How Does
How Do Solar Pizza Box Ovens Work?
Definition
-
A solar pizza box oven is a type of solar cooker that utilizes natural sunlight to heat food. There are no definite shapes or sizes for solar cookers. Panel-shaped, box-shaped or parabolic-shaped are the three general types of solar cookers. A pizza box solar cooker is a box-shaped type of solar oven. Its design is simplistic and it is the easiest to make.
Concentrating Sunight
-
A solar cooker needs to collect and concentrate light to heat food. Common objects like aluminum foil or mirrors are used to direct light onto the cooking area. For a pizza box solar cooker, cut a flip lid from the box top. Cover the inside lid with aluminum foil. Prop the lid open so that sunlight is reflected onto the interior of the box.
Turning Light Into Heat
-
For maximum impact, paint the interior of the pizza box black. Black color absorbs all light spectrums and turns it into heat. For best performance, any cooking pots or pans should be in black or dark colors. It is also best to choose a cooking vessel that conducts heat well. For a pizza box solar oven, use shallow metal pans such as Graniteware or enamelware.
Insulation
-
The pizza box solar cooker needs to retain heat in order to cook the food. A sheet of clear plastic or glass is commonly used to cover the opening. The plastic window will keep the heat from escaping while allowing light in. You may also use clear plastic bags to trap in the heat. With this extra step, the solar cooker will be just as effective even on cool or windy days.
Effectiveness
-
The temperature that solar cookers could reach depends on the number and size of its aluminum reflectors. Even though a pizza box only allows one reflector, it could potentially reach up to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) by the time the food is done cooking. It takes twice as much time or more to cook using a solar cooker.
Usage Around the World
-
In parts of the world, the cost of cooking fuel takes up a significant amount of a family's income. Women and children in rural areas could spend hours gathering firewood. Solar cookers enable people from all over the world to cook and pasteurize water without using fuel or electricity. Nonprofit organizations like Solar Cookers International (Solarcookers.org) are teach about solar cooking worldwide. Using solar cookers would reduce fuel depletion and desertification in sun-rich areas.
eHow Article: How Do Solar Pizza Box Ovens Work?
Comments
scottmitzi said
on 7/24/2009 This is a great article. The plastic wrap to keep the heat in is often missing from other articles and is the reason , your oven may not be working. Thanks!