How to Make Solar Ovens

Now you're cooking with solar!

Solar ovens use no electricity--using one is an easy way to start being green. An additional benefit to solar ovens is that many of the materials used to construct them usually can be found around the house.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cardboard boxes with flaps (one slightly larger than the other)
• 2 flaps of cardboard (both bigger than the top of the large box)
• Roll of aluminum foil
• Flat black paint (non-toxic)
• White glue
• Oven rated cooking bags
• Wire hanger

Instructions

1. Close the top flaps on the larger box. Place the smaller box on top of this. Trace the bottom of the small box on the closed flaps of the larger box. Cut out along this line.

2. Cover the inside of the two boxes with foil.

3. Set the smaller box inside the opening you cut in the top of the larger box.

4. Measure and cut one of the pieces of cardboard so that it fits inside the smaller box. Cover this with foil. Paint it black. After it dries, set it in the bottom of the box, black side up.

5. Fashion a lid for the top of the oven out of the other cardboard piece. Draw a line for the opening by matching the top of the smaller box. Cut the opening, leaving one side still attached for a hinge. Cover the inside of this flap (the side facing the inside of the box) with the foil.

6. Flip the lid over. Cover the open space with oven proof plastic and glue it into place.

7. Put the food to be cooked in the oven.

8. Place the lid back on top of the box. Hold the reflector lid open by inserting a piece of the wire hanger into the cardboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Just about any food that can be cooked in a conventional oven can also be cooked in a solar oven, including breads, fish, chicken, stew, corn and potatoes. Cooking times vary by location and strength of the sun. Smaller foods, such as vegetables, can take up to an hour while more complex dishes, such as stew or meat dishes, can take up to six hours. Food in a solar oven doesn't have to be stirred as it cooks because there are no "hot spots." Lifting the lid also allows hot air to escape and slows cooking time, so try to refrain doing so as much as possible.

• Cooking temperatures in solar ovens can reach up to 250 degrees F. Use caution when handling hot dishes.

References

• Solar oven cooking
• Pizza box solar ovens

Resources

• Solar cooker organization
• Solar cooking recipies
• More solar cooking recipies