Solar Powered Oven

I'm a student of Alexander Hamilton High school in LA. I need information on how to make a solar powered oven and as a part of my project, I need to get proof that I contacted or emailed someone to give me this information. Can you help me please?

[Mad Scientist]

In the SEARCH section, do a search for solar powered oven and you'll see a few projects that are spot on!

[Tamthebest]

COOKING WITH SUNSHINE


Build a Pizza Box Solar Oven

You will need: 1 pizza box from a local pizza store, tape or non-toxic glue, scissors, black construction paper, clear plastic, aluminum foil, wooden dowel or ruler.

Directions:

1. Draw a border (at least one inch) around all four sides of the top of a pizza box. Cut along three sides leaving the line along the back of the box uncut.

2. Gently fold the flap back along the uncut edge to form a crease. Wrap the underside (inside) face of this flap with aluminum foil. Tape or glue it so that the foil is held smoothly and firmly with not too much tape showing on the foil side of the flap.

3. Open the box and line the bottom with black construction paper. Tape it along the edges.

4. Cut a piece of plastic an inch larger than the lid opening on the box top. Tape it on the underside of the lid opening. (Heavy plastic laminate works best, but if you must use plastic wrap, make sure it is pulled tight.)

5. Add another piece of plastic to the top of the lid opening. This creates an insulating layer of air to keep heat in the box.

6. You are almost done! The oven has to sit at an angle facing the sun directly so you'll need to make a prop. Also, the flap of the box top needs to be propped open - a dowel or ruler works well. This way you can change the amount of sunlight striking the oven window.

Cooking Tips: This shallow solar oven is ideal for heating S'mores, English muffin pizzas, warming store-bought cookies or biscuits. It won't get super hot, though, so you can't bake or cook things in it. On a sunny day, pick a treat to warm up. Carry it and the box outside to a sunny spot. You may want to lay a folded towel, blanket, or thick newspaper underneath the box for insulation. Open the box, put the treat in the center, and close the box. Now open the flap and turn the box so the foil is facing the sun. The shadow of the flap should go straight back from the back of the box. Move the flap up and down and note how it reflects the sunlight. Use a dowel, ruler, or stick to prop up the flap so that it bounces the sunlight into the box. Wait about a half hour for the box to warm up in the sun. Then enjoy your warmed-up treat!


SIMPLE SOLAR RECIPES

Solar-Cooked Corn on the Cob

Wrap an ear of corn, with some inner leaves left on, in plastic wrap. Then place it inside a black sock - a clean one, please! Cook in solar oven until soft, unwrap, brush with butter, and sprinkle with salt.

Solar-Cooked Pinto Beans

Soak about 1/2 pound of pinto beans in water overnight. Drain the beans and add fresh water to cover the beans by about 1/2 inch. Add a pinch of salt, some chopped onion, a little garlic, and a slice of bacon if you like. Put this into a covered dark pot and cook all day in a solar oven. The beans are done when they are tender.

Solar Stew

Combine 1-2 pounds beef stew meat (cut up into small pieces), 1 can (16 oz.) potatoes, 1 can (10 oz.) cream-of-tomato soup, 1 package dry onion soup mix, 1 can (7 oz.) peas (drained), and 1/3 cup ketchup. Bake in solar oven until done.

The following recipe is cooked outdoors in the sun but doesn't require a solar oven:

Solar Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:


4 large, fully ripe tomatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
4 smashed garlic cloves
30-40 fresh basil leaves, chopped
ј cup olive oil
Ѕ teaspoon salt
3-4 twists of pepper mill
About 4-5 hours before serving, combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together well. Place outdoors in full sun. Cover with cheesecloth or a mesh spatter lid. Stir every once in a while as the sun cooks the sauce. It is best when the temperature is at least 100 degrees. When done, use on top of freshly-cooked ziti or other pasta. Makes 2 servings.

Here is another recipe that cooks outside:

Hot Weather Yogurt

Ingredients:


6 cups milk (skim for nonfat yogurt, whole milk for rich yogurt)
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon commercial yogurt (such as Yoplait or Dannon; plain or flavored is okay)
You will also need a thermometer.
Bring all ingredients except yogurt to a boil, stirring occasionally. (Keep watching it, or it will boil over.) Remove from heat at boiling point and cool to 105 degrees. Stir in the spoon of commercial yogurt. Divide the mixture into small custard dishes. Cover with plastic wrap. Put the covered dishes outside in a shaded area for 6-8 hours depending on how hot the day is and how solid you like your yogurt. During the hottest summer months, you can even make the yogurt in the evening. Put it out overnight and it will be done by morning. It tastes best if refrigerated before eating. Add granola, wheat germ, fruit, jelly, or any other flavoring to taste. Save a spoonful to make the next batch. Keeps in the refrigerator for more than a week. Makes six 8 oz. servings.

SOLAR COOK BOOKS

COOKING WITH THE SUN: HOW TO BUILD AND USE SOLAR COOKERS, by Beth and Dan Halacy. (A brief history of solar cooking, along with directions on how to build a solar oven and hot plate, plus over 90 recipes-including pizza, chicken, and pecan pie-and resources.)

SOLAR COOKING: A PRIMER/COOKBOOK, by Harriet Kofalk. (Simple instructions and diagrams for making a solar cooker, as well as recipes for everything from soup to baked goods that can be cooked by the sun.)

SOLAR STOVETOP COOKER: PATTERN, INSTRUCTIONS, RECIPES, by Jack Howell. (Contains patterns to trace onto cardboard and assemble, with step-by-step directions.)

SOLAR COOKING WEBSITES

[url]http://solarcooking.org[/url]
(The Solar Cooking Archive is an excellent site with lots of information, articles, photographs, illustrated solar oven construction plans, teaching guides, solar cooking news from around the world, a slideshow, audio presentations, links, and additional resources.)

[url]www.solarhaven.org/SolarCooking.htm[/url]
(A nice site with photos, recipes, links, and an entire 30-page solar cooking manual.)

[url]www.solarcook.com/recipes.html[/url]
(Recipes with photos: Cowboy Supper, Girl Scout Camp Supper, Banana Bread, Baked Pears, Basmati Rice, Chicken w/Scalloped Potatoes, more.)

[url]www.betterworld.com/BWZ/9608/relax.htm[/url]
(A solar cooking lesson plan for teachers, with activity ideas and questions to ask students.)

[url]www.sunoven.com/phx.htm[/url]
(Photos of solar cooking with a "Sun Oven" in Phoenix, Arizona.)

[url]www.solarnow.org/pizzabx.htm[/url]
(Instructions and illustrated diagrams for making a pizza box solar oven.)




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[wisteria]

that's intereasting thanks for you contibutions Tamthebest we need more people like you!... well a few years ago close to where i like we there as a community we had a solar BBQ it was cool! there was another thread that had lots of info...