What Is a Solar Cooker?

A Solar Cooker is a sun-directing device which uses the sunlight as an energy source, instead of fuel.

Solar Cooker Mechanics 

Solar Panel Cooker

A solar panel cooker works much in the same way that a greenhouse does. 

Here is the process of how the food can be cooked:

• UV rays from the Sun hit the pot directly or are reflected onto the pot by the aluminum foil therefore increasing the amount of rays the pot absorbs
• The pot then gives off infrared heat energy which becomes trapped by the plastic covering
• Since there is less heat escaping, the pot heats up much more quickly, and food can be cooked

One of the most important details of the solar cooker is the pot itself. We were unsure what type of pot to use and so we put both containers in the sun to see which would heat up quicker

Type of Container	Black Matte	Shiny Aluminum
Amount of Water	280mL	280mL
Time in Sun	5 minutes	5 minutes
Temperature Increase	2 degrees C	1.4 degrees C

Even though this is without the use of the solar cooker, it is clear that the black matte container absorbs more heat than the aluminum foil did.

What You Need to Build a Solar Cooker 

1) A Card Board Box

2) A Roll of Tin foil 

3) Clear Packaging Tape 

4) A Box Cutter 

5) A Ruler 

6) A Maker and Pencil 

7) Metal Rodes and a Clear Plastic Tarp (depending on style)

8) Your Hands! and an Idea or image you'd like to base your Cooker off of!

How to Make a Solar Cooker

Step 1: Cut and Form Box

• Determine how large you want the base of the cooker to be- the dimensions don't entirely matter, but it should be a larger rectangle
• Using the box cutter cut out: the base, a second rectangle that is the of a similar size to use as the back board of the solar cooker, 2 more smaller rectangles that fit along the sides of the base and 2 triangles that fit in between the side panels and the back board
• Tape all pieces together to create a concave open bowl as seen below

 

  

Step 2: Aluminum foil

• Cover entire front surface of box with aluminum foil
• Tape the foil down to ensure it will remain put

Step 3: Metal Poles

• Insert 5 metal poles, each an inch apart, in a straight horizontal line a few inches above where the base and back board meet
• Cut a small piece of cardboard out that is the same size as where the poles are and tape it down a few inches from the edge of the base
• Insert the other end of the poles into this piece of cardboard so that now the poles are straight and a few inches off the ground

Step 4: Pot to Cook In

• Spray paint a very thin, 3x8 inch, aluminum foil container with black paint
• Place painted container onto the poles

Step 5: Cooking

• Since cardboard boxes and thin metal poles are not the sturdiest of materials, it is important to keep anything that is being cooked on the lighter side
• Good examples are: boiling water, easy mac, popcorn 

Benefits from using a Solar Cooker 

With a Solar Cooker, since you are using the Power of the sun, you're cooking for free with no use of fuels. 

Solar Cookers do not produce any smoke, keeping carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes produced by wood-fire stoves out of homes. 

Just Like your home oven a Solar Cookers can:

• Bake, Boils & Steams any kind of food

• Reaches Temperatures of 360° to 400° F
• Totally Safe - No Danger of Fire - Never Burn Dinner Again
• How ever most Solar Cookers are portable unlike home ovens. 

Global Benefits 

Haiti One Year Later 

Haiti continues to benefit from solar cooking. SCI (Solar Cooker International)  and International Child Care Ministries are working to expand the project in the schools around Port Au Prince to integrate solar cooking into the 5th grade science curriculum    Complete Article

The Impact of Rising Food Prices

Across the world, food stocks are down in part because of unfavorable weather, ranging from drought to floods in various parts of the world. The demand for rice and other grains, meanwhile, has been growing, especially in big developing countries like China. This situation has added to the struggle for families trying to survive, and has helped to fuel protests in the Mideast. With food costs rising in developing nations, there is less money for the population to buy needed fuel, primarily charcoal, for cooking. Introducing solar cooking to more areas is an important way for residents to offset the higher price of food staples. Complete Article