There are two styles of camp oven available on the market. They are the dome lid and the lip lid. With a dome lid the coals must be brushed off before the lid is removed. With a lip lid the lid can be taken off while the coals are still on it.
PREPARATION FOR USE (SEASONING)
To prepare your camp oven for use, heat your kitchen oven. While the oven is warming, thoroughly wash your camp oven inside and out with hot soapy water. Dry your camp oven and place it inside your oven, complete with the lid. Heat the camp oven until it is almost too hot to handle. Remove the camp oven from your oven and place some cooking oil inside the oven and wipe it around inside and out with a paper towel. Ensure you cover the entire oven with a coating of oil to help prevent rust. Your oven is now ready for use.
COOKING.
Place a coating of oil or fat on the inside of the oven, then commence to heat your oven for two or three minutes. Food can then be placed in the oven. Cast iron distributes heat quickly and evenly, so place in the coolest part of the fire. The golden rule with camp oven cooking is to cook slow and steady.
The best way to place your camp oven for cooking, is to dig a small hole about 15cm deep and about twice the diameter of the oven a couple of meters from the fire. Then take a shovel full of coals from the fire and spread evenly in the base of the hole. Place the oven top of the coals and place another shovel full of coals on the top of ovens lid, and around the oven. You will learn from experience how much coals you will need. So initially use much less than you think you will need so that you can work up to the correct amount of coal, rather than turning your meal into charcoal the first time.
STORING ON THE CAMP OVEN.
To store your camp oven, clean as described above ensuring a coating of oil, or unsalted shortening, and place in a dry warm place with a cover on it. Remember, cast iron is brittle and can crack easy, so take care when packing your camp oven for your trip. Try to keep it padded to avoid it from bouncing around. Invert the lid a place some padding between it, such as foam or cloth. This will help to ensure your camp oven gives you many years of use.
AFTER USE.
Try to clean your camp oven by wiping with a cloth. If it needs to be washed the oven will need to be re – seasoned as instructed above.