How to Make A Solar Oven Out of a Pizza Box
Whether you are going camping, looking for an educational project for the kids or are looking for ways to save on your energy costs, making a solar oven out of a pizza box is an alternative way to cook your food using a sustainable source of energy--the sun. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Pizza box
- Black construction paper
- Aluminum foil
- Clear plastic (ideally, heavy plastic laminate)
- Non-toxic glue or tape
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Magic marker
Instructions
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1
Using your ruler, measure and mark a 1-inch border around all four sides on top of the pizza box.
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2
Cut your border on three sides, leaving the line at the back of the box uncut.
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3
Fold the flap back along the uncut line.
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4
Cut out a piece of foil to fit the inside of the flap. Smooth the foil and glue or tape inside the flap. Cut a piece of plastic to cover the hole left open by the flap. When using the oven, you will tape the plastic to the underside of the 1-inch border. The plastic should act like a window for your food, and it should be fastened securely so that air cannot escape from the interior of your oven.
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5
Cut a piece of foil to fit the bottom of the box and carefully glue or tape it down. Cut a piece of black paper to fit the bottom of the box and paste it on top of the foil.
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6
Face the box towards the sun. Prop the top open with a straw. Your oven is ready to go. Bake cookies, cheese nachos, veggies, pizza or any number of other items.
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Tips & Warnings
The oven will likely reach around 275 degrees. Use an oven thermometer to gauge temperature. It usually takes about twice as long to cook food using a solar oven.
