How to Cook on a Wood Stove

Heat up the stove by building a nice fire in it with the damper(s) wide open., Get your cooking gear out and the ingredients ready. , As you heat up the stove, put a kettle or pot of water on to heat as well., Test the top of the stove by tossing a...

14 Steps 2 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Heat up the stove by building a nice fire in it with the damper(s) wide open.

    You'll need it for soup, stew, tea, coffee, dish washing...everything.

    It also serves as a heat-storage measure so use a big kettle.

    A canner works well. , If the water sizzles and danced, the stove is pretty much ready. , If you add cold water it will take forever to heat up again...that pan of hot water is crucial.

    To "bake" something, put it in a pan (cake, bread) or in foil (potatoes) and if the top of the stove is very hot put foil items on a trivet or a bit of crumpled foil.

    Then cover with a larger pan that goes all the way down to the stovetop.

    Big metal bowls also work for this sort of make-shift oven.

    You can use the fire-box of the stove as a sort of broiler or tandoori oven.

    Wrap whatever you want to cook in heavy foil and put in the coals after things have cooled down a bit (warning...you may turn your food into charcoal).

    To fry on the stovetop, use a thin thin pan.

    Cast iron pans on a cast iron stove take forever to heat up so might work for soups and stews left all day, but not great for frying.

    If you don't have a thin frying pan or saucepan to use, back to the heavy-duty foil! (a coffee can will work too!).

    Set the pan on the stove, oil it up well.

    Test for hotness with a drop of water and fry away. , You never know when you'll want a cup of tea.
  2. Step 2: Get your cooking gear out and the ingredients ready.

  3. Step 3: As you heat up the stove

  4. Step 4: put a kettle or pot of water on to heat as well.

  5. Step 5: Test the top of the stove by tossing a DROP of water on it.

  6. Step 6: Vary your technique depending on what you're cooking: To make soup

  7. Step 7: put on a pot

  8. Step 8: let it heat up well (keep the stove hot

  9. Step 9: adding wood as necessary and opening/closing the damper to try to maintain a temperature)

  10. Step 10: fry whatever you want fried (meat

  11. Step 11: etc) and add some boiling water or soup stock.

  12. Step 12: When done cooking

  13. Step 13: turn the dampers down and let the stove cool a bit

  14. Step 14: but keep that pan of water on there.

Detailed Guide

You'll need it for soup, stew, tea, coffee, dish washing...everything.

It also serves as a heat-storage measure so use a big kettle.

A canner works well. , If the water sizzles and danced, the stove is pretty much ready. , If you add cold water it will take forever to heat up again...that pan of hot water is crucial.

To "bake" something, put it in a pan (cake, bread) or in foil (potatoes) and if the top of the stove is very hot put foil items on a trivet or a bit of crumpled foil.

Then cover with a larger pan that goes all the way down to the stovetop.

Big metal bowls also work for this sort of make-shift oven.

You can use the fire-box of the stove as a sort of broiler or tandoori oven.

Wrap whatever you want to cook in heavy foil and put in the coals after things have cooled down a bit (warning...you may turn your food into charcoal).

To fry on the stovetop, use a thin thin pan.

Cast iron pans on a cast iron stove take forever to heat up so might work for soups and stews left all day, but not great for frying.

If you don't have a thin frying pan or saucepan to use, back to the heavy-duty foil! (a coffee can will work too!).

Set the pan on the stove, oil it up well.

Test for hotness with a drop of water and fry away. , You never know when you'll want a cup of tea.

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Diana Garcia

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