The Use of Solar Power in Food Preparation
Solar power has been utilised for food preparation throughout history and can be used for cooking, drying and pasteurization. The simplest way of using solar power is to ‘sun dry’ fresh fruits, vegetables and even meat. The UV-A radiation in the sun destroys pathogenic microorganisms that grow on food and cause decomposition and decay, which means that the food can then be stored for a long period of time without the need for any additional preserving chemicals or equipment.Solar energy can also be used for heating and cooking food. A basic solar cooker consists of an insulated container with a transparent lid, into which the food is placed. In strong sunlight these cookers can reach temperatures of up to 150°C, which is more than adequate to cook most foods thoroughly. Another type of simple variation on the solar cooker is a panel design, which uses a reflective panel to concentrate sunlight and direct it into an insulated chamber. Reflector cookers are a much more powerful version of this panel design, and use concentrating equipment such as dishes and mirrors to focus sunlight into the cooking container. Basic devices can reach up to 315°C, but this is only possible in strong sunlight, so it must be regularily reposition to track the sun’s progress across the sky. The most popular type of reflector device was designed by Wolfgang Scheffler in 1986, and uses flexible open plane dishes that concentrate sunlight into a powerful, fixed focal beam that can reach temperatures of over 650°C. The system also has a solar tracker, which can reposition the reflectors automatically to ensure maximum exposure to direct sunlight. The world’s largest solar kitchen is powered by Scheffler’s reflector technology, and is situated in Rajasthan, India. The Scheffler system is so effective that this kitchen is capable of cooking up to 35,000 meals a day.
Tags: Solar Power