Oven question

[airwave]

Hi guy's . Now at present i don't have a motorhome , but now the finance is in place , i've started seriously looking . My plan is to use the van as much as possible , extending to , all thing's being equal , within a couple of year's , spending 7-8 month's a year on the move , between working here and wintering in Spain . It's possible , that this could even lead to eventual full timing .
I've spent a lot of time reading different thread's , amongst many , the subject of oven's . Opinion's seem to vary wildly between wouldn't give them house room , to those that think they are the best thing since sliced bread . The main reason for these opinion's , appear's to be they don't get hot enough to do any more than warm thing's up , yet only this morning i've read a post regarding the kamper cooking unit that it is said can reach around 300 degree's .

So my question is ;

• What's the truth here , do they actually work ? ,
• Pretty sure one model will be better than another , so which one work's the best ? ,
• What temp can i reasonable expect to get , is it realistic to cook say a roast , bake bread , etc ? ,
• Does a custom fit work better , say extra insulation , venting , what ? ,

I'm using a cobb , bbq cooker , with the tent right now , and though it work's well , it does has it's draw back's . I'm looking to upgrade with the van , and i'd like your opinion's to help me make an informed decision .

Thank's people .

 

[clanjones]

You are right many views on ovens! We devised a chicken test to see if one would fit before buying and it does in our oven although we haven't actually tried it yet! (plan to use the oven roasting bags) We have an oven and use it and find it ok. The main issue is uneven heat so you do have to rotate items such as pizza or Quiches otherwise there can be some carbon involved!

We have a Rapido A class and are more than happy with it. Be warned many other will tell you they are a waste of space but each to his own!

 

[Forestboy]

Well we use our van approx 6 months a year and use our oven all the time and it's brilliant.
We like roast dinners and cook them in our oven (Smev) and the results are as good as at home in our ridiculously expensive Rangemaster.
Also have a Remoska very good when on ehu and a Double Skillet (initial impression good but now juries out).
Personally would never buy a van without an oven especially as we use the van all year around.

 

[Riverbankannie]

If you have the space, I would go for having an oven. Ours is Dometic and I do not have any comparison except to my electric oven at home. Yes, it does get some getting used to as the temperature is not as controllable or as accurate as an electric fan oven. In effect, there are three settings, low, medium, high even though numbered 1 to 6!
I have not tried baking bread but I am sure that you could. I find it a useful addition.

 

[Lenny HB]

We were going to have the full cooker on the new van on order but after a long debate, I even started a thread on Fun we decided to change the order to a TecTower. We have had TecTowers on the last two vans although they are not that good we decided we couldn't afford to lose all that storage space to a cooker.

View Thread here.

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[Viennese]

I also use my oven a lot, particularly for roasting. Haven't tried baking as in my PVC not much room for rolling out pastry etc. On this site you will find some (indeed many) references to Fray & Bentos Pies, the favourite food of one of our senior members, and the oven does those perfectly! Most continental vans don't have ovens which was the reason a German lady stopped and exclaimed in delight when she saw mine, on the Isle d'Oleron in France. I should not like to be without it!

 

[hilldweller]

So my question is ;

• What's the truth here , do they actually work ?

Thank's people .

Just like a home oven !!

 

[MikeD]

We don't do much cooking in the van but almost always its in the oven.

Both our vans have had a full cooker

 

[adonisito]

We had an oven in our first van, very useful it was too. Our second doesn't have
one , we have adapted and carry an Andrew James plug in one which we used for a full Christmas dinner last year. However, you need at least 10amp EHU for this. Lack of an oven wouldn't be a deal breaker for us even though we are year round in the van.

 

[scotzsue]

Use our oven quite a lot, it cooks as well as 'heating up' needs a few extra minutes to get warmed up, but not as long as my electric one at home. Great in winter as we can turn the deisel heating off for a bit, only downside, or bonis depending on how you look at it, have to empty grill compartment as it gets very hot, useful for warming plates or tinned veg though. Miss the drawers we would have if no cooker, but prefer having it to not. Also use remoska and cadac. Like the remoska so much we have 2, 1 in van one at home. Had the microwave taken out too.

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[TheTwoOfUs]

We have had ovens in the 3 vans we've had. It's one of the first things my cooking operative looks for. However we do have a stand alone electric oven from either Aldi or Lidl which cost about £40 which we use when on EHU. After all if we are paying for the electric it we may as well use it. In other words, Merilyn wouldn't be without an oven of some sort.

 

[grasscutter]

Always use our oven.
Nothing nicer than the smell of a roast cooking when you are nice and cozy on a freezing day

 

[The Dudess]

We've had both the TecTower and a real oven - real oven wins by miles.

