Is an oven really necessary?

[Boracay]

Is an oven really necessary on a cruising boat?

I'm coming up to the stove/oven part of fitting out and it has been suggested that an oven is not really necessary. I'd still fit the stove/grill.

I could leave it out and fit a microwave (12V or 240V) together with a gas BBQ on the pushpit.

So, how much do yous use your ovens?

[phiggins]

Its a great place to store your spare GPS and handheld VHF to protect them from lightning. Other that, never used it for cooking.

Paul

[Latitude9.5]

We couldn't live without it, but I guess it's more a matter of personal preference, you certainly "could" live without it. LOL, we have a microwave and i dont even know if it works, I unplugged when we bought the boat and still haven't figured out what to put in the space its in.

[over40pirate]

Do you use one on land?

When cruising we eat about the same as we do at home.

If you don't use one at home, you wouldn't miss one on the boat.

[exfishnz]

Originally Posted by Boracay

I'm coming up to the stove/oven part of fitting out and it has been suggested that an oven is not really necessary. I'd still fit the stove/grill.

G'day Boracay,

I thought the same until I remembered that we use to use the oven most times in rough weather when fishing (as we'd just roast meals in an oven bag in the roasting dish).

Edit: don't forget to poke a hole in the top of the oven bag, else she'll explode

[Delezynski]

Boracay,

We went for years without an oven. As long as you have a good pressure cooker you are good.
Jill baked bread and cakes in our pressure cooker. But we did add an oven and the it sure makes life a bit nicer.

As was asked before, how much do you use one on shore?

We have always looked at our boat as our home, so we do NOT DO the CAMP OUT style of living aboard.

Greg

[Roy M]

Hmmm, let me think here. Lemon pudding cake, roast pork with raspberry chilpotle sauce, roasted potatoes and carrots, chocolate chip cookies, broiled bass filets, lasagna, lemon merengue pie, pizza, roast turkey, roast beef with drippings, fresh corn bread, home baked loaves of wheat bread, creme brulee...... No, it's not really necessary. There's Dinty Moore stew, rice and beans, lots of other stuff!

[mikereed100]

I've spent the last 30 years without one. An oven would be nice but it's amazing how many things you can do on a stove. Pizza, cookies, cornbread, lasagna, enchiladas, roasts etc all can be done in a pan.

Mike

[Delezynski]

Roy M,

Jill has made all of the items you listed in our pressure cooker! All except the Dinty Moore stew Only I get to do that, she won't eat it.

Greg

[orion1]

We have two ovens on ROSA. One is in our Taylors kero. The other is a SHARP, Warm and Toasty. It bakes, grills, and is also a microwave. We run it on shore power or on our inverter when away from the dock.

[44'cruisingcat]

A lot of gas BBQ's can be used as ovens too. In warm weather that has the bonus of keeping the heat ouside. We're planning to go that way.

[sestina]

Sure, an oven isn't strictly necessary, but it's very useful. Casserole tough meat into delicous meals. Tinned pies - excellent for heavy weather. Reviving stale bread. Storing your GPS.

Given the choice between a proper oven and a microwave, the oven wins hands down.

[seafox]

Our oven is very necessary. How else would I get to eat like a king?
What would my wife do with her time if she couldn't keep producing culinary delights from the oven in the galley?
What a stupid question

[Wotname]

Well, first boat had an oven and we used it. Seond boat didn't have an oven and we didn't miss it. Neither had a BBQ.
Third boat won't have oven but will have BBQ.
Enjoy making a choice

[Vasco]

If you use an oven at home you'll probably miss it if you don't have one on your boat. Some folks use a dutch oven on the stovetop but nothing beats the convenience of a real oven.