I use ou oven virtually every trip. Even when we BBQ (which is every trip!), I usually make some sort of accompaniment in the oven (roast veg, cheesy pototoes, etc). I do find that I have to set it a gas-mark or two higher than the oven at home, and things take a little longer to cook, but you soon get used to it.
We use ours a lot and also it is good if you buy those Chinese/Indian meals for 2 or 4 at the likes of Tesco, it means you can get a full variaty of meals particulalry on the longer holidays.
Couldnt do without the oven in our van, how else can you cook a pizza, do a roast etc. and in the winter months away camping it helps warm the van up as well while cooking.
It looks like a big vote for the oven but if our perfect van doesnt have one we could purchase a decent sized electric oven to do the job. Have a sneaky feeling our van will come with an oven though as OH wont even contemplate looking at one if there is no oven. It would only be for the winter months or for side dishes for the barbie. Come hail rain or shine OH loves to cook outside.
One of my requirements when we got our first caravan was to have an oven (which we didn't have when tent camping). Hubby wasn't convinced that we needed one but is now glad that we have. During the winter we use a slow cooker (as we do at home) and whenever the weather allows the BBQ but the oven does get used. Jacket potatoes, pies etc. I do use roasting bags for most things in the oven as this helps to keep it clean. We've even cooked sausages in a rosting bag and they were fine.
It looks like a big vote for the oven but if our perfect van doesnt have one we could purchase a decent sized electric oven to do the job. Have a sneaky feeling our van will come with an oven though as OH wont even contemplate looking at one if there is no oven. It would only be for the winter months or for side dishes for the barbie. Come hail rain or shine OH loves to cook outside.
Carol
Remember you can always get an oven fitted in a caravan our second caravan didn't have one so got one fitted.
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Quote: Originally posted by J Stimpson on 05/5/2009
We use ours, too and have bought an extra oven shelf which helps - but some things do seam to take longer in the oven.
JJ
Exactly the same as our experience too. The oven in our Avondale takes longer to cook things and the second shelf we bought has made life so much easier. Before we had an oven in our Avondale we had a little Monza and just used a Sabichi portable oven from Wilkinson's for about £20. It was a superb little oven.
I use the oven in my 'van all the time. I find it makes it easier when thinking of what to buy to cook in the van. If you just use the hob you would be limited to tinned/packet foods. We only have a cheap bbq but i am tempted to buy one of those cadac ones cos i don't want to fry eggs in the 'van as they seem to make the most mess when cooking lol
On days when i work late i often make microwave meals for dinner and realised that if i had a microwave in the 'van i could also use them when away. On our new 'van we will be getting a microwave :)