I’ve finally finished my DIY solar cooker. Yay! My DIY solar box cooker is a combination between a hay box and a solar cooker. I followed these instructions for a “minimum” solar box cooker. For the solar box cooker I used two cardboard boxes, hay, wheat paste as glue, aluminium foil and plexiglas.
Hay box and solar cooking has a long history. Here’s a timeline of solar cooking history. In 1909, the Chicago Tribune published an article about a 20 cents fireless cooker, made with a candy bucket and hay. ‘It took me half an hour to make my cooker, but it has saved me many hot hours since, not to count the cost of fuel.’ (Chicago Tribune, 1909) There’s also a stovetop and fireless cooker cooking time chart. And a drawing of a 1925 fireless cooker stuffed with hay. I even found a whole booklet dedicated to the fireless cooker with recipes: The Fireless Cooker. How to Make it. How to Use it. What to Cook (1908):
‘A fireless cooker is a most useful article in any home. […] The ease with which a fireless cooker can be constructed, the small outlay necessary to insure a perfectly efficient and reliable cooker, and the great comfort, convenience, and saving the cooker has been to us, the past two years, have led us to place this wonderful and practical plan of cooking before you. […] We hope that the conservative or skeptical may be induced to make a cooker, even if ever so simple, and by experimenting realize the good of which it is capable.
The primary object is to save the time and strength of the cook. […] The fireless cooker saves fuel also, and utilizes many of the cheapest and most nutritious foods. […] The recipes herein given may supply a family with nutritious and wholesome food, of pleasing variety, and tempting alike to the eye and the palate. […]
The cooker may not do all the work any more than the sewing machine does, but it certainly deserves a large place in our culinary department. Busy women, mothers, teachers, students, and all those who have work outside as well as in the home, may prepare wholesome, nutritious, economical, and attractive dishes, with very little time spent over the kitchen fire. […]
Baked Eggs
Slightly warm a shallow dish, butter generously, and then break the number of eggs desired. Season with salt and red pepper and add a little rich cream, about three or four table-spoonfuls to five or six eggs. Bake in cooker oven one-half hour. […]
Cracked Cocoa
One-third cup “Cocoa Nibs” and three cups cold water. Bring to a boil and set in a cooker three hours. Strain and add one cup of hot milk. Serve immediately.’
More solar cooking tips and recipes: Solar Cooker at CantinaWest and Solar Cooking Wiki
What a cool idea. I came over from the #partyinyourpjs link party.
Thank you! 🙂
I remember making a solar box cooker as a youth in girls camp. 🙂 Awesome! thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks for visiting, Jann! 🙂
This is very very cool. I have never heard of one of these It’s simple and fun and I can see my grand daughters loving this project. Than you for the info
Thanks for visiting, Leanna! 🙂
So smart! Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Thanks, Cecilia!
Whoa! This is so cool! I doing crafts and DIY when I was in school, but suddenly lost the interest when I started full-time job!! This is really, really cool! Wow! Thanks for sharing at Fiesta Friday party!
Thanks, Jhuls!
This is great! I’ve been interested in trying this for years, but never ended up doing it. It would work just great in the summer where I live because the sun is so strong. 🙂 Lisa
Thanks for visiting, Lisa!
What a clever idea Lina I have never heard of a solar cooker but it looks great
Thanks, Amber!
What a clever idea! I have never seen something like this before!
Thank you, Christina!
This is nothing short of awesome. Didn’t even know I wanted to try a solar cooker until I read this!
I’m glad you liked it, Gigi! 🙂
A Solar Box Cooker is a new concept to me. I think my grandson would love this. He loves science and all techy things. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
Thanks for visiting, Rhonda!
I’m thrilled to come across your site and am looking forward to trying this project.
Thanks for stopping by, Debra! I’m glad you like it and I’d love to see a photo of your finished solar box cooker! 😀