The kids and I were bored this weekend, and around lunchtime Sunday my 11 year old suggested that we make solar ovens. So we did. Sorry, no photos.
Basically we took shoebox sized boxes and spray painted the insides black. Then we put the shoeboxes inside bigger boxes and stuffed poly fluff in between for insulation. Crumpled newspaper would work too, but the fluff was just sitting there. Then the kids chose lunch- canned ravioli. The ravioli went into glass tupperware type containers with lids and into the shoeboxes. Finally, a stretch of plastic wrap over the shoebox and another over the bigger box made a double paned, clear top.
In about 45 minutes the ravioli was hot and they had lunch. I played around with a thermometer and measured 155F in the shoebox. The ravioli got to around 115F, which was plenty hot for them. Later we put a small jar of water in one of the ovens to see how hot we could get it- It also hit 155F within 90 minutes or so.
They were *amazed* that you could heat up lunch without a stove or microwave.
Basically we took shoebox sized boxes and spray painted the insides black. Then we put the shoeboxes inside bigger boxes and stuffed poly fluff in between for insulation. Crumpled newspaper would work too, but the fluff was just sitting there. Then the kids chose lunch- canned ravioli. The ravioli went into glass tupperware type containers with lids and into the shoeboxes. Finally, a stretch of plastic wrap over the shoebox and another over the bigger box made a double paned, clear top.
In about 45 minutes the ravioli was hot and they had lunch. I played around with a thermometer and measured 155F in the shoebox. The ravioli got to around 115F, which was plenty hot for them. Later we put a small jar of water in one of the ovens to see how hot we could get it- It also hit 155F within 90 minutes or so.
They were *amazed* that you could heat up lunch without a stove or microwave.
We almost got a can of water to boil this year a bigger collector and maybe!
