“Bush Cooking Tips While Hunting in Australia: Easy Ute-Tray Meals”

Travel Buddy 12 Volt Oven Australian Made

There’s a certain satisfaction in cooking a feed in the bush, miles from the nearest roadhouse, with the day’s hunt behind you and the fireflies beginning to spark in the twilight.

For Australian hunters, the ute tray or tailgate becomes the kitchen bench, and the smell of game meat sizzling in the warm evening air is as much a part of the hunt as the stalk itself. Here some great cooking tips.

I’ve been cooking on the road for decades—through the red dust of the Northern Territory, across the forests of East Gippsland, and along the river country chasing pigs and deer. Back then it was cast iron on the coals and a tin of beans on the bullbar.

These days, with a few smart bits of gear like a Travel Buddy 12V oven and my Dometic 12V 240 V fridge with a freezer, bush cooking has gone from survival to something I genuinely look forward to.

The Travel Buddy Advantage & Cooking Tips

If you haven’t discovered the Travel Buddy oven, it’s a game-changer for hunters. It’s a small, Australian-made 12V oven that mounts neatly in the back of the ute or in a canopy. Plug it into your dual battery setup and suddenly the outback is your kitchen. Retails for around $300 Australian.

Recently I went on a road trip to Charleville Outback Qld to see the Cosmos Centre and stopping at Roma for a Chinese meal - 1 seafood combo, one small white rice, and one small fried rice, it came to $54.50. We all know just how expensive it is to eat out these days or one the road, so the Travel Buddy makes good sense.

Some of my favourite uses on hunting trips:

• Buy from your local supermarkets pre cooked lamb shanks, ribs, pork knuckle, and roast beef to name a few - pre heat oven for 30 minutes then place lamb shanks in and set timer for 60 minutes at 180-200 and its ready to go!

• Crumpets for breakfast on the go.

• Wife's Pre-cooked meals – Slide in a foil tray of lasagna or slow-cooked stew before the evening hunt. By the time you’re back at camp, it’s piping hot.

• Roast veggies or meat – Wrap spuds, pumpkin, or a small cut of venison in foil with oil and seasoning. In 90 minutes, you’ve got a bush roast.

• Hot lunches on the move – Pies, sausage rolls, or a toasted sandwich can cook while you’re driving to the next hunting block.

• Dessert apple pie pre heat Travel Buddy Oven cooking tips: for 30 minutes and place apple pies... length of time depends on how you like it, warm or hot, (add thickened cream).

Travel Buddy Lunch On The Go

Remove Plastic Bag - Marinated Pre Cooked Lamb Shanks - Place In Pre Heated Oven

The trick is to use foil trays or baking paper to catch fat from game meats. Pictured above custom made high sided stainless steel baking dish available from Kaon

Cooking Fresh Game Meat

One of the greatest rewards of hunting is cooking what you’ve taken. Whether it’s fallow venison, wild pork, or duck, the key in the bush is simplicity.

Here are a few proven road recipes and cooking tips:

1. Venison Backstrap in the Travel Buddy

• Slice the backstrap into medallions.

• Marinate in olive oil, garlic, a dash of soy, and cracked pepper for an hour in the fridge.

• Wrap in foil with a sprig of rosemary and a knob of butter.

• Cook for 60-75 minutes in the Travel Buddy.

• Serve on crusty bread with mustard—bush gourmet.

2. Wild Pork & Potato Bake

• Slice thin pieces of back leg pork.

• Layer in a foil tray with sliced potatoes, onion, and cheese.

• Add a splash of cream or evaporated milk and season well.

• Bake for 60 to 90 minutes in the Travel Buddy, turning halfway. Remember Pork needs to be cooked thoroughly ensure it's safe to eat.

• Perfect for the trip home!

Other Handy Cooking Hacks

• Breakfast on the run: Travel Buddy crumpets pre heat travel buddy for 30 minutes then 20-30 minutes you have crusty bottom crumpets - just add honey.

• Keep meat cold, not wet: Kickass Vacuum-sealed game portions in a 115L Dometic fridge/freezer or ice cooler - it stays perfect for days without leaking blood into your fridge or ice slurry.

Footnote: (Travel Buddy Oven - It's really designed to use while going to or from a destination of over 1 1/2 hours to work and heat effectively. It needs adequate power from a running engine to produce enough +12 volt power. NOTE: It could drain a battery while stationary with the engine not running)