 

[airwave]

Well that's a big thumb's up , from you guy's so far . Some are cheating using the ehu , though the point made by Link Removed is a valid one . I gotta be honest , i've never used a slow cooker , but it is something i've being looking at , of late , fair few of you use them too .Link Removed , i've never heard of a double skillet , think i need to google that one , and find out what it is .
Yes , i'm looking for a continental van (584) , @Viennese , so as you say , it's not standard , which is the reason for my asking , i will be making space for it , but i'm a little concerned with the proximity to the fridge , and @Scotzsue, you have pretty much confirmed what i had already guessed . Lol , my Cobb cope's admirable with fray bentos pie's and yeah i do like them , but the last time i did a pizza , i used it as a frizbee for the dog (cough over cooked) , so err , i know a little bit about charcoal Broken Link Removed , funny thing though , connie never brought it back , though she did have a big smile on her face . Gotta be honest , i would also like a small microwave , if space will permit .

Thank's guy's keep em coming , how about some brand name's . Tec Towers seem favorite to now , i was quite taken with the look of Dometic at the nec show , but Smev have been around for year's ,and you don't manage that without getting something right .



Och , okay , so a Remoska is not a slow cooker , sorry guy's , it's more of an oven , and a Double Skillet is basically a gas version , that sit's on the hob top .

 

[two]

Motorhoming is a compromise, especially if you buy a small one. So you will need to compromise and everyone has different priorities. The chances are that there won’t be an oven provided if you select a European one. Ovens tend to be a Brit thing but I don’t think that’s because we’re good cooks, more likely not as good at compromising.

I’ve just downsized from a big van with separate gas and microwave ovens to one with neither and we’re surviving much better than I’d expected. There are many alternatives to using an oven, so I’d review the need for one unless you’re happy to have your choice restricted. I avoided the ‘TecTower’ thing over the fridge as I’ve heard so many poor reports about them. If an oven is important, go for something like a Smev.

The further South you go, the less time you’re likely to spend cooking inside. Consider a barbecue, they come in all shapes & sizes.

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[funflair]

Don't have one and don't know if we would bother on the next van, the caravan had one and we didn't use it that much they do take a lot of space, would certainly have a microwave again though.

Martin

 

[Lenny HB]

Just like a home oven !!

Bl**dy comedians.

 

[Lenny HB]

oven is important, go for something like a Smev.

Smev is Dometic .

 

[airwave]

The further South you go, the less time you’re likely to spend cooking inside. Consider a barbecue,

Now , that is a very valid point , my friend . I'm keeping my Cobb , and i have a small kettle bbq .

Another valid point you make is that of compromise , you are also quite correct . I don't want and certainly don't need a large motorhome , either , as it's only me , and unfortunately , it is just me now . A couple of week's ago , connie dog passed away . Now that may change in the future , but i'm afraid , it won't be any time soon . The van will be customised to it's planned purpose with consideration to the period it will be in use . I would be interested to know about the bad review's though , was it the Tec Tower , or fridge ? .

Bl**dy comedians.

Lmao .

Smev is Dometic .

Oh really , i didn't know that either .

 

[WillH]

Full cooker, microwave and Remoska. Oven in use a lot of the time, difficult out manage without it. (wife used to teach cookery so we have a LOT of kitchen gadgets, all used).

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[two]

Now , that is a very valid point , my friend . I'm keeping my Cobb , and i have a small kettle bbq .

. I would be interested to know about the bad review's though , was it the Tec Tower , or fridge ? .

.

"TecTower" as in an oven over the fridge/freezer. They are often too high for easy use and difficult to control the temperature (I've been told). Should you go for one, avoid the addition of a grill as it takes too much away from the capacity of the oven. The only redeeming feature is that the oven bit does not take a lot of space and there's often no other alternative.

 

[DBK]

Our oven is a SMEV and it works fine, we can bake bread and cook pizzas etc. The one thing you have to be aware of is they can cook things a bit unevenly so with a pizza for example you need to turn it around halfway through the cooking. It isn't a big problem, just something to be aware of.

 

[airwave]

They are often too high for easy use and difficult to control the temperature

Yep , ive read the same with the height too , there was a worry of spillage as you lifted heated food out . I've heard of temp issue on oven's too , but not as yet , the tower , just in general . Call me old fashioned , but i'm a bit uneasy with having a heat source close to a fridge anyway . The heat could interfere with the cooling of the fridge , however , i guess it is possible , it could work the other way , or even both way's . But thank's for getting back with that . Yes john Laidler , i've already being warned of the uneven heating , from Broken Link Removed , but thank's for confirming the bread .

