Introduction: Purple Fig Solar Cooker

The Purple Fig Solar Cooker reaches temperatures between 250°F and 375°F (121.1C and 190.5C). It cost less than $5 to make. The ingredients are: 2 pieces of 22" x 28" (55.88cm x 71.12cm) poster board.- aluminum foil - glue - 1 shoelace - 4 binder clips 3/4" (1.905cm) ALWAYS use meat thermometer when cooking chicken and meats. Chicken is done at 165F° (72C).

Step 1:

Clip 2 pieces of 22" x 28"  (55.88cm x 71.12cm) poster board together.

Step 2:

Step 2. Draw a line 14" (35.56cm) from long edge. Draw line to divide 14" x 28" (35.56cm x 71.12cm) into two 14" (35.56cm) squares. Cut on lines to make 3 pieces.  

Step 3:

Step 3. Paint 1 side of each 14" (35.56cm) square purple and an 8" (20.30cm) square on one of the 8" (20.30cm) x 28" (71.12cm) strips.

Step 4:

Step 4. Glue foil to un-purple side of each 14" (35.56cm) square and to one side of 8" (20.30cm) square.

Step 5:

Stack 14" (35.56)  squares together.  On only 1 corner punch 2 holes at 4 7/8" ( ?cm) from corner and 5/16ths (?cm) from edge. Then stack both 8" (20.30cm) squares together and punch 8 holes, 2 in each corner at 1" (?cm) from corner and 3/8" (?cm) from edge.

Step 6:

Step 6. Lay out 14" (35.56cm) squares with punched corners together, purple  8" (20.30cm) square on purple side and foil square on foil side.

Step 7:

Step 7. Thread lace up from bottom through foiled 8" (20.30cm) square, 14" (35.56cm) square, then purple foiled 8" (20.30cm) square.

Step 8:

Step 9. Then thread down through purple base piece, purple panel, and foiled base piece. Tighten a little and go to next corner with long part of lace.

Step 9:

Step 9. Continue lacing through each set of corner holes until all 4 are done.

Step 10:

Step 11. Turn over Purple Fig Solar Cooker and tighten shoelace and tie. The shoelace can be threaded to make the short lace on the cooking side if desired.

Step 11:

Step 12. Pull up panels to make Fig (cone) shape. It can be stored in a grocery bag in this configuration.

Step 12:

Step 12. Use clips to hold panels in curved shape that focuses the most sun on the center pan. Use dark pans with tightfitting glass covers for best cooking temperatures. For early day and late day put one side up and the opposite one flat  and clip the side panels to them in a smooth curve. Mid day it can be used as shown.