Who has an oven? Who uses it?

[Mwilliamshs]

Posted over in overland chef about this but I expect a lot of foodie bias there. Who has an oven in their van and actually uses it? What do you use it to bake? I'm trying to decided between a cooktop and a range I'm not convinced I'd use the oven. It does take up a good bit more space and costs more too. I know I could install a range and just store stuff in the oven till I needed but A) seems that'd be risky for anything flammable/heat sensitive and B) a range is still a lot bigger than the drop-ins I'm considering.

 

[Raul]

I have a microwave oven ( I know it's not the same as you asked) and we used a lot. Instant soups, pop corn, tea in the morning... It is great not having to use utensils to cook and having to clean them.
It runs out of a 1000w inverter and the alternator at idle or from shore power.

I do not do expeditions, more like weekends. If you are going to spend the time baking, a Dutch oven may be an alternative. Is an onboard oven something you will use while on the road?

 

[Mwilliamshs]

...Is an onboard oven something you will use while on the road?

That's the question.

 

[ZMagic97]

I have a microwave oven ( I know it's not the same as you asked) and we used a lot. Instant soups, pop corn, tea in the morning... It is great not having to use utensils to cook and having to clean them.
It runs out of a 1000w inverter and the alternator at idle or from shore power.

I do not do expeditions, more like weekends. If you are going to spend the time baking, a Dutch oven may be an alternative. Is an onboard oven something you will use while on the road?

I sleep in my truck and use a dutch oven. I find it to be fun and out of the norm. I know this isn't exactly the original question, so please forgive me: I'm just trying to give a little feedback/insight.

If I had a van, I wouldn't use an oven. Like you said, seems a bit risky depending on the situations and it takes up a good amount of real estate.

 

[LilPoppa]

I was considering getting one of these this summer. I could see myself baking some biscuits at camp

http://www.mec.ca/product/5043-039/camp-chef-camp-oven/

 

[Mwilliamshs]

I was considering getting one of these this summer. I could see myself baking some biscuits at camp

http://www.mec.ca/product/5043-039/camp-chef-camp-oven/

HA! I had this tab open when I read your reply LOL http://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-Cam...0013LLSZG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pdt_img_top?ie=UTF8

I think that'd be nice to mount real well inside and remove when appropriate. Keep heat out of the van, etc. Just not sure the space/weight/price is worth how often I'd use it. Can't come up with a use for an oven besides muffins, biscuits, a pizza (not much of a pizza is gonna get made in an oven so small)...

Just use one of these and one of these

 

[simple]

I had one in my old camper and used it a couple times. In my opinion they don't earn their space and weight. Dutch ovens are a fun alternative and we've also started doing pizzas in a cast iron skillet.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Looks like a great idea, get one and let us know how it works, looks pretty slick.

 

[Bbasso]

I have an oven (propane) and use it very frequently in cooler climates and I still use it on warmer days but with my fantastic fan on high so my van doesn't become an oven too.
It gives me plenty of options for cooking vs just my alcohol stovetop.
I would hate if it broke...

 

[IdaSHO]

We use ours a ton as well.

For us it is more than worth the space it takes.

 

[Happykamper]

Microwave/convection we just bought this 2013 a couple weeks ago used it for a few day trip . Used the oven 3 times.

 

[Happykamper]

Road trek sprinter

 

[Gooseberry]

Coleman burner top oven has been the fun camp item and it one takes little room


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[huskyhauler]

I have a Camp Chef oven with a two burner stove top. It doesn't take a lot of room and hooks up to a standard propane tanks. We use the oven about as much as we use the stove top. It's great for breakfast (biscuits and gravy, quiche, breakfast sandwiches, keeping food warm while cooking the rest of the food course) and dinner (pizza, lasagna, french fries, beer battered fish, quesadillas, nachos, spaghetti stuffed garlic bread) and also great for deserts (brownies and cookies).

Basically, the oven is great if you have the imagination and cooking wherewithal to use it. If you don't plan on cooking anything that doesn't involve an oven, don't get it. We purposely did not install a microwave because when we're camping we're not in any hurry to go anywhere or do anything. We'd rather spend the time preparing a meal and drinking a few beers than nuking a frozen burrito for 90 seconds.

Also keep in mind the oven requires quite a bit of fuel to warm up and stay at temperature, but it's a very clean and versatile alternative to a dutch oven. The dutch oven can better cook larger dishes more efficiently at higher temperatures, but it requires a bit more work in regards to prep, cleaning, and storage. To me, the propane oven is a happy, lazy alternative to greater cooking abilities over a simple grill or stove, but limits the setup and cleanup requirements that a dutch oven requires.

 

[jim65wagon]

I have a Camp Chef oven with a two burner stove top. It doesn't take a lot of room and hooks up to a standard propane tanks. We use the oven about as much as we use the stove top. It's great for breakfast (biscuits and gravy, quiche, breakfast sandwiches, keeping food warm while cooking the rest of the food course) and dinner (pizza, lasagna, french fries, beer battered fish, quesadillas, nachos, spaghetti stuffed garlic bread) and also great for deserts (brownies and cookies).

Basically, the oven is great if you have the imagination and cooking wherewithal to use it. If you don't plan on cooking anything that doesn't involve an oven, don't get it. We purposely did not install a microwave because when we're camping we're not in any hurry to go anywhere or do anything. We'd rather spend the time preparing a meal and drinking a few beers than nuking a frozen burrito for 90 seconds.

Also keep in mind the oven requires quite a bit of fuel to warm up and stay at temperature, but it's a very clean and versatile alternative to a dutch oven. The dutch oven can better cook larger dishes more efficiently at higher temperatures, but it requires a bit more work in regards to prep, cleaning, and storage. To me, the propane oven is a happy, lazy alternative to greater cooking abilities over a simple grill or stove, but limits the setup and cleanup requirements that a dutch oven requires.

This is exactly what I was going to say! I'll add in: Pie! Whatever type you prefer, apple, cherry, rhubarb, etc. Fresh, hot out of the oven pie is best as far out into the woods as you can get.

Baking biscuits while cooking eggs and gravy for breakfast ain't bad either.

We could camp without our oven but it would be a lot less enjoyable.