Eagle Solar Cooker

Eagle front view

The optional twelfth piece: a
whimsical eagle head.
Eagle back view
Here, the old barbecue grill now holds an Eagle.
Manda (a.k.a. "Talzhemir") designed "The Eagle" in 2007, based on the delightful CooKit. It is slightly smaller than a CooKit. Like a CooKit, it is collapsible and easily stored flat. It
gets its name from the vaguely Thunderbird shape when unfolded. An optional piece, shaped like an eagle's head, may be added at the top.
"The Eagle" was created specifically with Americans in mind. Its initial pattern is made out of U.S. standard 8 1/2" X 11" pieces of paper. This
method lends versatility: the Eagle can easily be pieced together out of the smaller sections, or, it can be cut from a single piece of cardboard.
It is entirely made by measuring distances with a ruler (the measurements are English, i.e., in inches), and
connecting points. There are no angle measurements so no compass or protractor is used.
Besides a whole rectangular piece of paper, there are only four other shapes used. The Eagle is composed
of eleven pieces in all.
17 page .PDF document
Written in 2010, the following includes full-size pages for use as a pattern. http://tinyurl.com/eaglesolarcooker
The original one-page handout introducing the Eagle is available here: http://www.thegenieslamp.com/solarcooking/talzclam1.pdf
A non-functional scale model of the Eagle is available here, as a one-page .PDF printout.
http://www.thegenieslamp.com/solarcooking/talzclam1_model.pdf
A slightly more economical method than to cut up printed pages is to follow the diagram using ruler and
pencil. http://www.thegenieslamp.com/solarcooking/eagle.bmp
Categories: Solar cooker designs Solar cooker plans Solar panel cooker designs Solar panel cooker plans
Eagle Solar Cooker - Solar Cooking http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Eagle_Solar_Cooker
1 de 1 26/11/2012 19:53
Mak i ng a Ref l ec t or
St yl e Sol ar Cooker
" THE EAGLE"
by Manda
This kind of cooker requires one heat-resistant
plastic oven bag ("turkey roasting bag") and a
pot (preferably black) with a lid.
It can be made out of a single piece of cardboard
or it can be constructed out of 11 smaller pieces
duct-taped together. The easiest way to make
one is to make a set of paper pieces first, then
trace them onto the cardboard.
I t ' s por t abl e, and, l i ke i t s par ent ,
t he wor l d-f amous CooKi t , t he Eagl e
f ol ds up t o t he si ze of a l ar ge book .
What makes t he Eagl e spec i al i s t hat t he pat t er n i s made of
Amer i c an-st andar d 8 1/2" X 11" paper (t he k i nd you put i nt o a
t ypi c al pr i nt er ). Ther e i s ver y l i t t l e measur i ng i nvol ved, and no
use of a c ompass t o measur e any angl es. The pat t er n i s made
by c onnec t i ng c or ner s and edge mar k s made w i t h a r ul er.
The Pflugerville Farmer's Market presents: A Solar Cooking Demo August 16, 2008
1 3/4"
(Make a
r i ght one
and a
l ef t one.)
(Cut 1)
5"
3"
Four kinds of pieces are used to making an Eagle. Four plain sheets complete the pattern.
(Make a r i ght
and l ef t one.)
3 1/2"
2"
CooKits by the thousands are used in
many nations around the world!
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Cookit
Once the pieces are cut out, they are assembled with duct tape. Then, ordinary foil
is glued on, using gluestick or white all-purpose glue. To make any exposed
cardboard surfaces more water-resistant coat with a 50/50 mix of white glue and water.
= duc t t ape
= heavy c ar dboar d
= f ol d w hen i n use
= c ut sl i t
a dar k pot
" Eagl e" Por t abl e Car dboar d
Sol ar Cooker by Tal zhemi r
Cut out Eagl e. Cut sl i t s. Use gl uest i ck t o
c over wi t h f oi l . Fol d f oi l edges over c ar ef ul l y.
Cut a bi g c i r cl e of
pl ast i c wr ap t o r epr esent
heat -r esi st ant i nsul at or bag.
Put pot i n bag. Ti e c i r cl e
i nt o a bag wi t h a t wi st -t i e
or st r i ng.
a l i d
" The Eagl e"
This .PDF file has a set of page which are
intended to be printed out and glued onto
heavy cardboard, then covered in foil.
There are eleven sections and the pieces
are held together with duct tape. f treated
gently, an Eagle will last four or more years.
"THE EAGLE"
by Manda
Make Your Very Own
Reflector Style Solar Cooker
t's portable, and, like its parent,
the world-famous *CooKit, the Eagle
folds up to the size of a large book.
What makes the Eagle special is that the
pattern is made of American-standard
8 1/2" X 11" paper (the kind you put into a
typical printer). There is very little measuring
involved, and no use of a compass to measure
any angles. The pattern can also be made by
connecting corners and edge marks made
with a ruler.
