How to Make a Simple Solar Cooker

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How to Make a Simple Solar Cooker

Mike Turvey

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Step 1 of 10

Basic supplies - foil, wrap, box. Remember, this won't cook a meal - it is just for fun. S'mores are the main menu attraction. It will illustrate solar cooking for a young audience.

Step 2 of 10

The cooking supplies for the s'more entree!

Step 3 of 10

Cut a six inch square on three sides - not all around.

Step 4 of 10

Tape the plastic to the box on the underside.

Step 5 of 10

Place the foil on the bottom and sides of the pizza box. The pie pan is the cooking utensil.

Step 6 of 10

Crumple and roll some newspaper to serve as the insulation around the pan. Then assemble the s'mores and place them on the pan.

Step 7 of 10

Place the solar cooker and s'mores in direct sunlight.

Step 8 of 10

The finished product after 15 minutes. Naturally, after they were placed in the sun, it became cloudy. Perhaps 40 minutes is needed on cloudy days and 15-20 minutes in bright sunlight.

Step 9 of 10

The finished product after "sampling." The chocolate bar was softened as was the marshmallow. Grandkids thought they were great!

Step 10 of 10

This is just a fun project with younger kids and is not really a high duty cooker. Enjoy it and have fun with it. Other things that might cook are an egg and possibly cookie dough (small cookies).

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!

Mike Turvey

Midwest USA.

flowingstreamsministries.org

Retired Federal employee. Currently part time income tax preparer. Six fantastic grandchildren.

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8 Comments

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Diya P

California

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Alia Walker

Paris, France

Empty medium size pizza box

Aluminum foil

Plastic wrap

Sunny day!

S'more ingredients

Reminds me off the egg on the sidewalk.. Neat

Taylor B..(: 10 months ago

Jeffrey - Good suggestion! I know there are improvements to the design, this is something put together to show my grandkids some basic solar operations. Don't know if I succeeded, but they did like the smores!

Mike Turvey (author) 10 months ago

Wondering if it might get hotter if everything were painted black and some kind of reflector (aluminum foil) was placed on the open cardboard flap.

Jeffrey Morton 10 months ago

I wish i could do this (looks outside) *lightning jumps past window*

Adam Cowan 10 months ago

I did it in bangkok. My nephew said "aunty it's great but bangkok is hot. Everything melts without the oven anyway." haha! Damn 4 years old kid. But it's fun. thanks!

Goi Haru 10 months ago

Soooo doing this tomorrow! Lol!

Lindsey Severin 10 months ago

Going to try this tomorrow at the office, cool use if the software and great tip, thanks!

Ben White 10 months ago

Cool!!!

Diya P 10 months ago

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The paper is not directly exposed to sunlight so it does serve as a bit of insulation for the foil pan. Please remember, all this really does is just present some simple ideas to a child. The overall design, like you implied, could be tweaked to make it more efficient. Basically, it is just a s'mores warmer.

Mike Turvey (author) 9 months ago