Oven?

Mark and Pat

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2014
Messages
12
Location
Vancouver
My wife and I have just ordered a new 19 foot Escape and are looking forward to delivery. It is the perfect size for us. The only pondering was over the oven of all things. We have had one in a previous trailer but is the loss of storage space worth it in the 19 foot. Any suggestions.
 
Since you have had a trailer before, you know how you like to camp. Therefore, ask yourselves what you used the oven for in the last trailer? If you cooked in it, you might want another. If you mostly used it as another storage spot, a cabinet might work better.
 
We (really just me) angst-ed over the oven choice. We ended up not getting it and I continued to angst until I realized that the oven did not really have any more functional baking space than a toaster oven, which we then promptly went out and bought.

Of course the toaster oven is only usable when hooked up to shore power, but it works really really well. We set it up on a little table outside in our screen room, and plug it into the external outlet. We're now really happy not to have opted for the built in oven, but do know others who use theirs all the time. :)
 
Used the one in a previous trailer twice in 10 years. There are so many other options for cooking, and even baking, I would not want one. As you mentioned, the storage for us was more important. You can get way more in the space it takes up, than you can in the oven compartment.

We also do little cooking inside, preferring to keep the heat and odours outside, while we sit and enjoy the 'living room' space.

If you are one who really likes fresh baked stuff, it might be good for you.
 
We didn't have the oven in our previous trailer but decided to go with it in the 21' so we would have the option of baking cookies etc. Compared to the Casita we will have so much more storage we thought it would be nice to have
 
When I "show" the new 21' BlackJack, I always make a point of opening the refer and the oven together to show that there is still room between, a lot of oohs and aahhs when demonstrated.
 
As an alternative to an electric toaster oven, Camp Chef and Coleman both make stand alone propane ovens and Camp Chef also makes an oven/camp stove combination. I have the Camp Chef combo and find it is useful.
 
We went back and forth about the oven as well (actually included it on the first build sheet). After reading the posts and seeing how small the internal size of the oven was, we took it out of the build. We also thought about using it as storage; however, the thought of pots and pans rattling around inside and possibly doing damage squashed that idea. (Note: For Christmas, we received a Coleman camp oven from the kids and are anxious to give it a try.)
 
Like balgo alluded to, a BBQ works good too. I put a griddle, or a tinfoil tray, under what is baking to remove the effect of direct heat.
 
Who needs a built-in oven. My 12" dutch can cook anything you can and still enjoy the satisfaction of outdoor camp cooking!
 
when the ground is frozen or it has been raining for 3 days, remember that. cooking/baking outside has always been an option available to everyone, but inside…….??
 
I have used a dutch oven a lot, and it is a great cooking vessel. However, it is way too heavy for me to want to bring along in our trailer, plus unless you bury it in coals, or at least put them on the lid, it cooks from the bottom up, leaving many foods cooked way more towards the bottom of the pan. At home, it is always the go to pot for cooking in the oven though, where it is fully surrounded by heat.

As shown in the link I provided for those two stovetop stoves, I have used the Outback Oven hordes of times in the past, mostly while on backcountry canoe trips. It is very light and packs small, plus works very good. You do have to be able to produce a controlled small flame to make it work good.
https://www.backpackerspantry.com/products/outback-oven/outback-oven-sets.html

I have been reading a bit on the Omnia and Fox Hill ovens, and it seems the Fox Hill might be the best performer, not too heavy, but a bit on the bulky side.

I really like the idea of the Omnia, and am very tempted to pull the pin on ordering one. Very light (0.5 kg), and not to big. The biggest downfall seems to be storing it, as it is a light aluminum.

Still, the BBQ does work great, but the Omnia could be making some nice bread while the steaks and corn are on the barby. :D
 
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There's nothing more satisfying than the smell of baking fresh bread in the camper on a hot, humid, rainy day inside. Or, slow cooking that big casserole, or a whole chicken, in the propane oven. Stovetop cooking might be more efficient but not if you got tendonitis, plenty of spare propane, or hate stirring things. If I had a stove I'd use it all the time not because I like to bake but just just to justify/even out the price-weight differential between a stove and a cast iron 4-quart-er. Yep, that's why we camp--so we can cook stuff longer like when at home. ::)
 
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