An insulated box is covered with a clear window allowing access to light. The light rays are absorbed by the oven's inside surface and are transformed into heat energy. Heat radiates out from the surface and collects inside the cooker. These simple cookers also encompass a collector, storage and controls. The collector is a glass or heat-resistant plastic cover that lets sunlight inside.
Storage occurs because insulation prevents heat from escaping.
Storage is also provided by the food itself, which absorbs heat. Controls for a solar oven are the reflectors. Reflectors help control the temperature by concentrating the sun's rays onto the cooking area. Temperatures can also be adjusted by repositioning a solar oven in relation to the sun. If lower temperatures are needed, the oven can merely be pointed a bit away from the sun's direct rays.