There are eleven sections.
The pieces are put together
with duct tape.
*CooKits by the thousands are used in
many nations around the world!
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Cookit
Ths style of solar cooker requires one
heat-resistant plastic oven bag ("turkey
roasting bag") and a pot (colored black)
with a lid.
MATERALS NEEDED:
11 pieces of paper or cardstock
11 pieces of cardboard
3 large glue sticks or white glue
1 roll aluminum foil
1 roll transparent packing tape
1 roll duct tape (any color)
TOOLS: Scissors,
Computer Printer (optional!)
("Talzhemir")
PREPARING THE PIECES
1. Print a page out. Cut along any dotted lines
(made of triangles).
2. Use this as a pattern to cut out a piece of heavy cardboard.
3. Cut out a piece of foil roughly 3/4 of an inch larger than the
cardboard piece.
4. Use a piece of cardboard to spread ordinary white glue onto
the cardboard. Cover it with the foil, shiny side out. Smooth
the foil down flat and folding the edges around the cardboard.
Try to keep the glue off the foil surface. Glue stick also works.
5. Wrap all edges with transparent packing tape. Good job! You've got ten more to go.
3/4"
These refugee women from Darfur at the ridimi Refugee Camp
are making a CooKit. The Cookit is made from one single piece.
To make an Eagle that folds up better, try this arrangement of duct tape:
on the foil side
on the paper side
ASSEMBLING THE PIECES
Solar Cookers nternational in Sacramento, California,
developed the CooKit as an adaptation of a cooker
designed by Dr. Roger Bernard in France.
3 1/2"
1 3/4" 1 3/4"
3 1/2"
1 / 2 "
4 "
1/2"
4"
FrequentIy Asked Questions about the EagIe SoIar Cooker
1. "WiII it work when it's cIoudy outside?"
No, not really. The amount of heat you get
depends directly on the amount of sunshine.
2. "What do I do if it's not sunny?"
Well, if it's a serious outing where you need
to feed everyone, you should have some kind
of back-up cooking method. f you're cooking
at home, of course, the obvious answer is,
use the stove.
3. "Can this soIar cooker start a fire?"
No. Even on the sunniest days, the Eagle
doesn't generate temperatures nearly that
high. However, it does make food hot
enough to cause a burn. Please be very
careful when moving hot food around.
So, do use cooking mitts!
Large solar cookers that use parabolic mirrors
("concentrators") can set things on fire.
That's not surprising if you remember that
they do something similar to a magnifying
glass lens.
4. "Why is it caIIed the EagIe?"
When it's unfolded, it's shaped a little bit
like an eagle. Also, the Bald Eagle is the
national bird of the United States, and this
model of cooker was made especially for
Americans.
5. "Is it safe to cook meat with the EagIe?"
t depends on the meat. The Eagle typically
generates temperatures around 150F. This
is hot enough to pasteurize drinking water.
t's safe for pre-cooked meats such as ham
and hot-dogs, or the meat in canned products
like beef stew.
f you want to cook meat dishes from scratch,
suggest using a meat thermometer, just to
be on the safe side. Ground beef is safe at
160F, while chicken breast is safe at 165F.
6. "I accidentaIIy used the frosty side of
the foiI. WiII it stiII work?"
Yes, but not nearly as well. f you find you've
put the foil on wrong side out, just cover it with
an extra layer that's right side out. won't tell.
7. "Can I make bread or cake in an EagIe?"
No, because it's not really meant for that.
Bread bakes at around 325F. t's better for
rice, beans, pasta, and instant mashed
potatoes.
The "oven" family of solar cookers is much
better suited for baking. Sun ovens are so
effective that you can roast or bake in them
in the dead of winter, in Canada, when the
air temperature is zero degrees F.
8. "Who invented the soIar cooker?"
The first solar cooker (as we know it) was
invented by Horace de Saussure, of
Switzerland, in 1767.
9. "I noticed the sun moves and the EagIe
doesn't seem as hot. How often shouId I
turn it to foIIow the sun?"
Once per hour is good.
10. "We have pIenty of naturaI gas where I
Iive. Why shouId we bother with soIar?"
Although natural gas burns relatively clean, it
still emits a significant amount of carbon
dioxide. Because of our willingness to save
energy, a whole class of cooking, of soups,
slow-cooking with crockpots and so on, has
somewhat died out.
This is the kind of dish at which the Eagle
excels. You can set it up in the morning,
leave it out until dinner time, and there's no
risk of burning it.
CHI CKEN AND POTATOES
PREPARE THE POTATOES AT HOME
1. This recipe is meant for up to four people.
Wash one medium potato for each person.
2. Carefully poke a knife deep into each one
in three places.
3. Microwave the potatoes on a plate for
10 minutes.
4. Let potatoes cool for half an hour *or*
rinse in cold water until they can be
handled.
