Building a Solar Oven - By: Tauqeer Hassan

The earth’s surface is covered with energy from the sun every second of every day. Almost of the energy on earth comes from the sun. This energy can be used for cooking, and other useful purposes. For example, a solar oven can be used for preparing nutritious meals.

Material needed:
Materials that may cause toxic fumes should not be used.
- Cardboard box, pizza boxes are ideal
- Aluminum foil
- Box knife or scissors
- Plastic wrap
- Stick or dowel rod
- Old newspaper
- Black heavy bond paper

Step One:
Two boxes are needed. One will fit inside the other leaving a space of about 2 to 3 inches on each side. This space can be a little different. It has to be filled with newspaper. The bottom of the large box should be lined with newspaper and a small box should be placed inside. Now the space between the boxes should be filled with crumpled newspaper.

Step Two:
The sides of the smaller box should be lined with aluminum foil. Non-toxic tape or fold edges have to be used over the top of the box edge for holding it firmly. Now the bottom of the smaller box should be lined with black construction paper for absorbing the heat that will be generated.

Step Three:
Two inches have to be added around the trace line and a pattern has to be cut out for making a reflector. The pattern has to be covered with aluminum foil. The wrinkles have to be made smooth. The aluminum foil should be secured with non-toxic tape or glue. The reflector has to be stapled to the outside back of the large box.

Step Four:
Now the oven should be placed the opening of the box and the reflector facing towards the sun for maximum exposure. The food can now be placed inside the oven to be cooked.

Caution and helpful tips
- It takes 30 for preheating and cooking time is also about nearly twice as long a conventional oven.
- Bigger boxes should be used for bigger oven and smaller boxes should be used for smaller ovens.
- Materials like Styrofoam that give off fumes should not be used.
- This type of oven should not be used for frozen foods or those foods that need high temperature or that have to be quickly cooked.

About the Author

Also learn how to build a solar furnace and how to build a solar oven.

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