Camping oven

[RN01]

My husband thinks we need to buy a camping oven. We will be livi ng out of our camper for 2 weeks in between moves and also have several camping trips scheduled this year. Anyone have a camping oven that they can't live without? They are quite expensive and I'm just not sure if it's worth it.

 

[peg110]

Does your camper have a Microwave? Some of them are actually convection ovens too.

Also alternatively, crock pots work well. I just don't see a camping oven as a huge impact for such short needs.

That being said, I am happy our new camper has one built in to it. I just don't see it as really large enough to do much in it. It seems only slightly larger than a toaster oven. ...... Hey there's a cheaper option. A toaster oven of descent size could be better certainly price-wise (or does it need to be gas?)

 

[KristinU]

I agree with Paul...if you'll have electric hookups wherever you'll be at pick up a decent toaster oven. Heck, we bought one for home this past fall and use it way more than the full size oven now.

Think about the meals you'll be eating in those weeks, a lot of baking? Or no? We have an oven in our current camper, but didn't in our previous campers - we used a toaster oven in those. For us, baking when camping is usually a novelty for muffins in the morning or cookies or cupcakes on a rainy day for something to do, even when we're on extended trips of a couple of weeks at a time.

All that said, maybe it is a husband thing...my DH was always eyeing something like this before we bought our current camper:

 

[bama_ed]

I have a small Coleman camping oven that runs off propane. It is heavy, solid, not a collapseable oven. I bought it at the Coleman Outlet camping store in Foley, AL while at a beach camping trip in Gulf Shores.

Its temperature setting is accurate to within +/- 100F.

Bama Ed

 

[peg110]

Its temperature setting is accurate to within +/- 100F.

Hey, at least its as good as most weathermen (and women)

 

[2goofycampers]

What about an electric roaster oven?

 

[monkeybug]

I plan on bringing my Instant Pot camping! That sucker is amazing! It can cook just about anything (and usually in less time), and is smaller than a crock pot. I've seen people "bake" things like cake and bread in them, but I imagine it would turn out spongy because it uses steam, but for everything else it's a champ.
It also makes one heck of a cheesecake!

 

[Magic Fanatic]

As others have suggested, a microwave/convection is a great way to go. Most motorhomes don't even come with ovens, usually special order. They take up a lot of cabinet space and create a lot of heat inside the Motorhome.

 

[veraletta]

I have the one that KristinU has a picture of, I was thinking I would use it more than I have. Out of 10 times camping I've used it two times for baking. I've used it a few times to cook on. Unless you're going to bake, you can do just as well with a toaster oven.

 

[peg110]

Funny thing is, on this topic, we are getting a new camper. I had to run my Truck out to the RV Dealer yesterday so they can adjust the hitch for the new trailer. I was talking to the salesman (also part owner) about the oven in our new camper (Old one didn't have one) as I have read that many folks have a lot of concerns about the ovens (dangers and such). Anyway, the conversation led to him saying how many people come in with a "Trade" that has an oven and when being evaluated for it's value they will put their hands up and claim, "I Swear, the oven has NEVER been used." (I am sure it's obvious though). Anyway, he laughs and chuckles, because so many people think because it's never been used that it should be a huge increase in value, when the reality is, that it is not. Many (MANY) folks have them but don't use them.

Unless you are "Living" out of your camper for a long time, I can see that. When we go on vacation, we are looking to relax. While I like to bake (I am the cook in the house), I really don't find it "Relaxing" in cramped quarters and a smaller oven. I was also thinking (like Magic Fanatic pointed out) about how much heat it will generate in the camper/trailer/rv/etc.. I guess if you are in a colder area, it's okay, but most don't vacation in Maine in a camper in December.

 

[Judique]

I have the oven pictured. I've used it to cook Pillsbury cinnamon rolls and it burned them on the bottom.

The gas top works great and has a griddle that fits the whole top. It's big to carry and I've sort of given it up on our weekend trips as the regular Coleman works the same to cook bacon and eggs.

 

[North of Mouse]

My husband thinks we need to buy a camping oven. We will be livi ng out of our camper for 2 weeks in between moves and also have several camping trips scheduled this year. Anyone have a camping oven that they can't live without? They are quite expensive and I'm just not sure if it's worth it.

Seems sort of 'over kill' to buy a complete oven for that length of time. Our micro-convection works great in our MH for any baking we have done - especially biscuits for breakfast.
We also have a Breville convection-toaster oven for home use that bakes as good as our full size oven with less heat for summers. Other than biscuits (or other breads) seldom use baking while camping - prefer cooking on a Coleman stove outside.

 

[Napria]

Hate the ovens in campers. Many newer ones come with storage drawers there instead and a microwave/convection combo. My fifthwheel has both the rv oven and the microwave/convection combo. I've never used the oven in this rv (but use the combo extensively), but had the same rv oven in the last fifthwheel and it burned whatever I was cooking in places, while undercooking in other places.

 

[KristinU]

I've never used the oven in this rv (but use the combo extensively), but had the same rv oven in the last fifthwheel and it burned whatever I was cooking in places, while undercooking in other places.

The secret to using the weird little ovens in RVs is to get a small pizza stone or unglazed tile and leave it in the oven. We have one that is sized for a toaster oven, that helps a lot!

 

[amylevan]

We have an oven in our 5th wheel. I've used it a handful of times - but it does not cook evenly, and tends to burn things. So, we grill, use the stove, crock pot, or electric skillet and I avoid the oven at all costs.

My parents have the microwave/convection oven thingy, and they do use theirs. (Of course, they also live out of their motor home 3 months out of the year...)

 

[Nan P]

We traded in our RV that had a nice oven that I used quite a bit. The new RV did Not have an oven. I listened to the salesman tell me the way to go is the microwave with convection settings, which the new one does have. Ovens are the way of the dinosaur he said. I just wanted to slap him silly. Did he call me a dinosaur? (LOL) Well, after a learning period and a few experiments, I am satisfied with the convection replacing the oven.

 

[peg110]

The secret to using the weird little ovens in RVs is to get a small pizza stone or unglazed tile and leave it in the oven. We have one that is sized for a toaster oven, that helps a lot!

I was kind of thinking that this would be the way to go. We just got a new RV and this one has an oven. After closer inspection though, I can see exactly how and why it doesn't cook evenly. I also laughed at the amount of space that it takes up versus the amount of space you have to cook in it. I cannot see cooking anything much higher than a pizza or chicken tenders/nuggets. I think I have maybe 4 inches from the top of the rack to the top of the oven. Don't even thing I could get a meatloaf in it. I guess if I went with the Pizza Stone (as suggested) and took the rack out (and cooked directly on the stone) I'd gain about another inch or so.

Oh well, it wasn't a requirement for our TT, it was just already there. We'll see if it gets any use over time.

 

[Flametamr]

We rarely use our oven except for cooking cinnamon rolls. Everything else is grilled or crock pot.