, a $14.00 value - free.

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Fagor Splendid 10-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent pressure cooker at an excellent price. I do feel they should have included a trivet and metal plate. All of the accessories are extra.
I ordered the canning rack which holds 4 pints. I don't believe it would be wise to try to can quarts in this one, but the directions were not clear. In fact, I would have given this a much higher rating if they were, but I had trouble figuring out how to use it...and one does want to follow directions where a pressure cooker is concerned. They kept referring to to pressures, hi and low. I finally realized the 6 qt model has both but not the 10 and the directions were applicable to each model. The 10 quart pressures at 15 lbs....FAST!
I once had Fagor 6 qt model and the metal was heavier than this one. However, the upside is that it is easier to lift up to pour things from it which is a plus if you're elderly as I am.
I really like they way this cooks; fast, easy to clean. It's beautifully designed pan.
There are numerous uses for non-pressure cooking too. Big enough for a stock pot, cooking spagetting for a crowd, etc etc.
I haven't canned with it. However, I plan on making a big pot of soup and canning what's left.
One reviewer mentioned that you can't fill it over 2/3 full. That is true of ANY pressure cooker. So if you are debating between a 6 quart or a 10 quart, go for the 10 quart.
There are additional accessories for this..canning rack, bucket insert (for spaghetti, etc.) I recommend getting the lid for non-pressured food and keep the pressure lid for pressure.
I don't think you will be disappointed with this product.


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Fagor makes it easy to prepare a meal with this 10%2Dquart pressure cooker%2E Just put all your ingredients in the cooker%2C lock the lid%2C and begin cooking%2E It has a triple safety system with a safety locking handle to prevent accidental opening under pressure%2C a dual pressure control valve%2C and two independent over pressure release valves to avoid pressure build up%2E It also has a built in bonded aluminum diffuser base that allows for even heat distribution of heat for even cooking%2E The pot is even dishwasher safe for easy cleaning%2E

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Fagor Splendid 6-Quart Pressure Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)1. Cooking with a pressure cooker
Think of a pressure cooker as a crock pot on steroids. The increased pressure inside the sealed vessel results in an elevated boiling point, producing a higher cooking temperature for faster cooking. The standard pressure for these cookers is 15 psi, raising the boiling point from 212f to 250f. Current design features considerably improve the safety of these pots over WWII vintage kitchen bombs.
Pressure cookers are perfect for pot roasts, stews, soups, stocks and long-simmering sauces, reducing cooking times by as much as seventy percent. Beans cook faster in a pressure cooker, although their soaking time is unaffected. Rice will cook faster, too, although the convenience of a dedicated rice cooker is beyond dispute.
Some pressure cookers let users select a second, lower pressure setting (8 psi, bp @ 215f), which yields considerably less accelerated cooking. Why slow down a high-speed cooker? Because some foods, like veggies and fish, cook quickly, and when cooked at 15 psi it is difficult to control doneness. (Recipes for these foods call for running cold water over the pot lid to quickly reduce the pressure and lower the temperature to stop the cooking. For more usual dishes, one would merely turn off the heat and let the cooking coast to a stop.) Pot-count or hubris may move some chefs to use their pressure cookers to prepare delicate foods regardless of the risk of under/over-cooking. The low pressure setting is intended to help these people. For most cooks, foods that cook quickly are better prepared using conventional methods. Arguably, a clever chef could use a pressure cooker as their only pot for all purposes, a desirable feature when living out of a knapsack on a desert isle where time is money or fuel is precious.
For most cooks, a pressure cooker will not be an essential kitchen utensil, but it is desirable for its ability to shorten long simmer times. An eight-quart pot is probably the most versatile size for most users, because the pot can only be filled to half or at most two-thirds capacity. If veggies are to be steamed rather than boiled, you will need a steamer insert. Expect a learning curve as you discover how to operate the pot and adjust cooking times. A pressure cooker should be stored unassembled, and the gasket (about $10) may need to be replaced occasionally. All parts should be hand washed. The the pot and lid are ruined if dinged where the gasket seats.
2. The Fagor Pressure Cooker
Fagor in Spain is like General Dynamics in the US - a huge industrial conglomerate. Their "Commercial" (and similar "Splendid") model pressure cooker has a substantial heft to it and seems ready to withstand the rigors of the kitchen. An aluminum heat dispersion disc, completely encapsulated in stainless steel, is bonded to the bottom of the thick-walled stainless steel pot. The stainless steel lid is similarly substantial, and is polished to a mirror finish. The handles seen sturdy enough, although they are plastic and subject to damage. An order form for replacement parts is provided in the box and parts are available over the Internet (www.fagoramerica.com). An instruction booklet is incluye, imperfectly translated from the Spanish. An 80-page recipe book is also included, with full color photographs of fabulous dishes, several of which cannot be prepared in the cooker(!).
The regulator control dial on this unit has three positions: Pressurized (15 psi), open, and remove valve. The lid has a safety interlock that prevents it from being opened while the pot is pressurized, and a small plastic rod pops up to indicate the interlock is active. (One reviewer suggested this rod indicates the pot has reached 15 psi, but this is not so; you know the pot has reached 15 psi when steam starts to escape from the regulator valve.) Another safety feature is a slot in the lid that allows part of the gasket to blow out if the pot has been over-filled.
I was attracted to this model pressure cooker because it seemed to represent an attractive price-performance point. My experience has confirmed that. The value of a second, low pressure setting is arguable for all but the most dedicated pressure cooker users, and fancy features like a pressure gauge seem minimally useful. If I were to buy another pressure cooker, I would likely select this model again, albeit in an 8-qt version to compliment the 4-qt size that seemed the best size for this bachelor cook.

