Do you really need an oven?

Qashqai66 replied on 16/02/2018 15:48

Qashqai66

Posted on 16/02/2018 15:48

We have been caravanning since 1980 and are now switching to a motorhome. Our early vans did not have an oven fitted. Since having the luxury of an oven I find that I can remember only a few occasions that we have used it. Now that a microwave comes as standard in most motorhomes do we we really need an oven?

Most of our travels are in Southern France and - usually - in warm sunshine so that we either eat cold food or cook something on an outdoor hot plate to avoid cooking smells indoors.

We are planning to buy an Auto-sleeper Stanton which comes with a full size oven. I am wondering if I can persuade Auto-sleeper to build us one with usable storage in place of the oven. Has anyone else done this I wonder?

96 replies

Paolo Imberino replied on 18/02/2018 10:45

Member

Paolo Imberino

Motorhomer

Posted on 18/02/2018 08:42 by ValDa

Like others who holiday 'over there' we don't have a built-in oven. We have a mini-oven, which fits under one of the 'sofas' and we have a two ring electric hob. The mini oven is 30L, and the wattage 1600. The oven is big enough to cook a chicken (or similar) and another tray of vegetables and/or potatoes. The hobs are different wattage - the larger one being bigger than the smaller. Mostly we can use all three without problems, but on sites with limited electric ampage we switch and switch about, getting a ring fully hot, turning it off and then using the other ring or transferring a pan to the top of the oven where it continues to keep warm. Because each hob plate is solid they keep hot and keep the food coooking long after being turned off.

The only time we use the gas hob inside the caravan is on cooler days when stopped during a trip, to boil a kettle or prepare some hot food for lunch.

Posted on 18/02/2018 10:45

You really don't need an oven to cook chunks of meat. Just chop them into small pieces and use the iron.....

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Rocky 2 buckets replied on 18/02/2018 11:10

Rocky 2 buckets

Posted on 18/02/2018 10:45 by Paolo Imberino

You really don't need an oven to cook chunks of meat. Just chop them into small pieces and use the iron.....

Posted on 18/02/2018 11:10

Nice one Paolo, you can’t beat innovation👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻😎

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Kennine replied on 18/02/2018 11:19

Kennine

Posted on 18/02/2018 11:19

Depends if you want to cook proper meals or not. Gas Ovens in the van allow for an increased choice of good food as against using a hob alone.

Microwave ovens on the other hand, are OK for defrosting and cooking fast foods. Depends on your attitude to meals in the caravan.

Metheven replied on 18/02/2018 11:54

Member

Metheven

Caravanner

Posted on 18/02/2018 11:54

We could do without the oven but its there and is used occasionally, we eat out a lot and usually caravan meals are salad/sandwich orientated but once in a while it comes into use.

Don't own a BBQ either, we're away to enjoy things that don't involve wasting our time on preparing meals, or at least we try to keep it to a minimum.

replied on 18/02/2018 13:14

Posted on 18/02/2018 13:14

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

hitchglitch replied on 18/02/2018 14:18

Member

hitchglitch

Motorhomer

Posted on 18/02/2018 10:45 by Paolo Imberino

You really don't need an oven to cook chunks of meat. Just chop them into small pieces and use the iron.....

Posted on 18/02/2018 14:18

Nice idea. Pity about the shirts!

1 person likes this

Qashqai66 replied on 19/02/2018 16:13

Qashqai66

Posted on 17/02/2018 22:58 by chasncath

We don't have an oven and we don't have a microwave. After 14 years and 150,000 miles of motorhoming ( mainly on the Continent) we haven't missed either! Electric hotplate to save on gas, or use the gas hob; a gas bbq for the south of France is a must; if you want a pizza then find a pizza bar. As for a choice of motorhome, if you're going to be traveling a lot in France, why not buy a 'continental' 'van which won't have an oven but will have more storage space.

Posted on 19/02/2018 16:13

We had considered the matter of continental vans but cannot find one which offers our preferred layout of parallel lounge seating with simple conversion to double bed. The Auto-Sleeper Stanton is the only layout to which we feel drawn thus far.

AngusPiloteCamper replied on 19/02/2018 16:29

Member

AngusPiloteCamper

Motorhomer

Posted on 19/02/2018 16:29

A good substitute for a oven though not quite the same but if you only need to use occasionally is the Omnia,

http://omniasweden.com/en/home/

I recently acquired one and have tried it out on the gas hob in the house to see how it performs. It is limited but results were edible ( !) but will try it for real in the campervan this year.

Grumblewagon replied on 20/02/2018 13:07

Member

Grumblewagon

Motorhomer

Posted on 20/02/2018 13:07

I don't NEED an oven, but I like having one. If my van did not have an oven, I would have fitted one. Unfortunately the SMEV oven in my current van is pathetic - not a patch on the Spinflo one in my last van. I must admit that having a 4 burner hob in a camper van is a bit OTT.

Unlike many others, we don't tend to tour in warm countries,and almost never buy 'take aways'. Our oven / grill is used extensively on our travels when we buy fresh food and cook it in the van.

There are very few times when a microwave would have been useful, so I can happily live without one in the van.

Qashqai66 replied on 20/02/2018 14:42

Qashqai66

Posted on 19/02/2018 16:29 by AngusPiloteCamper

A good substitute for a oven though not quite the same but if you only need to use occasionally is the Omnia,

http://omniasweden.com/en/home/

I recently acquired one and have tried it out on the gas hob in the house to see how it performs. It is limited but results were edible ( !) but will try it for real in the campervan this year.

Posted on 20/02/2018 14:42

Interesting but I think a Double Skillet from the Double Skillet company probably works better than the Omnia. The problem with the latter is that the centre hole reduces the volume of the pan. Many people report success in roasting a chicken in a double skillet.

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