How to make a Solar Tyre Oven

With Moses from Uganda

What you need…

An old tyre, a glass square big enough to cover it,

a black pot, silver foil, newspaper, tape, cardboard,

something to weigh the glass down… and some sun!

Cardboard

Place the cardboard on the ground, making sure that

it is flat.

This acts as extra insulation for the oven.

Tyre

Put the tyre onto the cardboard. Check that there

are no gaps between them.

The tyre absorbs heat from the sun.

Newspaper

Add newspaper all around the inside and the base of

the tyre.

The newspaper traps air and adds more insulation.

Silver foil base

Put a base of silver foil inside the tyre to reflect

the heat.

Silver foil lining

Add a long length of silver foil all around the sides

and inside of the tyre.

This acts as your main solar reflector (like a mirror).

Silver foil lining

Try to make sure that there

are no gaps. Then tape the ends together.

Glass square

Tape the edges of the square of glass* to avoid

accidents. A circular piece of glass will be even

safer.

* the glass we used was 64 x 64 cm

Black pot

Place a black pot into the middle of the tyre; using a

black lid is even better.

Try a stew* without much water content at first.

* we cooked a pumpkin and rice stew

Add the glass

Put the glass on top of the tyre, ensuring there are

no gaps. Add some weights to avoid heat leaking

out of the oven.

Leave in the sun

Make sure that your oven is in full sun with no

shadows. Leave it for about 4-5 hours, depending

on the strength of the sun and what you are cooking.

How it works

Solar radiation enters through the glass and UV light is trapped inside the oven.

Light reflects off the silver foil and warms the heatabsorbent black pot.

Heat is kept in the oven by the newspaper andcardboard insulation.

The black tyre absorbs heat, helping to heatthe whole oven, and it adds extra insulation.

Taste!

Check your food to see if it is cooked. Try not to

let too much heat escape – be careful, it may be

very hot. Then taste it!

Please send pictures of your Solar Tyre Oven to: education@sendacow.org.uk

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