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BASICCONSTRUCTION

There are several types of solar ovens. Essentially, a solar oven is a box within a box that has a high level of insulation between the two; the inner "box" is painted black and covered with glass, this is where food is cooked. Reflectors are attached to the sides of the box in order to increase the area from which sunlight is harnessed. The oven need not be box shaped, it could be cone shaped or circular, and perhaps there is in fact no black area, but the food is able to sit surrounded by reflectors and heat up enough (most likely only in the summer).

Here are some R-values of natural insulating material to get you thinking about it. The temperature in your oven is directly related to the R-value of your insulation.

R VALUES per Inch
Straw: 2.4-3
Hemp: 3.5
Sheep's Wool: 3.5
Cotton & Recycled Fibers Treated w/Borate: 3.4
Wood Shavings/Sawdust: 2.2
Pine/Softwood: 1.25
Oak/Hard Wood: 1.25
Plywood: .91
Brown Cellulose: 3.4
Single Glass: .89
Double Pane .5" insulating glass: 1.73
Energy Efficient Window: 3+

Here's an easy equation to understand:

Usable energy in the solar oven = area from which sunlight is collected(change in temperatures inside and outside the box) / r value

Solar ovens are easily made, the only necessity is human ingenuity.