The Australian "camp oven", is a very practical and durable piece of cookware loved by campers Australia wide. Traditionally made of cast iron, the camp oven can be used for baking, roasting or frying just about anything you like. Also popular in many other countries such as America where it’s known as the “Dutch Oven”, a “cocotte” in France, a “tetsunabe” in Japan and the British simply call it a “casserole dish”.
The cast iron camp oven usually has three legs, a wire handle, and a slightly concave, rimmed lid so that coals from the fire can be placed on top as well as below. This provides more uniform internal heat and lets the inside act as an oven. In Australia, the Furphy brand has an excellent reputation for quality and is regarded by many as the undisputed leader in cast iron camp ovens.
Whilst the cast iron camp ovens are very popular, the Bedourie “spun steel” camp ovens also have a strong following in Australia due to them being a more robust (non-breakable), lighter and versatile alternative to the fragile cast iron ovens. The Bedourie’s upturned lid can also be used as a frypan.
Camp ovens come in varying sizes from 20cm (8 inches) up to a very large 60cm (23 inches) depending on how many people you intend to cook for. No doubt you’ll find the perfect size for camping whether you take the tent, caravan, camper trailer or 4wd.
There are some great Australian camping forums which cover the topic of camp oven cooking. The Aussie Camp Oven Forum @ Camp Oven Cooking in Australia has a wealth of information on the subject and a great bunch of campers willing to share their knowledge on just about anything camping related. A real ripper of a forum indeed!
Looking to buy one now? Check out our link here:- AussieUsedCaravans Camp Ovens which has all of the current Camp Ovens and Jaffle Irons listed for sale on Ebay Australia.
