BEMCO Backpacker's oven

[ninjapuppet]

One of my favourite past times aside from camping, is baking cakes. I just received my Bemco Backpacker’s oven in the mail, and opened it up to find exactly what i expected it to be! Its a cottage Industry product, and I fully support these guys. Delivered in about 5 days from the US. Total all up was around $114 AUD given our crap exchange rate. If i had gotten it last month, it would have only been $98 AUD delivered.

Weights
Complete oven.....665
2 velcro straps: ....13g
Smaller tray: .......114
Smaller tray: .........96
Thermometer: ......31
Pot gripper: ...........37
Storage pouch .......51
---------------------
TOTAL ...............1007g



Just got home from work, Too tired to whip up one of my nice recipes, so i just used an instant scone mix available from any woollies. To replicate what its like in the mountains, i used powdered milk instead of fresh milk, some choc chips, and abit of caramel powder. The mixture to make 7 sconnes was about 400 grams (1/2 pkt). This is NOT lightweight but hey, having freshly baked foods on a week long camp? Total weight is 1kg , so shared among a few people, it aint bad at all.
Results: simply stunning!

To make 7 scones, I only used half a packet + 120mL water + 17g of milk powder + handful of choc chips. It didn’t matter that I hand mixed it instead of using an electric beater. Instructions said to cook for 12-15 mins, but I baked it for 23 minutes, keeping it at 220 degrees. I lined trays with baking paper and guess what? NO CLEANING UP !





NOVA was found to be better than the NOVA+





I used this to speed things up abit



CLEAN FINISH!

[ninjapuppet]

alcohol stoves...took too long to get 220 degrees and couldn’t control the flame

MSR XGK – NO WAY, this thing would probally melt my oven even on the lowest setting.

Screw on gas stoves: i didn’t have the adaptor because the canister cant be stored under the oven or it’ll blow up the gas cylinder. However, because of having to cook for 20+ minutes, i think it’ll be abit expensive using canisters all the time like this. I think white gas is the way to go.

OPTIMUS NOVA/ NOVA +
I have both, and can clearly say, the cheaper optimus is the way to go. The optimus + is too hard to control with its distal valve. When you turn it, the whole stove moves which is NOT what we want while the flame is on.

So my recommendation is to use the ordinary Nova. Whenever i opened the oven, temp would drop about 40 degrees, and it was very quick and easy to blast it up to 220 in a jiffy, and tone it down to keep it at 220.

[ninjapuppet]

Compared to the Backpacker Pantry’s Outback oven

At first, i got confused with the name because they both had the word backpacker oven in the name.
The Outback oven, is abit lighter, cheaper and quicker, but Brian from Bemco explained to me that differences are:

- Outback oven uses your own pot. All my pot are expensive titanium or have non-stick surfaces so i think it’ll get damaged from being over heated if i bake like that.
-Outback oven doesn’t fold up like the Bemco
- Bemco has 2 racks, so i can bake 2 things at once. Being so heavy at 1kg, its likely to be a shared cooking device, so me and my mates don’t have to fight for the first cake.
- this point did it for me: with the outback oven, you have to live the cover to check, and this looses all the trapped heat. With the bemco, i just open the lid, and close it without loosing all the heat.
- It has an opening on top. If you want to heat water, just leave a pot on top and bubbles start forming at the 15 minute mark. It didn’t get hot enough to boil at the 20 minute mark, but definitely warm enough for a cup of coffee or instant soup.

[flatfoot]

Interesting setup! Looks like you get a nice crispy & brown result!

I think I will try your chocolate-chip scones recipe.

[ninjapuppet]

I just managed to save 231 grams simply
- by changing the ditty bag to a $8 cuben fibre bag
- loose the pot gripper and just use a sock or something to grab
- use only 1 velcro strap instead of 2
- use 2x lightweight bake tins 57 grams, instead of the 2 supplied pans.
- I think thermometer will have to stay till i find something lighter. cant bear to stick my protrek watch in the oven just yet.

total new weight: 776

--> i have a full functional oven and saved 1/4 the weight.
Now If only they can build an oven made of that metal from the planet in the Avatar movie ...funnily called "unobtanium"

[rucksack]

Very interesting ninjapuppet. I have often thought about a bushwalking equivalent to a camp oven, but one that ran on gas or Shellite, as your BEMCO obviously does. I have sometimes carried a small cast iron camp oven when I have been on long desert canoe tours and I have thought that a lightweight bushwalking version would be a winner. Have you tried cooking anything else in it yet, such as bread, or damper? Biscuits? When I have been canoe touring and someone has conjured a hot loaf of bread or a rack of hot scones out of a camp oven, it has certainly impressed all and sundry. I wonder if those bread mixes would work.

rucksack

[Stuntman]

I have the slightly bigger 8" version and its a great bit of kit for car and kayak camping. I use mine with an edelrid opilio or the coleman 2burner when car camping and find it works pretty good for pizza, anzac bikkies, etc, etc.

