Solar power has a diverse portfolio, among powering cars, small boats, and homes – you can use it to cook your own food.

Although the “How to Make a Solar Oven” idea seems complicated to most, this task is not as hard as perceived.

Homemade Solar Ovens will probably interest campers and tree huggers the most. If you are reading this and thinking “Propage Gas Rulezz!11″ this article is probably not for you.

Here’s a list of materials you’ll need:

A box (Cardboard is perfect) – Pizza Boxes work
Black Construction Paper
Aluminium Foil
Plastic Wrap
Non-Toxic Tape
Pen Knife
Scissors

Now this is relatively simple. Here are the steps:

1. Cut out a roof in your box.

2. Coat all the inner sides of your box (except the bottom) with aluminium foil. You can tape it down or fold it over the sides. (2) In Diagram Below.

3. Create a relatively thick coating on the bottom of the box with black construction paper. This will absorb the head. (1) In Diagram Below.

4. And finally (after you’ve put in some food) cover the roof with a transparent plastic wrap – this will allow light energy to enter and prevent heat from escaping.

Now – This may not cook well depending on how you built your homemade solar oven. But since this is a “How to Make a Solar Oven” Instruction guide, I’ll help you out.

Tips to further improve your Homemade Solar Oven.

Insulate it – Anyway you can. Put the box inside a bigger box and throw newspaper in the sides.

Spray the box black (careful, spray paint is toxic – don’t want that in your food, allow it to dry 24 hours)

Make a reflector with some aluminium foil and point it towards your box, make sure it doesn’t block too much sunlight that would’ve hit the box in the first place!

Place the box under direct sunlight (the kind that is overhead)

Try to keep the box of the ground by using rocks, sticks, pegs, whatever on each side of the box.

Well that’s about it. I’ll update this as often as I see fit.

Hope you liked it! Peace,

JP