Conventional ovens, although reliable, are expensive and contribute heavily to your electric bill. Gas ranges, on the other hand, are slightly more convenient, although the price of gas has increased through the years. If you want a cooking device that is efficient yet friendly on your budget, the solar oven is the first thing that comes to mind. The best part is, creating your own solar oven shouldn’t cost you more than $20.
Luscious Way of Transferring Heat
During daytime, no other cooking device comes as convenient as the solar oven. You simply have to set it in an open area and it will gradually cook your food. An excellent heat conductor is placed on the cooking surface, which increases the temperature absorbed from the sun. The conductor, usually aluminum foil, then transfers the heat onto your food until it is cooked.
Creating the Oven
The solar oven is just like an art project. You will put the oven together using readily available tools and items. In effect, you won’t really be spending a single penny if you have many things stocked in your home’s storeroom.
When creating the oven, you have three sections to focus on:
the cooking surface
the sun catcher
the connections
Each section works in conjunction with the others to maximize the heat provided by sunlight. Make the measurements precise so that not much heat is lost while traveling the various sections of the oven. Refrain from using materials with toxic chemicals, especially for the cooking surface. The molecules of those poisonous substances might blend with your lunch and harm you in the process.
Materials Used:
large cardboard box
small cardboard box
aluminum foil
newspaper
cardboard sheets (large enough to act as the lid of the large cardboard box)
non-toxic black spray paint
non-toxic craft glue
non-toxic tape
black construction paper
stapler
scissors
clear glass sheet
pencil
hinges (optional)
Procedure:
Cut the flaps of the large and small cardboard boxes.
Stuff a layer of crumpled newspaper at the bottom of the large cardboard box.
Place the small cardboard box inside the larger one. Position it at the center. The small box will act as your oven’s cooking surface.
Fill the spaces in between the two cardboard boxes with crumpled newspaper. Once filled, the smaller box should be fixed inside the large box steadily.
Wrap the inner sides of the small box with aluminum foil.
Fold the foil’s edges over the top of the box then affix them with tape.
Wrap the small box’s bottom with construction paper. Tape the foil to the bottom layer.
Cut the flaps and stick them over the visible portions filled with newspaper using glue or tape.
Cut two sheets of cardboard. One should be big enough to cover the large box, while the other one for the smaller box. The larger sheet will serve as your oven’s sun catcher.
Spray and cover one side of the smaller sheet with non-toxic black paint.
Wrap the other side with aluminum foil.
Place the sheet on top of the smaller box with the foiled side facing up.
Cover the larger sheet or the sun catcher with aluminum foil.
Position it at a 45 degree angle from the box’s mouth.
Staple the sun catcher to secure the connection. If the connection is not strong enough, you can affix a couple of hinges on each side of the large box and cut the sun catcher to fit the hinges.
Place a glass sheet in between the sun catcher and the large box’s contents to further concentrate the heat towards the inside of the box.
The efficiency of the solar oven is dependent on the position of each section. The heat captured from the sun has a clear path towards the oven’s cooking surface.
Things to Remember About the Solar Oven:
Slower Cooking Time – The solar oven produces a lower temperature as compared to conventional ovens, since it merely directs the heat generated from sunlight. With solar ovens, the cooking time is twice the duration for conventional ovens. The preheating time is usually 30 minutes for a well-made solar oven.
Not for Frying – The solar oven can’t be used for food that requires high temperatures for cooking. The heat generated by the oven will not amount to the heat required for frying. Even if you use the oven during the hottest of summer days, you will still not get your favorite crispy dishes. Besides, the materials used for making the cooking device will not withstand extremely high temperatures.
Conventional Ovens for Nighttimes – At night, the sun is practically absent, which means the solar oven has no power source. You might as well use your standard oven during this time. The electric bill shouldn’t be a problem, since you are using the conventional oven for only a few hours anyway.
No to Styrofoam and Duct Tape – In the absence of some materials, you might be tempted to use versatile items such as styrofoam and duct tape. Both items release toxic fumes when heated at certain temperatures. Better rummage for the specified materials rather than sacrificing your health just for a little convenience.
The solar oven is perfect for picnics and Sunday morning cookouts. You can have the same great tasting dishes without worrying about charcoal’s lighting dilemmas and the sheer weight of meat smokers. Remember, with a solar oven, you’re just a ray of sunshine away from another luscious meal.