How to Make a Homemade Solar Oven

Solar power has a wide array of uses, like using it in to power cars, small boats, and homes. You can also use solar power to cook food through the use of a homemade solar oven. You do not have to be a professional to take advantage of the sun's energy since it is simple to do with the right guide, and you can do this at home. All you need are a few simple materials and a little ingenuity, and you will then know on how to make a solar oven.

How do Solar Ovens Work?

Because the sun is a great producer of heat for our planet, what you have to do is to harness it to build simple devices. These devices will amplify the sun's heat exactly where you want it, and this is the principle behind making a solar oven. The homemade solar oven or cooker will then cook a variety of foods at a temperature of around 200 degrees Fahrenheit depending on your location. It is far less expensive and perfect for outdoor meals.

What are the materials in building a homemade solar cooker or oven?

The materials you need are:

pizza box
plastic wrap
black construction paper
aluminum foil
tape or glue.

A knife to cut a hole in the box is also needed, and a stick to prop open the door on your solar cooker/oven.

Here are the steps :

Cutting the Lid

First thing when building your solar oven or cooker is to cut a hole into the lid of your pizza box. So that the lid can flap open, cut around three edges, leaving about 1 inch of space on each edge. Do not completely remove the lid. If you make a mistake, just tape it on with a heavy duty tape.

Building the Solar Reflector

Fold the flap out so that it can stand up on its own. Use the stick to secure it on a desirable position. Completely cover the inside of the lid with aluminum foil, and use the tape or glue. This foil will reflect the sun's rays to the pizza box.

Making the Window

Get your plastic wrap and create a window over the hole on the pizza box. Open the box and flip it over so you will be able to look through the hole. Put the plastic wrap over the hole and tape it.

Heating things up

Take the aluminum foil and line the inside of the box with it. Cover the aluminum with the black construction paper. This will absorb the heat that is produced in your pizza box. The heat absorbent construction paper and the heat reflective aluminum foil will create an oven atmosphere in your solar oven.

Now that you have created a homemade solar oven or cooker, it's time to use it. Bring it to a sunny spot and open the lid. Also adjust the opening so that sunlight is reflected off the lid and into the plastic window. You now know how to make a solar oven or cooker.

Additional Reading:

How to Make a Solar Cooker

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Last Modified: 24 March 2020