AUSTRALIA'S ORIGINAL AND BEST CAMP OVEN AND OUTDOOR COOKING AND CAMPING FORUM

Jan 4^th, 2006 at 10:45pm

Ron173 Ex Member

g'day,

I'm new to camp oven cooking, and due to the fire bans etc I am looking for a reliable source of fuel.

I am interested in trying your heat bead method, however I have a question, how long does one 'set' of beads last? I would imagine cooking a leg of lamb you would need to recharge them, so you would need to be thinking 40mins ahead to keep up the heat? yes?? no?

(Tried email but it said I had public address no idea why.) ???

Very good site.

Rgds

Ron

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Reply #1 - Jan 5^th, 2006 at 1:32am

Derek Offline
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Hi Ron

I find that I can get around an hour fifteen minutes when I use the amounts on the attached photo.

Unless you have an extremely large roast I doubt you will need to recharge.

Cheers

Derek

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Reply #2 - Jan 9^th, 2006 at 1:37pm

Ron173 Ex Member

G'day Derek,

I followed your amounts for a joint of beef weighing .9kg, but it didnt work, it went cold before it was cooked. I tried to add extra coals, hoping they would 'catch' from others but failed to light

In the end we sat it on the bbq to finish it off.

I actually went 1 extra, 10 bottom, 15 top, so not sure what went wrong there?

My oven is the sort camping world sell, its unbranded, but its still fine as we have used in fires ok.

So aim to try again next weekend with more coals yet again, if that doesnt work, will need to go to gas.

Hows your gas work research going? I thought bout buying the attachment from Southern Metal spinners but they dont take credit cards Angry

so will take ages to get money order to them and goods back, will try to source elsewhere.

Rgds

Ron

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Reply #3 - Jan 11^th, 2006 at 1:52am

Derek Offline
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Hi Ron

You must have an exceptionally big oven. The photo below should give you an idea of what you need.

Cheers

Derek

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Camp Oven Cook

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Reply #4 - Jan 12^th, 2006 at 2:04am

Little_Kopit Offline
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Derek,

What does that page come from?

My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006

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Reply #5 - Sep 5^th, 2006 at 11:50am

Furphyslinger Offline
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Hi All

Some time ago I was lucky enough to meet up with a bloke who had taken the time to experiment in depth with using heat beads for camp oven cooking and he was good enough to let me have the following information and I am happy to share.

HEAT CONTROL USING HEAD BEADS

Heat control is hardest thing to master when learning to cook with a cast iron camp oven and here are a few tips to help you on your way

Using heat beads provides a long lasting even heat source and are the easiest to use in camp oven cooking.
Its important to remember that these tips are a guide only to get you started and you will need to adjust your beads according to the recipe and understand that the weather - temperature and ground softness can have an effect to the actual cooking temperature and times used.

Note
- A strong wind or breeze will raise the temperature
- High humidity will lower the temperature
- Direct sunlight will increase the temperature
- Shade will lower the temperature
- Higher air temperature will increase the temperature
- High altitude will lower the temperature

Various recipes and dishes require that you have correct placement of heat beads at the oven and below is a general guide that works well when cooking the following

a: Stews-Soups-Chilli and other liquid dishes require more heat on the bottom than the top
b: Meat-Poultry-Potatos-Vegetables require even distribution of heat on top and bottom
c: Bread-Damper-Cakes etc require most of the heat on the top and little heat on the bottom

HEAT BEAD TEMPERATURE CHART (NOTE THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE APPROXIMATE)

Temp 10" 12"
F Top Bottom Top Bottom
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
300 12 beads 5 beads 14 beads 7 beads
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
350 14 6 16 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
400 16 7 19 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
450 18 8 21 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

Each Heat bead will add about 20 degrees

Place the required number of beads under the camp oven in a circular pattern so that they are at least 1/2" inside the ovens edge and arrange the beads on the lid in a checkerboard pattern try not to group the beads too close together as they can cause hot spots
To prevent any hot spots occurring lift and rotate the oven a 1/4 turn every 10-15 minutes and then rotate the lid in a 1/4 turn in the opposite direction

Hope you find this of assistance
Cheers Furphy

If you don't know the bush then you have never lived life to the full

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Reply #6 - Sep 25^th, 2006 at 1:41am

wazza5262 Offline
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gees furphy yer getting preety tecnickel now arnt you cheers wazza Grin

cheers warren ... lives in Ipswich Queensland Australia.. Hi all o/s visters

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Reply #7 - Sep 26^th, 2006 at 7:40am

Mark Offline
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I'm with you Wazza,

I thought you just kept eating raw meat till you got it right Grin

. Looks like my chances of having a proper meal might have just increased....thanks Furphy.

Regards, &&&&Mark &&&&Terracan Highlander CRDi &&Coromal Silhouette PS421

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Reply #8 - Sep 27^th, 2006 at 7:53pm

Furphyslinger Offline
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Hi Mark anytime although you will find that Derek has a lot of this type of information anyway hope it helps just play around as your camp oven thickness can effect as well thats why its good to check again and again until you get it completly right although the chart will get you as close as is possible
Bugger it just enjoy yourself and anyway whats wrong with raw meat if you cant see it It may enhance your reputation Grin

Cheers Furphy

If you don't know the bush then you have never lived life to the full

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Reply #9 - Sep 27^th, 2006 at 9:52pm

Derek Offline
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Folks

This is the best way I know of making sure you have the right heat in the camp oven. $4.95 in KMart. Grin

Camp_Oven_031_Small_001.jpg (66 KB | )

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