How to Cook on a Wood Stove

Wood stoves are used by many people in preparing family meals. They keep utility costs down and they are a reliable source for cooking, even when the power goes out. Follow these suggestions to get that fire stoked and food cooking on a wood stove.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Get familiar with the wood stove. Locate the firebox, air intake, dampers (there are two), and the cooking surface. If your wood stove came with a manual, it's best to read it cover-to-cover to familiarize yourself with the stove prior to cooking on it.
2. Light a fire in the firebox. Place crumpled newspaper in the firebox along with kindling. Pack it tight but don't overcrowd it. Strike a match and place it on the kindling.
3. Open the chimney damper to allow the smoke to escape out of the chimney pipe. Next you will need to adjust the air intake so that it is wide open; this will allow you to get the fire going. Once the fire is started, add logs and adjust the intake to the desired setting. The more air you allow in, the more aggressive the fire will be.
4. Decide if you are going to utilize the stove top, the oven or both. The cook top is designed to have one side that gets hotter than the other. This will allow you to move your pots and pans to the desired heat location. The oven may take a while to get hot enough. It's a good idea to get an oven gauge to check on the correct temperature.
5. Cook food as you would in a regular oven or stove. Remember that this method of cooking takes longer, so allow yourself ample time to cook food thoroughly.