Cooking Conundrum (1 Viewer)

[DK1083]

We have been caravanners and motorhomers for as long as I can remember but in all that time we have never used the built in oven and always felt that the space would be better used as a storage..... BUT.....
We currently have a 2007 motorhome which doesn't have a built in microwave so we bought one and carry it in the bottom of the wardrobe when not in use. Mrs K and I were having a conversation about the space it takes up and whether we really need it and then we got on to the fact that people now carry air fryers, soup makers and all sorts of cooking gadgets these days but as storage is at a premium my wife said she didn't want to carry anymore gadgets.
Then, (shock horror!), she said perhaps we should make more use of the oven!
This revelation has made me wonder what cooking preferences others have. Obviously, using the oven would use more gas but otherwise is it an efficient way of cooking in the van? Do we really need the microwave?
I would be interested to know what you all do...!

 

[David and Sally]

We have used our oven a lot whilst in Spain but our go-to bit of kit is an electric frying pan. It gets used for curries, stews, fry ups, helping with bbq cooking.
We have just uprated our Moho so the next thing is to start taking our microwave away again.

 

[Burgo]

Plug in table top oven from Lidl for roasting, grilling and rotisserie work (chicken, suckling pig, etc) which lives in the garage. It's only 1500w so draws 6.5 amps max. Remolska for most small roasts, etc. Cadac with my lava rock mod for grilling /mockbq. With that lot and two gas rings we can cook anything we want.

 

[nicholsong]

We do use our oven from time to time, but more often the grill in it, e.g. lamb chops, cheese on toast or just to brown off something.

We are never on EHU, even when it is rarely available so no electric cooking for us.

 

[Spriddler]

I don't cook oven meals when away so for 15 years my ovens are just used for storage of fruit, vegetables and bread.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

I always thought an oven was a great asset to have but since we have a microwave and a small air fryer the oven rarely gets used .they are heavy on gas and that's another issue now its getting harder to get hold of in the uk. France / Spain , no problems.

 

[Dorwyn]

Obviously, using the oven would use more gas but otherwise is it an efficient way of cooking in the van? Do we really need the microwave?
I would be interested to know what you all do...!

I guess it depends on the oven. Ours is a fairly recent Dometic gas oven, and frankly it is not worth the space it takes up. Some people only use them for storage. Also we do have a microwave, but rarely use mains electricity. We enquired about removing both and replacing them with matching doors which proved to be too expensive. So we cart these useless (to us) items around UK and abroad. Cooking is mostly oven top, but we do have a double skillet, but I am considering an air fryer for decent chips. It does depend on how you travel and camp.

 

[DK1083]

Plug in table top oven from Lidl for roasting, grilling and rotisserie work (chicken, suckling pig, etc) which lives in the garage. It's only 1500w so draws 6.5 amps max. Remolska for most small roasts, etc. Cadac with my lava rock mod for grilling /mockbq. With that lot and two gas rings we can cook anything we want.

Unfortunately we don't have a garage so storage is at a premium for bulky items.

 

[Spriddler]

I've read that ovens aren't a common item in continental m/h's because most folk cook outdoors in the fine weather.
Many use a gas-fired faux BBQ but I can't be doing with the faff of carting plates, cutlery, condiments, drinks etc. out and then back in again, plus the irritation of sharing rapidly cooling food with wasps and flies at a wobbly chest high table, and then the doom cloud of rubber gloves and CIF for the impending chore of having to clean the filthy thing afterwards.

 

[pwilmo]

Mr D Thermal Cooker

No good for when want instant snacks, quick meals but uses so little gas/heat up time.

Cooks while you travel or while you've gone out for the day.

Plan ahead meals .. currys, stews rice, cakes, a whole dinner and veg .. all sorts , but not instant.

Mr D's website looks a bit dated, I haven't seen updates, everything looks a bit neglected, there are no new recipes and I don't know if he is still around .. but you can still order stuff.

