Community Forums

Larryg17 · 06-02-2016, 11:32 AM

Hi, we have never used a convection oven before do you need special cook ware, like microwave safe, or can you use metal pans? Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Larryg17

MSHappyCampers · 06-02-2016, 11:35 AM

No, you don't need special cookware for a convection oven.

Dutch Star Don · 06-02-2016, 12:00 PM

Most people are often scared by the thought of using a convection oven, including me. So, I just started using it and it works really well. It's just like a regular oven when it comes to using cooking utensils like metal or glass pans. Most come with racks to get the food off of the turntable and the air circulating under it.

When I started experimenting, I found that if I waited for ours to preheat, it took almost 30 minutes which really didn't make it a quicker way to cook. So when I cook now, I just throw the food in at a little higher temp than I normally would and set the time. I use the racks for cooking meat and use those new grill mats you see being sold at RV shows under the meat. I just cut the mat to fit the rack. I've been getting juicier chicken, steak and pork chops by doing this.

I now cook almost all the meat we eat in the convention oven. It comes out better than I can do on my BBQ with less hassle.

When it comes to pastries, like cookies, I cook them the same as I do at home, again without preheating. I set the timer for a couple of minutes longer and just keep an eye on them. I've been writing down times and temps for the various foods we cook often. Something like pork chops, I cook at 400 for 35 minutes and they come out perfect.

twogypsies · 06-02-2016, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

...... like pork chops, I cook at 400 for 35 minutes and they come out perfect.

I wonder how many pork chop meals will be cooked tonight.

We also love the convection oven. It's so much better than a regular RV oven. OP: If your oven didn't come with a book just Google and you'll find lots of information and recipes.

Enjoy it!

MSHappyCampers · 06-02-2016, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Most people are often scared by the thought of using a convection oven, including me. So, I just started using it and it works really well. It's just like a regular oven when it comes to using cooking utensils like metal or glass pans. Most come with racks to get the food off of the turntable and the air circulating under it.

When I started experimenting, I found that if I waited for ours to preheat, it took almost 30 minutes which really didn't make it a quicker way to cook. So when I cook now, I just throw the food in at a little higher temp than I normally would and set the time. I use the racks for cooking meat and use those new grill mats you see being sold at RV shows under the meat. I just cut the mat to fit the rack. I've been getting juicier chicken, steak and pork chops by doing this.

I now cook almost all the meat we eat in the convention oven. It comes out better than I can do on my BBQ with less hassle.

When it comes to pastries, like cookies, I cook them the same as I do at home, again without preheating. I set the timer for a couple of minutes longer and just keep an eye on them. I've been writing down times and temps for the various foods we cook often. Something like pork chops, I cook at 400 for 35 minutes and they come out perfect.

Don, can you give us a link to those?

Dutch Star Don · 06-02-2016, 03:15 PM

Joe.....Everyone sells them, including Bed, Bath and Beyond. They're usually 2 for $15 - $20 at the RV shows. Here they are on Amazon.. Amazon.com: BBQ Grill Mats Set of 3 Non Stick BBQ Grill Mats by Magic Grill for Baking or Charcoal Gas or Electric Grills Reusable Dishwasher Safe: Kitchen & Dining

If you haven't used them, they work great. One of the few gadgets you buy at RV shows that work. I have one on my home BBQ and cook everything on it. When done, throw it in the sink and wash it off. When at home I get lazy. When I'm done using it on the BBQ, I just leave it there. Next time I cook I just turn it over and use the other side. Anything that baked on falls off.

My convection oven has two round racks, a high and a low. I took the grill mats and cut them into a circle, just a little bigger than the round racks. This keeps the juices on the mat, instead of spilling onto the turntable. They're not damaged by the high heat of the convection and the only warning is to avoid direct flame impingement. The flames on my BBQ have never been an issue.

emuller1 · 06-02-2016, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

I use the racks for cooking meat and use those new grill mats you see being sold at RV shows under the meat. I just cut the mat to fit the rack. I've been getting juicier chicken, steak and pork chops by doing this.

I now cook almost all the meat we eat in the convention oven. It comes out better than I can do on my BBQ with less hassle.

.

Hate to be a stick in the mud but if cooking in a oven comes out better the a BQ then their is something wrong with you BQ abilities. As for the grill just another example of poor BQ skills, might as well use a frying pan.

Having the dripping from your meat hit the fire and smoke rising to the meat adds taste/flavour, especially slow BQ cooking. Taking that away with a pan is no different than cooking on stove top.

As for 400 F for 35 minutes makes wonderful pork chops, yes if they are well over an inch in thickness. Meat is not meant to be over and flashed cook. Always remember the animal was already killed.

The skill to cooking any meat is a quick browning followed by slow and gentle to allow the juices to marinate within and BQing is the best way to achieve.

CampDaven · 06-02-2016, 04:11 PM

What keeps the grease from the grill mats from drooling in the oven?

Dave and Nola, RV Mutants

voyaginator · 06-02-2016, 05:30 PM

Which convection oven would you recommend for RV ?

rambler62 · 06-02-2016, 06:21 PM

Hey Guys!! A convection Oven is the same as a regular oven but blows hot air around to cook a little faster. What ever you used in your regular oven will work in the convection. Believe me I owned a bar and restaurant for years.

docj · 06-02-2016, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voyaginator

Which convection oven would you recommend for RV ?

We replaced the OEM oven which was a Sharp with a GE Profile which we have been very pleased with. It has several advantages relative to our previous oven. The key feature that sold my wife on the oven is that it comes with two metal racks that fit into permanently mounted hooks so you could actually cook dishes on three separate levels (on the turntable and on each of the two racks). Although we normally don't pack it that full, we often cook two different dishes on the two racks. In addition, the interior of the oven is entirely stainless steel which makes for easy cleanup. I'm sure that there are other ovens that also do a good job, but we like this one.

twogypsies · 06-02-2016, 07:05 PM

We also had the GE Profile in our motorhome....easy cleaning and loved the dual metal racks. Got ours at Home Depot...not cheap.

baraff · 06-02-2016, 07:13 PM

Love our convection oven in the 'bago. Does a great job on just about everything, although it might be a bit of a learning curve.

Dutch Star Don · 06-02-2016, 08:02 PM

The grill mat is not porous, so no dripping. I've been BBQing for years. I can cook a ribeye in the convection using the grill mat and it will be juicier than one done on a BBQ. Yes, the juices drip off and causes smoke, while with the grill mat, the juices stay with the meat and don't dry out.

"emuller1".....Thanks for taking the time to criticize my suggestion, when the point of the post was getting people to be comfortable with using their convection. I'm sure you're a great BBQer, but when on the road, I don't want to spend hours cooking. You cook one way, but Ruth Chris would object to how you cook your meat. There are many ways to do it and it all depends on how much time you want to spend doing it. Many will bring a truck load of BBQ gear to a campground and spend a week there cooking out every night. As we got older and the kids quit going, our camping changed. On a two week trip, we eat out at east 5-6 days sampling the local cuisine. We stay away from red meat and only have it on a rare occasion, so bringing along a ton of gear or spending hours setting up and cleaning BBQ gear is not what we like to do .

About the only things I still do on a BBQ (when camping) are large tri tips and occasionally a prime rib on a Weber. As a matter of fact, I plan on removing the BBQ and propane tank from the motor home since we haven't used it in a couple of years. Just the way we camp. We still like BBQing at home, but it's built in and not an issue.