There is something magic about a camp oven. It’s heavy, it’s old-school, and it somehow turns every meal into a proper wood-fired feast once you’re off-grid. Whether you’re set up at a bush camp or cooking fireside after a day on the tracks, a cast iron camp oven is one of the most versatile bits of kit you can have.
When it comes to great camp oven cooking, it’s the hacks that make all the difference. From better heat control to easy clean-ups, these camp oven hacks will have you cooking like a seasoned bush chef in no time.
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1. Control the heat (it’s all about the coals)
When camp oven cooking, it’s all about the coals and temperature control. By using a solid bed of coals, you’ll get steady, consistent heat distribution and way better control, while too much flame can cause hot spots and turn dinner into a scorching-hot mess. Think heat from below when you’re frying, and heat from above when you’re baking.
As a handy rule of thumb, pop about a third of your coals underneath the oven and the other two thirds on the lid, then rotate both the oven and lid every 10–15 minutes to help everything cook evenly. No flames up the sides, no burnt bottoms — just a cracking camp feed.
2. Line it up
Cleaning a camp oven in the bush can be a bit of a pain, but a little prep work can help make life a whole lot easier. Save yourself some elbow grease by lining your camp oven with baking paper or foil. Ideal for bakes, roasts, dampers and desserts — or those cheesy one-pot wonders your mum’s famous for. By leaving a bit hanging over the edge, removing your hot food when it’s done cooking becomes a piece of cake. Best of all, your camp oven stays nicely seasoned, which means less time scrubbing and more time relaxing — win-win!
3. Turn your lid into a frypan
That camp oven lid isn’t just there to hold coals — it’s prime cooking real estate that makes for a handy little frypan when you’re short on cooking space. Flip it upside down over the fire and you’ve got yourself a makeshift hot plate, perfect for sizzling up bacon and eggs, burgers or even toasted wraps while the main meal cooks away in the oven below. One camp oven, two cooking surfaces… now that’s camp kitchen efficiency at its finest.
4. Preheat for better bakes
Just like the oven at home, your camp oven needs a little warm-up before the good stuff goes in. Preheat the empty camp oven on a bed of hot coals for 5–10 minutes to allow the cast iron to heat evenly, before adding your food. This will help your bread rise better, give bakes a more even cook and keep those soggy bottoms at bay — because no one wants a half-done damper. Perfect for brownies, apple crumble and campfire pizzas — proper campfire crowd pleasers.
5. Stack your meals
Cooking for a hungry crew doesn’t mean you need every pot and pan on the fire. Pop a trivet or a few rolled-up foil balls inside your camp oven and you can stack dishes to cook more than one meal at a time. Keep the main feed underneath and sit your veg, dessert or sides on top to make the most of the heat. It’s a ripper hack when firewood is limited, space is tight or the campsite stomachs are starting to rumble.
6. Season once, love it forever
A well-seasoned camp oven is worth its weight in gold around the campsite. Not only does it help create a natural non-stick surface, but it also keeps rust at bay and makes your oven tougher than a two-dollar steak. After cleaning, lightly oil the inside while it’s still warm, then heat it over the coals until the oil stops smoking. Once it’s cooled, store it with the lid slightly ajar to prevent moisture build-up. Treat it right and your camp oven will outlast your tent, your cooler… maybe even your car.
7. Desserts are easier than you think
Camp oven desserts might sound a bit fancy, but they’re surprisingly simple to pull off on the fire. Packet cake mixes, canned fruit and pre-made dough can all become cracking campsite treats with little fuss. Keep the heat gentle, load most of your coals on the lid and check early, because sweet stuff can cook quicker than a savoury feed. Think apple crumble, chocolate self-saucing pudding or muffins good enough to have the whole campground sniffing around.
Why a camp oven belongs in every camp kit
From slow-cooked stews to next-level desserts, a camp oven is the ultimate camping multitasker. With the right hacks, it’s easy to use, easy to clean and seriously hard to beat when feeding hungry adventurers.
Ready to get cooking?
Whether you’re upgrading your cast iron setup or stocking up on camp-cooking essentials for your next camping trip, head in-store or jump online at BCF. You’ll find camp ovens, accessories and plenty of camping food inspo to help level up your next adventure.
Low and slow… now that’s how you cook outdoors.
About the author
BCFing Experts
The BCFing Experts have done more than their fair share of boating, camping, fishing, hiking, four-wheel driving and much much more! Whether you're tackling tough tracks in Tassie or chasing big barra up North, the BCFing Experts have the know-how to make your next outdoor adventure a pearler
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