Learning to cook with the sun has help us to be better prepared for emergencies and baking outdoors has reduced our utility bills as we have practiced using our powerless cooking tools.  Sun Ovens are the most commonly used solar cooker to harness the sun’s power to bake, boil, and steam food and we are even offering a free class on how to use them next week (see details over on the right side ---> ).   

However, not everyone can afford to buy a Sun Oven or they want to get started while they are saving up for one.  So we wanted to show you how you can make an inexpensive little solar cooker using only a pizza box and other common materials found around your house.



Materials Needed:
- One empty pizza box (the bigger the better)
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
- Black construction paper
- Scotch tape
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Knife or razor blade

Step 1: 
Measure and draw a straight line 1 1/2 inches from the outside of the box.

Step 2: 
Use a knife or razor blade and cut three edges along the drawn line (leave the top edge uncut to act as a hinge)

Step 3: 
Cover the inside of the top flap with aluminum foil. Also cover the inside edges of the pizza box with the foil. Tape it all down securely.

Step 4: 
Cover the open area of the lid with plastic wrap to help retain heat and keep bugs, dirt, and moisture out. Do two layers of plastic and tape it down very well.

Step 5: 
Tape black paper in the middle of the box bottom to absorb the heat from the sun which will be reflecting in.

Step 6: 
Prop the lid open with a pencil or ruler and aim the box into direct sunlight to start cooking!

Optional: You can roll up newspaper rolls and stuff them in the sides to add insulation. You can also use a thermometer inside to test your temperatures.

Hopefully you can have a little fun making your own solar cooker. It’s a fun activity to do with the little ones. It didn’t get super hot and I had to hold the box down with a crowbar because it’s so windy in my area. But it definitely got hot enough to melt cheese so there are a few things we could use it for in an emergency!

Don’t forget to register for the Sun Oven webinar to learn more about solar cooking and the higher quality Sun Ovens if that’s something you are interested in!