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How to Make a Solar-Powered Oven for Outdoor Cooking

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven't used before.

You don’t need four burners and a gas line to make some great-tasting trail food. All you need is plenty of sunlight. Make your own solar cooker and feed the whole group. Solar ovens work by bouncing sunlight off a reflective surface into a container. The hotter the container, the faster your food will cook. It’s easy to make—and cheap.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A SOLAR COOKER:

  • Black paper
  • Foil
  • Glue
  • Marker
  • Plastic wrap
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Skewer
  • Square pizza box
  • Tape
  • Utility knife

WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE A SOLAR OVEN:

STEP 1: Use a ruler and marker to outline the top of the pizza box about 1 inch inward from each edge. This will create a square on top of the box.

STEP 2: Carefully cut the front and sides of the square. Leave the back attached. Fold back the flap.

STEP 3: Line the inside of the square flap with foil, and glue it down shiny side up. Keep the foil as smooth as possible. Fold and glue down any excess foil to the back of the flap, or trim it to fit.

STEP 4: Repeat Step 3 to line the bottom of the box. Next, glue a sheet of black paper on top of the foil. This will help your oven absorb heat.

STEP 5: Fold back the flap. Cover the opening with a layer of plastic wrap. Using tape, attach the wrap to the 1″ sides on top of the pizza box. Make sure there are no holes in the plastic wrap. The opening needs to be sealed completely. Optional: You can also line the inside of the opening with plastic wrap to ensure air won’t get through.

STEP 6: It’s time to cook! Once you have your food (s’more, cookies, etc.) inside your oven on a piece of foil or small aluminum pan, close the box. On one side, place the tip of a wooden skewer between the closed lid and the edge of the box. Tape the other tip of the skewer to the square flap to help prop it up.

STEP 7: Place your solar cooker outside with the flap angled directly at the sun. This will let the foil reflect the sun and cook your food. Time will vary depending on the outside temperature, the sun and the dish you decide to cook.

TRY IT OUT

Solar cooking takes a little practice. Try this easy recipe first:

SOLAR OVEN S’MORES

Ingredients:

  • Graham crackers
  • Milk chocolate bars
  • Marshmallows

Place graham crackers next to each other on piece of foil. Top each cracker with a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow. Put the foil in the center of your solar oven. When the marshmallow is melted and gooey, take out the crackers and add the second layer of graham crackers on top to complete it.


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50 Comments on How to Make a Solar-Powered Oven for Outdoor Cooking

  1. I Tried it it works awesome

  2. Looks Fun!!!!!!!

  3. If oven does not work – eat pizza.

  4. cooool! cant wait to build it. i wonder if it cooks meat….

  5. and it worked

  6. I used tin-foil

  7. how long do you cook it for?

  8. ours is wrinkled and it work …but it wont stay open

  9. spyscout123 // April 24, 2009 at 10:19 am // Reply

    I like it

  10. bazooka dude // April 11, 2009 at 12:32 pm // Reply

    this idea seams so good that i am going to use it for a school assignment!! if this works out, my class mill be very happy

  11. SGT MoRoN6618 // February 26, 2009 at 2:00 pm // Reply

    i hve 2 make 20 hot doge and 20 smores i hope this thing work fast cuz i only have an hour and a half to make them

  12. SGT MoRoN6618 // February 26, 2009 at 1:57 pm // Reply

    we are doing this in class and me and 1 of my frands got the project i think it is gonna take us lik 15 minuts 2 build it and the next sunny day we gotta make hot dogs and smores for the whole class does it work fast?

  13. none of ur bees waks ! // December 15, 2008 at 2:51 pm // Reply

    these things r awsome 4 smores thanks!!!!

  14. were the best

  15. Optimus Prime // October 19, 2008 at 4:49 pm // Reply

    I made a HUGE one of thes with a moving box from Home Depot, it worked GREAT!!!

  16. its cool but the robot is the best

  17. SWEET

  18. WebeloScout530 // September 14, 2008 at 6:35 pm // Reply

    Im gonna ask my den leader if we can try this at scout camp

    It looks awesome

  19. lobstahboy // July 26, 2008 at 4:15 pm // Reply

    i made a 90% finished grilled cheese in like two hours

  20. this is grate but is it waterproof?

  21. Very cool but in NY it’s hard too find a day with good weather while camping.

  22. techtation // May 27, 2008 at 8:00 am // Reply

    thiss looks pretty kwell we have to do a project like this for a tech project

  23. i have to make a progect for school this might work!

  24. it sounds cool but can it cook meat??

  25. It would be cool to find different solar ovens and see what solar oven bakes quicker!

  26. spongebob1234321 // April 12, 2008 at 4:16 pm // Reply

    i had to make one for school and it took like 15 mins or less. its been raining for like a week so i can’t test it but im looking for recipes so if anyone had any, post.

  27. what is the best thing to cook?

  28. Bobby Brown // April 2, 2008 at 2:03 pm // Reply

    really that is so cool.:):)

  29. squidward tentacles // March 29, 2008 at 10:17 am // Reply

    I made pizza but it eas too windy and it blew into tree and hit a squirrel.

  30. that’s awsome

  31. bob bo bill // March 22, 2008 at 3:32 pm // Reply

    Mr. wizard the old t.v show did something like this

  32. Cub Scout 530 // March 10, 2008 at 12:34 pm // Reply

    I have not tried it yet, but it looks very cool.

  33. steel of jk // March 5, 2008 at 8:34 pm // Reply

    ttly awesome 😀

  34. You could make nacho’s.

  35. awesome!

  36. That is cool!!!!

  37. made i use it for science fair project for school?

  38. What can b made in a solar pwred oven

  39. what would workthe best pizza box, shoe box, or abox

  40. can you make hot dogs or hamburgers?

  41. I Want To Try It.

  42. 🙂 :))

  43. 🙂

  44. i like money 🙂

  45. cool:)

  46. Derrick, Age 10, Florida // July 26, 2007 at 2:19 pm // Reply

    I love the idea of solar cooking! My family cooks out every Saturday and we always make dessert with the solor oven. At first I made s’mores, but now I have expanded my recipe list to enclude chocolate chip cookies too. You can find more great recipes by serching on the web (with a parent’s permission) for “Solar Oven Recipes” or “Solar Powered Cooking.” Also, the great thing about these solar ovens is that you can bring them on camping trips and cook food right at your campsite without having to bring your whole oven. As for the project, I got help from an adult, but it wasn’t boring work, and I enjoyed making the oven. I couldn’t wait to taste those s’mores, they are the best part! 2 thumbs up for this one. (Or maybe just one, because I’m holding a huges s’more in the other hand!!) 🙂 😉 🙂 😉

  47. care full i burned myself once on these :0

  48. Are troop tried this and when we finished we sold the for $10.00 a pop and made a fortune. these are awesome

    🙂

  49. 123456789 // July 5, 2007 at 6:38 pm // Reply

    I haven`t tried it yet, but that is another non green house gas thing off the list.

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