We have done a bit of cooking with solar ovens. We are full time RV'ers and spend most of our time in very remote places. Solar cooking is indeed different than other methods, but it has its advantages. For instance it takes no fuel. We normally cook with propane. It is expensive and it heats up the interior of the camper. Cooking with solar is free and produces no heat.

Stews and other long time cooking meals are great in a solar cooker. Prepared early in the day, we just "re-point" the cooker about 3 times during the day. The food won't burn and the effect is like a slow cooker. Meaning the flavors blend well due to the long cook time.

There are many solar stoves among the nomadic rv'ers which wander the country. We like to borrow the various models to see which do better under various circumstances.

As a field expedient, if the conditions permit (sunlight, materials etc.) it is an excellent way to cook many types of food. If you live in a suitable environment, give it a try.

My daughter was traveling in Central America. In one house she saw an oven door mounted in the wall. Upon opening it she saw a solar oven built into the south facing wall. It was used almost daily.

Nomad