Before household appliances became established in our kitchens, wood and food were therefore closely linked. In cooler periods, it was even a central couple in our lives, since in addition to its use in cooking, it provided heat.
Today, the combination of wood fire and cooking is back in vogue. Appreciated for its authenticity, originality and simplicity, and sometimes for economic reasons.
Wood-fired cooking has never disappeared
Even though gas and electricity have largely replaced wood in our indoor cooking habits, wood is still very much present in the preparation of our food.
Charcoal barbecue remains a method of cooking with wood that is deeply rooted and widespread in our culture. It brings us closer, in a way, to our distant ancestors. Wood pellet pizza ovens and "plancha" braziers are part of this same line of cooking food with wood. They are often synonymous with conviviality and beautiful days, when cooking can be prepared outside.
The craze for this type of "wood-fired" cooking, combined with the desire to explore new flavors and cooking techniques, has for example inspired the brand specializing in quality wood fuel Woodstock. In its cooking & pleasure range, it offers smoking sawdust "For 100% natural smoking with beech wood!" or smoking chips for "Tasty, flavorful foods".
To convince yourself once and for all that traditional wood-fired cooking has never disappeared from the radar, you only need to visit certain artisanal bakeries and pizzerias. This method still has the same appeal and fascination.
Which wood-burning appliances combine cooking and heating?
In our homes, here are different wood-burning appliances that allow us to combine the comfort of heating and the pleasure of cooking with wood (non-exhaustive list):
- Wood-fired cooker
- Wood pellet cooker
- Combined wood and pellet cooker
- Wood-burning cooker with boiler (or hydro wood-burning cooker)
- Masonry stove with oven module
- Wood-burning stove with hob
- Wood-burning stove with oven module
- Wood pellet stove with oven module
- Wood-burning stove with hob
Here are some details on several of these devices.
The wood-fired cooker, a traditional system that's coming up to date
Over the decades, the wood-fired cooker has been improved to offer more precision, more comfort, and above all, better performance. But in principle, nothing has really changed since the wood-fired cooker of yesteryear: the wood logs are loaded into the combustion chamber of the appliance (the fireplace), then combustion takes place, controlled by the air inlets and the addition of wood...
Once the fire is lit, the hotplate(s) gradually heat up. The closer your pots, casseroles and stockpots are to the fire, the higher the temperature. It is therefore up to you to distribute them according to your heat needs (avoid plastic handles).
To use the oven compartment, simply activate the "oven" mode using a simple dial. The hot fumes then circulate around the oven, allowing this compartment to heat up (up to around 250°C depending on the model).
The wood-burning cooker with boiler (or hydro wood-burning cooker)
The wood-burning cooker with boiler is a wood-fired cooker that integrates and a heat exchanger in which the water will circulate to be heated before being injected into the domestic networks.
The heated water is then used for central heating in the home, such as underfloor heating, and for producing domestic hot water.
The wood-burning stove with oven module
More familiar and widespread in our interiors, the wood-burning stove can also play a role in our kitchen. Indeed, some stoves integrate an oven. With these 2-in-1 devices, it is possible to heat, keep warm, cook and simmer thanks to the wood heat.
On most of these "stove and oven" combinations, the combustion chamber is located in the lower part and the oven module in the upper part. Some models are equipped with a thermometer. It allows you to indicate the temperature inside the oven to facilitate the proper cooking of dishes.
The wood-burning stove with hob
There are also wood stoves equipped with a cooking plate on top (ceramic or cast iron, etc.) specially designed to accommodate dishes, casseroles, coffee makers…. Or how to make the most of the heat produced by the stove.
Which flues should be used with a wood-burning cooker or a wood-burning stove with an oven compartment or hob?
For the smoke evacuation part, Cheminées Poujoulat offers a complete range of flues that will meet the nature of the appliance (sealed or not), the specific need (lining, connecting flue pipes), the configuration of the home (existing masonry flue or not, location).
Twin-wall insulated chimney systems for airtight or not wood log appliances:
- LISS ISO-DP
- THERMINOX
- THERMINOX WITH COPPER OUTER WALL
Twin-wall insulated chimney systems for airtight or not pellet appliances:
- LISS ISO-DP
- THERMINOX
- THERMINOX WITH COPPER OUTER WALL
Single-wall chimney systems for airtight or not wood log and pellet appliances:
- CONDENSOR
- STARFLEX
Single-wall chimney systems for airtight or not wood log appliances:
- ENAMEL WOOD
- STEEL 2 mm
Single-wall chimney systems for airtight or not pellet appliances:
- ENAMEL PELLETS
- ENAMEL WOOD
- STEEL 2 mm
Triple-wall insulated chimney systems for wood log appliances with air inlet:
- EFFICIENCE
Concentric chimney systems for airtight pellet appliances:
- PGI
Conclusion
In their own way, these wood-burning appliances create a link between the past and modernity. In this age of "everything immediately", they teach us how to live with the long term, and how to make the most of the energy we use.
When the wood-burning cooker combines the functions of heating the room + cooking meals + producing domestic hot water + central heating of the house, they remind us how versatile wood energy can be, and what incredible autonomy it offers.
And that’s without mentioning its unrivaled charm…
