Solar Cooker Projects

• The sun is nature's way of cooking food. John Slater/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Solar cookers are nature's way of cooking food. Using a solar cooker conserves energy and lowers the family energy bill each month. Solar cookers range from simple hot dog cookers to more complex cookers large enough to make a whole meal. Used in all parts of the world, the main requirement for cooking is the sun's heat.

Sun-Cooked Hot Dogs

• Make hot dogs in the sun using a cardboard box, tin foil and a poster board. Choose a box that is long and skinny. For best results, the width of the box should be within 2 inches of the length of the hot dog. Shoe boxes will make excellent boxes.

  Lengthwise, on both sides of the box, cut out a semi-circle. The tip of the semicircle should not extend more than halfway down the box.

  Use the poster board to close the opening of the box. Glue aluminum foil to the poster board, shiny side up. A smoother surface will collect more heat. The finished product will resemble a skateboarding ramp.

  In the middle on the longer sides of the box, tape a piece of cardboard on both sides. Connect both sides using a wire hanger. Before connecting the second side, slide a hot dog on the hanger. Sit back and watch the hot dog cook.

Sun-Powered Ovens

• Recycle an old pizza box by making a solar oven. Starting an inch from the edge of the top, cut around three sides of the box. Cover the inside of the flap with aluminum foil, shiny side facing outwards.

  Tape a double layer of clear plastic wrap on the inside of the top to cover the opening in the top. Make the clear wrap airtight. Cover the bottom box with black construction paper to absorb the sun's heat.

  Place the food in the center of the black surface and close lid. Prop the top flap open at an angle to reflect the sunlight. Cheese, buttered, toast and soups are examples of food that you can cook in the oven.

Egg Cooker

• You can cook eggs directly on the sidewalk when the sun's temperature is over 95 degrees. On cooler days, use a small strip of aluminum foil to concentrate the sun's heat on the egg.

  Lay the aluminum foil on the sidewalk. A piece of foil about the size of a small frying pan is big enough. The area should be flat and under direct sunlight. Curl the side of the aluminum foil up so the egg does not run off the foil. Crack the egg and pour it out on the foil.