One of the newest American trends for gourmet cooks includes adding a wood-burning oven to an outdoor kitchen. This trend originated in Italy and has grown in popularity because of the growing desire for homeowners to cook and share meals outdoors. In addition to the fact that you can enjoy cooking and dining al fresco, there are some other benefits to using a wood-burning oven.
Wood burning ovens impart the unique flavor of the wood to the foods you prepare. This is a flavor that cannot be duplicated in any other manner, and one that can be altered based on the wood you burn in your oven. The smoke imparted by the oven is what gives pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven such a flavorful crust.
Wood burning ovens cook foods very quickly. When a fire is actively burning, the temperature of the oven is usually between 500 and 700 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why pizzas can be cooked in a wood-burning oven in about two minutes. This quick cooking method has particular benefits for vegetables and fruit. When vegetables and fruits are roasted quickly at very high temperatures, these retain more of their original nutrients and anti-oxidants, making these healthy foods even healthier and more flavorful.
If you’ve considered adding a wood-burning oven to your outdoor space, you now have even more reason to consider this ancient cooking method. Preparing foods in your wood-burning oven is a great way to provide unique flavor and to ensure the healthiest foods you serve retain as many of their nutritional benefits as possible.
When you combine these benefits with the fun of having a party that is completely prepared and enjoyed outdoors, you can see that adding a wood-burning oven to your backyard is a no-brainer.
