While outdoor wood ovens are certainly convenient, there’s a lot that goes into making sure they work optimally. In fact, outdoor wood ovens tend to require as much maintenance as you would expect to give your indoor kitchen oven. Whether you’ve already obtained an outdoor oven or are still considering the possibility, it’s important to know how to maintain it in the long run.
Cleaning Out the Ashes
With the use of outdoor wood ovens comes the development and accumulation of ash. This comes from the burning of the wood itself. You don’t ever want to let the ash build up too much; this can stifle the functionality of your oven and make it more difficult for you to cook. You don’t have to clean the ashes from your oven every time you finish cooking, just on a regular basis.
To start, you should always give the ashes time to cool down thoroughly. Trying to handle hot ashes can be uncomfortable at best and hazardous at worst, capable of leading to fire risks and burns. You can more easily clean up the ashes with the help of a brush or a pizza paddle. Brushes are ideal for maneuvering the ashes directly into a receptacle or container. A pizza paddle, however, can be easier to work with in terms of collecting the ashes. Once you properly remove the ashes, you can continue using your outdoor wood oven normally.
What About the Outside?
The outside of outdoor wood ovens tends to be the easiest to maintain. This is due to the material they are made from, which typically tends to be stone, concrete or similar materials. All you need to do is eliminate dirt from this part of your oven every so often in the form of a thorough cleaning. A garden hose is often the best tool for this job.