There are other stove options out there, but I reckon this one is a beauty for its versatility, packed size and weight. It certainly adds a lot of extra options when doing extended car camping trips.

cheers, Shawn

[ULWalkingPhil]

I have the 7" kit on its way to me, should be here in a week. I am looking forward to do some baking on some of my hikes.

[ULWalkingPhil]

My oven arrived today.

First batch of muffins, christened to hell. LOL ROFLMAO
400F for 15 minutes, turned them into charcoal. I was wondering why there was a lot of smoke.

2nd batch: 15 minutes 325F. Perfect. Could not be any better.

Photos will follow soon, I have so many new toys to play with right now to worry about images. LOL

[ULWalkingPhil]

That was a lot of fun, baking on my brand new Bemco Oven. Once you get it sorted out, it works great.

I don't know if the supplied temp gauge is faulty or not, but at 400F everything cremates.

Around 300F on the temp gauge and it cooks perfectly. Here's some images from my first baking attempt with the Oven.

The first image is the first batch of muffins.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Once I sorted out the temps and timings, the results follow.

[ULWalkingPhil]

The PackaFeather XL stove works a treat with this Oven.

With 2 ounces of Metho. I achieved 300F in less than 3 minutes on maximum on the stove. Once 300-325F is achieved, turn the stove down to a simmer and it maintains that temp till the fuel is exhausted, which is 35 minutes. I can bake for over 30 minutes with only 2 ounces of metho fuel.

[Bluegum Mic]

Nice setup Phil. Looks like they work a treat together

[nq111]

So many talents on this forum - i had no idea

[ULWalkingPhil]

The Oven is professionally made, I can't see anything out of place on this. Today, I used packet mix I saw at Woolworths on special for apx $2.50.
"Betty Crocker" Mixed Berry Muffins. Just add three quarters cup of water and one egg. Makes it possible to take on hikes, The egg can be substituted for egg powder. Betty Crocker also make a Blue Berry Muffin, It's a lot better than the Mixed Berry Muffins. They where all out of the Blue Berry Muffins. I purchased some last week.

Instructions on the packet says to bake in oven at 400F for 15-20 minutes.
I set the Bemco oven to 400F according to the gauge, Baked for 15 minutes and you saw the results in the first image I posted above for today.
The next couple of batches 300-325 for 15 minutes and the muffins cooked perfectly. I don't know if the supplied temp gauge is out or not. But that was strange.

The Silicone Cupcake moulds I purchased today at Big W. 10 in a pack. they work great in the oven. Temp range -40 to 250 C. Has non-stick properties.
The silicone moulds could be used in place of the heavier supplied pans to save weight.

I'm very happy with my purchases. Going to try a pizza, one day this week.

[Nuts]

What does that big screw/band thingo on the stove do? (we had a bemco oven but the couple of times I took it everyone was too stuffed by the end of the day to bother) The muffs look nice. I think you need some conversion tables (ie hike=bushwalk, F*=C*, Oz=G's, that sort of thing)?

[ULWalkingPhil]

What does that big screw/band thingo on the stove do? (we had a bemco oven but the couple of times I took it everyone was too stuffed by the end of the day to bother) The muffs look nice. I think you need some conversion tables (ie hike=bushwalk, F*=C*, Oz=G's, that sort of thing)?

On the PackaFeather XL stove, thats the simmer ring, by restricting the air into the stove, the stove will simmer.
There are a series of hole drilled into the stove under that simmer band, by screwing the band tight you can close off those air intakes. It does a very good job.

In the short time I've used this stove today, I can say this is going to be my most popular stove I will use from now on.

I been watching a lot of US videos of late, with there imperial.

[Bluegum Mic]

Its a very versatile metho stove isn't it. I just can't fault it and when the day comes that I kill mine I'll replace it with another. Its an amazing little burner. I use mine in my caldera cone too

[Onestepmore]

Phil, great idea to use the reuseable silicone muffin moulds. For pizza you might be able to cut down a silicon baking mat to fit . I got some from e-bay for only a couple of dollars (but the free post from whereever took a few weeks), Better than paying the silly prices here in Big W etc for the merangue or plain mats.
This Bemco oven looks great fun!
I recently got a 8" FryBake pan with the lightweight lid - you can have it on a fire and place coals on top. Also a 6" UL Bakepacker, which is a grid type of trivet you place in the bottom of your normal cookpot. It creates micro convection heat cells underneath an oven bag to bake stuff. Cakes mould to the shape of the pot in the bag. I don't see why I couldn't put an aluminium foil pan in the bag for a more solid base. You put a little water in the bottom of your pan, so that solves the problem of not wrecking pots by having a heat source under them dry. More experimentation needed. Happy days.