 

[CWH]

Well to go against the flow of answers, I've just sold our moho of 3 years. I used the oven just ONCE, for something that should have gone under the grill but the grill was so useless I shoved the food in the oven.
I have a smaller van on order, I'm having it slightly customised to NOT have an oven - what I want is a larger fridge than standard spec for this van, one gas ring/ one electric (not sure they can source that: any ideas anyone?), and I'll be asking on here about a small microwave/ grill.
I guess what I'm suggesting is, think about how you usually cook; think about how much space you'll have, and whether you could cook differently; and base your decision on that. I like quick one-pot meals, steamed veg, stir-fry, mash-up omelet etc. If a meal takes longer to prepare & cook than to eat - it's not for me!
Some people call it compromise and wouldn't be without home comforts, I call it adapting to suit the space that I'll have; plus, in my van I want to live as differently as I can from the way I would in a house.
It's all down to personal preferences and thinking through things like this is all part of the preparation for buying your moho. Maybe before making a final decision you could hire for a while & see how your cooking evolves?

 

[mikebeaches]

Be aware, an oven in a campervan or motorhome almost certainly = rattle box when on the road.

The van we've got had one specified by the dealer as an optional extra and to be honest it came close to being a deal-breaker for us - we really didn't want an oven. It also takes a huge amount of potential storage space. But because everything else was exactly what we required and it was in stock, we accepted the compromise.

Our previous van came with a grill and mini-oven, but we used it as the medicine cabinet.

Having said that, we often stay on sites with a hook-up and use a Remoska (400 watts). It's so good, we bought a second one, which is used all the time at home - much cheaper than cooking in the range oven.

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[burtonbird]

Think you need to decide where you're going to be staying. We never use EHU so Remoska etc of no use, but have a full gas oven. Don't know what we'd do without it!

 

[jezport]

Our last van had an oven and grill. the grills tend to brown the item s down the centre far faster than the ones at the outer edge making them a pain to use.
The oven did pretty much everything a home oven would do only slower and smaller.

Out current van has no oven or grill. We don't miss it at all. There are so many things that dont require an oven to cook and so many hob topped devices to grill or bake that an oven isnt worth the weight and space loss.
If we were desperate for a conventional roast dinner we would eat at a pub, We generally find that they allow free overnight parking if you eat there, so the meal is for free.

 

[Fletton]

Right folks....

I am a competent cook... Have used everything over the years from Camp fire to full monty Aga and all types of fuel.. Ceramic hobs to gas etc...

And every pot,pan and size of wok available....

The last appliance "cooker" that still resides in the ex-marital is a 900 range cooker, 3 ovens and grill and 5 gas ring hob.. that I "thought" I needed!! to cater for the eight of us and upto thirteen/fourteen at Christmas etc...

I don't eat ready meals... I prepare everything (mostly) from scratch incl make all my own sauces/gravy etc

As of today I live full time in Moho...
I have a three ring hob, oven/grill over fridge/freezer.

In the garage I have a small fold up charcoal BBQ and a Campingaz single burner for outside

I have a three piece stainless steamer (two steamers), and "milk" pan set.
A non stick frying pan (with lid) and a cast iron griddle pan..

Recenlty bought and have made use of the Double Skillet..

I have a small folding step so that I can see in oven/grill if cooking wet foods..

The only thing I think I might struggle with... is perhaps making Yorkshire puds.. (yet to be tried) but have prepared a roast with everything but.

Other than that... I have not - as yet - felt that the appliances in the Moho are inadequate in any way shape or form..

I tell my guests that I feed - that its "just van food" .. to which most reply... it's no different to what you made in the kitchen...

My point being... it will depend on your own skills, adaptabily and wether food prep floats your boat and you enjoy the time - or you are a person that just wants to eat at a convience because your time is spent doing other stuff...

The only thing I ever used a microwave for - in the past - was as a plate warmer!!.. but others could not live without one....

The ball is firmly in each individuals court as to what suits... and how you adapt to what you have available

JT

 

[peterc10]

We have a Tech Tower oven on our Hymer. Check first about what height the unit is fitted at. Ours is set at floor level so the oven is a nice convenient height. Other Hymers (and other makes) I have seen are mounted above the floor in which case the oven can be a bit high. However the oven door does hinge upwards so still can be used, but can't see into it well.

In our last Motorhome the SMEV oven was up next to the ceiling and the door hinged downwards. My wife could not use it without burning herself on the door.

The Tech Tower oven is OK - nowhere near as good as the oven in our house but it does stews, pizzas, lasagnas, pies and ready meals OK. We have never tried roasts in it - that would be too much faffing about for us - if we wanted one we would find a local carvery. As others have said you do need to turn things, but then it is not a fan oven so you would expect that. Unlike old fashioned gas ovens, which work by varying the flame (remember gas mark 4) our one works thermostatically, i.e. the flame stays the same size and just switches to pilot when the set temperature is reached

As for the heat build up ours has a tube vent from the oven that goes up through the roof and we have no problem with the freezer which is below it.

 

[two]

None of these things come cheap. You could buy a lot of meals out for the price of an oven, and no washing up.

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