This paper presents the design development and, thermal and cooking performance studies of a novel solar cooker; it is named as Single Family Solar Cooker (SFSC). Small size, convenient design, inexpensive lightweight hybrid insulation and specially designed lightweight polymeric glaze are the main features of this cooker. A complete theoretical consideration for the fabrication of SFSC has been presented. The thermal profiles of various components of SFSC on different days under different conditions have been measured. During testing, the highest plate stagnation temperature, under no-load condition, approached 144 degrees C. The two figures of merits F-1 and F-2 are found to be 0.116 degrees C m(2)/W and 0.466, respectively, which are according to the Bureau of Indian Standards. The cooking power regression curve is fairly linear with the regression coefficient R-2 = 0.948. Initial cooking power 103.5 W and the heat loss level 1.474 W/degrees C, place it in the region of small cooker with good insulation, as per International Standard. Cooking tests of several food items performed during 2009 confirm year round good performance of this cooker. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.