A video featuring Cubans using Chinese-made parabolic solar cookers has gone viral on social media, highlighting the severe energy crisis gripping the island.
In Havana, a private store is offering these devices for $135 as a means to endure the relentless power outages, which last more than 19 hours daily in the capital and stretch to 22 hours in some interior provinces.
Doble J Comercial, a shop located at Galiano 310 between Neptuno and San Miguel in Central Havana, markets this device—a large concave reflector measuring one and a half meters in diameter—as "the new technology" for cooking without electricity, gas, or charcoal, according to the independent portal 14yMedio.
Solar Cooking: A Practical Solution or a Gimmick?
"We position the cooker to perfectly reflect the sun onto the pan," explains a female voice in the promotional video circulating online, where two sausages are shown cooking in just two minutes.
Nevertheless, actual cooking times vary significantly from this demonstration: according to specialized sites, chopped vegetables take between 45 and 90 minutes, rice or legumes between 90 and 150 minutes, and meats between two and three hours.
Comments on social media showcase a mix of skepticism and bitter humor.
"You’ll need a welder's mask because you'll go blind," one user warned, while another noted, "The cook’s skin burns before the sausages do." Others pointed out the device's most obvious flaw: "At night or on rainy days, you're left eating slices of air."
Historical Context and Present Challenges
Rafael Pavón, the store owner and a former Customs employee for the state commercial entity ITH S.A., who founded the small business in 2023, stands by the product: "They are real and work, as long as there’s good sunlight."
This phenomenon isn't new to the island. In February, a woman in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, revived a solar oven brought to Cuba during the Special Period of the 1990s to cook red beans amid blackouts, claiming the device still "works like the first day" after 36 years.
The crisis driving Cubans to these solutions is dire. In 2026, Cuba faces an electricity generation shortfall of about 2,040 megawatts against a demand of between 3,000 and 3,250 MW.
On May 14, a massive blackout affected areas from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo—seven of the 15 provinces—and Cuba's Electric Union projected that 61% of the island would be without power during peak evening hours.
The Broader Implications and Global Response
The collapse is rooted in structural issues exacerbated by Nicolás Maduro's capture on January 3, 2026, which severed Venezuela’s supply of 25,000 to 35,000 barrels of crude oil daily, while Mexico also halted its shipments that same month, stripping Cuba of 44% of its oil imports.
Even Díaz-Canel indirectly acknowledged the regression on March 28, when he called for ensuring "materials for cooking, from charcoal to firewood" during the National Defense Day in East Havana—the same phrase he had uttered in May 2025 in Villa Clara, now turned into explicit public policy.
A social media user summed up the situation with irony: "Soon, we'll start using smoke signals to communicate."
The severity of the crisis prompted the UN to launch a $94.1 million action plan for Cuba in March, with a warning from its resident coordinator, Francisco Pichón: "We fear a rapid deterioration, with the possible loss of lives."
Exploring the Solar Cooking Phenomenon in Cuba
How effective are solar cookers in Cuba?
Solar cookers can be effective in Cuba when there is ample sunlight. They are a practical solution for cooking without relying on electricity, gas, or charcoal, although actual cooking times may vary and depend on weather conditions.
What challenges do solar cookers face in Cuba?
Solar cookers in Cuba face challenges such as inconsistent sunlight, which affects their efficiency. Additionally, they are not suitable for use at night or during rainy weather, limiting their practicality as a sole cooking method.
Why is there an energy crisis in Cuba?
Cuba's energy crisis is rooted in structural issues and has been exacerbated by external factors, such as the cessation of Venezuelan and Mexican oil supplies, leading to significant electricity generation shortfalls.