Saturday, June 2, 2012

Who Needs An Oven?

Well actually, you do need an oven, but a Dutch oven will do. Your Dutch oven in this situation will heat up very quickly and unless you're vigilant, you could reduce your potential loaf to a cinder in no time. I had a great time baking outdoors, and I highly suggest you give it a try.

 Heating up the Dutch oven

 The dough about to be baked

 Bread baking

 The bread is done with a small burnt spot on top. This was caused when the top of the dough came in contact with the top of the Dutch Oven. Too much oven spring!

New oven by the pond in the background.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Oven By The Pond (first pizza)

Last night was pizza night, and the oven performed in a stellar manner. 700ºF was reached (an ideal floor temperature) without any trouble, and the first pizza was not a "sacrificial pizza" as it so often can be. The pizza was thin, crisp, and the taste was good.

Mark Roman (master baker) helps out at the oven

A "fire door" is used to improve combustion, and in this situation, the fire door helps to prevent excessive heat loss. The fire door is constructed from metal with a small slot on the bottom to allow oxygen to get sucked into the oven and a large slot cut near the top to allow the smoke to exit.

 Fire Door

The next project will be to construct a "bake door" that will trap most of the heat in the oven, and this is necessary when baking raised loaves.