The BEST $35 DIY Sun Solar Oven - Easy To Make

Manufactured solar cookers can cost in the hundreds of dollars, but you can build one yourself and adjust it to suit your needs for around $35 (or sometimes a little more).
I have read a lot about these ovens and some say the inside should be all black. Some say it should be reflective. One scientific study said either one works.
So that's why I handmade this oven, without any blueprints or instructions to follow. I decided I would do the bottom black to absorb the heat and the sides reflective to reflect the sun's rays around the inside.
#homesteading #solaroven #sunoven #baking #sun #diy #homemade

[@wendy2cc]

I'd love to see it in use with a temperature gauge. Looks great and I would love to know that it works! I'll be searching your other videos for more info.

[@carleenmiller6462]

You could buy a hanging one for your oven and use it. She shows one in her oven…..

[@deborahadney4784]

I am really proud of you... Nobody told you that you couldn't do it. I like to do it myself as well👩🏼‍🌾

[@Gumby1978]

Excellent job👏

[@marlonespinaldelrio8703]

Showing the highest temperature of this oven while in use would have been the more of an interesting reliable soy video. The idea is unique.

[@tanamccarter5669]

Excellent! I have been looking for something like this . Thank you for making it so practical and not an elaborate science fair project!

[@MA-bt8il]

You made something complicated possible! Thank you so much. Some questions: How does it work? How do you gauge temperature? How long to "pre-heat"? What are the basic cooking/baking instructions? Thanks again! Blessings! :)

[@larrymcdowell6920]

Built my own and I used 20" x 50' aluminum flashing it reflects the heat so well that I'm getting up to temperature in minutes.

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[@juliabrown5948]

Larry did you use only the flashing for the sides, or did you put the flashing on top of a wood form? If flashing only, how did the box retain heat over the cook time? Thanks so much!

[@larrymcdowell6920]

@@juliabrown5948flashing over a wooden frame stood it up with wood legs and put a refractory plate underneath and over top.

[@22ERICSHELLY]

​@@larrymcdowell6920can you show a picture?

[@kellydclear]

What temperatures are you getting from it?

[@carrowxhex6891]

Great job, thanks for the ideas. I’m going to add a double base with castors for mobility and ability to tilt it with a wedge

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

Great idea! Please share your results 😊. I am no perfectionist and love learning from others.

[@LChism-wx3qy]

Thank you for the straightforward, clear demonstration of this project! You have given me so many ideas! Thanks so much 😊😊

[@joyswenson7941]

Thank you for showing where to find these items and how much everything cost!

[@tiggywink1]

I like seeing a lady with good construction skills. I bet you cook good too!....

[@jenniferberghan5768]

Thanks so much for your well explained video. Great work 👍🤗

[@mizzkathryn7]

Thank you so much this is key if things go south and we need to cook!

[@maui-spinz7558]

Thanks sis! Great video! And great job on your solar oven thanks for the inspiration!

[@gardenfreshhome]

This is awesome, to cool. Thank you I hope to be able to make this! Awesomely Affordable 👍🙂

[@patriciaschneider6058]

Wow! Great job! Thank you for sharing. I want to make one. Thank you.

[@perryg753logan]

You are one handy lady!

[@JonesTRUTH]

Amazing! I will be building one soon! Great video

[@robertguerrero8009]

Well done, thanks for sharing...

[@tarahill2193]

That was very interesting 🤔. Thankyou!

[@jericochavez209]

My GE microwave from 2005 finally crapped out. At first kzbin.infoUgkxO_Bc204MGjxDl87cOKcdgaRhzSqGmv_g I was unsure because I was looking for something with the exact same features. Found it with this one. Interior space cavity was large, but the outside was smaller than my old one. I love the one-button push for 1-6 minutes, and the 30 second add or 30 second start. and MOST IMPORTANTLY, I love how you can adjust the power level during cooking. The reviews said it could not be done, but this marked all the other boxes. and happy to say, it does. I can hit 1 minute start, and change the power level from 10 to 5, 30 seconds in, without interruption. my favorite feature!

[@TrailoFire]

Omgosh great content. I was getting ideas for future builds and came across your video. Thanks keep up the great work, and I subbed

[@avoiceinsupportoftruth5]

Great job

[@annjones9809]

Thanks, I appreciate your thorough and well explained video. Awesome!!

[@Tom-Travels]

I made one from a thrown away ice chest and a thrown away refrigerator glass shelf glass. It cost me $2.78 for black paint. It gets to 165F. I use it to dry out stuff in a hurry.

[@shorelined1]

Nice

[@elleehunter-jones2337]

AWESOME job. I love the NO SHOES and all. I hate shoes and I KNOW we could be friends! Question: Can you make another video showing how you USE the sun oven? I am interested in that process too. I hope you have a VERY BLESSED DAY!

