I am going to show you how to make a solar oven out of common household materials that you probably already have lying around your house. But even if you have to go out and purchase the materials you will need to spend less than $20 which makes this DIY solar power project affordable for just about anyone.

Learning how to make a solar oven is simple and fun and it is a great introduction to using solar power in general. Household cooking does not typically consume a lot of home energy so you should not expect that your solar oven will save you much, if anything, on your home energy bill. But it is a great way to incorporate the use of renewable energy in your life and to teach you that you do not need to rely on your power company quite as much as you might think.

Let’s jump right in!

How to Make a Solar Oven – The Materials You Will Need

1 Cardboard box measuring 18x18x16 (inches)
1 Cardboard box measuring 16x16x16 (inches)
1 Piece of flat cardboard measuring 24×24 (inches)
1 Sheet of plexi-glass measuring 18×18 (inches)
1 Roll of heavy duty aluminum foil
1 Tube of silicone caulk
1 Straight 12” piece of hanger wire
1 Can of black (non-toxic) spray paint
A bunch of old newspapers

How to Make a Solar Oven – Constructing the Lid

Step 1: Center the bottom of the larger cardboard box (18x18x16) on top of the flat cardboard (24×24) and draw an outline of the cardboard box on the flat cardboard.

Step 2: Repeat Step 2 but with the smaller cardboard box (16x16x16) centered within the outline of the larger cardboard box. You should now have two concentric squares drawn in the center of the flat cardboard.

Step 3: Cut along *3 sides only* of the smaller drawn square. Fold the inner portion that you just cut, along the remaining intact line to create a flap.

Step 4: Making only 1 cut per each corner of the flat cardboard (4 cuts total), cut a straight line perpendicular to the edge of the cardboard to the corner of the outer drawn square.

Step 5: Run a straight and continuous bead of silicone caulk on the flat cardboard between the inner and out drawn squares making sure not to caulk the flap. Glue down the sheet of plexi-glass to the flat cardboard centered with the outer drawn square.

Step 6: Allow the silicone caulk to cure.

How to Make a Solar Oven – Constructing the Oven Chamber

Step 7: Cut the top flaps off of the larger cardboard box (18x18x16).

Step 8: Center the smaller cardboard box (16x16x16) inside the larger cardboard box (18x18x16) and glue it down by the bottom using the silicone caulk. There should be an equal 2 inch gap between the walls of both boxes.

Step 9: Crumple up the newspaper and distribute is evenly in the space between the two boxes for insulation.

Step 10: Open and fold each flap of the inner box down until it overlaps the rim of outer box and trim the excess overlap.

Step 11: Glue the trimmed flaps to the rim of the outer box using the silicone caulk.

Step 12: Allow the silicone caulk to cure.

How to Make a Solar Oven – Finishing Touches

Step 13: Once both the lid and oven chamber have cured, center the lid on top of the oven chamber with the flap side up and fold the edges of the lid to fit securely over the oven chamber.

Step 14: After all sides have been folded, each corner should have a flap from the cuts made in step 4. Fold these flaps over the adjacent sides of the lid and glue them in place using the silicone caulk making sure not to glue the lid to the oven chamber.

Step 15: Line both the inside of the oven chamber and the bottom of the lid flap (side in contact with the plexi-glass) with the heavy duty aluminum foil using the silicone caulk.

Step 16: Spray paint the inside bottom (only) of the of the oven chamber using the black non-toxic spray paint.

Step 17: Allow the silicone caulk on both the lid and oven chamber to cure and the paint to dry.

Step 18: Create a prop for the flap by bending the hanger wire 90 degrees at both ends but in opposite directions. Insert one end of the hanger wire into the corrugation (middle layer) of the cardboard lid, above the plexi-glass and close to the flap. The other end of the hanger wire will be used to prop the flap open.

How to Make a Solar Oven – Start Cooking

Step 1: Put the solar cooker in direct sunlight with the flap facing south (opposite if you live in the southern hemisphere).

Step 2: Place your food in a dark colored pot and place the pot inside the oven.

Step 3: Adjust the top flap to reflect sunlight through the plexi-glass and into the oven chamber using the prop.

Step 4: Allow the food to cook until done. Be careful not to open the oven too often as this allows heat to escape thus slowing the cooking process.

Step 5: Share this with someone else and show them how to make a solar oven for less than $20.

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