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RedR

I agree with all of the above regarding health and environmental benefits. The one thing that is mentioned but not enlarged that is perhaps the most important factor is the requirement for a change in social practices. Consideration must be given to what is being cooked and when. In Zimbabwe where I live, as in much of Africa, the staple is a maize based porridge. Here it is called sadza and the recipe for cooking it can be found at https://www.zimbokitchen.com/how-to-make-plain-sadza/ While there is a short period of simmering, the majority of the preparation time requires constant stirring by someone who to do this would be blocking out the sun. In poorer households this is generally served with a vegetable relish which would again not take extensive simmering over a prolonged period. Only on special occasions would it be eaten with a meat stew which could benefit from a solar cooker. Added to this is the fact that cooking usually takes place in the early evening when the sun is less intense and the sadza is eaten cold for breakfast and there may often not be a third meal in the middle of the day. Another factor that I have heard in the context of collecting water and may also be true of firewood is that this is the social time for women when that are free to chat about things, moan about their husbands etc.