Solar ovens
You can make a solar oven from a pizza delivery box. Solar ovens are a great way to cook food without using fossil fuels. Solar ovens are approved for use in camping areas where campfires are not allowed. Making a solar oven from a pizza box is also a great way to demonstrate solar power to children. The pizza box solar oven is the most basic form of solar ovens. Larger solar ovens can be built that will cook an entire meal.
Instructions
1. The first step in making a pizza box solar oven is to prepare the top. Draw a square on the top that leaves a border of about 1 ½ inches. It will look like a picture frame. Cut the top of the box along three sides of the drawn square leaving one side attached. Fold the cut out square flap back along the remaining line.
2. Line the flap with aluminum foil on the inside so that the foil will face the interior of the solar oven when it is closed. Bring the foil to the outside and secure with electrical tape. You do not want tape inside of the box. Electrical tape is recommended because it will stand up to heat.
3. Next you will line the interior of the solar oven with aluminum foil. Secure the foil with electrical tape. Do not put the tape inside of the box, wrap the foil over the edges of the box and secure on the outside. You are trying to keep the interior of your reflective.
4. Cut a piece of plastic wrap or heavy plastic laminate larger than the hole in the top. Plastic wrap will suffice if you are only using the oven once or twice. Tape the plastic to the inside of the top of the box making sure it is sealed to prevent the heat from escaping.
5. Close the solar oven. Place plastic wrap over the hole in the top and secure with electrical tape.
6. Line the bottom of the box with black construction paper. The interior of solar ovens are usually black because it absorbs heat.
7. You can form additional aluminum foil into a holder for the food to be cooked or use aluminum pie plates or shallow dark containers.
8. To cook in the pizza box solar oven place the food in the box, close the box and place in direct sunlight. Lift the flap and prop it open with a dowel or stick. Adjust the flap to capture the most sunlight and reflect it into your pizza box solar oven. The reflected sunlight will provide the heat and cook the food. Hot dogs are ideal way to start cooking in solar ovens. You can watch things cook through the clear plastic top.
9. Once you get the solar oven bug, you will want to move on to more substantial models. There are many forms of solar ovens and solar cookers. Many books are available on the subject. Some links to solar cooking books and books on making solar ovens and solar cookers have been listed in the resource section below.
Tags: solar oven, , , aluminum foil, interior solar, with electrical