Has anyone tried building a solar oven? There are loads of plans on the internet from the basic two cardboard boxes, foil and a bit of glass to ones costing hundreds of euros. Saw one that looked like a modified satellite dish-pity we car booted our small dish, otherwise I might have had a go.

With so much wood , why use a solar oven.
Check this out
http://www.thefreshloaf.com/node/27956/wood-rocket-stoves-why-they-work-so-well

May be a lot more dishes around soon, if the T.V. goes.
Wonder if they would make good paella dishes too.

Because the sun is totally free (if not the oven) and you don't often want to have a fire in the summer.

Agree with you about the  paella dish Rita.
I sold a 'Stovetec' rocket stove on here a few weeks ago, as we weren't using it. Would like to build a rocket stove mass heater for the winter-to use all those little bits of olve twig lying around!

I've been planning to build one since last spring. Got all the bits together I was just concerned about setting the whole thing on fire.
Bruixot

Have you thought about building a trial one outside to see if it works-the pipe bit, not all the insulated bit?

My Swiss chums use one all the time when they're here in the summer. If ever you remember what a telex machine silencing cupboard looked like (and why should you?) their's is the same - a cabinet lined with tin foil with a glass or acrylic lid.  Put your casserole or jacket potatoes or what have you in there first thing in the morning, orientate it to the sun and eat for free at lunchtime.  Think about dishes that benefit from long slow cool cooking.  Rice pudding?  soups? meat that's been browned off first on a cooker? Maybe a chicken so long as you finish it off at a higher heat?  Endless choices.  Free, fab!

Love the idea of a recycled telex cupboard! I shall definitely have a 'Blue Peter' moment soon and try and make one for the summer.