How to Make a Box Type Solar Oven

All around the world, people who do not have ready access to fuel use solar ovens for cooking. All kinds of people use solar ovens, from the most impoverished to environmentally conscious backcountry campers. Some are even using the solar oven as a cookout device. Building a box solar oven is a fairly simple process that can be completed by almost anyone in a single afternoon. Building one makes a great science project for children.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A pair of cardboard boxes, one of which is small enough to easily fit inside the other with two inches of space between them Aluminum foil Newspapers Scissors Black construction paper Staple gun Old newspapers Tape measure Scrap cardboard Glass or Plexiglas Glass-cutting tool

1. Line the inside sides of the small box with aluminum foil, using the staple gun to secure it. Leave the bottom uncovered.

2. Line the bottom of the small box with construction paper. Fasten with the staple gun.

3. Crumple up newspapers and insulate the bottom of the bigger box with them. You should have a layer of newspaper at least two inches thick.

4. Place the small box inside the large one, and stuff the space between the boxes with more crumpled newspaper. Make sure the two-inch space all around between the boxes is stuffed snugly with paper.

5. Use the tape measure to determine the outer dimensions of the big box. Take those measurements, add three inches to the length, and cut some scrap cardboard to fit it. This will be your solar reflector.

6. Staple the reflector to the back of the oven, using the extra three inches you added as the area to be stapled on. This will give the piece rigidity and support.

7. Line the reflector with aluminum foil, fastening it with the staple gun.

8. Cut a section of the glass or Plexiglas with the cutting tool. It should a half-inch longer and wider than the top of the big box.

9. 
    
   Proper positioning

   Position the oven so it faces the sun.

10. Put the food inside the inner, smaller box, and cover the top with the glass cover.

Tips & Warnings

• Paper burns at 451 degrees Fahrenheit, while the maximum temperature of the solar oven is between 210 and 215 degrees. Do not worry about setting the paper insulation or cardboard construction materials on fire. Be aware that everything will take longer to cook in the lower heat of the solar oven. To build a more durable solar oven, substitute plywood for cardboard as a building material.

References

• Other Uses for Solar Box Cookers
• Minimum Solar Cooker
• Eco-Friendly Oven (CNN)

Resources

• Solar Food Processing News
• Cook With the Sun