RE: Coleman Camp Oven

[whitestar505]

 
All,
 
   I would put this in the review section but have not used the oven yet. I do have some question about it. 1) Does it dry out the food ? 2) Does the temp gage work like the oven on the stove at home? I guess what I am asking here do you have to always adjust the heat. 3.)Have ideas on how mush gas is used (average)? 4.) Does it require special pans and if so were can you get them? I have been looking..
 
 
  Tim5055, Seen one on your web page and was wondering if you use the outside burner to cook with? Is it not to close to the trailer to leave it on all day? Or do you use a stand along stove?

[Tim5055]

 whitestar505
1) Does it dry out the food ?
 
 We have never had a problem with it drying out the food and worse than any other oven.
 
 2) Does the temp gage work like the oven on the stove at home? I guess what I am asking here do you have to always adjust the heat.
 
 The stock temp guage is totally inaccurate!  If your are worried about exact or contant temperatures get a thermometer to put inside the oven.  Additionally a wrap of alumimum foil over the top and down the sides will help with the temperature.  While talking about temperature remember , the hotter the stove the hotter the oven will get:
 [ul]
 

• Coleman white gas stove, very hot - excellent for the oven
• High pressue outside stove, hot - sufficient for most uses
• Low pressure inside stove (ant the only stove on many pop ups), semi-hot - Poor for use with the oven
[/ul]
 
 
 3.)Have ideas on how mush gas is used (average)?
 
 Never paid attention, but it is nothing more than the burner running.
 
 4.) Does it require special pans and if so were can you get them? I have been looking..
 
 Any oven safe pan that will fit inside will work.  Special pans not needed.
 
 Extra Credit:  Tim5055, Seen one on your web page and was wondering if you use the outside burner to cook with? Is it not to close to the trailer to leave it on all day? Or do you use a stand along stove?
 
 We have never had a problem with the side of the camper, and do use it on the outside HP stove.  I have to ask, what will you be leaving in the oven " all day" ?

[kathybrj]

 whitestar505
We use the oven for bisquits, brownies, things like that. I haven t ever baked a cake or done a meal in it. I don t cover mine with foil- never really had the need to.
 
 I found pans at the dollar store-small round and square ones- good size for Jiffy mixes. The kids like those cinnamon rolls that come in the can, for an after-breakfast treat.
 
 It s handy to have, but we don t use it every trip.

[jeffsxyl]

 whitestar505
Sorry you didn t get the chance to sample the corn bread I made at Gambrill last year.   You guys must have been out exploring!
 
 

ORIGINAL:  whitestar505
 
  1) Does it dry out the food ?
 

Only if you over cook it.  It is really much like your oven at home.
 

2) Does the temp gage work like the oven on the stove at home? I guess what I am asking here do you have to always adjust the heat.
 

Once you preheat to the temperature you want, adjust for wind etc. no, you usually don t have to do more than tweek it.  My thermometer works after a fashion but since I live by data, I put an oven thermometer in the oven too.  Depending on conditions, the two agree within reason.  I?ll echo the need for Al foil ?heavy duty is best and I reuse it until I?ve done my Dutch ancestors proud!  It folds up fine in the box and is there ready for the next use.
 

3.)Have ideas on how mush gas is used (average)?
 

I ve never used mine on the high pressure stove.  I didn t want that much heat near the camper and I like to use the hp stove for pans.  I use it on my Coleman two-burner propane stove and usually get quite a few uses out of those little bottles.  Again, it depends on conditions and how high you need to heat the stove and for how long.  The Coleman website gives a good idea of what you can expect from their small cylinders.
 
 I do have to say that I used the oven on the low-pressure stove inside with great results for the first time this past weekend.  The wind at Blue Knob SP was awesome and I would never have gotten the oven temp to stabilize outside so I tried the inside stove.  The only down side was that the stove top porcelain discolored in spots.  I haven t seriously tried to remove the discoloration yet -- it had been a long day of leaks and I was NOT in the mood[>:].  It may have been from cleaner residue and will come up with a little elbow grease and a scrubbie. The jury is still out on that one.  
 

4.) Does it require special pans and if so were can you get them? I have been looking.
 

I?ve made cakes, brownies, cupcakes, muffins, and quick breads and have pans for those and some small 4"  deep dish pizza pans I found at a dollar store, just in case.  For cookies, I imagine a sheet of foil will do just fine but I ve never tried it.  
 I use loaf pans, 8? cake pans, and 6 cupcake cupcake/muffin pans (as opposed to the large 12 cupcake size).   8? seems to be the most you can go.  
 
 I use my oven every trip!   Be warned that the smell of fresh baked goods at a campground can draw a crowd!  We usually get little visitors who follow their noses over to see what is cooking and then stay to pet the dog.  I pack some Oriental Trader kid friendly stuff for just such occasions.   []   It s a mom thing, I guess.
 
 Christyn

[jaycocamprs]

 whitestar505
1) Does it dry out the food?
 
 Not any more than the oven at home
 
 2) Does the temp gage work like the oven on the stove at home? I guess what I am asking here do you have to always adjust the heat.
 
 The temp gauge in the door stinks, and yes I do adjust the burner to keep the oven at a given temp.
 
 3) Have ideas on how mush gas is used (average)?
 
 I don t know. I can tell you that I can do 350 for 1 hour on less than a 1/2 tank of Coleman Fuel (white gas).
 
 4) Does it require special pans and if so were can you get them? I have been looking.
 
 We just use those 9" x9"  foil pans from the grocery store. Use then several times, then throw them out. I m just not going to scrub baked on crust while camping!