With the addition of a wood fired oven, there's no need to order out; you can have your own backyard pizzeria. Along with backyard kitchens, wood fired ovens have grown in popularity, becoming the latest "must have" item with people who love good food and enjoy entertaining.
Although these ovens make an amazing pizza, you can basically prepare anything normally cooked in a conventional oven. Other popular choices include cedar plank salmon, seared tuna, artisan breads, baked pasta or roasted meats.
Not restricted to outdoor use, a wood fired oven can also be installed indoors and added to an existing kitchen. Units are delivered in do-it-yourself kits or can be ordered pre-assembled. Depending on the model the ovens are available in gas or traditional wood heating and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
EarthStone Ovens in Glendale CA sell about 500 residential and 150 commercial units each year. Wood Stone Corp. from Bellingham, Washington is the leading supplier of stone hearth ovens in North America and estimate annual sales of 1,000 ovens worldwide. These toys are costly, but they're built to last a lifetime. Prices range from $1,900 to $15,000 each plus an additional $2,000 to $5,000 for installation.
Depending on the model, an open hearth oven can take anywhere from one hour to three hours to heat up. Some prefer gas models over the traditional wood, for the convenience. Makers of Wildwood Wood Fired Ovens & BBQ's claim their ovens can reach 700 degrees F in as little as one hour with a well built hardwood fire. The ovens are pre-cast in concrete pieces with the floor or hearth sections pre-tiled with fire bricks. Models vary from large modular units with arch or rectangular shaped doors to smaller traditional round ovens.
During installation, they are insulated with a fiber insulation blanket, vermiculite and placed on a concrete shelf. An enclosure is built to surround the oven using concrete block or brick. A small six inch diameter, class A chimney pipe is used for venting for outdoor installations, and triple wall chimney pipe is used for indoor ovens.
What do you cook with in a wood fired oven? Wildwood also has a full line of soapstone and cast iron cookware and that work well, but many items such as breads and pizzas can be cooked directly on the hearth. Cleaning is a breeze. Simply wait a day or two until the oven cools down and sweep out or vacuum the ashes.
Some things to consider before purchasing you wood fired oven include:
The reputation of the manufacturer. How long have they been in business? What sort of warranty do they offer?
Shape or model of oven. Consider the location and the amount of space you have and the amount of cooking space you'll require. A dome interior may be better suited than a rectangular oven. Consider the weight of the oven and whether your floor will hold it.
Will your oven require additional insulation over and above what is provided by the manufacturer?
Research contractors and hire one who has a proven track record with these types of installations.
When deciding on price, a kit that requires assembly is more work, but cheaper than a preassembled model.
Choose between a wood only, wood and gas or gas-only oven.
Is the oven sold precured or green? If not precured, you will need to cure it based on the manufacturers suggested instructions in order to dry it out.
What is the maximum heating temperature of the oven and how long does it take to heat up?
Although these ovens make an amazing pizza, you can basically prepare anything normally cooked in a conventional oven. Other popular choices include cedar plank salmon, seared tuna, artisan breads, baked pasta or roasted meats.
Not restricted to outdoor use, a wood fired oven can also be installed indoors and added to an existing kitchen. Units are delivered in do-it-yourself kits or can be ordered pre-assembled. Depending on the model the ovens are available in gas or traditional wood heating and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
EarthStone Ovens in Glendale CA sell about 500 residential and 150 commercial units each year. Wood Stone Corp. from Bellingham, Washington is the leading supplier of stone hearth ovens in North America and estimate annual sales of 1,000 ovens worldwide. These toys are costly, but they're built to last a lifetime. Prices range from $1,900 to $15,000 each plus an additional $2,000 to $5,000 for installation.
Depending on the model, an open hearth oven can take anywhere from one hour to three hours to heat up. Some prefer gas models over the traditional wood, for the convenience. Makers of Wildwood Wood Fired Ovens & BBQ's claim their ovens can reach 700 degrees F in as little as one hour with a well built hardwood fire. The ovens are pre-cast in concrete pieces with the floor or hearth sections pre-tiled with fire bricks. Models vary from large modular units with arch or rectangular shaped doors to smaller traditional round ovens.
During installation, they are insulated with a fiber insulation blanket, vermiculite and placed on a concrete shelf. An enclosure is built to surround the oven using concrete block or brick. A small six inch diameter, class A chimney pipe is used for venting for outdoor installations, and triple wall chimney pipe is used for indoor ovens.
What do you cook with in a wood fired oven? Wildwood also has a full line of soapstone and cast iron cookware and that work well, but many items such as breads and pizzas can be cooked directly on the hearth. Cleaning is a breeze. Simply wait a day or two until the oven cools down and sweep out or vacuum the ashes.
Some things to consider before purchasing you wood fired oven include:
The reputation of the manufacturer. How long have they been in business? What sort of warranty do they offer?
Shape or model of oven. Consider the location and the amount of space you have and the amount of cooking space you'll require. A dome interior may be better suited than a rectangular oven. Consider the weight of the oven and whether your floor will hold it.
Will your oven require additional insulation over and above what is provided by the manufacturer?
Research contractors and hire one who has a proven track record with these types of installations.
When deciding on price, a kit that requires assembly is more work, but cheaper than a preassembled model.
Choose between a wood only, wood and gas or gas-only oven.
Is the oven sold precured or green? If not precured, you will need to cure it based on the manufacturers suggested instructions in order to dry it out.
What is the maximum heating temperature of the oven and how long does it take to heat up?