Hillbilly Gas Conversion for Camp Oven - Makes it so easy

Picked up on the weekend a second hand Hillbilly camp oven with the gas conversion kit that was advertised in the trader. And so we had to try it out last night.

The result is "How easy is this", we were surprised it was so simple. we only got a roast from a supermarket as nothing else was open, but it worked well. The next one we will get it from our own butcher (relative) and try a rolled roast beef.

Living in the hills l quite often light up a fire in winter and have a camp oven cook up, but this stops in from late September through to May due to fire risk. But now l can use a camp oven all year round.

Some of our observations;

Easier to check the meat as the supplied handle works better than the tent pegs l normally use

Being steel and not cast iron the base doesn't get as hot so you don't get the sizzling form the juices dropping on the base. So it doesn't seem to be working.

The veggie ring appears to deflect some heat from the burners at the top, as we started with it in and the meat didn't appear to cook while the veggies did, so we removed it, and the meat started to cook. Next time we will start with it out and put in halfway through.

It even got my wife to start thinking about logging on to the forum as find out more about recipes and how to use it better.

Alan
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Dec 07, 2009 at 18:27

Monday, Dec 07, 2009 at 18:27
Hi Alan,

You have got a good bit of kit.

I have owned a Bush King (large) Hillbilly camp oven for some years and I love it.
I bought it as a package deal which included the gas burner accessory.

I am unclear on your observations however.

The base gets as hot as you wish if the burner is working properly and regardless of the veggie ring being in or not.

The genuine burner attachment can be used either underneath, or on top of the camp oven, or even as a stand alone fry pan.

I recommend you check out the Hillbilly web site to gain additional knowledge on the oven and available accessories and also recommend the Hillbilly camping gear cookbook which contains excellent tips on the various methods of cooking with the oven, cooking with gas, etc....

Camping with Hillbilly

Good luck experimenting with your Hillbilly. They are excellent.

Bill.


Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 394093

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Dec 07, 2009 at 18:36

Monday, Dec 07, 2009 at 18:36
Just a tip of my own Alan,

When roasting meat, most of the heat should be allied to the top of the oven and only a small amount to the bottom. In this way the bottom of the oven (and its contents) won't burn.

When using heat beads for instance, you place most of them on the lid and only a few underneath. I use an old cast iron fry pan and place a hillbilly pot ring in it to hold the oven, with the beads underneath. This allows sufficient air circulation to occur. You can also use a "cake stand" in place of the pot stand which is cheap and still does the same job.

Cheers,
Bill.

Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 662318

Follow Up By: Alan S (WA) - Monday, Dec 07, 2009 at 21:20

Monday, Dec 07, 2009 at 21:20
Sandman

Thanks, I have used a camp oven before and learnt the hard way that most heat needs to be on the top. This time I placed it all on the top and nothing on the base. When i have used a cast iron one on coals , i have always put a few coals underneath, this may make a difference.

One thing we did different was preheating, on a cast iron we preheat first, but on this we didn't. Do you preheat first?

Alan
0
FollowupID: 662341

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009 at 07:08

Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009 at 07:08
Alan,

Yes I preheat the oven a bit but not for too long.
I also use a trivet under the roll or leg of meat.

Bill.

Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 662381

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009 at 07:18

Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009 at 07:18
Another thought Alan.

With the Hillbilly gas burner, fully clockwise is the full on position.
Light the burner with the air intake closed, then open the air intake until the flame burns blue.

Once lit, turn the control knob anti-clockwise to the centre position.

The recommendation for roasting and baking is to allow the oven to pre-heat for about 15 mins before placing meat inside it, but I just heat the oven while I prepare the meat, removing it from the fridge or vacuum pack, baste it with whatever and drop it in.

Bill.
Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 662385

Sponsored Links