It’s autumn, but you can still catch some rays. Put the sun’s power to work and make a solar oven to bake up yummy snacks.
To make the oven you’ll need a clean, medium-sized pizza box (ask the local pizza place), black construction paper, plastic insulation (find it in hardware stores), newspaper, aluminum foil, glue and scissors.
First, tape a layer of aluminum foil to the inside bottom of the box. Then tape a layer of black construction paper over the foil. Tuck rolled-up newspaper along the sides of the box to serve as insulation around the food.
Next, cut a flap door in the top of the box. Trace a straight line on three sides of the box, leaving an inch margin on each of the sides, then cut down the lines. Once done, fold the flap back, and glue another piece of foil to the inside of the flap.
Open the box and tape a sheet of clear plastic insulation to the inside of the lid where you’ve cut the hole, covering it tightly.
Now get cooking. Put your food inside the oven and close the box. Tape all holes closed to keep insects out. Prop open the foil-covered flap so it catches the sun’s rays and reflects them onto the clear plastic window. Punch a hole through the lid and use string or yarn to tie it back at an angle where it catches the sun. The black background absorbs the sun’s rays and cooks the food.
Forget microwave-quick results! On a 72-degree day, it took two hours for the cheese to melt on English muffin pizzas. With s’mores, the chocolate melted in 10 minutes but the marshmallows weren’t gooey at all.
Go to www.solarcooking.org for more details on solar cooking.
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