Review: Camp Chef Oven
Part 3: Portability, power drop-offs, and more
Tara K. Harper
November 6, 2018
This is part 3 of the Camp Chef Oven review
I’ve used these ovens for around 20 years. I look at that number and am horrified at how that dates me. On the other hand, it’s a pretty good statement of how well these ovens work. When I needed another oven (I was cooking for more people), I didn’t go to another brand. I bought more of the same – and remain very happy.
So here is the third part of the review: portability, height of the burners, watching for power drop-offs, and miscellaneous points.
Check out more of this review!
- Part 1: Regulators, lighting it up, pan size, and burners
- Part 2: Temperatures and efficiencies
- Part 3: Portability, power drop-offs, and more
Carry it, sure, but it cuts like a knife
Sounds like a minor issue, but if you have to move the oven in and out every other day, carrying it is an issue.
The indented handles are fine for a short carry, such as from storage shed to patio. But those handles are shallow and very slick.
I prefer to lift from the bottom. Unfortunately, the bottom edges are sharp — and I do mean, they will cut your fingers, so be careful. Consider using a small pad (like a hot pad) to lift from the bottom.
Height: Oven on table or bench?
The height of the burners is quite awkward – which make sense for them being located on top of the oven. But it comes down to a choice.
If you set the oven at counter height, the burners are useful only for heating water or similar. They’re too tall for the average height person. You can’t see into any given pot or pan.
If you set the oven at bench height, the burners are useful for cooking. In other words, you can see into the pot or pan or skillet to manage the actual cooking. However, you have to half-crouch to check anything in the oven.
I keep my camp kitchen pretty simple. I have an old patio table on my cabin porch; the Coleman stove and this Camp Chef oven sit side-by-side on the table. That puts the two burners at about shoulder level for me. This makes it easy to see into the oven to watch the bakies and make sure they’re baking, browning, bubbling, etc. But, it also means it’s hard to see into the pans on the burners.
Still, I find it very convenient to have 2 extra burners when I’m not using the oven. Warm a little water to ready it for after-dinner dishes; steam some veggies for supper. Things that don’t need to be monitored, but can basically cook themselves.
Creatures and critters and fading power
As with all propane appliances it’s important to keep the hose connections and jets clear.
I keep my ovens in muslin bags, to help keep spiders from getting into the jets. This is an issue with any propane appliance. Same issue with wasps – they like to nest in propane lanterns and other propane appliances. Go figger.
If you’ve stored your oven for any period of time, and you feel as if it’s power is fading, check the valves and jets. Clean out the wasp nests, spider webs, and other debris from the critters who decided to make your gear their home. If you don’t find any critter debris, perform the soapy-water test to make sure you don’t have a leaking seal; and check your propane hose. More on the why’s and wherefore’s of that later!
The occasional 4-footed traveler
One last point: Mice. Yes, mice.
There are enough air-circulation holes in the oven that mice can get in there.
So if you leave the oven out at night, with all those lovely food smells baked in, and then go to put it away the next day (or put it in your car), check first. Give it a little shake to make sure any night mice have left the building before you carry them back home for a visit.
I can tell you from personal experience that you really, really don’t want to bring the wildland rodents back with you to infest the rest of your gear.
The bottom line
I have used these ovens for daily use, for 3 to 5 months out of every year – to do standard cooking for 3+ meals a day, even in extreme weather. My original oven is still going strong, and my newer ones are doing the same. That should convince you of one thing: These are well-designed, well-built ovens suitable for camping, cabin-living, and living off the grid.
See more of this review!
- Part 1: Regulators, lighting it up, pan size, and burners
- Part 2: Temperatures and efficiencies
- Part 3: Portability, power drop-offs, and more
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