Years ago old wood burning kitchen stoves were designed to be fitted into a living space to heat up a home. They were also made with the purpose so you could cook on them. Before homes became separated into lounges, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms many families would have one common room which they would use in the cold weather. This would serve as a cooking area, eating area, relaxing area, bathing area and even a sleeping area. These wood burning stoves would be functional and versatile and be used for many things. You could also burn coal as well as wood on the fire.
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OLD WOOD BURNING KITCHEN STOVES
As modern amenities became more available, the style stayed the same but the fuel changed and households were able to have gas and electric stoves to cook on. Central heating became an option and so no-one has the need for wood and coal fires and stoves in their homes. Today many people like to keep a traditional look in their home and opt to install one.
Which option to go with and what to look for when choosing?
There are so many on the market available from cast iron wood fires to large aga type kitchen stoves that can be installed. The main purpose of these today is for beauty and style alone, although many people do still like to cook on them and smell the aroma of burning wood in their home. You have to be careful because they can also be extremely dangerous and if you do install one and you want to use it for its original purpose then you need to have an expert come and clean the chimney, install the flue pipes and regularly service and clean out the fire or stove. As for fuel options go wood pellets are a thing of the future and are cleaner and safer than logs and coal.
It varies Country to Country:
Today in Eastern Europe wood burning kitchen stoves are the main source of heat for any home and it is tradition to order, chop and store wood before the harsh winters which will come. For a country like Bulgaria, gas and electric ovens aren’t an option because they are expensive and don’t serve a heating purpose like an old stove does. Sometimes in the harsh months of winter power cuts are regular and people rely on wood burning stoves to survive. In the westernised world they aren’t used for this purpose but if you have a large family home or a cottage in the country which is hard to heat then this could be a good option for you. Not only can you cook on them, they will keep you warm and well, give off such a cosy atmosphere.
Having said that, let’s take a look at three of our top rated old wood kitchen stoves and see how each of them works and how efficient they can really be.
THE BEST WOOD BURNING STOVES
The three wood stoves we’ll be reviewing today are Fltom portable wood stove, the high-end and powerful Drolet HT200 wood stove, and lastly, England’s Stove Works Survivor 12-CSS portable wood stove. All these three wood stoves sport black color, and are made of sophisticated materials, including carbon steel and stainless steel.
Fltom Portable Wood Stove for With Large Firebox
This old fashioned black cooking and heating stove is one of the cheapest wood kitchen stoves money can get you plus it is functional, practical and beautiful. It has an oven space to cook in, plenty of space on the top for cooking, a drawer to keep wood in and a large space for burning wood which is a plus because you can fit larger logs in the area which will burn for longer lengths of time.
All the elements and extra features on this stove are made out of carbon steel so you know you are getting a lifetime warranty when buying this model. Customers have rated this as a five star stove and even if you never use it, it will add character to any home and will impress all your guests!
FEATURES
- High heat output
- Tempered glass window
- Large rectangular firebox
- Flat top
- Removable hot plate cover
- Stainless steel grill
- Two shelve racks
- Sectional stove pipes
- Collapsible legs
- Detachable design
- Metal cooling plate
Drolet HT300 High Efficiency Wood Stove
You’ll fall in love with this wood stove at first glance and that’s because it’s built with alloy steel, sporting an unusually beautiful metallic black that’ll make you stare twice, if not more. This wood stove is high-end, so the price falls on a high side but we’re sure you wouldn’t mind much as you’ll be getting the best value for whatever it is you’re paying to get this beauty! It has a maximum heat output of a whooping 110,000 BTU per hour, one of the best you can find in the market. This new wood stove is a replacement for the legendary Drolet model, HT2000 so you can expect it to serve you efficiently.
These chuck out a lot of extra heat so putting them in larger open spaces is a good idea otherwise when in use it can get hot, pretty quick. These are super easy to clean and little maintenance is needed on them as well.
FEATURES
- 110,000 BTU/hour maximum heat output
- Accepts logs that are 22-inch long
- EPA-certification
- Eco-responsible
- Reliable
- Large combustion chamber
- Air damper
- Ash drawer and lip
- Ceramic glass
England’s Stove Works Survivor 12-CSS Portable Cooking Wood Stove
If you loved the Drolet wood burner we reviewed before this, then you would be head over heel with this particular England’s Stove wood stove. Firstly, the price is set very fairly and it can be afforded by an average wood stove user, and that’s what people have talked about the most about this stove. The heavy duty American steel-made stove sports a satin black color, making it look more like the Drolet kitchen stove, but with a lower price and less efficiency compared to the highly rated Drolet HT300.
