There are a few myths about gourmet wood-fired ovens that need to be busted, including price and size. Firstly, it’s not necessary to pay many thousands of dollars to get a great product and secondly, gourmet wood-fired ovens come in all sizes to suit your needs.
It’s true that when gourmet wood-fired ovens first became popular, they could be quite expensive. Now, however, you can buy one of the best gourmet ovens for under $2000. That’s for a fully-finished, hand-made quality wood-fired oven that’s ready to use.
Wood-fired ovens have been around for a very long time. The ancient Romans used them on a daily basis and still today, they are used across Italy. Wood-fired ovens come in many forms, but the most authentic design is the large domed oven made from natural materials like clay.
The oven is designed to enable you to safely cook over a real fire, locking in the goodness without burning the food. For pizza, that means no more soggy bases! Your pizza base will be light and crisp, and the topping will be cooked to perfection.
Gourmet Wood Fired Ovens
Most wood-fired ovens in Australia are used to make pizza, and that’s understandable given the superior taste of a wood-fired pizza. However, your gourmet wood-fired oven is capable of a lot more. Before you know it, you’ll be using it to cook delicious meals, such as roasts, casseroles, bakes and bread.
Whilst most people buy gourmet wood-fired ovens because they love the taste of the food, it can also offer many health benefits. The temperature of the oven enables the food to cook quickly, thus locking in all the nutrients and important antioxidants. These are often destroyed by conventional cooking.
It’s also an environmentally-friendly way of cooking, as it doesn’t require gas or electricity.
There’s a simple test you can do to experience the difference. Cook the same meal twice: in a wood-fired oven and in a conventional oven. You will definitely taste the difference and, once you’ve tried it, you’ll find it hard to go back.
Wood-fired Pizza
It’s great for families, too, especially if your children are fussy eaters. You can get them involved in the cooking process and there’s no way they’ll be able to resist a delicious wood-fired pizza!
The speed at which you can create mouth-watering meals in gourmet wood-fired ovens is great for busy families. And it turns mealtimes into fun family events. Just think how much money you’ll save in takeaway meals when you can cook authentic dishes in your own backyard. If you can’t resist a tandoori dish with freshly baked naan, a wood-fired oven is exactly what you need!
Or how about a Moroccan tagine or your own home-baked sourdough? As for the Sunday roast, you won’t believe how much more succulent it is when cooked in a stone oven. The meat just falls off the bone and as for those roast potatoes, there’s no comparison.
The biggest problem with conventional ovens is the restricted temperature. Most conventional ovens can only reach around 250 degrees centigrade. However, gourmet wood-fired ovens can reach temperatures of around 370 degrees centigrade. Delicious pizzas are ready in just minutes!
It’s important to choose quality hardwood for your wood-fired oven, such as ironbark. The wood should be dry and kept in a well-ventilated area. Avoid using damp wood as this will cause smoke. Avoid softwood, too, as this will burn too quickly. And never burn wood that has been painted or treated.
Australian Company
If you’re looking for a gourmet wood-fired oven for your home, choose an Australian company that ships in authentic ovens from Portugal, the home of the wood-fired oven. If buying a large oven for your backyard or outdoor kitchen, be sure to select a traditional dome-shaped oven made using natural materials.
If you need a smaller oven to use in a courtyard or even on your balcony, I recommend the Maximus from My Wood Fired Oven. These great looking ovens give you all the benefits of a traditional oven but are small enough to be portable. Ready to start cooking in 15 minutes, the Maximus is fast, economical in wood usage, made of durable stainless steel and aluminium and can be used on a benchtop or trolley stand.
Cooking with a wood-fired oven is much easier than you think and its lots of fun. Perfect for getting the kids involved, it will transform a Sunday afternoon barbie into a spectacular wood-fired pizza party! Whether it’s a family get-together or you’re having your mates round to watch the footy, you’re going to love your new gourmet wood-fired oven.
Not only does this make cooking easy, but your meals will be much healthier. Now you can enjoy that delicious, truly authentic wood smoke flavour at home.
