Camp Oven Comparisons

Disco Duck · Guru

Camp Oven Comparisons

justcruisin01 · Guru

Hi Disco, have not used the spun-steel type, I relate them to a light frypan,much harder to control the heat.

Any thing is possible with practice ,maybe the alloy might be worth a look.

Wombat · Veteran Member

I've been using cast iron type camp ovens and skillets on and off, for over 40 years. Never had an ounce of trouble with them and i'm 67. I've not even bothered with the new fangled ones......to bloody fancy and expensive. When we finish loading for the big trip, the (Old) camp oven and skillet come to. To save a bit of weight i'll chuck out the wifes cider to make room. As to my wine........that untouchable. biggrin

tonyd · Guru

Hi Disco,
You may not have seen this site, which has (probably far too much) information about your query. I've put on several kilos just reading the damn thing!
Have a look at:

http://www.aussiecampovencook.com/index.htm

Cheers, TonyD

Disco Duck · Guru

Thanks for your replies Folks.

I've had a look at a couple of other sites and it seems about a 50/50 split really. The older campers swear by the cast iron and the rest seem divided. Good and bad for both.

I'm a bit like you James and Wombat..............always swore by the cast iron but what the hell........I might try a spun steel one just for something new. You never know.......I could improve on perfection and then again..........................??? I only have to stuff up one meal and it's out the window. :)

I couldn't throw the Cider out Wombat as that is now my preferred drink...........so maybe something else??

That is an awesome site TonyD. Thanks for that. I think I have seen it a while time ago but never took much notice. I've just been over it again and he certaily covers almost all things. He seems to like the spun steel. Thanks Mate!!

Smokeydk · Guru

I heard they make them a lonsdale Duckie

Dave

Disco Duck · Guru

Yep yep Dave.......they do.

Southern Metal Spinners.

2 Piping Lane - Lonsdale - SA - 5160

http://www.southern-metal-spinners.com.au/

Apparently they make the Bedourie Camp ovens too.

Might pay to slip down for a bit of a gander.

-- Edited by Disco Duck on Wednesday 21st of October 2009 07:48:07 PM

dave06 · Guru

the thinner metal type is a bit hard to control the temp, but with practice it can be mastered, the cast iron will give far more even temp all round but will not handle the bumps

drop your bidourie and it's got a dent, drop your furphy and it's a catastrophe

I'm not a fan of either type, my weapon of mass incineration is the cobb, no mess no fuss just great meals at all times, but I have seen some fantastic meals come from a cast camp oven

however even within the cast camp oven gender there is huge differences, the chinese apparently are far inferior to the furphy, the experts (and we all know what an expert is dont we, x is an unknown quantity and spurt is a drip under pressure) anyway the experts will tell you that the furphy will produce far superior food than the chinese junky stuff

me, I only produce burnt offerings out of either

Disco Duck · Guru

Are you back home DaveO or just poking your nose in? :) (into the forums I mean)

I like cooking with the camp ovens so trying the thinner steel type will be something new. Just have to take a little care and listen to a few professionals I guess.

dave06 · Guru

nah!! got home late night worst luck, just a heap of paperwork to catch up on then nose down and backside up for the next couple of months (reaping) stuck with the header this year, oh well it's all money I guess

wish you luck with the camp ovens, i could never master them but there are a lot of people out there that produce gourmet meals from them

Smokeydk · Guru

I bought a campoven from Rays Outdoors.....went back got a second one.....nothing like the first....and lid doesnt fit that well either.......

Welcome Home Davo.......prob by the time you read this ....you be off again LOL

Dave

dave06 · Guru

thanks Dave, absolutely HATE being home after the week I just had, I cant get out now until we put this monster back to bed, possibly a month and a half, never mind, I get $30 an hour at 20 hours a day (barring bad weather) times 6 weeks, that's......... um......er ........5 x 6 divided by 12....carry the nine........um,,,,, off with my shoes.........bugger..........well it's enough to get me back out on the road again

maybe port douglas next time to do the daintree again, or maybe new zealand, the dragon is talking about canada and the rockies and that train, not sure if my wallett is that big, I dont know where we will go and I dont care just as long as we are mobile

but oh boy I love the dreaming and planning part

Disco Duck · Guru

It's just like they say Smokey................... The cheap imports fro China are not worth a pinch of ..................!!

Take it back...............get another or get your money back. It's too hard to come by!

Firefly · Guru

I love our cast iron jobs, we use them at home as well. The weight travelling is always the killer though. But I would rather leave something else behind rather then the oven. smile

Disco Duck · Guru

I know what you are saying Firefly and I am reluctant, but as the so-called experts say.............with a little practice they all do the same job ?? If I stuff it up I've only lost 60 bucks? I'll get a bit of practice in at home first so I don't have to carry both with me. :)

Firefly · Guru

You see DD, I have not been long converted to the benefits of the cast iron. Never used them before I met the Other Half. He converted me and it would be so hard to go back now.

They never stick.
They hold their heat.
Food just looooooooves cast iron.
Washing up is a breeze.
I cook my Xmas dinner and all in this sucker.

