new camp oven

[Fusion]

Howdy Guys , Just purchased a 9quart camp oven and was wondering if i have to cure it before use ? And if so whats the best way to do this ? Thanks :)

[Scallops]

Howdy Guys , Just purchased a 9quart camp oven and was wondering if i have to cure it before use ? And if so whats the best way to do this ? Thanks :)

Yes - you should cure it - I use olive oil as it can take very hot temps. Just rub it around the pot including the lid prior to cooking. A camp oven is your best friend :)

[RonMcGr]

Howdy Guys , Just purchased a 9quart camp oven and was wondering if i have to cure it before use ? And if so whats the best way to do this ? Thanks :)

The common way is to wash it first in soapy water.
Then lightly smear the inside of the camp oven in canola oil, stick it in the kitchen oven on hot and heat it until the wax burns off.
By then the inside should be black and shiney, and it is "Cured". :D

Learnt all this at our last Caravan Camping weekend at Goomburra. There were a lot of guys with camp ovens making some very nice damper and roasts :D

[graceysdad]

Whats a camping trip without a Camp oven?

[loanrangie]

Whats a camping trip without a Camp oven?


Mardis Gras :p- As camp as all get out.

[B92 8NW]

Mardis Gras :p- As camp as all get out.

That's why I never use mine, I prefer a straight stove:o.

[dobbo]

That's why I never use mine, I prefer a straight stove:o.

Do you keep that one in the closet with the rest of your "Camping equipment"?

[Ricey]

Thought I cured my camp oven, every time I look though it's sitting on the hot plate!

Wannalandy, did you get the trivett that sits in the base?

[Fusion]

Thought I cured my camp oven, every time I look though it's sitting on the hot plate!

Wannalandy, did you get the trivett that sits in the base?

nuh mate just the oven it self .

[RonMcGr]

nuh mate just the oven it self .

The Trivet is a good idea.
It stops food burning on the bottom.
Camping and outdoor cookware, fish smoker, cookers and frypans - Southern Metal Spinners (http://www.southern-metal-spinners.com.au/camping-page.html)

[Tango51]

As above, use the oven, peanut oil is best, but DO NOT use olive oil.
Unless you crave Cancer.

[stevo68]

As above, use the oven, peanut oil is best, but DO NOT use olive oil.
Unless you crave Cancer. Ah ha, you confirmed my thought...but wasn't quite sure as I also thought peanut oil was the best, but didnt want to lead anyone astray:),

Regards

Stevo

[Xtreme]

Howdy Guys , Just purchased a 9quart camp oven and was wondering if i have to cure it before use ? And if so whats the best way to do this ? Thanks :)

I assume from the advice given so far that you bought a cast iron oven and not one of the spun steel ones - if so, the advice has been good and all I'd add is that the more you use it the better it will become.

[DRS]

I have always used cast camp oven.

Has anybody used Bedourie Oven and if so how is it? (spun steel)

The trivet looks great idea.

Regards,

Dave

[Scallops]

As above, use the oven, peanut oil is best, but DO NOT use olive oil.
Unless you crave Cancer.

Sorry - got my oils mixed up.

[Xtreme]

I have always used cast camp oven.

Has anybody used Bedourie Oven and if so how is it? (spun steel)

The trivet looks great idea.

Regards,

Dave

I've used Bedourie and Hillbilly spun steel ovens but prefer the cast iron by a long shot. The Bedourie is the best for transporting - no sharp projections like the Hillbilly - and you won't break the spun steel ones.
However, I bought my ovens to cook in and with a little bit of care in packing and transporting, I haven't broken one in the 25 years that I've been using them.

Following are a few thumbnails from a recent Rover's Restaurant. The 4kg Rump and veges are in the cast iron ovens and the Osso Bucco is in the Hillbilly oven.
I'm sure you'll enjoy your meals from your camp oven and don't be afraid to experiment.

[Fusion]

I assume from the advice given so far that you bought a cast iron oven and not one of the spun steel ones - if so, the advice has been good and all I'd add is that the more you use it the better it will become.

Howdy Mate , It's a cast camp oven . the brand is COI leisure .