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

I hardly wear shoes around my homestead 😊. To answer your question, I am in process of making a video on "how to use your sun oven".

[@elleehunter-jones2337]

@@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead I LOVE it. Looking forward to your new video .

[@jackoutthebox3290]

@@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead you're my kind of girl ! :-) Thanks for inspiring me ! I want to go off grid :-)

[@chronobot2001]

You've gotta love a girl who can do stuff !!!

[@lioness3963]

Thanks you for sharing

[@mrstevens445]

You’re a rockstar. Thank you for sharing this amazing video with us.

[@justblase5270]

Nice 👍

[@markgrift1917]

Nice!

[@jaimemartin6704]

Thank you!

[@user-hw8xf2bt5u]

Omg thank you!

[@peberdah]

Superjob, glass can be replaced by plexiglass Fresnell lens for Turbo option.

[@tinadoty5406]

Fantastic. What a rockstar. Thank you so much 💗

[@dotsyjmaher]

WOW thanks

[@skog3372]

sick vid

[@user-wq3jp3qg1o]

Now I want to see a baked hen. lol

[@Xarcell]

Nifty.

[@barbaratrubenbach115]

It looks great,one question. If you have to constantly rotate box to keep in sun how do you keep racks from sliding?Would you not have to have some sort of way of keeping pans flat while moving box? I have been looking at so many of these being built, out of so many different materials, trying to get right plans for making one. Thank you for your time and effort.

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

I haven't had any issues with the racks sliding around when it came to rotating.

[@newcreationinHim1]

Do you have a video on how to use your sun oven?

[@22ERICSHELLY]

Why do you spray paint the inside? Does that help somehow? Thank you. May Jesus continue to bless you and your family

[@davwht9]

Have you ever put a thermometer in it for cooking temp monitoring ?

[@MuzaiSarah-bw6lb]

Thanks for the teach l would like to see in a temperature gauge.

[@maecarpenter6735]

Love the video! Thanks! Music was too loud. Functional, no b or e. Would like to see it with a temp guage. New subscriber. ❤

[@mauricioacuna3746]

Hi loved your video one question what are the dimensions of your plexiglass ?

[@shorelined1]

I'd have advised lay down newspaper or something that would catch overspray from hitting yard or pavement. It's a royal pita and preventable extra work nobody needs. Plus, it just looks shabby.

[@nikkischoessow4847]

But instead of all that spray paint inside I would just make the bottom a metal tray base and place oven on stone or put fire bricks inside on top of metal tray and set it on top of a stone stand that I could turn it on like maybe on some little wheels that lock instead of the chemicals

[@4evermykids1]

What size s are ur wood are they 2x4 s ?? I appreciate ur sharing I'm hoping to learn to make my family more sustainable

[@dimetrosmelakeselam8111]

I would like also to see it working and i would like to know in which part of the world you are located

[@philomenajohnson2995]

How does it work?What have you. Cooked and how long did it take?

[@EagleArrow]

Thank you. Great job. (Just please promote wearing shoes/boots/ when using a saw/cutting wood.😊)

[@josephrobi6806]

Well done 😅

[@desmondehoppie4758]

Clever

[@wideeyedCY]

No off gassing from superheating the spray paint?

[@sandrabulluck1896]

That’s why you use high heat spray paint.

[@timblairful]

Great video! As a widow I think I could probably do that. I noticed you have a thermometer in the bottom could you please let me know the highest temperature that it got for you.

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

The sun oven has been able to reach and maintain 220°.

[@cleverkids6196]

Why did you paint the inside? Seems the reflective tape and insulation would work better without those other chemicals inside by your food.

[@annwilliams9633]

Wondering the same.

[@marycannon6046]

How do you use it?

[@deborahwhaley9741]

Can you cook in it

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

You most certainly can 😊. I have baked alot of breads, cookies, and meats in my sun oven.

[@kdion64]

❤❤

[@FloridaGirl-]

That’s totally cool! Do you pit an old oven rack or anything on the inside bottom to put baking pots in? Or just set it right on the rustoleum painted insulation? Also, Does it matter what kind of baking pans you use it it? Great job!!

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

I recommend using racks at the bottom such as cookie racks or whatever you have on hand. I have been using instant pot racks. For baking pans, it doesn't matter. I have successfully baked breads and meatloaf in my glass bread pans.

[@FloridaGirl-]

@@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead Very good! Thanks for the response! I see my next project! You did great! 👍 Thanks so much!

