Bemco Backpacker 7" Deluxe Oven Kit

Everyone knows that craving that hits on the third or fourth day on the trail, the kind where you really want some kind of “real” food. Using my backpacking stove and the Bemco Backpacker Oven I made cookies and other treats a reality in my camp.

The 1 lb. 15 oz. oven is worth the haul if eating really well is your thing. This foldable oven fits over your camp stove in a rectangular fashion, and stores flat into a small bag when stowed, making it packable in a backpack or car.

The Bemco Oven works with a flame unit from your stove heating up the plate and the enclosed metal rectangle. Since temperatures get very hot, having a canister stove inside the oven might create an explosion.

Caution: The entire Bemco Oven becomes very hot, and I learned fast to use the stove grips or my Leatherman to open to doors or make any adjustments to the aluminum pans. Pack the burn gel and let people know when you are cooking.

I liked the two shelf design because I could cook two items at the same time, like biscuits and cookies. The door can be left open to let out heat, and there is a little window up top that I used to watch the items baking which can also let out heat.

There is a temperature gauge that connects to the oven on the outside, and I used this religiously as I am not the best chef and am known for burning items. It was really cool to see how fast the oven reached higher temperatures.

I don’t know how to cook breaded meats very well, so I checked out the frozen section at the store. I found these fully cooked chicken tenders and took them along on a colder weather trip. I cooked them up as per the directions in the Bemco – perfection.

These chocolate chip cookies I keep talking about only took 9 minutes to make. I could have made more at a time, but I found that this was the number manageable to keep would be moochers at bay.

The Specs
Bemco Backpacker 7″ Oven Deluxe Kit
$50
1 lb. 15 oz. for the deluxe kit.
Packed size 12 x 7 (without the pans in the same bag)
Also available in 8″ and 9″ sizes
backpackeroven.com

Text and photos by Joe Flowers