hillbilly camp oven

Shad don't know about the above Q but that is one hell of a motor bike tyre print.:)))
Rob.

Hi Shad,

Yes mate, you need to season the Hillbilly the same as a cast iron oven.

The Oven is made from spun mild steel and comes new, with a black coating preservative.

Give the Oven a good clean with soapy water and a scourer to remove as much of the preservative as possible. Then dry with an old towel.

place a tablespoon or two of vegetable, or peanut oil into the oven and wipe around with a paper towel so that all metal surface is covered. Apply oil to the outside as well. Remove any remaining "pooled" oil from bottom so that you end up with an even layer both inside and outside of the oven, including the lid.

Place the hillbilly into a preheated oven, or better still, an enclosed gas BBQ (one with a hood) and heat for at least half an hour.

Allow to cool for a while, then wipe the hillbilly surfaces with paper towels. As you do this you will remove the black coating of "preservative" that was originally on the surfaces.

Repeat the above process a few times until you get very little black transferring onto the paper towel.

A final application of oil over all surfaces and you are ready to cook.
Do not wash the camp oven in soapy water or use a scourer of any type. Just a wipe over should clean the oven sufficiently between uses, remembering to always apply more oil. Over a period of time, you will end up with a black, baked on coating on the oven which will both preserve the metal surface and stop food from sticking to the surfaces.

If necessary, the oven can be further cleaned by boiling water in it, drying it and applying oil before storage.

I always use a trivet to keep food off the bottom of the oven (unless it's a stew or similar) and find the best heat control is by the use of heat beads both on top and underneath the oven.

Good cooking with the Hillbilly. It is a great piece of camping gear.

AFAIK it is made in the same way as the Bedourie so.....No. Being spun steel it isn't porous like a cast iron version. Still need to clean off the oils from manufacture and then after cooking lightly oil to stop rust.

Shad, I purchased a hillbilly camp oven last week and emailed the company re seasoning, this is the reply received. I hope this helps.

Wash oven thoroughly,dry and apply very light coat of cooking oil to inside wall&base of oven.
Heat oven from top to seal oil to walls &base then cook a roast .
Do not scour when washing after cooking
regards
Col Jamieson

Rob M.