Oaxaca’s ‘Solar Cooks’ Are Cooking Meals Using Only the Sun

In the mountains of southern Mexico, a group of Indigenous women are preparing daily meals without gas, firewood, or electricity. Instead, they rely on sunlight, captured through reflective solar cookers, to simmer stews, cook beans, and heat food using nothing but the sun’s heat

A Community Experiment Takes Root

The effort is most visible in rural communities in Oaxaca, where access to gas and electricity can be limited or expensive. Women place metal pots inside curved, mirror-like panels that concentrate sunlight, slowly raising temperatures high enough to cook food safely and thoroughly.

Cooking Without Flames or Smoke

For many households, the change is practical as much as environmental. Solar cookers eliminate indoor smoke from wood fires, which has long been linked to respiratory problems. Women no longer need to constantly monitor flames or inhale fumes while cooking.

Saving Money on Fuel

Fuel costs are a major concern in these regions. Several women interviewed by Reuters said solar cooking allows them to avoid buying gas or collecting firewood, which has become harder after recent forest fires. The sun-powered method turns a daily expense into a free resource.

Led by a Local Environmental Advocate

The initiative has been promoted by environmental activist Lorena Harp, who has spent years introducing solar cooking across Oaxaca. Leading the “cocineras solaris” or solar cooks in Oaxaca, Lorena describes the approach as a way to turn intense sunlight, often seen as a hardship, into something useful for everyday life.

Simple Tools, Serious Heat

The solar cookers themselves are relatively simple. Made from reflective panels that direct sunlight toward a central pot, they can reach temperatures hot enough to boil water or cook meals over several hours. The design favors slow cooking rather than quick frying.

A Shift in Daily Routines

Using solar cookers has subtly reshaped daily schedules. Cooking now depends on sunlight hours, encouraging women to prepare meals earlier in the day. Many say the slower pace fits well with traditional dishes that already require long cooking times.

Health Benefits Beyond the Kitchen

The move away from firewood brings health benefits beyond cleaner air. Without open flames, the risk of burns and kitchen accidents drops. Women also spend less time gathering wood, freeing hours for other work or family responsibilities.

Growing Interest Across Communities

What began as a small experiment has expanded. More than 500 women across dozens of communities in Oaxaca have adopted solar cookers, and interest continues to spread through demonstrations and word of mouth.

A Quiet Model for Sustainable Cooking

While solar cookers won’t replace all forms of cooking, they offer a workable alternative in sun-rich regions. For these Indigenous women, sunlight has become more than weather—it’s a daily tool that reshapes how meals are made, costs are managed, and health is protected.