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Force Five · 28-11-2014, 10:45

This may seem a rather strange question but one often reads of lovely "on board" recipes and they most often give a oven temperature for the baking. My oven does not come equipped with a temperature sensor. What is the general concencus, does one just fire up the oven hoping that the temp will be approx. correct, or do you use a free standing thermometer that you toss into the oven?
Thanks in anticipation
Noah
Force Five

Delancey · 28-11-2014, 10:51

Um, thermometer.

Vasco · 28-11-2014, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delancey

Um, thermometer.

**Jim Cate** · 28-11-2014, 11:49

After you buy the pictured oven thermometer, then the trick is to get the oven to reach and maintain your desired temperature. This takes some practice. Some boat ovens have thermostatically controlled burners, and if they work, that is cool: set and forget. Ours claims this feature, but there is so much hysteresis in the control that it is useless, and much harder to use than a simple valve - a source of much frustration to Ann, the baker on board.

But you will learn to deal with it, and enjoy the fruits (and pies and breads and roasts) of your efforts.

Cheers,

Jim

Dennis.G · 28-11-2014, 11:56

As mentioned, use a thermometer. Our oven is not self regulated and a PITA to keep temperature constant. We do use a baking stone (cut down to fit oven rack) which adds thermal mass to the oven and helps reduce temperature swings, but still a challenge to bake anything.

NornaBiron · 28-11-2014, 12:01

I have the same thermometer as in the picture in my oven. I took notice of it once upon a time but I'm not convinced it is particularly correct any more. As Jim says - you'll get use to your oven and will learn to deal with temperature variations. I'm making a rich fruit Christmas cake this weekend (a bit late I know) and I'll have to have the oven on its lowest setting with the door fractionally open to prevent it burning!

Hard Rock Candy · 28-11-2014, 12:28

It's been a lot of years since ovens came out with a thermostat. I've never baked in one. My first wife did and did quite well. I'm just curious, but are these gas ovens or maybe alcohol ovens? I had an alcohol stove in my Morgan but only for the first 6 months. That thing had to go. I put a propane stove from a 78 pickup camper in it, with oven. It had its own thermostat. I'm an old male fart, but I do put out some nice cheesecake and apple pies. Couldn't do without a controlled oven and a timer. Mac

Force Five · 28-11-2014, 12:32

Thanks for all the helpful hints. I have an ENO 2burner stove and as you can see from my queries we have not used it much, the main reason being that the first time we fired it up the inner glass exploded and nearly gave the first mate a heart attack not to mention nearly slicing the dog into nice thin fillets

I have since had a new glass cut and tempered and it seems fine, just need to convince First Mate all is well. The only thermometer that West Marine seems to have is a meat thermometer which has a rear rod to insert into the meat which is not satisfactory. Where can I find the correct oven thermometer? I seem to remember seeing a thermal plastic strip that one sticks on to ones forehead to check body temp, I wander if there is something similar that can be stuck onto the oven glass?
Noah,
Force Five

Force Five · 28-11-2014, 12:37

Hi Hard Rock, yes it is a propane stove probably a 2007 model ENO

**Jim Cate** · 28-11-2014, 12:39

FF, any cookware store will have the thermometer, also many supermarkets in the household gadget section. Should be easy and cheap.

Jim

NornaBiron · 28-11-2014, 12:46

or try Amazon

Force Five · 28-11-2014, 13:07

Great, never thought of checking household stores or Amazon, brain was stuck in the yachting groove

I will go and browse and see what I can find.
Many thanks for all the answers and helpful tips.
Noah,
Force Five

**JPA Cate** · 28-11-2014, 22:36

Oh, Force Five,

It is one of the principles of cruising yachties: always try to source desirables anywhere but marine stores. There is perhaps a 100% surcharge for "marine." And the delight of sourcing bearings, and pump bits and stuff can be extreme. One time, there were some Volvo bolts they wanted to charge our friend $34.00 for. We took him to the bearing, nuts and bolts shop nearby, and he paid $2.50. Do stay out of the "yachting" groove, if your pennies matter to you!

Ann

On edit, I'd like to say that we used to have an oven that had no thermostat control, and was controlled by the settings: low, medium, and high, which corresponded to a low temperature oven (below 300 deg. F.), medium (350-375) and high (400-450), and worked perfectly.. Go figure.

I have experimented with some of my recipes, and some can be started without pre-heating the oven, and work okay. You will really have to experiment to find out what works, even when you have a thermometer. For instance, with this oven I have now, and which I do not like, I have to check the temp every 10 minutes, check the flame, and fuss with for the whole cooking time--totally unlike cooking in an oven at home which worked flawlessly for many years. It is a challenge and requires constant vigilance, but given that, your good lady will be able to turn out baked goods that please both of you.