Here is a simple solar oven design which anyone can build, why not build one with a friend, child or as part of a school project. Then organize a ‘cook off’ to see who’s the fastest cook in the West. Make it a fun and educational experience for children by involving them and helping them understand alternative energy and the implications and rewards of harnessing technologies like solar cooking.

A solar cooker can be made with the most basic materials and of course the most important ingredient for your cooker – the sun. You will be amazed at how simple, fun and rewarding it is to cook food using only the power of the sun and a couple of hours of your time.

The following materials are required for building a simple solar box cooker. The size is entirely up to you, as a rule of thumb though, the bigger the oven the more powerful it will be, however the recommended optimum size for a box cooker is 50cm x 50cm x 10cm high or a sufficient size to house your cooking vessel. 4 reflective panels are also recommended instead of one, equating to approximately 1 square metre. (1m² = 1kW of Solar Energy) or 0.25 m² per panel.

Materials you will need:

• 2 cardboard boxes.
• Cling film or plastic laminate.
• Aluminium foil / kitchen foil.
• PVA Glue and tape.
• Brushes for painting and gluing.
• Scissors or knife.
• String.
• Matt black powder paint – mix with water.
• Wadding (Straw, shredded paper, or other insulation material).
• Plastic bag or oven bag to house the pots (the bags help store the heat)
• The sun, some friends and yummy food.

1. A pizza box is the ideal size to get you started in the wonderful world of solar cooking. Cut a 3-sided flap in the top of your pizza box as shown in Figure 1.

Fig 1 – Pizza Box

2. Open up the box and line the inside of it with aluminium foil ensuring no gaps. Then paint the foil black with black paint. For increased efficiency you could line the inside of the box with foil and then add the wadding. Add another layer of foil on top of wadding and also paint black, therefore creating an insulating cavity.

3. Fold back the flap along the uncut line and stick aluminium foil to the inside of flap. Ensure foil is shiny side out – reflective side and there are as few wrinkles as possible. Too much glue can cause the cardboard to shrivel, so be sparing or use tape and take your time.

Fig 2 – Pizza Box with window.

4. Measure a piece of plastic, or cling film to fit over the opening you’ve just made. The plastic must be larger than the hole so that a tight seal can be formed. It is important to ensure little or no air escapes from the box once it is in use. Otherwise this will increase the overall cooking time.


5. Glue, tape or staple the plastic sheet to the top of the hole. Ensure no air gaps by forming a tight seal using gaffer tape and glue.

6. The second cardboard box can be used if you would like to give your oven a power boost. More reflective sheeting equals more power. Cut cardboard into panels approximately the same size as the original flap on the pizza box. Apply foil in the same manner as the flap and then attach 3 more flaps to the box using tape or staples. Set the angles of the reflective panels by using string as in Figure 3.

Fig 3 – Pizza box with 4 panels.

7. And finally place some food inside the plastic bag or oven bag and place in your cooker. Point it towards the sun ensuring the panels reflect the maximum amount of sunlight through the window, inside the cooker.

8. Congratulations you are now cooking using only the power of the sun. Why not try muffins, burgers, cookies, or chocolate marshmallows – the kids favourite.

A great way to get children involved is to give the cookers some character. Why not give it a name, or paint it with mad, bright colours. The kids love it. Then let the cook off commence.

Happy cooking

Let me know how you get on, if you send some pictures and comments I will happily include you in the SolReka solar club photo gallery. Coming soon, in the mean time please feel free to email me your photos.

Please note:

- Always use adult supervision and protective eyewear and gloves when building and operating a solar cooker.
- Allow half an hour for pre-heating your solar cooker.
- Allow approximately twice the amount of time as a conventional oven.
- Turn the cooker every half an hour or so to ensure maximum sunlight.
- Food cannot be overcooked, so sit back, relax and enjoy.

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10 Responses to “Build a simple solar cooker”

1. Types of Solar Cooker | SolReka - Solar Coooking and Alternative Energy News Says:
   March 5th, 2008 at 2:02 am

   [...] Despite the name “box” cooker, they are made in both circular and rectangular shapes. They consist of an enclosed inner box covered with clear glass or plastic, a reflector, and insulation. There is a wide variety of patterns and plans for the box cooker. While they do not heat quickly, they do provide slow, even cooking and are extremely cheap to make. Box cookers are very easy and safe to use, and fairly easy to construct. Building Plans [...]

2. RKRAO Says:
   July 29th, 2008 at 8:14 am

   Hi ROB,
   I surfed through your blog;it is a very pleasant experience,the colorful photos,the gentle approach,the invitation for visitors to participate;let us hope more and more like you will join to promote the use of solar power;the solar fan if interesting;i willkeep coming to your blog to find its activities.

3. SolReka Says:
   July 29th, 2008 at 10:19 pm

   The pleasure was all mine RKRAO.

   Make sure you don’t miss the latest news and reviews on solar cooking and alternative energy devices.

   Please take a moment to subscribe by email.

   SolReka’s last blog post..How to build a Bamboo Solar Cooker for less than $1

4. How to build a Pizza Box Solar Cooker | SolReka - Solar Cooking and Alternative Energy News Says:
   August 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm

   [...] – Try using more than one reflective panel. Use 4 panels instead of one. See Figure 3 in post – Build a simple solar cooker. [...]

5. billy Says:
   March 19th, 2009 at 12:02 pm

   that thing is for fagets that like to butt fuck

6. dlmiller1054 Says:
   March 19th, 2009 at 1:19 pm

   I liked your article. I am looking forward to building a solar cooker and cooking with my grandchildren this summer. Thanks

7. Matilyn Says:
   August 30th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

   i have to make a oven for school 6th grade.lol haha

8. Fate Says:
   October 12th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

   thanks this is amazeing i love it :]

9. james Says:
   November 16th, 2009 at 6:35 pm

   i mad this one i got 110 digress in 8 hoers hot en of to cook a steak

10. sreekutty Says:
    November 29th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    this is intersting,i never ever had more information about solar cooker

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