What’s Old is New Again:
Age-Old Earthen Ovens are the “NEW” Eco-Friendly Trend in Nova Scotia
Traditional cob ovens have been used for thousands of years around the world to cook everything from bread to whole meals. Is this a new “green” trend? And, why are these earthen structures becoming so popular now?
Clay ovens are stunning to look at as they liven up and beautify our property, but most importantly they turn fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and herbs into delicious pies, pizzas, and other fabulous creations. Reaching temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celsius, pizza cooks to perfection in under two minutes, chicken and roasts within an hour and you can use the residual heat to dry your surplus garden fruit or produce. Clay ovens are also used to make famous Italian sun dried tomatoes, and incubate home-made yogurt!
Earthen ovens are for everyone whether you are a serious or amateur aspiring baker or just simply a lover of great tasting food. There is no taste like the richness that comes out of a freshly oven baked homemade loaf of bread or pizza. A loaf of bread will bake in under 14 minutes.
Earthen ovens are made of 100% natural materials, reaching up to 1000 degrees Celsius and stay noticeably hot/warm for over 24 hours. The oven will last for a very long time with proper care. Remnants from a 4000 year old oven have recently been found.
Electric ovens have only been common in peoples homes during the past century. That is the tiniest fraction of time in the history of human existence that we have been preparing food. A very interesting perspective when one considers we have been here for so long.
Food is and has always been a major focal point for spending time with friends and family. There is something deep within all of us that draws us to back to the earth. Preparing food with our ancestors cooking methods seems to bring out the best in both us and the food we make. It is more than just food and phenomenal flavor, its a “magical” sort of experience every single time you use your oven. Especially when shared with family and friends
If you would like to have an oven in your own backyard, please feel free to contact our team for more information.
What are the benefits?
Clay earth is a natural and also biodegradable material. Earth ovens allow you to cook using a local renewable resource – usually wood. They make food taste better – its not just in the mind – because they cook with 3 different heat sources, when cooking bread or pizza you get a firm bottom crust from contact with the oven floor, a caramelized top crust and a perfect even bake with no hot spots. They can be a focus for social gatherings and community groups, both at the building stage, and when it comes to cooking in them and they allow a lot of artistic expression – you can create animals, plaster them with beautiful patterns, and you can incorporate them into earth benches or existing buildings and different kinds of bases.
In a remote location with no mains utilities, an earth oven is your only option for baking – apart from a brick or metal oven, which isn’t so environmentally-friendly
The growing popularity of authentic village style breads and bakeries is spawning a revival of this ancient technology. Bread and pizza lovers everywhere are ecstatic.
Cooking with fire was one of the first steps humans took on the road toward civilization. Lightning fires and erupting volcanoes were man’s first experiences with fire, and the accidental burning of animal carcasses undoubtedly introduced cooked meat to humans for the first time. But eventually fire was tamed enough to be used for open-fire and pit cooking, the oldest methods of cooking with fire.
Cooking on a wood fire can produce the finest quality food in the world.
There’s a feeling of independence and empowerment that comes from relying on a local renewable fuel, particularly one that you can harvest yourself.
If you would like to have an oven in your own backyard, please feel free to contact our team for more information.