Hi ! Our names are Gaby, Cambria, and Vanessa. We are currently in Earth Science, a science course at our school and we are going to be designing and build a solar oven. Building the solar oven will be tricky but in the end we are looking forward to accomplishing our goal which is to heat a hot dog and a melt chocolate.

Solar cooking is simple and safe making it convenient to cook food without consuming fuels or heating up the kitchen. Benefits to households are the following:

1) Health and Nutrition: Since simple solar cookers cook at moderate temperatures, we preserve nutrients. Ig a family is not able to afford to get fuel, solar cooking helps them keep more food. Solar cookers are smoke free unlike smoky cooking fires which irritate the eyes and lungs which can cause diseases. Solar cookers are as well fire free making them really safe, that way children and buildings won't get on fire. Solar cookers reduce risks and burdens and "frees time" because with solar cookers women don't have to walk to collect fuel wood and since they do not have to walk miles, there aren't going to be exposed to dangerous animals and criminals. Solar cookers as well not only cook food but pasteurize water during emergencies when fuels and power sources are not available.

2) Economics: Families that are in poverty spend 25% more of their income on cooking fuel. For solar cookers, the fuel is sunlight which is free and so with solar cookers, money can be saved and instead of using money on fuel money can then be used for food, education, health care etc.

3) Convenience: Since the solar cooker cooks at moderate temperatures, there is no need for the food to be stirred and the food won't burn. The pots that solar cookers use are easy to clean which is convenient since women have to walk miles to get water. In addition, solar cookers are as well portable which allows people to cook at parks when having picnics.

4) Household uses: The solar cooker also heats water for household chores and can preserve tomatoes and fruits as well as sanitize dishes and utensils and can kill insects that are crawling around.

How do solar cookers work?

--> The solar cooker lets UV rays in and converts it in infrared light which can't escape. The sun's heat does NOT cook the food and the temperature as well does NOT cook the food. What DOES cook the food is the suns rays that are made into energy.

Step 1: Gather Materials

foil
hot glue gun + glue
Porky's Pizza Palace pizza box
black paper
black paint
plate
plastic wrap
tape
scissors
paint brush
cardboard cutter

Keep in mind:

if the day isn't sunny/ or if it is windy, the solar cooker will not be as efficient

Step 2:

Make a flap/ window on the top of the pizza box using a box cutter or scissors. Cut 3 sides leaving a good amount of room from the edges of the lid. When done cutting, fold the flap so that it stands up when the lid is closed.

Step 3:

Paint the box black/ or a really dark color in order to attract more heat.

Step 4:

Then Cover the inner side of the flap with aluminum foil so that it reflects the suns rays downwards to where the opening is.

Step 5:

Use plastic wrap to cover the opening where you cut out the flap. Make sure the plastic wrap is sealed very tightly and by doing this, you can use tape on the sides.