Backcountry Baking: Excellent 1 lb. Oven
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:30 pm
Back in the 70s, we used to bake all kinds of things in the Optimus mini oven: pizzas, pineapple upside down cake, gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, casseroles, brownies.
Optimus stopped producing this item in the early 80s. I suppose there were issues with using leaded gas and other unsuitable fuels in stoves. The oven depends on combustion gasses circulating above the food. White gasoline, propane, etc. are not problematic. A couple of years ago, Omnia Sweden began producing the exact same product with the only difference being a color change for the lid.
Here is the manufacturer's site:
http://www.omniasweden.com/index.php?id=3980" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The item is available through numerous retailers; here is the Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Contoure-Omnia-Qu ... Omnia+oven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Using the oven in the backcountry is best done by coating the cake pan portion with butter and dusting it with fine corn meal prior to adding the food, then setting the stove on simmer. The anti-scorch heat shield stows inside the baking ring when not in use and there is a carry bag. Cleanup usually does require a good abrasive scratch pad and some elbow grease, but hey, we are talking about roughing it in luxury here. As the weight is minimal (about 1 lb.), I sometimes carry my new Optima oven on present day trips and the culinary rewards are worthwhile.
Optimus stopped producing this item in the early 80s. I suppose there were issues with using leaded gas and other unsuitable fuels in stoves. The oven depends on combustion gasses circulating above the food. White gasoline, propane, etc. are not problematic. A couple of years ago, Omnia Sweden began producing the exact same product with the only difference being a color change for the lid.
Here is the manufacturer's site:
http://www.omniasweden.com/index.php?id=3980" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The item is available through numerous retailers; here is the Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Contoure-Omnia-Qu ... Omnia+oven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Using the oven in the backcountry is best done by coating the cake pan portion with butter and dusting it with fine corn meal prior to adding the food, then setting the stove on simmer. The anti-scorch heat shield stows inside the baking ring when not in use and there is a carry bag. Cleanup usually does require a good abrasive scratch pad and some elbow grease, but hey, we are talking about roughing it in luxury here. As the weight is minimal (about 1 lb.), I sometimes carry my new Optima oven on present day trips and the culinary rewards are worthwhile.