Best Stove Pipe Oven: Winnerwell Pipe Oven Review

I’m a fan of campfire cooking, but sometimes hot dogs and foil packets get old. So, when I saw the Winnerwell Stove Pipe Oven, the idea of baking cookies or roasting veggies at my campsite was pretty tempting. But it’s another thing to carry around, so I wanted to make sure it was worth the hassle. I took it along on my last camping trip, and here’s my honest take on whether this thing actually lives up to the hype.

Features and Benefits of the Stove Pipe Oven

The Winnerwell Pipe Oven is made of sturdy stainless steel that feels like it could survive a zombie apocalypse, and it slides right onto the flue pipe of your Winnerwell wood stove. It’s small enough to fit in my already-packed camping gear, but that also means it’s not exactly spacious inside.

• Baking: It’s not going to replace your oven at home, but you can definitely bake some surprisingly decent stuff in this thing. Think biscuits, cornbread, maybe even a tiny pizza (and don’t mind a bit of smoke flavor). The important thing is to keep a close eye on the temperature because things can go from perfectly browned to burnt toast pretty quickly over a campfire.
• Roasting: Roasting veggies or meat works surprisingly well. It’s a little more challenging than your home oven since you’re dealing with a wood fire, but the results are worth it.
• Heating leftovers: This was my favorite use. There’s something extra satisfying about warm food when you’re out in the woods.

This isn’t going to replace your full-size oven at home. But if you want to make campfire cooking a little more interesting than hot dogs and s’mores, it’s a worthy addition to your gear.

How to Use the Winnerwell Pipe Oven

So you’ve got your Winnerwell Pipe Oven, and you’re probably wondering if you’re gonna regret lugging this extra thing around on your camping trip. I know I was a little skeptical at first, too! But it’s not that hard to use, and once you get the hang of it, it opens up a whole new world of campfire cooking possibilities. Here’s a quick rundown based on my experience:

• Assembling the Oven: It comes in a few pieces, so you’ll need to put it together first. It’s pretty straightforward, but if you’re struggling, the instructions should be clear enough.
• Preheating: Get your wood stove going and let the pipe get nice and hot. Then, slide the oven onto the pipe. It’ll take a while to preheat, so be patient. Use an oven thermometer to check the temperature (It’s easy to underestimate how hot those pipes get!).
• Load it up: Use oven mitts or tongs to put your food in the oven. Be careful because stainless steel gets hot!
• Monitor the Temperature: Campfires are notoriously unpredictable. You’ll have to keep an eye on the fire and make adjustments to maintain a steady temperature. The last thing you want is burnt food when you’re miles from a store.
• Be Patient: This isn’t your gas oven at home. Cooking times will vary, so don’t just walk away and assume it’ll be done in 20 minutes. Start checking on your food early, and pull it out if it looks like it’s browning too quickly.

Campfire baking isn’t exactly the same as using your oven at home. There’s definitely a learning curve, especially with this little oven. You’ll probably burn a few things at first. But stick with it! It’s all about figuring out how your specific wood stove heats up, adjusting the airflow, and checking on your food way more often than you would at home.

Performance: Efficiency and Heat Distribution

So I’ve used the Winnerwell Pipe Oven on a few camping trips now, and here’s what I found: the heat distribution isn’t perfect. You’ll still need to rotate pans and watch things closely to avoid one side getting burnt while the other is still undercooked. But compared to just cooking over an open fire, it’s a major improvement. The oven holds heat surprisingly well for its size, but you’ll still need to keep feeding that fire to maintain a decent temperature. It’s definitely not a fuel-saving miracle, but that’s part of the fun of campfire cooking.

Don’t expect the same speed as your oven at home. This thing takes a while to preheat, and cooking times are a bit unpredictable, depending on your fire. It’s best to start checking on your food early and often.

