The taste of a pizza baked in a wood-fired oven is unmistakable and incomparable. But it is not only pizza that a wood oven survives on. It is also possible to bake different types of bread, meats, and other mouth-watering recipes.
And the best of all is that you don’t need to go to a restaurant every time you want to enjoy a meal that looks (and tastes) like country cooking. All you need is a wood-burning oven at home. Have you thought about it? If this idea has been running through your mind, this post will help you – a lot.
Here you will find all the information you need to have your own wood oven:
How the wood-fired oven works and what it’s made of
The wood-fired oven is a type of oven – one of the oldest used by man – built with refractory bricks. This type of brick has the characteristic of insulating and distributing the heat inside the oven, which can easily reach the 500º C mark.
The igloo format is the most common format for this type of oven, since it distributes the heat more evenly, allowing the food to bake evenly.
To have access to the oven it is important to have an arch with an opening that varies between 15 and 25 cm. The heat generated inside the oven is dissipated by means of the chimney, which in turn must be between 20 and 30 cm long and located at the top of the oven.
Advantages and disadvantages of a wood-fired oven
The flavor and texture of the food baked in a wood-fired oven is the main advantage of this type of oven compared to traditional gas or electric ovens. With a wood-fired oven, foods retain their internal tenderness and juiciness while creating a crispy coating on the outside.
The wood used in the wood-fired oven, which can often be found freely, is another advantage for the wood-fired oven. This is because the wood-fired oven stays heated longer, which saves money.
Another positive factor of the wood oven is the aesthetics that it adds to the environment, making the spaces more inviting, cozy and beautiful.
However, the wood oven is not always all advantages. The model has some disadvantages that can make you give up this idea. The first one we can mention is space. The wood oven needs a larger area to be built, unlike conventional ovens that usually fit in smaller spaces, i.e., if you live in a small house, the wood oven may become unfeasible.
Another disadvantage is the difficulty of cleaning. The wood-fired oven is more laborious to clean and requires you to wait for it to cool down completely before starting the process. It is also worth mentioning that the wood-fired oven generates CO2 in the atmosphere, causing damage to the environment.
Types and models of wood-fired oven
Today in the market it is possible to find different types of wood-fired oven that vary both in structure and appearance. Regarding the structure, we can mention three main types: the conventional wood oven – the most common one out there – the convection wood oven – it has an internal fan to uniformly distribute the heat – and the combined wood oven – this model allows you to bake food dry or with the addition of steam and moisture.
Now check out the main wood-fired oven models:
Brick wood-fired oven
This is the classic and most popular model. The wood oven made with bricks guarantees that rustic and cozy touch at home.
Iron Oven
The iron wood-fired oven is another popular option that gives a retro and stylish touch to the space.
Coated wood-fired oven
For those who prefer something more personalized, you can invest in a wood oven lined with ceramic. Here, creativity has no limit and you can abuse of colors, shapes and patterns to decorate your oven.
Stove with wood oven
For those who have space to spare, it is very worthwhile to invest in a set of stove with wood oven, or even a barbecue grill with wood oven. This way, the gastronomic possibilities increase considerably.
How to clean a wood-fired oven
The cleaning of a wood oven, despite being a little laborious, is simple. To clean it, it is important to wait until it has cooled down completely. Never pour water into the oven with the intention of cooling it more quickly, this can cause damage to its structure.
With the oven cold, take a broom, brush or feather duster and start removing the excess residue and leftover wood. It is important to mention here that these cleaning devices must be used exclusively in the oven to avoid contamination.
Do not use chemicals such as detergent, bleach, disinfectants or degreasers inside the wood oven. These products can contaminate the oven, impair wood burning, and alter the taste and aroma of the food.
Care with the wood oven
Do not use sharp or pointed objects inside the oven, they can cause damage to the floor and impair the oven functionality.
Always use wood of good quality and provenance in the wood oven, giving preference to reforestation wood.
The person who is operating the oven should keep a certain distance from the arc and always use shovels.
Light the wood oven from the center. As the flame increases, insert more wood on the sides and back of the oven. Wait until the fire releases the strongest flames and insert some more wood. When the soot on the roof of the oven starts to whiten, it is a sign that the oven has reached the ideal temperature and is ready to receive the food.