Recently, I co-hosted a camping event. When we decided to put ribs on the menu, we had no idea how hot it would be that weekend. No one wanted to have a campfire because it was so brutally hot. And I surely did not want to cook over one. It definitely was too hot to cook over a fire.

Anticipate the weather

I checked the forecast and knew I did not want to cook over the fire in 98 degree weather. I decided to cook the ribs at home before I left. First, I slow cooked them in the oven for about 3 hours, cut them into serving size pieces and put them in foil oven bags with a little extra BBQ sauce. As it turned out the forecast was correct. It was too hot to cook over a fire. I brought along my 22 Qt electric roaster oven., set the bags of ribs into it and plugged it in. A few hours later, dinner was served. The ribs were great. They were tender and fell off the bone with ease.  

I was never fond of crock pot or insta-pot meals. The food always seems steamed, not crisp like you get in the oven. The electric oven roaster is now my new best friend to take along camping. 

Shop Goodwill

And I must thank my friend Carol for being the bargain shopper that she is and dragging us to the goodwill store. I got lucky and found an 18 Qt electric oven roaster still in the box sealed with plastic for $25! They normally sell for $74-$94 online. https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1246948-nesco-18-qt-electric-roaster-oven-red.html?blaintm_source=google&blaintm_medium=pla&gclid=CjwKCAjwyvaJBhBpEiwA8d38vI-hZzF-fNwQfvs95BsKNOcL61CN3spgChIbet352yVEg37uofvnhhoCF04QAvD_BwE

I will be trying out new meals before my next camping trip. I may even try the pineapple upside down cakes in tuna cans with this too. 

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

When it is too hot to cook over a fire…bring an oven! .