An alternative to fitted ovens

Squibby

Guest
Hi all,

Just though someone may be after an alternative to a fitted oven if like me you are doing your own conversion. I have been converted from camping in a tent to my self build motorhome, to save some money on the build I have been using as much of my already aquired equipment from the tenting times.

For Years I have been using a Cobb barbeque which has been the bee's knees, I sware by it, unlike most things you see on the web this rearly works briliantly. I origianly went for the standard option which came with a plastic base, but due to and accident( yes I droped it while washing it, stupid but it happens ), I have now upgraded to the stainless base( not to supid though because I learnt from my accident ) and this is the option I would advise, the roasting rack is an absolute must in my opinoin.

Burns about 6 charcoal brickettes, I've not managed to get it to run out before the food has been cooked.

You can cook everything from pizza to a full chicken big enough for six people I even do the fraybentos tinned pies in mine( requires some extra work with tinfoil as a heat deflector to stop the bottom burning though.

You can even cook the veg in the lower portion at the same time and my kids love corn on the cob and jacket spuds done this way.

It comes with a storage bag that I you can fit most things you need for a meal alfresco fuel fire lighters plates and your eating irons into.
Just pick a spot set down your car rug and get the thing lit, it's not the fastest way to cook but it works and the food is great.

You can check them out at cobb-bbq.co.uk, and watch the video. I think you will be impressed, word to the wise though shop around and you can get yourself a good deal on the price.

Squibby.
 
We also have a Cobb, brilliant piece of kit :banana:
Regards Stephen.
 
I've had mine for that long, it has proberly paid for it's self in the savings just by not having a fitted gas oven, I tend to go through about half a bag of charcoal brickets a year so that's about £2.00 for the fuel, How much is a bottle of gas nowerdays? Also if you have a well ventilated covered area you can set it going on a cold night and once the firelighters are out and the coals are going pop the lid back on and it makes an effective heater.

You just need to get past the purchase price and it won't take long to start reaping the benifits.

Squibby.
 
I'm sure when I looked at this, it said you had to use their fuel. Are we talking about the same thing? (I'm remote and naff internet so not easy to search).

If it can use normal charcoal then it becomes viable...
 
Yeah I have seen these on the web site and was going to get some then seen the price. I'm not paying that ( I'm quite tight with the money just ask my kids. ) for a lump of charcoal. when I got my Cobb they advertised that it uses three to six bricketts, depending on cooking time required and tempreture required, they didn't do the cobb fuel cake thing they make now.

Just stick to the bricketts and save yourself some money, thats what I say.

As long as you only use solid fire lighters, due to the design for air flow if you use a liquid fire lighter you could have a bigger fire than planned, yes I have had to use liquid fuel to get the thing going but here is the trick to it.

Slowly soak two of the bricketts so that you don't get any fuel run off and through the air vents. ( I only do this if I have no choice I never tip liquid fuel into the Cobb its self as the result is not what is required. Burnt grass/table.

Squibby.
 
Hiya, our new motorhome has no oven and we've been wondering whether to bite the bullet and have one fitted. We always take our portable gas BBQ away with us and have just really used it for the first time, so am wondering whether something like the Cobb could be worth looking at. Bit confused though as some of the pictures on Amazon of the Cobb give the impression they have had it on an inside table whilst cooking ... ????
 
Fitted oven/grill not needed unless one insists on the 3 course Sunday roasts every week. Then it may worthwhile!

Otherwise a grill pan and Dutch oven are very effective. Even a heavy frypan with a lid is good. I also have a mini 240V electric oven and grill for use when on the grid. They only cost about £30.
 
Squibby said:
For Years I have been using a Cobb barbeque which has been the bee's knees
Click to expand...
I think in the media a few days ago a family were overcome, carbon monoxide, in their tent using a barbeque, they were keeping out the rain!
 
Firefox said:
Fitted oven/grill not needed unless one insists on the 3 course Sunday roasts every week. Then it may worthwhile!

Otherwise a grill pan and Dutch oven are very effective. Even a heavy frypan with a lid is good. I also have a mini 240V electric oven and grill for use when on the grid. They only cost about £30.
Click to expand...

Yup I have gone over 3 years full timing, without an oven. Alas I missed the Yorkshire Puddings and I bought a Valberg portable electric oven for 58 euros back in June

I reckon I have already got my money back.

Naturally, as much use as a chocolate fireguard when I am back wilding.

Channa
 
we too have a cobb-still with it's plastic base! can't see how you could met it?

Brill bit of kit.

Got ours secondhand on ebay
 
I have one too, and it is OK, but I am less enthusiastic, but maybe I am doing it wrong.

I have fire it up at various times with briquettes and with Cobb stones.

The Cobb stones are harder to light than claimed...it takets me a minute or so to get it going using a pencil gas lighter...but it is ready to use much quicker, burns hot and long, is less messy than briquettes. They also cost about £1 each (I thought I would try them, but I shan't buy any more). If anything, they perhaps burn a bit too hot.

Charcoal briquettes are much more messy to, but much much cheaper. It takes much longer before the fire is ready and the firelighter is fully burned through. The fire is less hot, to the extent that I have sometimes found chicken undercooked.

Plus points are that you shouldn't get flareups and it is easily moveable even when lit. I have used it in my well ventilated kitchen at home, but one needs to be careful of carbon monoxide, which is insidious.

Minus points...adding water to the donut (so you can boil vegs) sometimes (frequently in my case) results in spillage as it sizzles, the spillage going on to the table on which the Cobb is sitting. I have never mastered the art of achieving cook vegs at the same time as the meat is ready. The bag is one of those things that it only just big to take the Cobb, meaning that I have to fiddle around with it, sliding it on like a, well like a condom, instead of just being able to throw it in the bag. Getting it out of the bag is only slightly easier.

For me, it is a great idea that, for a hap'orth of tar, lets itself down.

Would I recommend it? On my own experiences, probably not, because I could use other cheaper kettle BBQs more cheaply...true they would use more fuel. But I know, not only from the comments here, that most users think that it is terrific and I wouldn't want to put people off if a Cobb is going to suit their needs.


Polly
 
Although we have a gas oven we frequently use a Double skillet, or a Remoska if we're on hookup. We have a selection of Dutch ovens which bizzarely we took canoe camping, but they're too heavy for the van...
 
WOW..... not seen these before but would certainly think about getting one. :)
 
Never could see the need for an oven or BBQs. Just seems to take up a lot of storage space. If you have a van with a garage then maybe but we are van conversion so space is limited. Wife keeps putting food in the fridge so I am always looking for room for the beer.

Richard
 
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