theksmith 4,175 Posted August 7, 2016 (edited) Let's share cooking tips, recipes, etc. for the popular 12v oven/lunchbox cookers! I'll get us started with a few tips... Which one & where to get it Both the RoadPro and Koolatron get good reviews. I went with the RoadPro simply because it has an integrated cord storage area. You can find them at Amazon (RoadPro or Koolatron), or many truck stops. UPDATE: i tried a Koolatron later on and found it heats up much slower and does not get quite as hot as the RoadPro. The RoadPro Slow Cooker and the Max Burton Digital 12v Stove also get good reviews, but I think their odd shapes would make them more difficult to use (since you can't use a loaf pans). Pans & such Standard 2 lb (8.5" x 4.5" x 2.5") disposable loaf pans work perfect in these stoves with quite a bit of room left over so you can even heap in a tall portion. Note that the larger 9" x 5" pans will NOT fit. You can simply cover the pan with aluminum foil and pinch down the edges so things don't slosh out. What to cook & for how long? I'd really like to hear more on this topic from our members... so far everything I've cooked needed about 45 to 90 mins depending on the portion size. With my old engine (manifold) warmer, I would just leave a meal in it for the entire morning and it would be good for lunch - these little 12v ovens get much warmer! They are rated for 300* F, mine will get just shy of that at 293*. I've only reheated stuff so far - I don't trust it to actually handle raw meat. Usually frozen pre-made meals at the grocery store will say somewhere "fully cooked" if they are, or of course homemade casseroles are a great option. What have you cooked? Use a spacer to prevent scorching Sometimes the food in the bottom of the pan would get burnt by the time the rest was completely warm. I first tried a silicone trivet rated at 400* to allow some air between the foil pan and the bottom of the oven - that took forever to cook though. What did work was taking a loaf pan and folding it loosely into a flat shape to use as a spacer. This still conducts some heat directly into the pan holding the food, but also allows a bit of air underneath - same theory as a hollow cookie sheet. This might add 10 or 15 minutes to your cook time, but your food will be more evenly heated. I have to credit this tip to Offroad Passport member @defectivemonk - he had suggested using crumpled up aluminum foil. Power concerns The RoadPro version specifies a current usage of 12 amps... Keep in mind that is continuous usage the entire time it's plugged in. One of these stoves could kill an already weak battery if used with the vehicle not running. If you're battery is in good shape then it may be fine to cook a meal with the rig off - however, I wouldn't try to cook multiple times without starting it up for a bit to recharge. Cigarette lighter style plugs don't make the best connectors in the world, so you might consider wiring in something like a Hella socket or the small (30 amp) Anderson PowerPole connectors. If you've already run a large gauge wire from the battery for a fridge, then just tap into that for your new connector. Bonus tip for JK Unlimited owners! These stoves wedge perfectly under the middle of the rear seat so that they don't go bouncing around if you're cooking on the trail! So, what's your experience with these handy little stoves? ... Edited May 28, 2022 by theksmith Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mbuckner 162 Posted August 7, 2016 I learned the hard way ... used the cooker without the engine running ... forgot that I have an Engel MT-43 that needed power too .... time for a jump start ..... So I do not cook without the motor running ... In my opinion, the 12v cooker is better than the manifold heating which I have used on past runs. Best regards, Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddogjeeper 2 Posted August 8, 2016 I burned out a cigarette lighter plug using one of these so be careful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lichen 110 Posted August 8, 2016 I wired mine up to my secondary battery so I don't have to worry about draining the starter battery. I've only used it to re-heat food. A frozen burrito takes forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladybug 505 Posted August 10, 2016 Great post guys! I have to admit that I haven't used mine for much more than heating my manifold burrito on a cool day...! smiles, ladybug Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigTuna117 33 Posted September 8, 2016 Well, with all the recent hype with these little buggers, I ended up picking one up too! I look forward to seeing how much "cooking" I can pull off with it... you know... for Science! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theksmith 4,175 Posted May 26, 2022 (edited) wanted to bring this thread back to life as i was recently discussing the 12v ovens and engine manifold cookers with @4x4tographer in regards to good recipes for them... any type of casserole works well, or saucy pastas with meat. Sarah of the @Bradywgn71 clan often brings an egg/sausage/cheese breakfast casserole to heat in their oven. typically the saucier/wetter meals heat more evenly, however @defectivemonk has been known to successfully cook frozen corn dogs in a 12v RoadPro! below is an example of a more complete meal idea. that's pulled pork and scalloped potatoes in the tin, then i made a foil packet of asparagus with butter to sit on top. if i remember correctly, i had to move the foil packet underneath the tin for maybe 10 minutes at the end (to get the veggies to the softness a southerner like me prefers!). pro-tip: i now buy the loaf pans that come with cardboard/foil lids. it's worth the extra few bucks for convenience and less spillage than just wrapping them in foil yourself. here's a couple links for those. D&W Fine Pack A86 2 lb. Aluminum Foil Loaf Pan Tins w/Foil Board Lids Loaf Pans with Lids, 650 ml capacity, by Spare Essentials i still typically bag each tin within a 1 gallon Ziploc bag to keep the 12v fridge from acquiring a ton of different smells. Edited May 26, 2022 by theksmith 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
defectivemonk 13 Posted May 28, 2022 I took mine apart and stuffed it with insulation - I had some ceramic “wool” leftover from another project https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01E0TGQT0 The interior consistently gets to 300F and the exterior stays cool. And definitely check the owner’s manual for your year model - on mine the 12v socket on the dash can’t handle the current draw, but the one inside the center console can. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4WLNRN 558 Posted June 12, 2022 Thanks for reviving this thread @theksmith, was browsing the forum at work and found it. Will be adding power to the back of my JK for my fridge and this triggered something I forgot about! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MzPriss 228 Posted March 29 Scrolling through old posts this morning, prepping for new adventures. I often forget I purchased one of these. I usually use mine for breakfast. Premade at home burritos popped in when we hit the trail, flipped about 30 minutes in and ready when it starts to smell good. I had forgotten about the squished pan under, I have just crumpled foil under. I'm not one to want to eat immediately in the morning, so this is a great option for me when I'm ready to eat an hour or so on the road (after the coffee kicks in). I've also put premade meals into the loaf pan for a dinner option. Homemade individual precooked meatloaf, half of a potato and any veggie wrapped separately on top is great. The premade meals theksmith references above work great repackaged into the loaf pans if you don't want to precook meals as well. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