[@ahmedprieto4680]

What the temperature inside the oven, you forgot to say😮nice work by the way ❤

[@4evermykids1]

How thick is your plexiglass

[@johnparinellojr.2035]

How long did it take to cook your food?

[@johngonzales574]

Why did you paint the bottom black?

[@nikkischoessow4847]

I do like the video but can you show something you cooked in it

[@fermeautonomelotfrance76]

👍

[@melaniesjourney9850]

Me and my husband is doing this do to a emergency situation but where using a tote where spray painting black and cutting the inside of the lid to glue our plexiglass

[@mollytrap]

The plastic won’t melt?

[@Diane1616]

I would think the plexiglass when heated would be poisonis to the food

[@chronobot2001]

Is there any problems with heat melting the plexiglass?

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

I have had no issues. My plexiglass I used is thick (1/2 inches thick).

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

Thanks. However, I would like to see it in use. Say, with pizza, bread, other.

[@kilawattkidd]

Does the pexi glass ever warp with the high heat?

[@shorelined1]

Real glass is best if you have a remnant. A poster here upcycled an old fridge shelf.

[@chronobot2001]

How hot does it get? I'm surprised you didn't use any reflectors.

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

I have been able to maintain 220°. Will be fiddling with it more in summer of 2023 to see if I can't get it to 250°.

[@luzhelenahook1715]

can you give me some more specific information about how the oven work? how hot gets? for how long?

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

Most definitely! Stay tuned as I am in the process of making a more informational video 😊.

[@luzhelenahook1715]

@@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead awesome thanks 😊

[@nccrchurchunusual7990]

Does the food taste like paint?

[@patriciacallen9653]

Have you checked to see what the highest temperature it will reach? Now that you have had it for a few weeks and I am sure you have cooked in it what if anything would you change?

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

The inside temperature has reached and maintained 220°. The only thing I might change is adding another window to the front of the sun oven for my heat rays from the sun. Next summer of 2023, I plan to build another identical one and add that extra window to the front 😊.

[@patriciacallen9653]

@@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead i will be watching for the next video.

[@TerryWoodsNZ]

​@@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead220 Fahrenheit or C?

[@3dbunkers]

HOW? does the plexi glass not melt? Must not get hot enough

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

The sun oven has been able to reach and maintain 220°.

[@ginawesoly3309]

Why do you have to use black paint inside? Seems like it would cause toxic fumes???

[@Lady_C83]

I heard plexi glass is bad it melts? That it is best use tempered glass.

[@SolarCookingGermany]

Plexi glass isn't the best choice, better use tempered glass if you can get it in the right size, it's impossible to cut it with only a glass cutter. I use normal window glass and so far it survived up to 140°C

[@Lady_C83]

Thank you I found a piece of tempered glass off old fridge I did use it and it went up to 275 I’m excited! Thank you for responding.

[@kathyt9526]

Have you used it and how did it do

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

I have used the sun oven none stop. It has yet to disappoint me.

[@songconnection6945]

Good for herb drying

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

I am unsure if it will do drying as there is no sort of ventilation meaning the sun oven holds in humidity.

[@InventorKnight]

Why paint?

[@sandrabulluck1896]

How hot did it get inside?

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

The sun oven has been able to reach and maintain 220°.

[@bethmiller5796]

How hot does it get?

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

The sun oven has been able to reach and maintain 220°.

[@dallassmith1006]

Marking every cut does not consider the blade width. measure each piece you need after you cut the previous board if you want them all the same.

[@offgridamy7176]

I thought plexiglass wasn't a good choice for a lid due to heat and chemicals?

[@allerdingfamily-urbanhomestead]

Plexiglass is safe for food handling. Plexiglass is commonly used for food handling and display purposes. Plexiglass is FDA compliant. I provided a link if you want to learn more 😊. www.professionalplastics.com/FDAApprovedPlasticMaterials#:~:text=Is%20plexiglass%20acrylic%20safe%20for,Plexiglass%20is%20FDA%20compliant.

[@starlightfound]

The problem is you're not displaying the food in the oven, you're cooking in it. With normal display and "food handling" the plexiglass is not heating up. Save yourself the potential toxins and use real glass instead! That said I love the way this was put together, very straightforward. I'd love to see a demo of how it works.

[@Allen-yv3ue]

Some plexiglass blocks UV radiation ( heat)... glass maybe better, thou fragile.

[@karmafunk2008]

You're using toxic paint in an area that gets hot. This causes the paint to gas off in to the food.

[@lezawarren5598]

This is not correct. There needs to be foil where the glass is attached to and glass on the covered area...its meant to reflect and trap the sun inside.

[@zinnia3684]

Cook something

[@Vothtrucks]

Sorry didnt have time to sit through that loooooong opening stuff.