DIY Portable Backpacking Oven

For trail foodie as I am, the portable backpacking oven is not a luxury, it’s an absolutely must-have device. In addition to pies and breads I can make in it almost anything that can be prepared at home. By the way, it’s not necessary to buy special devices for baking on the trail. Using gear from your own camp cooking set you can easily make backpacking oven yourself.

You’ll need:

• Backpacking stove – I use 4-season remote canister stoves like Kovea Spider , GSI Pinnacle 4 or Optimus Vega;
• Fuel – the size of canister depends on how long your trip is;
• Lighter;
• Pot with lid;
• Smaller pot or mug with folding handles such as GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Cup. If you wish to avoid any dish washing after baking, you can use silicone muffin cups or aluminium foil cases instead;
• Gingerbread cookie form;
• Windshield;
• Pot gripper – universal removable handle for pot and pan. Sometimes I’m using also small orange pot gripper from Halulite Minimalist Set.

How to bake

There are two main methods for baking in the backcountry: steaming and dry baking. You can choose the one best suited to your individual preferences.

1. Steaming

Put the gingerbread cookie form on the bottom of the pot. Pour enough water just to cover it.
Pour the batter into a greased mug or silicone muffin cup. Put the mug with butter on the cookie form.
Light the burner to high. Set the pot on and cover with lid.
Steam for about 10-15 minutes, or until ready.

2. Dry Baking

All as described above, except for adding water.
Flame should be regulated very carefully. If the flame is too high,  food will burn on the bottom; if too low  food will be undercooked.

Tips for cooking with portable backpacking oven:

– You can use any stove you have in your camp cooking set, however, stoves with simmer function (ability to maintain a low flame) work best for trail baking;
– Place the oven in a windless area or use a windshield to increase efficiency. Caution: Do not use an oven with a windscreen that encloses fuel tank and stove together (top-mounted stoves);
– Always try new recipes at home for the first time;
– Never leave an oven unattended while cooking;
– Use toothpicks or wooden sticks to test readiness – if a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake will come out clean, the cake is ready to be taken out.

Baked goods recipes:

Blackberry Peach Cobbler

Chocolate Muffins

Pumpkin Pie Muffins

Baked Apples With Vanilla Sauce

Irish Soda Bread

Backcountry Blueberry Pie