[Xtreme]

Good choice.

[B92 8NW]

Why cancer with olive oil?

[Tango51]

Why cancer with olive oil?

No no Joel, don't make that leap!
Olive oil is one of the healthiest oils to consume!
It is by far my favourite oil to use, and I bloody love the taste!

The question here is about curing a camp oven, and rubbing oil over it and bringing it to extreme temperatures.
In this case, olive oil releases very powerful carcinogens.(read this study 8 months ago)
It would be a very very deadly thing to do to a cooking utensil.
Olive oil is completely safe till it reaches high temperatures, gentle frying of a fish or something is fine.
Deep fry, or cook in olive oil that has reached a 'smoking' point and you will have to watch over your shoulder for the rest of your days.
Peanut oil, and grapeseed oil are capable of reaching extreme temperatures without a problem, or taste change
-----------------------------------------------.
As a disclaimer, I am passing on what I know from studies to date that I've come across, and as all intelligent people know, todays facts are disproven tomorrow.
Seek to update always. HTH

[RoverOne]

Howdy Mate , It's a cast camp oven . the brand is COI leisure .

Cast Iron can break very easily if not packed properly or handled properly.

I witnessed a dropped cast lid hitting the side of the oven and cracking it right through the centre.

I've also seen plenty of lids broken just dropping on the ground. The cheaper chinese crap ones more so, as I imported them by the thousands for 15 years selling on to camping stores across Australia.

The best to look out for are old Metters brand or old Furphy made in Australia tough as nails pick them at swap meets on most weekends everywhere, 9qt ones 2nd hand will still cost $50 to $70 and worth every penny. New Furphy's are made in China now at a premium price.

To season heat up & melt wax first (unless realy cheap chinese...no wax), wash thorougly in hot soapy water, dry by heat, then add oil bringing to boil.

Never wash totaly out with soaps/detergent, scrape all burnt food out thoroughly and wipe with oily paper towel when cool of course especially for long term storage.

The idea of seasoning is to saturate pours of the cast with oil to stop rusting., so never clean out with harsh detergents and if you do, heat dry, then wipe or spray oil before putting away.

BTW COI owned by Primus Australia now.

Happy cooking.

[Bushie]

When i did our cast camp ovens (probably 25 years ago) we were told to use suet to season them :mad:

Made a hell of a mess, smoked the kitchen out - but haven't had to do them since.


Martyn

[Beckford]

I purchased a cheap camp oven from Anaconda on the weekend, to take on our big trip next year. Thanks for the tip to use peanut oil and not olive oil. I would have just used whatever I found in the cupboard.....

How much firewood is available in outback SA?

Beckford.

[ramblingboy42]

I purchased a cheap camp oven from Anaconda on the weekend, to take on our big trip next year. Thanks for the tip to use peanut oil and not olive oil. I would have just used whatever I found in the cupboard.....

How much firewood is available in outback SA?

Beckford.

depends where you are going.....still heaps of old sleepers along the old ghan rail line. plenty of deadfall around all creeks in the Flinders.....beware of fire/camping regulations there. if youre not where everyone else is you'll find plenty. I camp out a lot in SA outback areas and never have a problem finding timber for campfire.

[Fluids]

I bought the smaller Hillbilly oven kit a few months back. Seasoned it with peanut oil using the 4 burner Bar-B-Q with the hood down. No kitchen wars with SWMBO :)

Only used it twice ... so far so good, but I'm still a learner.

[billiardbrett1]

One of the quickest ways to season the oven is to first wash it out thoroughly and when dry cook a batch of chips in it. Just make sure to fill the oil up to about 3/4 full. this way you not only get a seasoned oven but also a feed as well. Keeps the kids and missus happy as well.

I use rice bran oil as it has as high a smoking point as peanut oil but not the flavour. It is also useful in that there is much less chance of anyone having an analaphalctic reaction if you are cooking for someone with allergies.

Brett

[Tank]

Them "old Sleepers" have been sprayed with DDT and other (deadly to human) pesticides, doesn't matter how old, the poison is still in there, cook on at your own peril, Regards Frank.