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Woodfired Ovens

There is more to outdoor cooking than just the barbecue!  Why not try a woodfired oven for an alternative that can provide a great range of food for your next entertaining session?

Browse brochures for woodfired ovens

Why Have a Woodfired Oven?

Woodfired ovens are easy to build and allow you to cook all manner of foods in your outdoor area.  The flexibility of woodfired ovens means that you can cook for a large or small number of guests, and their presence in the back garden makes them a feature in themselves, even when they are not being used.  In winter, the oven can be used as a heater as well as for cooking food – saving you the cost of having to buy a separate outdoor heater.

About Woodfired Ovens

Woodfired ovens can be made from clay, brick or cement.  However, all ovens will have some residual moisture and thus will need to be cured before use.  This is done over a process of days using a very low fire.  Brick is not a commonly used material for woodfired ovens anymore as solid brick ovens can take many hours to reach cooking temperatures, while other ovens take around 45 minutes.  Brick ovens also run the risk of letting mortar fall into the food, while other materials result in a one piece dome, resulting in a healthier cooking environment.

If you don’t have a lot of space, you can choose a smaller oven or even have one custom-built on your site.  It is possible to make the oven portable as well through the use of a wheeled stand, meaning that you can take it with you when you move – perfect for renters!

What can be cooked in a Woodfired Oven?

Woodfired ovens are able to prepare any food that can be cooked in a traditional oven but it will impart the flavour that you can only get from wood.  Some foods that you could cook include pizza, wedges, meats, sausages, vegetables, stews, breads, and desserts.  In a woodfired oven, you have the option of roasting, baking, frying, smoking, and grilling – which is great for versatility!

Outdoor Ovens and the Elements

Outdoor ovens are made to be used outside and thus do not need any special coverings.  They will tolerate the sun, rain, and wind with no adverse effects.  Some manufacturers will sell plastic covers for the oven but these are not necessary for concrete ovens as they can actually hinder the natural water vapour transmission which is vital for anything made from concrete.

Outdoor Ovens and Cooking

Outdoor ovens will smoke, especially during the curing period as residual moisture is expelled. After the curing period, the oven should only smoke for about five to seven minutes each time you light it.  More smoke will occur if you burn green or wet wood, or if the burning chamber does not have enough oxygen going to it.  Slow burning hard wood is the best wood to use in your oven.  As well as wood, it is also possible to have a gas powered oven.  You can even have the gas retrofitted to your existing oven.

When lighting the oven, start with small pieces of dry hardwood.  Ensure that it does not contain preservatives, paint, or any other substances that can affect the food.  Start the fire at the front of the oven, near the chimney, to ensure that the chimney draws.  Once the chimney is drawing, slowly move the fire to the back of the oven.  It will take up to an hour to heat the oven up to cooking temperature, or perhaps more, depending on its size.

For comfort’s sake, the oven should be 900-1100 millimetres above the ground.  This will ensure that you will not have to stoop or extend your body when working at the oven.  This height will also allow you to see the fire in the oven when you are seated.

It is possible to cook directly onto the floor of the oven – this is particularly suitable for pizza, meats, and bread.  Some foods will require dishes due to their very nature (some vegetables, stews etc).  Any mess that is left on the floor can be cleaned simply by moving hot coals on the area in order to burn the area clean.  The heat generated in the oven is very even, so you will not require expensive cooking equipment.  Alfoil can do just as good a job in many cases!