[Nuts]

BBQ liner as pizza tray? (maybe..?) It would be Ultralight. Iv'e been using it as a stove base for caldera, trying some for canister stoves:

[Onestepmore]

Lol I just ordered one of these. Thanks for the heads up

Found some more baking recipes too (for use with alcohol stoves) http://trailquest.net/baking.html

[ULWalkingPhil]

Lol I just ordered one of these. Thanks for the heads up

Found some more baking recipes too (for use with alcohol stoves) http://trailquest.net/baking.html

Yes, I have heard. I was also told it left in the post today for you, just been speaking to Brian, I wanted to clarify a few things with him, and he mentioned you had ordered one, after I said that someone I know has just ordered one of the stoves, after seeing the images. .

Extra pans, hey? and a thermometer. 7" ?

[ULWalkingPhil]

BBQ liner as pizza tray? (maybe..?) It would be Ultralight. Iv'e been using it as a stove base for caldera, trying some for canister stoves:

IMG_0136.jpg

I might have to try something like that, I think I can do away with the pans supplied on some of my longer distance hikes. Overnight hikes or car based camping the pans will be fine.

[Onestepmore]

Lol I just ordered one of these. Thanks for the heads up

Found some more baking recipes too (for use with alcohol stoves) http://trailquest.net/baking.html

Yes, I have heard. I was also told it left in the post today for you, just been speaking to Brian, I wanted to clarify a few things with him, and he mentioned you had ordered one, after I said that someone I know has just ordered one of the stoves, after seeing the images. .

Extra pans, hey? and a thermometer. 7" ?

Haha no secrets here.
Next thing, you'll know my bra size

[ULWalkingPhil]

Lol I just ordered one of these. Thanks for the heads up

Found some more baking recipes too (for use with alcohol stoves) http://trailquest.net/baking.html

Yes, I have heard. I was also told it left in the post today for you, just been speaking to Brian, I wanted to clarify a few things with him, and he mentioned you had ordered one, after I said that someone I know has just ordered one of the stoves, after seeing the images. .

Extra pans, hey? and a thermometer. 7" ?

Haha no secrets here.
Next thing, you'll know my bra size

That I dont know.

Dont place the oven on any thing that can burn, like timber as I did. Theres a nice brown patch on the block of timber I was using.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Today I put the Oven to the test again.

Had some excellent results. Let's just say, me and my mum had a very enjoyable lunch today.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=12790&p=169160#p169160

[ULWalkingPhil]

The Gas stove I was using under my Oven started to leak gas out of the flame adjuster on my Kovea Supalite Titanium gas cooker yesterday.
I am using one of these I purchased of Ebay a couple weeks ago. I know it's compatible with the Oven, It's recommended by the Oven manufacturer, but It don't look like the Kovea stove is compatible, unless there's an issue with it not related to the heat from the oven.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Baked 4 more pizzas today. Using my Bemco Oven and the PackaFeather XL stove. Taken 120ml of Metho with me.

This time I wanted to test this setup in real world environment, there was a bit of wind around, but not a great deal.

With 5 minutes to go for the first batch of two pizzas, i went outside to check on the pizzas, the temp of my oven was down to 100F and the stove was out of fuel, at home in a controlled environment I was able to achievement a burn time of 35 minutes using 60ml of metho, today I ran out of fuel within 20 minutes. I added a further 30ml of metho to the stove and finished cooking my pizzas again I ran out of fuel before I achieved this, this time I wanted to make sure I had enough fuel, so I used up the rest of the fuel I had left. The oven takes apx 3 minutes to reach cooking temps, so each time I ran out of fuel I used up 3 minutes worth of fuel to achieve the cooking temp.

I have learnt a lot today, I did use a wind shield, but I'm thinking it might be a bit to low, I've got another one at home that is higher.

The PackaFeather XL is a great little stove for use on the Bemco Oven, but if theres any wind about carry plenty of fuel or look for a location with very little wind.

The last two pizzas I had to cook in my sisters oven as I had run out of fuel.

The pizzas turned out great,

[photohiker]

Wind kills the temps in an oven. We have a gas pizza oven out on the deck. On a quiet day, it really cranks out the pizzas, but if it's windy it struggles to keep up.

Perhaps one of those stake and windbarrier windbreaks:



Should be easy to make in the right size.

[ULWalkingPhil]

The oven achieved the temps required to bake the pizza's 400F with the PackaFeather XL in the wind and a 4 inch high wind break, but I had to turn the PackaFeather XL Stove simmer control on maximum burn to maintain that temp, whereby in a no wind condition, I've been able to maintain 400F at a very slow simmer.

This is probably to be expected, I did not account for this today, I should have carried extra fuel with me. I thought I had more than enough. Next time I will try a 6 inch high windscreen to see if this helps.

The results where still excellent.