Solar Cooking for Free

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Now that you have one box inside another, with both of their tops level, and with the insulation packed between the boxes, you are ready to seal the insulation. This is done simply by taping or gluing pieces of cardboard over the top open section between the two boxes.

Next, make a lid for your cooker. If you were lucky enough to find a large cardboard box with a tight-fitting lid, you can now proceed with that lid. However, you may need to cut a lid from cardboard (see illustration in image gallery).

Once you have made your secure-fitting lid, you are ready to cut an opening for a sheet of glass or heavy-duty plastic.

You now want to cut an opening in the lid that is just as big as the opening of the inner box. But only cut the lid on three sides so you can bend up the opening and create a reflector out of it. See our illustration if this is unclear.

The opening of the lid will need to be covered with a single pane of glass or with a sheet of plastic. The plastic will be easiest to install, though glass will retain the heat better. The glass or plastic must be secured to the inside of the lid by glue or silicone caulking. Make certain that the glass is secure before proceeding.

Now, note that the flap that you cut on the lid for the glass can open and close. Line the inside of this lid flap with aluminum foil, and you have an automatic reflector. When the solar cooker is in use, you prop up the lid with a stick. Presto! Your solar cooker is complete!

The dimensions we have provided here are only recommendations and the design can be modified depending upon the supplies you have on hand. You may have a good pane of glass, and so you should adjust the cooker's size based upon the glass. There's room for flexibility.

Before you cook, you should place a black metal cookie tray, or an aluminum foil tray, on the inside of the cooker. To absorb the heat effectively, all cooking pots should be black and should be covered.

Though anyone handy with making things should have no difficulty with our explanation and illustration here, some of you may want more details. An organization called Solar Box Cookers International has been actively promoting solar cookers worldwide. They sell detailed plans for making this style of solar cooker, as well as slight variations on this design. You can write to them at 1724 Eleventh St., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 444-6616.

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