FEATURES
- 5 hours burning time
- Hexa Tech technology
- Efficient temperature control
- Circular draft
- Air redirect design
One Pot Recipes for your Wood Burning Stove
When cooking in a wood burner you have to be careful because the temperature can rise and fall quite dramatically. It takes a little bit of skill to cook in a stove which is fueled by wood but when you get the knack of it, eating meals cooked on a gas or electric stove will never taste the same. Most meals that you enjoy can be done in the oven of a stove or on the cooktop, all you need to do is tweak them a little bit before you get the perfect recipe. Start out with one pot recipes which are easier, quicker and can’t go terribly wrong.
Chicken, kale & mushroom pot pie – Comfort food at its best
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 3 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 350g chicken breasts, cut into small chunks
- 250g chestnut mushrooms, sliced
- 300ml chicken stock
- 100g crème fraîche
- 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 100g kale
- 2 tsp cornflour, mixed with 1 tbsp cold water
- You’ll also need about 375g of puff pastry, nicely rolled to form a circle.
- 1 egg yolk, to glaze
Direction
- Make sure you have a gentle heat in your wood stove before adding ½ tablespoon of oil to a pan. While the oil heats up, add your onions to it and let it cook for about 5 minutes until they start to get soft.
- Proceed to add both garlic and scatter some thyme on the mixture and stir for about 1 minute.
- Increase the heat before adding your chicken and ensure it fries until it starts to turn brown, albet, not fully cooked.
- Add the rest of the oil and also mushrooms before increasing the oven to operate at 200 degrees celsius.
- Proceed to add the other ingredients including creme fraiche, stock, kale, and mustard, then season well. Add your cornflour and stir until you start to get a thick texture.
- Remember the puff pastry? Here’s where it comes into play. Press it into the sides of the casserole dish before glazing with egg and bake for 30 minutes till your pastry turns brown and gets puffed.
Curried Cod – Packed with Iron and low in Calories
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 tbsp medium curry powder
- thumb-sized piece ginger peeled and finely grated
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 400g can chickpeas
- 4 cod fillets (about 125-150g each)
- zest 1 lemon then cut into wedges
- A handful of coriander, roughly chopped
Direction
- Put oil in a large pan and cook your onions over a high heat for a few minutes.
- Add and stir ginger, garlic and curry powder, and cook for some extra 2 minutes until the smell starts to become obvious. Stir everything in tomatoes and chickpeas then add some seasonings.
- Cook the whole mixture for 10 minutes or till anytime it starts to thicken up, then cook for extra 5 minutes after you must have topped it with cod. Spice it up with your coriander and lemon zest, then perhaps you can then serve with the lemon wedges you have at your disposal.
John’s jambalaya – An exotic taste in one dish
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 6 skinless boneless chicken thigh fillets, chopped
- 200g cooking chorizo sliced
- 2 onions finely sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 red peppers, sliced
- 2 celery sticks, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- pinch of white pepper
- 300g long-grain rice
- 400g can cherry tomatoes
- 300ml chicken stock
- 12 large raw tiger prawns (whole in their shells)
- 12 mussels cleaned and debearded
- 24 clams
- ½ small pack parsley chopped
- 4 spring onions sliced on a diagonal
Direction
- Season your chicken thighs very well before putting them in an already-heated oil then cook for about 4 minutes till when they start to turn brown but ensure you still so they don’t stick. Before you cook for another 4 minutes, make sure you add the chorizo until oil starts to come out from it. Put the fried chicken thighs in a different plate afterwards.
- Add the onions to the oil from the chorizo and cook on a low heat till they soften. Add celery, oregano, garlic, and peppers then cook for 2 more minutes.
- It’s time to add the chicken thighs back to the mixture but this time, add paprika,, mustard powder, garlic salt, and white pepper then cook for 2 minutes. Add stock to the mixture, bring to boil and cover with a strong lid before putting in the oven for another 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and fluff the rice with a large fork. Return to the oven for extra 10 minutes before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is an old wood stove worth?
Some of the things that affect the value of an old item include condition, size, and most importantly, rarity. A wood stove worth can be as high as several thousands of dollars, and as low as $100 or even below.
Are wood burning stoves safe for the environment?
An average wood stove is usually carbon neutral, making it safe for usage in the neighborhood.
What is the average lifespan of a wood burning stove?
An average wood burning stove usually lasts for about 10 to 20 years. However, this is not a blueprint assumption. Some wood stove can actually last longer than the assumed lifespan.
ROUNDING OFF – Old Wood Burning Kitchen Stoves
‘Old is gold’. That phrase might be old but the truth is that it remains and will remain effective till the end of time. Old things have value, and no matter the changes technology has brought to us in this age, some of these old things still come in handy a lot. Wood burning stoves are highly priced because they are still considered valuable and some people will part ways with outlandish prices just to own them. We have listed what in our opinion are the best wood stoves money can get you in the market right now and we hope that you have found this article very helpful. We also hope that it helps you make the decision when it’s time to purchase one of these valuable stoves.
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