22
USING THE OVEN AND COOKING SURFACE
Oven Cooking
Learning how to most effectively control the oven tempera-
ture takes some time and experience. As a general rule, the
stove should be at the charcoal stage of the combustion
process before the oven is ready for cooking.
For accurate oven temperatures, refer to the interior
oven thermometer provided with your unit.
Ovens vary in temperature from top to bottom and side to
side. The only accurate check on oven temperature is an
oven thermometer placed along side food being roasted or
baked.
1. You will find that once the stove has about 4" (10.16cm)
of red hot coals in the firebox, it will have reached ‘equi-
librium’.
2. Equilibrium means that the entire stove and chimney
system is heated and running at a fairly constant
temperature.
3. At this point, you may load a new charge of wood follow-
ing the procedure for ‘reloading’. Allow the stove to re-
gain its momentum—igniting the new charge. Keep bell
dampers dampered down to allow a steady slow flame.
4. The oven temperature can be controlled by moving the
oven damper slide. In the closed position, the oven will
get warmer, and cooler when you open it.
5. Remember the effects of the changes in the damper
position are not instantaneous on the oven temperature.
6. Ideally your stove will perform best if it is left running
constantly, keeping the entire system warm. Depending
on your wood and chimney conditions it would typically
take three or four charges of cord wood to establish a
good base for oven cooking, meaning 1
1
⁄
2
to 2 hours
before cooking from a cold start.
7. Always load a new charge of wood to a glowing hot coal
bed about 4" (10.16 cm) deep. Waiting too long to load
a new charge means that the dampers will have to be
opened, to get the new charge burning well. This results
in extreme temperature swings and will make cooking
difficult. Your objective is to maintain the coal bed and a
constant heat.
8. Occasional ‘tending’ or stirring may be required. Keeping
these principals in mind and with a little experience, you
will find cooking to be easy and trouble-free.
9. Woodstove cooking methods are as diverse as their
owners—there is no right or wrong way, only, in time,
your way.
10. Remember by opening the oven damper there is less
resistance on the flue and a hotter faster fire will result.
The cooking surface directly over the firebox will typically
get hotter in this configuration.
11. Always open the oven damper before opening any
firebox doors or lifting the key plate. Wait momentarily
before opening the doors to allow the smoke in the oven
chamber to be drawn up the chimney to avoid backpuff-
ing.
Maintain your stove properly. The benefits in superior
performance and safety are well worth the time.
Figure 26
Rotate thermometer
base for use as a
hanger.