5. Cut potatoes into chunks. the size of
the opening made by your thumb touched
to your longest finger.
6. Pack potato chunks into the bottom of
the solar cooking pot.
* f you're going camping, you can store this in
the refrigerator overnight in a ziplock bag or
in the cooking pot.
7. Chop up some pre-cooked chicken breast,
one for every two peopIe. Put this over the
potatoes.
8. Pour
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup (12 oz)
(not the low-salt kind) over the chicken and
potatoes.
TP: Put a SECOND solar cooker to work heating
up a veggie such as canned corn or peas 'n' carrots.
Use a can opener to completely remove the lid.
Leave it in the can. Put the plastic cooking bag on
the solar cooker. Carefully surround the can with
crumpled newspapers inside the bag.
To remove the lid, poke it with a stick and
carefully pick it up with a fork. (Bury or
carry out the newspapers as trash.)
Here's a meal that a kid can prepare!
COOKNG NSTRUCTONS:
Pack into the solar cooker and set out
around 2pm. Leave out in the sun for at
least 3 hours. 4 is good too.
EMERGENCY FALLBACK PLAN:
f the sun fails you for some reason,
set a skillet of water on the stovetop.
Simmer your solar-cooking pot in this.
Cook on stovetop for at least one hour.
Keep the outer pan at least half filled
with water.
This can also be finished over a small
camping fire or camping stove.
by Manda
2010
You can also make
this dish with a cup
of cooked rice instead
of potato.
SoIar TamaIe CasseroIe
FRST CORNMEAL LAYER:
n a bowl, mix 1 cup of dry cornmeaI tamaIe mix and
1 tabIespoon powdered miIk. Add enough water to
make it a thick crumbly mush.
Put HALF of this lightly into the bottom of the pan.
MEAT FLLNG:
This part is made on a stove-top. n a big
skillet, brown one pound of meat (ground beef,
ground chicken, or ground turkey). Leave the
juices in, do not drain.
Chop up very fine and add the following:
3 teaspoons of onion,
3 teaspoons of green pepper,
1/2 teaspoon (one cIove) garIic,
Optional: 1/2 a jaIapeno pepper
Stir together gently. Place in a layer over
the corn meal.
SPCY SAUCE
With a fork, crush together:
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander seed,
1/4 teaspoon ground oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon saIt
3 teaspoons of tomato
1 teaspoon tomato ketchup
Spread this over the meat
SECOND CORNMEAL LAYER
Cover the sauce and meat with the remaining
cornmeal mixture. Press down but not too
tightly.
CHEESE LAYER
Cover with 1 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack.
COOKNG NSTRUCTONS:
Pack into the solar cooker and set out
around 2pm. Leave out in the sun for at
least 3 hours. 4 is good too.
EMERGENCY FALLBACK PLAN:
f the sun fails you for some reason,
set a skillet of water on the stovetop.
Simmer your solar-cooking pot in this.
Cook on stovetop for at least one hour.
Keep the pan at least half filled with
water.
by Manda
2010
FI ELD NOTES
SHOPPI NG LI ST
*The tips of the Eagle that go
through the slots can be held
in place with a pair of sticks.
use chopsticks. Pegs you
found and carved yourself
will do just as well.
Does your Eagle need a head?
Construct this piece out of cardboard. Attach it to the
back of your cooker's center piece. Bend forwards to help
reflect sunlight.
Lent iIs, Rice 'n' Hot dogs
Slice up and microwave 3 hotdogs for
60 seconds on high.
Pour 1 cup of yeIIow IentiIs ("dal") and
1 cup of rice into the cooker pot.
Add 2 teaspoons powdered onion,
1 teaspoon saIt.
Cover with water and one finger joint's
worth more. Put hotdog bits on top.
OPTONAL: add 1 teaspoon Berbere
"Berbere", a traditional spice mix of
northern Africa, can give this dish
bright orange color and a hearty burst
of flavor! American paprika is less tart,
so a dash of Vitamin C (pure Ascorbic
Acid Crystals) adds flavor as well as
helps keep the mix extra-fresh.
COOKNG NSTRUCTONS:
Pack into the solar cooker and set out
around 2pm. Leave out in the sun for at
least 3 hours. 4 is good too.
EMERGENCY FALLBACK PLAN:
f the sun fails you for some reason,
set a skillet of water on the stovetop.
Simmer your solar-cooking pot in this.
Cook on stovetop for at least one hour.
Keep the pan at least half filled with
water.
by Manda
2010
5 teaspoons paprika
3 teaspoon ground "long pepper"
(regular pepper will do in a pinch)
2 teaspoons ground foenugreek
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground green cardamon
1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ascorbic acid crystals
BERBERE SPCES
(For vegetarian, leave out the hotdogs.)
*There are actually many recipes for "Berbere".
Just about every family and every cook has their
own.This one is a good general starting point.