What Kind Of Oven Does An RV Use? RV Camping Gears

Camping with all amenities has become the trend in recent years. People going on adventures don’t want to miss any creature comforts they would otherwise enjoy at home.

Therefore, camping gear, tents, and campsites must be facilitated to accommodate these requirements. 

One such amenity found in RVs is ovens. These ovens enable you to cook your meals and enjoy the homemade freshness while you are away from home.

An RV is a preferred camping method due to its ease in preparing your food and enjoying a hearty meal.

So, you may wonder, ‘what kind of oven does an RV use?’ What RV camping gear make life easy for you?

Here you’ll learn about the type of oven an RV uses and other RV essentials.

What Kind Of Oven Does An RV Use? RV Camping Gears

Most RV ovens are propane ovens. RV convection ovens are also an option if your RV is parked at the campground during most of your adventures. They are much smaller with functionality quite similar to microwave ovens.

On the other hand, electric ovens are much larger and work more like ordinary ovens that we use at home.

So, the most common type of oven found in an RV is the propane oven, followed by a convection oven. It is because most people are unhappy with the resulting food cooked in a microwave as they believe it compromises quality and taste.

Therefore, most people opt for a gas (propane) oven to use in an RV.

How Big Is An RV Oven?

The size of an RV oven greatly depends on the size of the RV itself. If your RV is small, the oven should be small, too, as there won’t be any space for a big one.

However, you should assume that your RV oven will be smaller than the regular oven you have at home, irrespective of the size of your RV.

An exception to this is if you have a Class A RV. A Class A RV is large and luxurious. It is large enough to feature a full-fledged kitchen with all the required amenities. So, you can expect it to be as large as your home oven.

Class Bs are the smallest type of RVs. Therefore, they lack most of the amenities compared to other RVs. 

So, the oven in a Class B RV will be much smaller than a regular oven. Your Class B RV may not even have an oven. It’s because the slimmest RV ovens are 17 inches wide, which might still be too large for Class B RVs.

Class C RVs fall into the middle of Class A and Class B, so you can fit an RV oven that is 17 or 18 inches wide. However, you won’t be able to fit in any oven larger than that.

How Do RV Ovens Work?

RV ovens use propane gas to provide the heat required to cook different foods. You need to light these ovens with a lighter or match as they do not have any sparking mechanism.

Once you start the fire, you need to set the temperature to begin cooking as you would in your home oven.

Not all travel trailers will have a working oven, but if yours does, it is an excellent way to cook while camping, especially if you don’t want to mess with campfires and grills.

Ovens in RVs work entirely off the propane gas tank attached to the outside of your trailer.

Most RVs require you to manually light the oven before using it. Therefore, it’s vital to understand the steps needed to light your RV oven before you use it.

Are RV Ovens Gas, Electric Or Convection?

There are three types of RV ovens. Many RVs have propane ovens. 

Some RVs have convection ovens, which are great if you plan to keep your RV parked at the campground most of the time. Convection ovens are much smaller than regular ovens and propane ovens. They also have very limited functionalities, similar to microwave ovens.

The third option is the electric oven, which is much larger than a regular oven. It takes up ample space and requires more power than a convection oven.

Due to these reasons, the best oven to use in an RV is a propane oven.

How Do You Light An RV Oven?

It’s important to properly light the oven before using it. Before starting, identify all the parts on and off the RV. Practice the following steps while you are still at home because then you will know precisely what to do when it comes to using it while camping.

Here are the steps to follow when lighting a camper oven to get the oven heated and ready for cooking.

1. Ensure that the oven is clean, as it won’t work correctly if there is a build-up of residue and grime inside, especially on the pilot light or burner.

2. Next, find the pilot light and get matches or a lighter. Ensure the pilot control is in the ON position. You can read the manual you got with the oven if you cannot find these parts or have questions about using them.

3. Ensure that the propane tank that manages the oven is switched on. Some oven models require you to have the regulator switched to the correct full tank to provide propane.

