How to Build a Good Solar Cooker

Aluminum in a solar cooker directs heat toward the food.

As of 2010, green living is becoming more and more important to daily life. Homeowners are installing solar panels, reducing waste and recycling things as much as they can. Some take it as far as they can by cooking with solar energy. Solar cookers take longer than a typical grill or bonfire, but they create no waste and don't use fuel. You can make your own good solar cooker to take on camping trips and use in the summer in place of or as a supplement to grilling.

Things You'll Need

• Cardboard box
• Superglue
• Aluminum foil
• Spray adhesive
• Aluminum flashing
• Tin snips

Instructions

1. Clean and dust out a sturdy cardboard box. Make sure it is free of rips and tears. Reinforced, corrugated cardboard works best. Cut the flaps off of the top with scissors. If the bottom flaps are open, glue them in place with superglue.

2. Spray the inside of your box with spray adhesive. Press and smooth aluminum foil into the adhesive, making sure the shinier side faces out. The foil needn't be perfectly smooth, but the smoother the foil, the less you need to use.

3. Measure the height of your box. Measure around the top edge of the box as well. Triple the height measurement and add about 2 inches to the measurement around the box. If the box is about 1 ½ feet high and 48 inches around, your final measurements will be 3 feet by 4 feet and 4 inches.

4. Cut a piece of aluminum flashing with tin snips that matches your measurements. Wrap the foil around the box, pinching it at the corners of the box so it fits exactly. Remove the formed flashing and smear the outside of the box with superglue. Put the flashing back into place, pressing it against the box. Let the glue cure overnight. The flashing should stick up well beyond the top edges of the box.

5. Cut the flashing at each corner down to the top edge of the box. Bend these shiny panels so they curve out slightly, like flower petals. They should reflect light down into the foil-lined box. You can place items in the box to be cooked.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a similar box from wood for a slightly sturdier box.

• Never let children or pets sit in the solar cooker. It can get hot enough to cause severe burns or even death to children and small animals. Cover and store the cooker in shade when not in use.

References

• Solar Cooking: How to Make and Use the Funnel Solar Cooker
• Build It Solar: Solar Cooking