Before choosing the wood for your oven, make sure you know all the important factors to consider. Consider the amount of wood needed for your oven, the kind of wood you want to use, the moisture content, and the hardness of the wood to determine what is the best wood for your pizza oven. You can then increase this amount as necessary. It is also important to remember that not everyone requires the same amount of wood. The amount you require will depend on your oven and the size of your pizza.
Hardwoods
When choosing the right wood for your pizza oven, consider how well it will blend with the other elements of the oven. Applewood, for example, will add a rich, fruity flavor to your pizza. While you can also use other types of wood, apple wood is often used in pizza ovens.
When choosing the best wood for your pizza oven, remember that a wood fire will be hotter if it contains a high proportion of embers. This will provide heat and reduce the need to keep stoking the fire. Also, remember that some woods will emit chemical fumes or taste awful.
Choosing the right wood for your oven depends on factors including heat production, flavor, and ease of splitting. For the best results, seasoned hardwoods are best. These types of woods have a high burning capacity and a dense structure.
Flavored Woods
There are several types of wood available for use in your pizza oven. Ash is a common type, and it produces a lot of smoke. However, it’s a great wood for pizza ovens as it produces an earthy taste that complements the taste of fruit and other toppings. Alternatively, you can use a mix of ash and other woods for a milder taste.
It’s important to use dry and dense wood because you need a high fire temperature for baking pizza. Maple and oak are both safe choices for this purpose. However, if you prefer wood with higher moisture content, choose wood that is not too wet.
Alternatives to Oak
Oak is one of the most common types of wood for wood-fired ovens. It burns cleanly and produces the least smoke, making it perfect for cooking pizzas, pastries, and meats. It also produces very little ash, which makes cleanup easy. Alder, a member of the birch family, is another popular wood for wood-fired ovens. However, Alder produces a mild flavor and burns more quickly than oak.
While oak is the most popular wood for your pizza oven, it is also one of the most expensive. However, it can be hard to find. Even when you find it, you must ensure it has dried for at least two years. If you cannot find oak, you can use pine, wood chips, or wood pellets. However, it would help if you considered that they would not provide the heat your pizza oven needs.
Moisture Content
The moisture content of wood is very important when it comes to cooking pizzas in a wood oven. When the wood is too wet, it becomes hard to heat the oven and emits smoke and tar vapors. These vapors are hazardous to breathe and can settle into the flues of the oven. To avoid this problem, wood with a moisture content of less than 18% should be used.
Greenwood has a high moisture content (up to 200%), making it difficult to cook. It will produce a dark smoke and won’t produce the correct temperature. The wood will also have an unpleasant flavor because of the moisture. Additionally, green wood is infested with insects, mold, and fungi. Buying wood free of bugs and mold will ensure the best results.
Cost
The first step in constructing a wood-fired pizza oven is to choose the type of bricks you will use. Fire bricks are specialized bricks designed to withstand high heat and extreme temperature changes. Bricks that are not made for this purpose can crumble or crack. As a result, firebricks are more expensive than normal bricks. Therefore, most sources recommend using firebricks. However, you can use normal bricks if you do not want to spend so much money.
The wood you choose can also influence how much you’ll spend. Applewood, for example, is dense and will last many days without drying out. In addition, apple trees are available in various climates and can be picked from your backyard. Another type of wood to consider is cherry wood, which gives your food a sweet flavor. Applewood burns slowly, but it is easy to see what’s happening inside.