BUT, I do agree, if you don't try new ideas, you will never know how good they could be, as my example with the cast iron. biggrin

I will love to hear the stories of how you go with your new idea, if its a goer, we will try as well, just for the sake of having the choice. smile

I want to try Dave's cobb, that one intrigues me. smile

dave06 · Guru

now look here fly, lets just see if I have this right, I had a look at the camp oven owners group from the above address and I can see I was misguided when I first "seasoned" the thing

having used it a couple of times and less than impressed with the end result, should I now scrub it with soap and water, whack it in the Barby to 200 degs for two hours, then oil it, wipe it out then whack it back in for a further two hours and this should gain it's non stick patina

is this correct????????

ah, the Cobb a more docile and amiable little creature you would never come across in your life, so simple and clean, all food to perfection and nary any soot to be seen

but I also like the "mysticism" that surrounds my furphy, I am adamant that I shall conquer it

humpy · Veteran Member

still got you beat Dave, you were cursing that thing last time we met just out of alice!

I told you I would give you ten dollars for it!! better be quick before I change my mind!

Firefly · Guru

The Other Half had it all seasoned when we met Dave. But we got a smaller one for cakes etc and I just washed it in hot soapy water, dried it, oiled it and cooked.

I do always throw some oil in it and the fry pans after use, usually the spray type as we use ours all the time. Real oil if we store them.

One frypan was lost for about five years and pretty rusted etc when we got it back. Just cleaned it up and magic once again.

Tell me about this Cobb, where do you get them and are they electric or on the stove type? smile

dave06 · Guru

fly I find the cobb to be very good using about 10 heat beads, some have a lot of strife with them but I cant put a foot wrong with it, it goes almost everywhere with us and can be used everywhere

this is the website............http://www.cobb.com.au/..........I brought it out with me yesterday and sat it on the back of the traytop (in the outskirts of a wheat field) I had roast beef and all trimmings for lunch, scrumptious, true set and forget cooking, the boss reckons I'm a silver tail!!

Firefly · Guru

Thanks for that Dave, I will check that site out. smile

Disco Duck · Guru

I will keep you informed Firefly...... :)

DaveO's Cobb only works because his wife starts it for him and looks after it, while he is busy talking to everyone. She gets no credit but I believe she is the driving force there. :) He has only just learnt to spell Cobb.!!

Firefly · Guru

dave06 · Guru

no actually I do all the cooking when we are "out there" I make sure the dragon is well settled and comfy with a soothing beverage and i do all the catering, if we exceed a certain number around the camp, then it is always the men who do the incinerating while the wives sit and yak, come to think of it all our camps are like this, I like it like that

Smokeydk · Guru

OK Davo.......Question how do you heat up your 10 heat beads.....if you got no fire???

Dave

dave06 · Guru

they are started off with a couple of firelighters, I use redheads, once the heatbeads are all grey (a bit like me) then she's away, if you take a look at the website then all will be revealed

I tried the coconut based "cobble stone" heating method, just light the thing and in about 2 minutes it's ready to cook anything, reminds me of the old vulcanizing patches we used to use on our bikes inner tubes when it is first lit up

I am very impressed with these as there is no firelighters and no black beads to load up, it is a bit more expensive but a lot more convenient, just be aware that more heat is produced with this method so watch your food

I dont sell these things and have no connection with cobb but I just think it is a fantastic product,

I do however sound like an advert and for that I will not apoligise, as I find things that are of benefit to us nomads I will post them regardless,

the cobb company is however a sponsor of ours so in theory worthy of note

I still will not go without the fire!!

Cruising Granny · Guru

Sharing experiences with certain products is what this site is all about I believe.
But I'd like to see pictures Dave. I love seeing how people cook on camp fires, in camp ovens or Cobbs or anything else they use.
I'm really intrigued by people's set ups, especially the home-made appliances. And I love eating food cooked on the open fire, even in crock pots. It just tastes so well, tasty. Yum!
Not much fun on my own, so I don't do it.
The Cobbs sound like a good idea which can be used in van parks. Very versatile I'd say.

DellieMay · Senior Member

Dave.............. Are you on about that bloooooooody Cob again? Told you , I have one to give away!!!! Camp ovens rule in our camp. The fact I'm a lousy cook has nothing to do with it....L.O.L

DeBe · Guru

Hi Disco Duck, Just can help my self have to throw this one in, Im a lazy cook use a Webber Baby Q cooks just about every thing to a tee wouldnt be withoutit. Must admit hot coal bed would be better for Goannas.

dave06 · Guru

I've found that with camp oven owners they are very protective of their unit and, I feel, quite rightfully so, I just cant get the hang of them without making myself absolutely filthy

you are the first that I know of to actually have a bad word about the cobb!, I am surprised, I would love to go and have a cooking session with you and show you how good the tucker is coming out of them

when I get some time I will do a full meal for two and photograph the various steps, it really is too easy, I'm as good as two legs and no arms on a milkmaid and I cant go wrong with it!