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Fagor makes it easy to prepare a meal with this 6%2Dquart pressure cooker%2E Just put all your ingredients in the cooker%2C lock the lid%2C and begin cooking%2E It has a triple safety system with a safety locking handle to prevent accidental opening under pressure%2C a dual pressure control valve%2C and two independent over pressure release valves to avoid pressure build up%2E It also has a built in diffuser base that allows for even heat distribution of heat for even cooking%2E

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Presto 01362 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this cooker 6 months ago from amazon for $35, and frankly, although the reviews I read on this product all said that it's great, I was very skeptical about the $35 price tag and was not expecting much. On top of that, both my mother and my mother-in-law warned me that cheap pressure cookers are dangerous, and I *must* buy something more expensive for safety reasons. I am just very glad that they were both wrong!
This is definitely one of the best purchases I have made on amazon. I still cannot believe they sell this for $35! The pot does not feel cheap at all. It has very sturdy handles, and a thick, heavy bottom, which holds in heat well. I like this pan so much that sometimes I use it instead of my skillet to sautee meat, because of the deeper pot + the cover, less cleaning up for me :-)
I love making soup and stock, but it usually takes up so much of my time when the stock is simmering. With this pressure cooker, I can make a meat-fall-off-the-bone soup in an hour!
Some might find this pot to be a little on the small side, but this pot works great for my wife and I. Although we have guests over regularly, I find the capacity of the pot to be very good. I would guess that this pot would work well for up to a 4-person family.
Pros:
=====
- Cheap, at $35, it's hard to beat
- Sturdy, I was afraid that the plastic handles would break easily, but they are in fact quite strong
- Stainless steel makes it great for browning meat pieces for stew or stock, and it heats up fast and holds heat well.
- Safe, you cannot open it when it's pressurized.
- Dish washer safe, though I prefer to wash it by hand.
Cons:
=====
- The handle can be tricky to hold with one hand. My hands are small, and when you've closed the top, the handle is kind of big. Luckily, I don't need to do this very often, and when I need to move it around, I just use both handles.
- The top cap can be tricky to clean. I usually soak it in hot soapy water, and then clean it thoroughly with Q-tip.
Watch outs:
===========
- The handle curves in a way that it catches any dripping liquid, I've hurt myself once when I wasn't careful at opening the cover.
- Do *NOT* remove the cap while it's blowing! The steam from inside is extremely hot and as soon as you remove the cap, the hot steam will shoot up faster than you can move your hand(s) away.
Tips:
=====
- I keep some water bottles in my freezer, and when I need to cool this off in a hurry, I can make a bath of cold water in my sink, put the hot pot inside, and throw the froze water bottles in. This usually cools it down very fast, great when I want to refrigerate it overnight to skim off the fat, and didn't want to wait too long for it to cool down.

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Cooks lighter meals, healthier, fast and easy. 3 to 10 times faster than ordinary methods - faster than a microwave. Chicken, fish, vegetables and more cook to perfection in minutes. Tenderizes leaner cuts of beef and pork. New ergonomically designed handles.

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