Camp oven with heat beads??

Can't see a problem Bill. I do all our roasts in the backyard kettle BBQ using heatbeads. I use about 50 beads for a big roast with lots of veges. I can't see why you can't do the same with the camp oven. I like nothing more than sitting outside with a slab getting plastered with friends and talking crap listening to and smelling the delicious aroma from a roast cooking.

Hope it rains soon for you. Water storage here is down to 24%

It's probably illegal - as are most things - but providing you use some common sense, and given the fact you are at home, I'd go for it. Has there been a decree that people are not to use their Coonara wood stoves or angle grinders or weld etc, ie. what we in Vic call a Total Fire Ban? Unless that is the case I wouldn't worry.

Mike Harding

Hi Bill, I did try this, but found that the heat beads were way to hot! The end result was everything was overcooked or burnt! If you do try it, use half the amount of heat beads you think you need!

Jo

Hi Bill, Heat beads are the only way that I cook with my oven, I just can't get coals lasting long enough. Use about 6 beads under and 6-8 on top.

Hi Bill,

As mentioned above, we always use heat beads, I think you can regulate the temperature much better with them rather than coals. Just remember you have to get the heat beads going before you can start cooking, once they change colour it is time to start cooking.

If its your first time using heat beads, then it may take you a little while to get them going, we usually pile them together and add a couple of fire lighters and let them get going can take a little while, once they are lit, spread them under and on top of your oven, they should last a couple of hours and provide enough heat to cook a roast or whatever you want.

Have fun experimenting,

Kerrie.

Heat beads are just as illegal in a total fire ban if you use them outside. Do you have an open fire place inside - that would be OK.
PeterD

Hope this helps

Thanks
Brian

Heat Control in the Camp Oven
Heat control is the hardest thing to master when learning to cook with a cast iron camp oven. Here are a few tips to help you on your way!

Good quality heat beads rather than camp fire coals are recommended because they provide a long lasting, even heat source and are easier to use.

It is important to remember that these tips are a guide to help you get started. You will need to adjust the heat beads according to your recipe and keep in mind that the weather, temperature and soft ground can affect cooking temperature and times.

- 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 the correct placement:

- Stews, soups, chilli and other liquid dishes require more heat on the bottom than the top.
- Meat, poultry, potatoes, vegetables, require even distribution of heat on top and bottom.
- bread, damper, cakes etc. require most of the heat on the top and little heat on the bottom.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL USING HEAT BEADS (these numbers are approximate)
Temp 10 inch 12 inch
F Top Bottom Top Bottom
300 12 5 14 7
350 14 6 16 8
400 16 7 19 10
450 18 8 21 10

Each heat bead adds about 20 degrees.

Place the required number of heat beads under the oven bottom in a circular pattern so they are at least 1/2" inside the oven’s edge. Arrange heatbeads on top in a checkerboard pattern. Do not bunch heat beads as they can cause hot spots.

To prevent hot spots during cooking, lift and rotate the oven a 1/4 turn every 10-15 minutes and then rotate the lid a 1/4 turn in the opposite direction.

Yes I have done that before and it works fine. I did find that you need to be carefull that you don't cover the beads to much or the centre ones die out and you will lose some heat.

I altered mine to have two sheets alfoil on top and fold the ends to form an arch slightly higher than the beads and the ends are folded to give it some strength at the rim which has solved the problem of the centre beads dying out.

Brian

Somebody here once said to light the beads in an old frying pan & then stand the oven on that.

The easyest way to light the beads is:

If you have a gas stove,

Get a larg tin remove the top and bottom with a can opener

Drill a line of holes about 40mm up from bottom the insert steel wire in a grid patern to support the beads

Place tin and beads over gas burner for 3 to 5 min and your beads will be ready to use

This is quick easy and has very little smell.

BBB