After many failed attempts at campsite baking we decided it was time to get a camp stove oven. After looking around for a solution we thought we'd try using an item we already had. Here's a small modification we made to one of our Dutch Ovens to turn it into a stovetop oven for baking at the campsite. Essentially we drilled a small hole in the lid so we could insert a deep fry/meat thermometer. We placed a small steaming rack (trivet) inside to keep our baking pan away from the super hot bottom of the oven.
It's easy to regulate the temperature by adjusting the flame on the camp stove burner. Expect to occasionally make a manual adjustment to the heat, but you'll be surprised how easy it is to maintain the temperature if you take your time and make small adjustments. The cast iron has plenty of thermal mass to help maintain thermal stability (fewer sudden temperature changes). We've had many campsite baking successes using this method. Biscuits, cakes, and even personal pizzas are as easy as following the instructions on the box.
We purchased the deep fry thermometer from Amazon for about $8. And the steaming rack came in a set with varying heights and cost about $12. We found that a 2.0 to 2.5 inch height is best for our Dutch Oven and can accommodate a 1.5 inch tall cake pan.
We tapped threads into the hole we drilled in the lid. We wanted the option to put a stainless steel screw in the hole to seal it closed. The hole is so small that we haven't ever needed to close it off. Your mileage may vary. Happy Mountain Baking!
Here are a few helpful tips:
- Allow the oven to preheat as you would a conventional oven.
- Select a thermometer with the ability to measure oven range temperatures. We chose 50F to 500F.
- Use the clip that comes with the thermometer to set the desired height.
- Adjust the thermometer height such that it is about 1/2 to 1 inch away from the bottom of the oven.
- Note that the temp probe is only sensitive at the very end, so the rest of it can touch the oven lid and pan inside.
- Bend the legs of the steaming rack outward just a little to increase its stability and fit inside the oven.
- Some thermometers can also be used as meat thermometers, a handy addition to your camp cooking gear.