4. Push the control button of the pilot light down while holding a flame from the match or lighter near it.

5. Once you manage to light it, keep holding the pilot light down for 30 seconds to ensure that it will stay on long after you let go of the control.

6. When the pilot light stays on, set the oven controls to the required temperature and start using it.

7. Once you finish using the oven, turn the pilot light control switch to the OFF position. It will ensure that the oven doesn’t use your propane any longer. 

Ensure this switch is off so you don’t run down your propane tanks and risk your fellow campers with the leaking gas.

How Much Propane Does An RV Oven Use?

A healthy supply of propane is essential to keep cooking your meals using the oven while camping. One gallon of propane will provide three hours of continuous use for an average-sized oven.

The efficiency and rate at which your oven uses propane are primarily based on size. Typically, larger ovens will use up propane faster than a regular oven.

A regular oven is 30,000 BTU (British Thermal Units). This type of oven will use one-third of a gallon of propane per hour. So, it will take three hours to use a gallon of propane.

A 20,000 BTU oven will use a quarter of a gallon of propane per hour. It means it will take four hours to use a gallon of propane for this type of oven.

A 40,000 BTU oven will use propane much faster than smaller ovens. It will take approximately two and a half hours for this type of oven to use a gallon of propane.

How Do You Bake In An RV Oven?

RV ovens may not be as efficient as regular ones at home. Therefore, you must follow particular instructions to optimize your cooking experience with these ovens.

The first thing you should do is check the temperature of the oven. It may not always be accurate, so it’s best to check the temperature using a regular thermometer. If the temperature is off, adjust the knob to set it to the required temperature.

It is also essential to always preheat the oven. RV ovens take longer to heat up than regular ovens, so ensure that you preheat.

Also, remember to turn the dish you’re cooking to the other side about halfway through baking. It is primarily because propane ovens tend to cook unevenly. So, if you don’t turn your dish to the other side, one side will end up burnt while the other will be undercooked.

Since heat distribution is uneven in an RV oven, you may have to adjust the rack based on the heat required to cook the food.

An RV oven usually comes with only one rack, so you need to move it around. Keep it closer to the top of the oven if you want more heat and closer to the bottom if you want less.

Tips For Cooking In An RV Oven

For best results for cooking in an RV oven, follow the below tips:

Often, RV ovens are small, so it could be challenging to fit a lot of food inside. Therefore, plan the meals you want to cook in the oven accordingly.

• Since RV oven sizes are smaller than regular ovens, you may need new pans that fit them.

• RV ovens may show inaccurate temperature values. Therefore, use a small oven thermometer to read the temperature inside the oven, as RV oven temperatures vary widely.

• Try the RV oven before your camping adventure to be well prepared to use it while camping.

• RV ovens cook unevenly. Always adjust the racks before cooking to keep the food in the middle of the oven.

RV Essentials

Apart from RV ovens, here are some other RV essentials you may require on your camping trip.

• Camping Chairs

• Camping Table

• Sleeping bags

• Sleeping pads

• Tent

• Flashlight or headlamp

• Extra batteries

• Mao

• Compass

• Cell phone

• ID

• Cash

• Toiletries

• Hammock

• Toolkit

• First aid kit

• Cooking pans and utensils

• Knife

• Food

• Water

• Trash bag

• Warm and cool clothes

• Towels

• Sun hat

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

Final Thoughts

Many RVs use propane ovens, typically smaller than your regular oven at home. Therefore, keeping the above tips in mind when cooking with the RV oven is essential.

The temperature varies widely inside RV ovens and may not show accurate temperature readings. So, it’s best to use a small oven thermometer to read the temperature inside the oven accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Use An Oven In An RV?

Many RVs use propane ovens that are generally smaller than regular ones.

What Size Is An RV Oven?

The size of an RV oven ranges from 17” to 21” in width and can be approximately 11” tall.

Can You Use A Convection Oven In An RV?

You can use a convection oven in an RV. However, it is small and has limited functionality, similar to a microwave oven.