Any Chefs out there?

[greenbean]

Well we are purchasing a boat that does not have an oven. I know that I can bake on a stove or BBQ in my iron skillet, but am I really gonna miss an oven. Should I just break down and purchase a new unit? If so which one is best for extensive usage? I do prepare everything from scratch, no processed foods here. Can you also give me tips on food processors, mixers and such? Solar ovens?

[annsni]

What size is your boat? Are you looking to live aboard, coastal cruise or weekend it? What areas are you going to be sailing in? This makes a big difference.

[greenbean]

We are going to live aboard. No end destination. We will cruise along the east coast to Florida, later on to the Bahamas and Cuba, then we will evaluate where we'd like to go. We at looking at least for a year, longer if we get bit by the bug. She is a 1980 Morgan Pilothouse 33'.


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[NornaBiron]

Home - Cobb International

In the hotter months of the year I cook on a Cobb charcoal oven. With all the accessories I can prepare stir fries, curries, pizzas, casseroles, roasts and barbecues on board without heating the interior of the boat. Worth a look if you don't want the expense of fitting a new cooker.

[zeehag]

i have a fully functional force 10 stove of which i do no tuse the oven, but prefer to use stove top methods of baking cookies, small cakes and cornbread..
i havebeen practicing this since before leaving san diego in 2011, successfully , and cruising with this system for four years onmy own boat, one year on opb. works fine. considering ditching my force 10 for a mexistovetop and using the under rangetop space for a fridge or portabloe ice maker or some such miracle

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by zeehag

considering ditching my force 10 for a mexistovetop and using the under rangetop space for a fridge or portabloe ice maker or some such miracle

That's not a bad idea, I'd probably like a front loading freezer



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[annsni]

Originally Posted by hoppy

That's not a bad idea, I'd probably like a front loading freezer



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A top loading freezer will be much more efficient. We have one on our Catalina 42 (put in by the charter company in the nab table) and it keeps things nicely cold for our cruises (2-3 weeks at a time).

[zeehag]

going for all top loadin food storage coldmaking items for max efficiency and stability underway.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by annsni

A top loading freezer will be much more efficient. We have one on our Catalina 42 (put in by the charter company in the nab table) and it keeps things nicely cold for our cruises (2-3 weeks at a time).

Probably, but I'd still want a gas stovetop and would not want to move it when accessing the freezer 😉


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[annsni]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Probably, but I'd still want a gas stovetop and would not want to move it when accessing the freezer 😉


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Putting a freezer under a heat source is not a wise idea.

[JPA Cate]

People vary a lot in how much they use their ovens when they have them. I use mine a fair bit. Also do some stove top baking (in skillets or pressure cooker with gasket removed).

If the ability to bake is important to you, (like a roast dinner, for instance), get a new stove with a big enough oven. Marine stoves are not the greatest, but I really like having my oven. As you see, others' mileage varies.

Zeehag, how do ye bake cookies stove top? I've never tried it.

Ann

[zeehag]

mexistove is a gas stovetop, and the top loading freezers and ice makers and fridges are low enough in height there is no problem.
we talkin 12v here, mon, ye know, not the known by all tall top[ loading 120 v nonsense.
ann, everything i make on stove top is essentially handicakes or cookies. i us a heavy as possible on as low a flame aspossible with a glass top i can see thru , and when dry on top, i eat em. cool em first. works well. i have had chocolate cake cookies with and wiothout additives--raisins, cranberries, pnutbutter.. whatever, and blueberry muffin cookies--i call em handicakes, with cranberries vanilla and raisins, for watch on passages,..is perfect.... cornbread is good on stovetop....biscuits, dumplings onmy chicken en crema...lol wot an ethnic mixture... chata under cornbread, cornbread cookies isnt successful, but cornbread is ..makes a nice lil cake depending on whether in a saucepan or fry pan, per shape and depth.....must be heavy and well seasoned pan for non stick options
a lil extra butter for the cornbread isnt gonna hurt, either- or for blueberry muffincookies

[Mike OReilly]

We got our new Force 10 stove/oven last season after being many years without one. I Love It! Fresh bread, roast chicken, baked pastas, cookies, fish ... yum.

It's certainly possible to get by without an oven. We did for years. But if you enjoy cooking, and are good at it, then I think an oven is a wonderful tool to have for long term cruising.

[zeehag]

if you decide to cruise cooler climates for the rest of your cruising life, yes, by all means blow the dough on a righteous full stove with oven.
here in tropics, no freeking way am i liting a stove, much less an oven, even with air conditioning in summer.
latitude 20n seems to be cutoff for baking and enjoying it.
mebbe i might make something in winter, when humidity is lower, but in summer, no way. stove dont need no steenkeen oven here, it aint gonna be used.
summer in tropics is why the godesses made take out and cottage cheese n fruit and other peoples cooking. so, 6 months i cook and 6 months i do not--why have an oven..and i used to be most prolific in kitchen..and galleys.
i left san diego with a brnd new force 10 3 burner with intent to cook everything in an oven and yada yada yada..now-- hell no.

omg i lied. i just made delightful shrimp soup, aka caldo de camarones..takes all of 5 mins to cook shriimp, and about 30 mins on lowest setting to cook the veggies in the shrimp broth for soup.. add cooked n cleaned camarones after the cooking is done...heat tortillas on top of soup pot, in foil.

[JPA Cate]

Thanks, zeehag, I think I get it.

My dad used to make cornmeal pancakes, so of course, I do, too.