There are really only two basic materials used in the manufacture of the best camp ovens; cast iron and spun steel.  Each has their pros and cons.

Cast iron is a classic method of making cooking pots and utensils, and has been around for centuries.

Pros

• Retains heat for much longer than any other material.
• Distributes heat around the pot more evenly, avoiding hot spots. Perfect for slow cook meals like casseroles, roasts and stews. Easier to control the cooking temperature.
• With a bit of care, will last a lifetime.

Cons

• Heavier than the spun steel counterpart,
• If dropped on a hard surface, there’s are risk of cracking/breaking the camp oven,
• Will take longer to get to temperature due to the thicker construction.

The most popular name for this type of camp oven is the Bedourie camp oven.  The Hillbilly camp oven is a very popular, and well-made steel camp oven.

Back in the days when cookware was carried in horse saddle bags and prone to being broken, they came up with this outdoor camp oven. It’s also stood the test of time.

Pros

• Much more resilient when it comes to drops, knocks and bumps,
• Gets to cooking temperature quicker,
• Much lighter in weight,
• Lid can double up as a frypan.

Cons

• Need to be watched more closely during the cooking process as they are not as forgiving with temperature rises/falls and hotspots as the cast iron counterparts.

Here is an excellent video by a couple of guys who show pretty much all you need to know to get the best use out of your camp oven.  It’s 25 minutes long, and definitely worth watching.

• Different types of camp ovens
• Coal placement & heat flow – top down or bottom up?
• How to season a camp oven
• How to clean a rusty camp oven
• Cooking oils – oils ain’t oils!
• Does spending more money get you a better camp oven?
• Choice of heating material – wood vs charcoal?

And lots more. I think you’ll find it very helpful. I certainly did.

You can read a bit more about the history of camp ovens here.

Camp ovens come in a number of sizes and designs. With sizes, more often it’s quoted in volume.  This can range from around 2 litres up to 12 litres.

These are available from almost every outdoor and camping shop, and are either cast iron or spun steel.

For the cast iron versions, there should be a lip around the lid to put hot coals on to assist with the cooking without ash falling into the pot when lifting the lid. 

Also, the lid should fit snugly into the pot, to preserve heat and moisture for whatever is cooking inside. Handles preferably should be coiled wire to avoid burns when you’re lifting a hot pot off and on the fire.

For spun steel camp ovens, the lid is typically flat to allow hot coals to be put on it, and it fits over the body of the camp oven.

These ovens can have short legs to keep them off the coals, although camp oven and Dutch oven are somewhat interchangeable.  In general, they are cast iron, but there are variations around of enamelled steel and aluminium.  The last two types are usually found in household kitchens rather than out in the bush.

Historically, the use of cast iron was preferred as it was the less expensive of the materials used to make cookware a few hundred years ago.  The tradition is carried on to this day.

This is pronounced ‘POY-kee’, (not ‘pot-jee’) which translated from Afrikaans is ‘little pot’.  They are made of cast iron, and have three legs under a rounded pot with a lid suitable for holding coals to give all-round cooking heat.

I prefer these, as it is easier to put coals around and under them to get good heat distribution during the cooking process.  The only downside is they do take up a bit more storage space in your camping setup.

I have seen enamelled Potjies, and they make cleaning and looking after the pot a whole lot easier, but be prepared to pay some dollars for them.

If you’re interested in trying a traditional mouth-watering South African Potjie camp oven casserole – click here for the recipe.

Once you’ve chosen the best camp oven for you, there is usually a need to season it.  Particularly if you’ve chosen a cast iron camp oven.

Why do we need to season, or cure, a cast iron camp oven?  The casting process to make the oven often leaves slight imperfections on the internal surface, such as a rough surface and little bumps and hollows.  What we need to do is to make this as non-stick as possible.

1. Wash your new camp oven out thoroughly with warm water – don’t use detergent, as it will stick to the pores of the cast iron and leave a film on it.
2. Make sure it is completely dry before applying a layer of vegetable oil by wiping the interior and the underside of the lid with a paper towel soaked in the oil.
3. Pop it into a very hot oven for about an hour and let the vegetable oil bake onto the internal surfaces.
4. Wipe off any excess and let cool. It should now have a slightly glossy look to it.

If you burn food onto the oven, then use a scourer or wire brush to clean it up, then apply the process above.

Having said that, some camp ovens and potjies do come pre-seasoned, so it may spare you the initial job. However, if you do need to do it, you’ve got the process.

There’s a few do’s and don’ts with camp ovens to get the best out of them for a long time.

• Do season them on a need’s basis.
• Don’t pour boiling water into a cold camp oven.
• Don’t pour cold water into a hot camp oven.
• Don’t drop them.
• Do oil them before putting them away to stop them rusting or corroding.

Because of the basic nature of these cooking pots, there’s not a lot of accessories to go with them, they’re pretty much self-contained.  Here are a few you may find helpful:

Tripod – keeping the camp oven off the fire for a more controlled cook.

Trivet – a grate or perforated base to put inside the camp oven to keep food from contacting the base which may cause food to burn/stick.

Height Extension Ring – to increase the capacity of the camp oven.  You won’t find this in cast iron camp ovens, but more the spun steel camp ovens. The Hillbilly camp ovens offer these as an accessory.

Carry Bag – Last, but not least, to protect your investment.

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