OUTDOOR BAKING
CAMP CHEF PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR OVEN
It can be said that good food is just as important to one’s outdoor adventure as their method of conveyance or even the final destination. In fact, for most, the more tasty their meals are, the more satisfying the endeavor. Whether you live life in the outdoors a couple of days at a time, or months at a time, creating a well-equipped on-location kitchen is always a worthwhile effort.
When we don’t have the choice of cooking appliances, we can make a brisk campfire work. But with only flames to work with, the subtleties of cooking more than a basic meal are rather limited. However, if you have a wood-, propane- or charcoal-powered camp stove at your disposal, your culinary results would be much better. Grilling directly over the heat, boiling in a pot or pan-frying on a skillet can take care of much of your food cravings. There is one style of cooking that a regular camp stove just can’t do, however.
We’re talking about baking. There aren’t many options for pizza lovers, or even cupcake lovers for that matter, to get hotout-of-the-oven baked goods campside. Camp Chef is here to bring precision baking to the outdoors. Welcome the newest option, Camp Chef’s Professional Outdoor Oven to
your campsite kitchen. The newly improved portable oven features a 400° F oven, as well as two 9,000 BTUs per hour brass range burners to help you cook up just about any recipe you can think of.
Not to be confused with Camp Chef’s previous model oven, the Professional Outdoor Oven now features precise thermostatic oven control and a higher internal oven output. This means no fiddling with temperature controls to get the temperature you need and more power to get the oven up to the required heat.
Other notable features include fully adjustable heat controls; which we tested and found to be frustration-free and sensitive enough to fine-tune just the amount of heat you need. It also features push-button ignition and easy to clean enamel pot grates. Its oven racks are removable, and its interior fits a pan of up to 9 x 13 inches. The unit is constructed mostly of stainless steel and has built-in carry handles.
The overall build of the oven feels sturdy, but it does weigh a hefty 32 pounds. It measures about a 21 inches wide, a little over a foot deep and stands about 18 inches tall. We would not recommend it for backpacking trips, but it is portable enough for car camping and tailgating. It is powered by a one-pound propane bottle, which attaches to the back of the oven. We did also test an optional carry bag that Camp Chef offers, but found it to be slightly too small for comfortable use.
For those who just can’t live without their baked goods, this oven is definitely a good option with which to equip their camp kitchens. With the capability of baking at 400° F, while also powering two burners, the Camp Chef Professional Oven makes for an efficient cook station on the go.