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[DK1083]

I've read that ovens aren't a common item in continental m/h's because most folk cook outdoors in the fine weather.
Many use a gas-fired faux BBQ but I can't be doing with the faff of carting plates, cutlery, condiments, drinks etc. out and then back in again, plus the irritation of sharing rapidly cooling food with wasps and flies at a wobbly chest high table, and then the doom cloud of rubber gloves and CIF for the impending chore of having to clean the filthy thing afterwards.

We ditched the Cadac for a Teppanyaki hot plate. Easier to clean and store and it cooks anything a BBQ does!

 

[hja]

We have a two burner hob and a Remoska. No problems at all. Previous van had an oven which we didn’t use, a grill which we did, for toast, and a microwave which we used occasionally. When we were thinking of this van we went through what we cook and decided what we now have would be fine, and it has been. No regrets. Dry fry toast by the way.

 

[dunnah01]

Using the oven right now and used it last night so an essential for us

 

[Gina M]

We have a Remoska and electric outdoor grill. I can't stand the faff of cleaning a greasy grubby BBQ every time I cook something. The oven in our van is useless it takes twice the time to cook things but makes the van lovely and toasty in the winter but it's mainly used for storage. I have started using the microwave to steam veg recently plus I have a brilliant microwave bacon cooking tray which really does make the bacon go crispy. I also have a microwave grill which makes brilliant toasted sandwiches and quesadillas. Can you tell we are not wild campers

 

[Reallyretired]

We use our oven a lot swmbo does all the cooking. We also have a microwave which I sometimes use for fish, as swmbo is allergic we need to avoid cross contamination.
I do the washing up.

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[grasscutter]

Have always used our ovens.
Off grid Christmas dinner using our oven

 

[Nirvanauk]

We have 4 rings and an oven in our PVC and use the oven all the time.

 

[DK1083]

Have always used our ovens.
Off grid Christmas dinner using our oven
View attachment 876390

Can I come away with you???

 

[oldiesontour]

PVC 2 gas rings gas oven microwave(inverter) inside ,2 gas rings and grill outside...also have a Gas griddle small commercial type for outside but seldom take it now
On grid off grid sun no sun max nix

 

[Lenny HB]

Not having an oven in our next van, but will probably have an air fryer it's basically an oven anyway. We don't use EHU but will be fitting around 500ah of Lithium.
Would never have a microwave, hardly use the one at home.

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[Jo May]

Not having an oven in our next van, but will probably have an air fryer it's basically an oven anyway. We don't use EHU but will be fitting around 500ah of Lithium.
Would never have a microwave, hardly use the one at home.

You have a hob?

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Have always used our ovens.
Off grid Christmas dinner using our oven
View attachment 876390

Wot no sprouts

 

[grasscutter]

Wot no sprouts

I wore myself out looking for fresh sprouts

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Use our oven but it seems you have to near on double the cooking time as the Dometic ones are pretty crap.

 

[rb62]

Never used an oven or a microwave even if available,good set of cast aluminium pans is all you need,so says the cook

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[faraway]

For specific reasons, I’m on EHU most times at present. I have a Ninja Speedi for pretty much everything.

• 10 functions: Speedi Meals, Steam Air Fry, Steam Bake, Steam, Grill, Air Fry, Bake/Roast, Dehydrate, Sear/Sauté, Slow Cook

Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker for Quick Meals - Ninja UK

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ninjakitchen.co.uk

 

[Puddleduck]

I've never had an oven in a motorhome and only use the oven at home for baking bread, cakes and scones plus special meals (Christmas dinner and the like). I have an electric pressure cooker and a slow cooker. The pressure cooker really needs EHU but the slow cooker works via a small invertor when traveling and on a sunny day from the solar panel.

You can roast and bake in a slow cooker. I always pre-warm mine and add and liquid hot having boiled on the hob first.