How To Light A Camper Oven

If there’s anything I’d recommend adding to your camper for convenience and ease it would 100% be an oven. It makes mealtime so much easier and can save you quite a lot of money in the long run since you won’t be eating out all the time.

The only issue you may come across is that they aren’t always the easiest to hook up and light if you aren’t quite sure what you are doing.

But that’s what I am here for. In this comprehensive camper oven guide, I’ll walk you through everything that you’ll need to know so that you can get that oven on and those bellies filled in no time at all.

How Do Camper Ovens Work

They work pretty much exactly the same as the oven in your kitchen does! The ovens contain a heating element that will be activated once you turn it on. The built-in thermostat will then control the temperature of the oven.

The only real difference between your oven at home and the one in your camper is how they are powered. At home, we all have main supplies that’ll connect to our oven via wires. Of course, it’s not quite the same in a camper. Instead, you’ll have inverters that convert DC voltage into AC current for any of your appliances.

There are a few different types of inverters but typically they will be modified sine wave versions. However, if you have the cash to splash you can opt for more expensive powering options such as the pure sine wave power inverter.

Regardless of your chosen power source though, the most common problem you’ll come up against is ensuring that the thermostat isn’t left on too high for an overly long amount of time.

Are Special Tools Needed?

In most cases, no, you won’t need any additional tools. This is because most ovens have similar threading as you’ll find on most household appliances. If this is the case, you’ll be able to attach the connection to any standard propane tank.

The only real exception to this is your oven orifices and knobs. These will be attached to your propane tank directly and so they will need to be specifically designed for a cooking appliance.

Luckily, these really aren’t hard to find. Any hardware store should sell them and if not you’ll definitely be able to find them on websites such as Amazon or eBay.

Step-By-Step Guide To Lighting A Camper Oven – Stove

Typically, most camper stoves will have a knob and button feature that is super easy to light.

Turn your burner knob into the ignite position
Press in and press the ignition button (or turn the spark knob)
Listen for the clicking noise, and once the flame appears release both the knob and button
Use the knob to adjust the flame as desired.

Tip: While these cooktops are designed with safety in mind, I would always recommend installing a propane detector and fire alarm in case any issues arise.

Step-By-Step Guide To Lighting A Camper Oven – Pilot Light

This will be very similar to lighting your stove, the only main difference is that you will need to ignite the pilot light in your oven. Follow the steps below to do so.

Turn your oven knob to the pilot light position
Open your oven door
Use a lighter and ignite the pilot light – you will find this at the bottom of the back of your oven.
Once lit, you can use your oven knob to set the temperature.

Tips For Camper Oven Cooking

Have An Oven Thermometer

As I mentioned earlier, the main issue you can run into is the oven running at either two high or low a temperature. Neither is ideal. Having an oven thermometer means that you can keep an eye on the temperature and regulate it using your knob as needed.

Pizza Stones Are Great For Heat Distribution

I sometimes find that while camper ovens will produce the heat that is required, they don’t always distribute the heat evenly. This isn’t great when part of your food is burnt and the other side is still raw.

I find that using a pizza stone is a great solution to this problem. The stone may crack somewhat but don’t worry because it’ll still do the job at hand.

Rotate Your Pan

While these ovens work pretty similar to the ones you have at home, they don’t tend to work as well. Which, to be honest, is to be expected. Another way to tackle the issue of uneven heat distribution is to rotate your pan a couple of times while it’s cooking to make sure your food is cooked through fully.

Keep Checking Your Food

Now, this is something you do need to do, but do so sparingly. This is because each time you open that door, you’ll lose quite a bit of heat. However, you don’t want to go about your business until it’s time for the food to come out.

Since the heat doesn’t distribute evenly and the temperature can fluctuate you’ll need to keep an eye on your food to ensure it isn’t burning in certain areas. I would advise keeping that oven window as clean as possible so you can keep peaking at your food without having to open the door all the time.

Final Thoughts

You’ll definitely appreciate having a camper oven in your RV on your next trip. They provide you with so many more cooking options and can save you a good buck or two too. Before we had ours, we’d always say oh let’s just eat out. And there goes half your budget!

They can be a little temperamental in terms of heat distribution, so you’ll definitely want to make note of those cooking tips and tricks you’ve learned about. But as you can see, lighting your stove and oven really isn’t all that difficult provided you follow the steps outlined in this article.