BL Workshop

Solar-powered cooking

By Julie Monahan
Illustrations by Jameson Simpson
From the August 2005 Boys' Life magazine

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 oven and feed the whole group. Solar ovens work by bouncing sunlight off a reflective surface into a pot. The hotter the pot, the faster your food will cook. It’s easy to make—and cheap.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• A pizza box
• Black construction paper
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic window covering
• Permanent marker
• Glue
• Tape
• Scissors
• Ruler
• String

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

STEP 1: Line the inside bottom of the box with foil.

STEP 2: Cover foil with black paper and tape in place.

STEP 3: Set the plastic under the box and trace the outline of the box.

STEP 4: Remove the box and draw another outline 1⁄4-inch inside the first outline and cut along inside line.

STEP 5: Close the box cover, and draw another line 1 inch from each side.

STEP 6: Cut along the lines on the front and sides—not the back.
STEP 7: Open the cover and line the inside with foil.

STEP 8: Glue foil in place.

STEP 9: Cover foil with the cut plastic and tape in place.

STEP 10: All layers should be airtight and wrinkle-free.

STEP 11: On the outside of the box cover, attach a string long enough to keep the flap open and let the sun shine in.

STEP 12: Once you have the oven, all you need is the sun. Choose a spot that will get at least several hours of direct sun away from any strong wind.

TRY IT OUT
Solar cooking takes a little practice. Try this recipe first:

Solar Oven S’mores:
Ingredients:

• Graham crackers
• Milk chocolate bars
• Marshmallows

Place graham crackers next to each other on the bottom of a black cast-iron pot. Black pots are best because they absorb and retain the sun’s heat better than light-colored pans. Top each cracker with a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow. Put a glass lid over the pot and place the pot in the center of your solar oven. When the marshmallow is gooey, take out the crackers and add the second layer of graham crackers on top to complete it.

Read 87 comments about “Solar-powered cooking”

Comment page:   « 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 [2] 1 »

1. 17 - Dog says:
   April 29th, 2007 at 9:55 am

   Hey, Tumten the black paper absorbs the heat with reflection of the aluminum foil. It also sounds really COOOOOOOOOL.

2. 16 - BOLTISTA says:
   April 28th, 2007 at 4:07 pm

   IT IS SO COOL AND BAD

3. 15 - newguyintown says:
   April 27th, 2007 at 8:15 pm

   i’m doing it right now

4. 14 - pankake says:
   April 27th, 2007 at 7:41 pm

   Awsome! I have tried many things like this but, this is the best i have ever seen! It is truly wonderful and is useful and a cheap way to cook. MY RATING: 5 stars

5. 13 - cobra 199999999 says:
   April 24th, 2007 at 4:55 pm

   i have’nt used it yet but i can’t wat {;its cool;maybe;}

6. 12 - Doctor Proffeser says:
   April 23rd, 2007 at 4:20 pm

   I’ve got a camping trip to go to, so this [i]might[/i] be of use!

7. 11 - landfill #2 says:
   April 23rd, 2007 at 1:09 pm

   thank ya little lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. 10 - TxZam says:
   April 23rd, 2007 at 12:31 pm

   This is sweet, when I get home I am doing this I hope to here more cool stuff like this. I’v been reading the magizene for 6 years and I just now got to the website

9. 9 - fudgeman says:
   April 22nd, 2007 at 7:32 pm

   I started my marshmallow on fire! That thing is hot! (pun intended)

10. 8 - Jules says:
    April 22nd, 2007 at 10:19 am

    Sounds E-Z-P-Z!!!!!!!! =)

Comment page:   « 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 [2] 1 »

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