There’s nothing like the memories of our grandmothers’ cooking… But know that wood-fired cooking is not a thing of the past! Learn how to do it without mysteries.
No other way can give that crispness and texture to dishes like wood-fired cooking. And if you think that this process is very complex and difficult, you are wrong! Learn how to do it and how to get the most out of a wood-fired oven.
Learn how to cook with wood for unique dishes
Did you know that you can also have a wood stove in your home? If you have a terrace or garden then this is ideal! It will certainly be the center of attention at gatherings and parties around the house and will truly transform the dishes you cook there.
Main advantages of wood-fired cooking
Wood-burning stoves have the power to bring back the nostalgia of times past! However, with the evolution of this equipment, it is possible to combine this tradition with technology, efficiency and aesthetics, never compromising its greatest asset: the unique way food is cooked! Among the various advantages are the points not to be forgotten:
- unmistakable and refined flavor;
- smoother texture given the slow and uniform cooking of these stoves;
- healthier cooking, avoiding fats and chemicals involved;
- visual appeal – everyone loves to look at the flames cooking the delicacies.
How to take care of a wood oven: 5 tips to keep in mind
In order for it to always be at its peak performance, a wood stove should be treasured and cared for with utmost caution, and there are some good practices not to forget.
1. Cleaning
Clean your oven very well after any use! Don’t forget that some foods are cooked directly on the oven floor, so it really needs to be spotless.
2. Firewood
To cook firewood correctly, you should use small, thick logs of dry wood, but make sure they are free of nails or other residues such as paint, varnish, and others. Besides producing toxic smoke, they can alter the taste of the final product.
3. Sorting
Yes, you have science in the arrangement of logs for cooking wood to perfection! Use one log as a headboard and another 3 or 4, smaller ones, in a perpendicular position. Then make a stack on the side of the oven, leaving the opposite side free to place the food.
The idea is that the flames travel from one side of the ceiling to the other. After some time on, the top of the oven starts to turn whitish – a sign that it is reaching the ideal temperature.
4. Time
The wood-fired oven should be lit at least 2 hours before use to ensure that the entire base is heated.
5. Temperature
The ideal internal oven temperature should be around 450 degrees Celsius. Really, that hot! Hence, the cooking time for food is also shorter in these ovens.
Source: https://www.e-konomista.pt/cozinhar-a-lenha/