In this project we describe the design, manufacture and testing of a new portable solar kitchen with a large, parabolic solar reflector that folds up into a small volume. Technical trials carried out with a prototype have determined that the solar kitchen reaches an average power scale of 175 W, with an energy efficiency of 26.6%. This power scale provides sufficient energy to cook a simple meal for two people in an average time of 2 h. Improvements in the design have reduced the weight of the solar kitchen to less than 5 kg and the assembly and disassembly times to 2 and 1 min, respectively. Moreover, its competitive price (48.62 Euro) encourages the substitution of solar energy for conventional energy. The parabolic solar kitchen described here thus provides a portable, inexpensive, environmentally friendly food heating system that can improve the quality of life of needy people in the Third World and reduce consumption of conventional energy. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.