Hooked on Science: Create a pizza box solar oven

Use the sun and a few materials from around the house to help you cook your next meal.

Materials

* Pizza box

* Black construction paper

* Aluminum foil

* Tape

* Scissors

* Pencil

* Transparent plastic

* Dowel

Instructions

STEP 1: Using the pencil, draw a one-inch border on all four sides of the top of the pizza box. Cut along three sides, leaving the line closest to the back uncut to form a flap of cardboard.

STEP 2: Carefully fold the flap back along the uncut edge to form a crease.

STEP 3: Use the tape to secure a piece of aluminum foil to the inside of the cardboard flap.

STEP 4: Cut a piece of transparent plastic so it fits over the opening you created by forming the flap in the pizza box. Make sure the plastic is cut large enough so it can be taped to the underside of the box top. Tightly seal the plastic so the air inside the pizza box will not escape when the box is closed.

STEP 5: Line the bottom of the pizza box with aluminum foil. Tape a piece of black construction paper over the aluminum foil.

STEP 6: Stack a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow between two graham crackers. Place your s'mores inside the pizza box solar oven. Close the lid and then prop open the flap with a dowel. Adjust the pizza box solar oven until the aluminum foil reflects the maximum sunlight through the window into the inside of the oven.

Explanation

The pizza box solar oven can reach a temperature of more than 275 degrees, which is hot enough to cook food and kill germs in water. The cooking time should take about twice as long as conventional methods.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science.