What camp oven should I buy?

I’ve been promoting camp oven cooking for a long time now however since covid 19 there has been a big rise in popularity for people wanting to get into camp oven cooking. I’ve seen this first hand in my Facebook group with people joining to ask questions.

Which has lead to many questions like:

• What Brand Camp Oven should I buy?
• What Type of camp oven should I buy?
• What Size camp oven should I buy?

Choosing your first camp oven can be a hard choice, so I’m going to answer these questions below to help you make the best choice that fits your needs but ultimately any camp oven will be suitable as long as you look after it properly.

My tip to you is to make your selection in the following order.

1. Choose what type first, Cast Iron, Spun Steel or Aluminium
2. Choose what size next will suit your cooking needs.
3. Then choose what brand, this one is not so important as all brands are really good.

key points to remember when purchasing a cast iron new camp oven.

• Make sure the lid fits well. – Due to the way camp ovens are manufactured, it is common for the lid to not to fit snug and it is important that they are a match.
• There are no defects or large holes. – Due to the sand casting of the camp ovens, the ovens can have dags or holes, and while it is okay, you don’t want too many.
• Is it already pre-seasoned? – A pre-seasoned camp oven is great as it is ready to use. Yet, we do recommend you give it a quick wash and a light coat of cooking oil.
• Does it have a lip on the lid? It is important if you are cooking with coals or briquettes that the camp oven has a lip to stop the coals falling off.

What Type of Camp Oven should I buy?

This defiantly comes down to personal choice, traditionally a camp oven is made of heavy cast iron, but we now have to steal camp and aluminium camp ovens which are much lighter than cast iron camp ovens.

Camp ovens come in 4 common types here in australia

• Cast Iron Camp Ovens
• Spun Steel Camp Ovens
• Cast Iron Potjies
• Cast Aluminium Camp ovens

Here is a detailed list of all types of camp ovens and there pros and cons, to help you choose which one you would like to buy.

Cast Iron Camp Oven

A cast iron camp oven is the most popular choice for camp oven cooking, they are heavy and retain the heat really well and can be easier to manage heat control compared to spun steel camp ovens. Cast iron camp ovens also come in a range of sizes and are affordable at Snowys.

Pros:

• Great distribution of heat
• Stays hotter longer
• Will last for ever if properly looked after

Cons:

• Heaver then spun steel or aluminium
• can crack when dropped.
  

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Spun Steel Camp Oven

In recent years a Spun steel camp oven has become a popular choice for camp oven cooking, as they are lightweight, more indestructible, however, can be a little harder to manage heat control compared to cast iron camp ovens. Spun steel camp ovens also come in a range of sizes and are affordable at Snowys.

Pros:

• Lightweight yet robust
• Heats and cooks quickly
• Heats and cooks quickly
• Lid can be used as a frypan

Cons:

• Doesn’t retain heat as well as cast iron
• Not as good for slow cooking

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Aluminium Camp Oven

A Potjie is a three legged cast iron tripod cooking pot primarily used in south affrica like cooking pot, called a Potjie, pronounced Poi-kie. Potjies are great for cooking wet dishes like stews and are very affordable at Snowys.

Pros:

• Excellent heat retention, ideal for slow cooking;
• Even distribution of heat for oven effect
• Will last a lifetime if properly cared for.

Cons:

• Heavy
• Brittle, can crack when dropped or when cold/hot water is added to hot/cold oven.

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Cast Iron Potjie

A Potjie is a three legged cast iron tripod cooking pot primarily used in South Africa like cooking pot, called a Potjie, pronounced Poi-kie. These pots are great for cooking wet dishes like stews. Potjies are very affordable at Snowys.

Pros:

• Tall legs for good heat management
• Excellent heat retention, ideal for slow cooking;
• Ideal for wet dishes like stews and curries.

Cons:

• Heavy
• Can crack when dropped
• Not good for roast and cakes

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What Brand Camp Oven should I buy?

The most common brands of cast iron camp ovens you will find are Oztrail, Coleman, Camp Fire, Spinifex, Outdoor Connection and many more. 

Don’t fixate on which brand is better as they are all good, any brand camp oven will be suitable as long as you look after it.

Mick – The Camp Oven Cook

The most familiar brands of cast iron camp ovens you will find at your local camping store here in Australia are:

What Size Camp Oven should I buy?

Products Recommended By Mick

9QT Camp Oven

The Campfire Cast Iron Camp Oven is perfect for keeping you and the kids satisfied on your next family camping holiday.

$69.90 @ Snowys

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Campfire Protective Leather Gloves

Make lighting your BBQ so much simpler and faster with the BBQ Charcoal Starter from Darche.

$15.90 @ Snowys

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