7
Cooking
Cooking on a Deadwood Stove is similar to cooking on a kitchen stove top, but
instead of gas or electricity, you use sticks and small wood. Cooking temperature
is regulated simply by varying the amount and size of sticks used. Sticks less than
one inch in diameter generate higher temperatures but burn quickly. Larger
diameter sticks burn slower therefore create less heat. You will find that a
combination of both large and small sticks will accomplish most cooking needs.
During the initial stage of cooking, use smaller sticks to generate the heat
needed to bring the pan to proper temperature quickly. Be careful not to create
too much heat. If this occurs, simply pull a few of the sticks back about 2 inches.
This reduces the amount of available fuel in the combustion chamber. As you
continue cooking, insert a mixture of larger and smaller sticks, this will maintain
heat and slow down wood consumption. Your technique will improve the more
you cook with the Deadwood Stove.
One of the most common mistakes is to push large amounts of wood into the
stove. This is not necessary and creates excessive heat and wastes fuel.
The general cook time for the Deadwood Stove, before needing to empty the
ashes, is about 45-60 minutes. When low heat is used, cook times as long as 1.5
hours are common. It depends on the heat required to cook certain types of
food. If the stove becomes filled with ashes and a longer cook time is required,
ashes can be raked out the small rectangle hole in the back of the stove. Be
careful not to set dry grass or similar materials on fire. And remember, all
surfaces of this device get very hot.
Once you are finished cooking and the Deadwood Stove has cooled, be sure to
empty the ashes. Pick the stove up by one leg, grasp the front of the grill, invert
the stove and shake out the ashes. Be careful not to empty the stove in an area
where an unwanted fire may occur. Use the ashes as a source of lime and potash
for your garden and rose bushes.
Tips
•
Face the front of the stove towards the wind so air will flow into the intake.