Durability: Materials and Construction Quality

Nobody wants to spend a bunch of money on something that’s going to fall apart after a few uses, but the Winnerwell Pipe Oven seems pretty solid. It’s made from thick stainless steel, which makes it heavier than you’d expect for a camping oven but also means it feels like it can take a beating.

It’s a pain to clean anything when you’re camping, but the removable hot plate on this oven actually makes it way easier. The built-in thermometer is a nice feature, although I wouldn’t trust it completely. It’s helpful for getting a general idea of the temperature, but it definitely fluctuates a bit depending on where the fire is and how windy it is. That said, it’s a nice addition to have.

User Experience: Ease of Use and Maintenance

This Winnerwell Pipe Oven isn’t exactly the same as your oven at home. It takes some getting used to, especially if you’re used to just setting a temperature and forgetting about it.

• The assembly isn’t too bad; the instructions are clear enough, and the oven attaches securely to the stove pipe. But once you light that fire, things can get a little chaotic.
• Managing the temperature is a real challenge. It’s totally dependent on your fire, and the heat can swing wildly. You’ll need to constantly maintain it, adjusting the airflow and adding wood to keep it within a usable range. Even with the built-in thermometer, it’s easy to overshoot or undershoot your target temp, especially if the wind is whipping around.
• Baking times are just as unpredictable. What takes 20 minutes in your kitchen might take twice as long here or burn in half the time. You’ll need to check on your food constantly and adjust your cooking plan as you go.
• And if it gets dirty, the inside isn’t hard to clean, but that soot on the outside will make a mess of your hands and clothes if you don’t wipe it down after every use.

This oven is awesome if you’re willing to put in the extra effort. It’s really helpful for making real meals at the campsite.

Pros and Cons of the Stove Pipe Oven

Pros:

• More than just hot dogs: We all love a good campfire hot dog, but sometimes you want to eat something that doesn’t come out of a foil packet. With this oven, you can actually bake, roast, and even try making a small pizza (if you’re up for the challenge).
• Built to last: This thing is solid. It’s made of thick steel, so it’ll survive getting banged around in your gear or even a sudden rainstorm. It’s so good. I bake so many things during camping, and it works well
• Temperature gauge: It’s not going to be as accurate as the oven in your kitchen, but it gives you a good enough idea of the temperature. It’s better than just blindly guessing and hoping for the best.
• Peeking window: This is actually pretty handy because you can keep an eye on your food without having to open the door and let all the heat escape. (Also, you don’t have to worry about burning your eyebrows off every time you check on your pizza.) That was really helpful for me.
• Easy to assemble: It comes in a few pieces, but nothing a caveman couldn’t figure out. The instructions are pretty straightforward, and I even managed to get it together in about ten minutes without too much cursing.

Cons:

• Winnerwell-only club: If you don’t have a Winnerwell wood stove, this isn’t going to do you much good. It’s specifically designed to fit on their flue pipes.
• Weighty companion: This thing isn’t light. If you’re already hauling a bunch of camping gear, it’s definitely something to consider. It’s doable but not ideal for long backpacking trips.
• Forget about feeding a crowd: This oven is small. It’s great for solo trips or cooking for two people, but don’t expect to be baking anything family-sized in this thing.

So, is the Winnerwell Pipe Oven worth it?

If you’re the kind of person who refuses to settle for sad campfire meals and you’re willing to put in a little extra effort to have real food in the wilderness, then this oven might be good for you. It’s not going to be as easy as using your kitchen oven, but it can bake, roast, and even handle a small pizza – if you’re willing to put in a bit of effort.

The Winnerwell Pipe Oven is well-made and feels like it can take a beating. I’ve taken mine on a few trips, but it still looks brand new. And while there’s definitely a learning curve, especially with managing the temperature, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be the envy of the campground with your delicious meals.

If you just want to boil water and heat up some hot dogs, this oven is definitely overkill. But if you’re the kind of person who sees campfire cooking as an art form and you’re not afraid of a little extra work, then the Winnerwell Pipe Oven is worth considering.

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