Gas Camping Oven

Hi sally

Is this the oven on the link below.

Jackeroo oven


Cheers Macca

Hi there.
Not familiar with the Jackaroo Gas Camping oven. But we've been using an ordinary small cast iron camp oven (sometimes a small round one, ofter an oval one) on top of a 'normal' two burner stove for years. The oval one just cover both burners, and holds a whole chook or a leg of lamb plus the roast veggies. We used to use a single burner on a second gas bottle for extra items. Now, with a Rolls Royce three burner stove, we can squeeze a small billy on the third burner for the peas!!
I seem to recall the oval camp oven set me back about $40 or less.

Gday Sallym
I had a look at one, didn't like the way it sealed, the door sprung back a bit when closed.
Chhers
Lotzi

Hi Sally,

Just to expand a bit on the Camp Oven alternative, it really is quite simple and fun to cook in a camp oven.

There are camp ovens and then there are camp ovens.

After trying the cast iron oven (heavy) and the Bedourie I became "hooked" on the HillBilly Camp Oven.
Basically I liked the flexibility it provided with the shape of the lid, which keeps ashes, etc. out and doubles as a functional fry pan as well. There is also a range of "accessories" to temp you with extra functionality.

Once you have experimented you will be able to cook anything from damper, to bread, to casseroles, to a full blown Roast with the HillBilly, which also comes with a vegetable ring that sits inside.
The Bush King which I have is a valuable part of our camping gear, although we also have a Cobb Cooker as well.

The Cobb is good when there's only a couple to cook for, but when cooking for "the mob" I generally use both the Cobb and the HillBilly.

The spun metal style of camp oven such as the HillBilly provides lightness in weight and robustness in design, but like any metal cookware, does require a little bit of care to restrict rusting. Basically, after cooking, the only thing required is to wipe out the oven and smear a little bit of cooking oil over the surface. I haven't "washed" our oven as it is not required. A smooth black coating is what you are seeking which gives a not stick surface that is easy to keep clean.
You do not want a "squeaky clean, shiny metal surface"

Camp Ovens can be used in, or adjacent to a camp fire, fuelled by hot coals both underneath and on top of the oven. This of coarse requires time to supply a good source of coals.

An alternative method and the one I generally use, is to use heat beads in place of coals. As a rule of thumb use two more heat beads on the bottom and two less on top than the diameter of your oven for a "moderate" cooking temperature when baking or roasting.
For my 12" oven, 14 beads on the bottom and 10 on top works well and will last the length of the required cooking time.

I place the bottom heat beads on a rack in an old fry pan (to allow air circulation) and place the oven on top, then a few heat beads on top of the lid if required.

Two hours later and you can guarantee a meal better than anything you may cook at home in your gas or electric oven, or electric fry pan. Maybe it's just the "outdoor method" that appears superior.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Half the fun is experimentation and plenty of time for "stress free" cooking.

Bill

Hi Sally,

Just to add another idea to your question, a few friends of ours have bought the fold up Coleman oven that sits on your gas stove and are all very happy with it. From what we've seen it seems to work a treat, and folds up to almost nothing for travelling.

Cheers

Jeannie

Hi Sally,

recently bought one to instal in the draw system in the back of the Landcruiser Pic here

With any low pressure burner they have a tendancy to flame out in a light breeze, there are cutouts on both burners that only work if the burner hasn't been used for too long or isn't too hot. Oven heats up to 245 degrees Centigrade on High and maintains 200 degrees on low, which isn't that low.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Wayne & Sally.

We use a 20 gallon drum with top cut off and fashioned into a lid, couple of bits of flat steel for a camp oven to sit on, and a slot in the bottom to take a gas ring burner. We cook terrific roasts etc in this when we cannot have a fire. Most campers already have a gas burner and bedourie or iron camp oven, just need the drum. It's bulky to carry but in the trailer with stuff packed in and around it not too bad. I can post a photo if required.