Adding an oven?

[traveltime3]

Having never used a convection oven/micro combo, I am a bit apprehensive...also, I don’t have the oven rack (I am sure I can find one ). I love to make cornbread and biscuits with my cast iron, so I was wondering if it is possible to add an oven since there is a gas stove top. Any thoughts or suggestions? TIA

[Unplanned Tourist]

My wife was disappointed that our latest rig doesn't have an oven. I bought a Coleman portable oven/cooktop, now we get fresh scratch built pizza, baking, etc!
We have micro/convection combo that works pretty good, but we boondock a fair bit and don't always feel like running the genset.
Happy Glamping

[Captjake1]

My wife uses our convection microwave as an oven all the time. Works fine. She has baked in it also.
That said, she now has one of those higher end sure fryer ovens that she uses a lot.

[Ivylog]

I recently went the other way...removed a combo oven/cooktop and replaced with a removable 2 burner induction cooktop. Once you have an induction you will get rid of the stovetop. OH wait, you definitely need to put in a oven/cooktop as I have one for sale.

PS: I’m in northern GA...$100.

[Unplanned Tourist]

Traveltime, there ya go! $100.00 and a bit of remodeling, easy.

Happy Glamping.

[hardy1000]

Originally Posted by traveltime3

Having never used a convection oven/micro combo, I am a bit apprehensive...also, I don’t have the oven rack (I am sure I can find one ). I love to make cornbread and biscuits with my cast iron, so I was wondering if it is possible to add an oven since there is a gas stove top. Any thoughts or suggestions? TIA

We are wintering in Arizona and and my wife spent the holidays baking cookies and cinnamon rolls in our Sharp Convection oven. She is very happy with the way it bakes and I love the finished products.

[Sweetbriar]

Easy add. You'll loose the two drawers under the current cook top but beyond that very little cabinet work is required. I word of warning, a RV propane oven is very difficult to use. Considering the burner to rack location I haven't had any luck getting even heat distribution.

My winter project is removing the propane combo and reworking the cabinet/counter top. Twice the level of effort. BTW I'm in southeastern VA and the oven/cook top can be yours for $89.99.

[scouserl41]

Our first rig came with a regular oven and a convection/microwave. The original owner had insisted she wanted it that way. When we bought it she said having the regular oven added was the worst decision she made as she only used it for storing pots and pans!!

My DW likes to cook and bake and was scared of the convection oven. Once she used it a couple of times all the regular oven was used for was storage!!

IMHO they are a waste of space. They are too small to do any serious baking and the heat is very uneven.

Our "New" rig doesn't have an oven but 3 lovely storage drawers. It was a major selling point for us.

BnB

[BCam]

We had an oven in two travel trailers (10 years, total) before getting our current class A that doesn't have an oven. It has a microwave/convection oven but we haven't used the convection function much yet.

For the most part our LPG oven was rarely used and, for the most part, we also used it to store our pots and pans. If you do get one, buy a small pizza stone for the bottom to help eliminate the hot spot from the burner. And definitely get an oven thermometer.

A lot will depend on your cooking habits. For the most part, we don't bake while RV'g and if we're going to cook meat, it's going on the BBQ, not in the oven.

My recommendation is to figure out the convection oven function of your microwave and determine if it works for you or not before changing out to an LPG oven. Like anything, there's going to be a learning curve so give it time and spend some time Googling for tips.

[Captjake1]

My wife just baked a cake last night in our Sharp convection microwave. Turned out perfect.
I know that never would have happened in any of our previous rigs with a 'conventional' propane oven. The heat is way too uneven and unpredictable.

[Bill767]

We've been full timing for over 14 years and hardly a day goes by that we don't use our convection oven to bake, roast, etc. Baking a cake to making a pot roast, it does just fine. The timing is a little different from a conventional oven, but we've found it works great. We wouldn't give up 2 drawers worth of storage for an oven.

[Bubba1]

We ordered our rig without a gas oven, but with the convection/microwave oven. We regularly make biscuits, cornbread and cookies with our convection oven. We use an 8" cast iron skillet in the convection oven to make the cornbread. We also use the skillet to brown meats, like chicken or porkchops, then finish baking the dish in the convection oven. Works great with no problems. There is a very short learning curve for the convection side of the oven. One of the really neat the cooking options with the convection microwave is the mix bake option. It uses the microwave and the convection oven both to back.
Since we've learned to use the convection oven in the MH, we haven't used the wall oven in the S&B anymore. We had purchased a convection microwave for the S&B that we use exclusively and use the wall oven for storage now!


Mike H

[docj]

Originally Posted by Captjake1

My wife uses our convection microwave as an oven all the time. Works fine. She has baked in it also.

I'm not sure what all the fear is about a convection oven. They've been pretty common in homes for many years. They cook just like a "conventional" oven only a little faster. Some people suggest cooking at a 25 degree lower temperature than you are used to in order to offset the faster cooking time. Or just get used to the fact that some of your recipes will cook in less time!

BTW the only significance to the term "convection" oven is that the heat is delivered to the oven by a stream of hot air rather than by direct exposure to a heat source.

[traveltime3]

Well, a late Christmas present was actually a counter top convection/ toaster oven. I have been playing with it in the house and think I will be ok with the convection/ microwave in the MH. Thanks for all the thoughts and experiences on the matter!