The BYU Solar Cooker/Cooler — Context and Discussion

From Parabolic Danger to Funnel Safety

The author's motivation is explicitly tied to a failed technology. He describes how parabolic cookers focus sunlight to an invisible, scorching point—BYU students built one that could set paper on fire in three seconds. In Bolivia, donated parabolas were stored near sheds and ignited them. The people rejected these devices. This anecdote frames the funnel cooker as a safer alternative. The book does not claim the funnel is risk-free; it includes a safety section. But the design choice is presented as a direct response to real-world harm. The funnel's geometry spreads the concentrated light over a larger area, reducing fire risk while still achieving cooking temperatures.

Cooking Times and Techniques

The manual provides specific cooking times for vegetables, grains, pasta, beans, eggs, meats, baked goods, and even MREs. For example, chicken cut up takes 1.5 hours; whole chicken, 2.5 hours. Beans require 2–3 hours after overnight soaking. The instructions emphasize that stirring is unnecessary and food will not burn. Preparation notes are practical: no water needed for fresh vegetables, and egg whites may darken but taste remains. The solar cooker works best when the UV index is 7 or higher. These details show the book is a field-tested guide, not a general overview. The inclusion of MREs and prepackaged foods suggests adaptation to varied users.

Nighttime Refrigeration: An Unexpected Dual Use

A university student, Jamie Winterton, co-discovered that the funnel can be used at night as a refrigerator. By pointing the funnel at the dark sky—away from buildings or trees—and using double plastic bags, heat radiates into space. The book reports cooling of about 29°F (10°C) below ambient temperature. In a September 1999 test in Provo, Utah, with an ambient temperature of 78°F, the setup achieved measurable cooling using a Radio Shack thermometer. This section demonstrates the book's inventive, low-tech approach. The author presents this as a serendipitous finding, not a primary design goal, and provides clear setup differences from daytime cooking.

The book's value lies in its specificity: exact cooking times, safety warnings, and dual-use innovation. Readers should note that the author's claims are based on tests in Utah and Bolivia, and performance will vary with latitude, season, and weather. The manual assumes basic DIY skills and access to common materials like cardboard and aluminum foil. It is not a general solar energy primer but a focused, replicable design for a single device.

Leafing through the solar cooker plans, I was struck by how carefully Professor Whillier documented his quiet tests in Bolivia, turning sunlight into something so practical. That patient, methodical devotion reminded me of another scientist’s private notebooks. There is a similar warmth in how Pierre Curie — Edition Insights treats its subject—not just the discoveries, but the gentle, persistent person behind them. Both books feel like handwritten letters from another era.