What Is A Cob Stove?

A cob oven is an oven which cooks from retained heat (fueled by small kindling) and is made from a mixture of local mud, and straw! The foundation is composed of local, recycled, & salvaged materials. “This style of cooking is indigenous to many cultures all over the world and still used by many cultures today.

What is a cob oven used for?

Flatbreads work brilliantly well in a cob oven, but when it’s fired we also use ours to cook everyday sourdough loaves, baked potatoes and more. But there’s no need to stick to savouries; sweet pies and tarts and crumbles are great, although you might struggle to make a decent sponge cake.

Why is it called a cob oven?

They called them cob ovens. “Cob” is the English term for mud building. Cob was the primary method of home construction throughout England fromthe 13th Century until around 1800, when bricks became more economical. Among its many attributes, cob provides excellent insulating properties and durability.

How hot does a cob oven get?

Cob ovens can get up to 700 degrees in temperature–perfect for baking pizzas in minutes. As they cool down to the 300-400 degree range, they are great for baking bread.

How long will a cob oven last?

It works incredibly well. Cob should hold up for a couple of years of steady use. Eventually it will begin to break down, but they’re so easy to build, replacing the dome will take you one whole day every two to four years.

Does a cob oven need a chimney?

If you need to control smoke, then yes, a chimney is best. I changed my mind after experimenting with a cross-draft oven, which burned well, but used lots of wood. It illustrated a basic fact that I understood, but didn’t quite accept; that is, no matter where you put it, a chimney sucks heat out of the fire.

How long does cob oven take to dry?

Without lighting a fire inside the dome, the typical cob oven can take months to fully dry; with a slow fire inside, it can take a day or two. There are many variables to the drying process; the main ones will depend on the wall thickness of your dome and the available airflow.

How do you identify a cob?

Cobs should have sensible heads, (sometimes roman nosed), a full generous eye, shapely neck crested on the top, with a hogged mane and well defined wither… The Cob should also have clean, strong hocks and all the attributes of a good hunter.”

Is cob good for cold weather?

Cob is a suitable building material for hot or cold climates due to its ability to keep indoor temperatures stable. Depending on your comfort levels, this can eliminate the need for centralized heating systems and air conditioning. That’s some great energy saving potential right there!

Is cob a good insulator?

Cob has great thermal mass but poor insulation value. In very cold weather, especially when the sun doesn’t shine for extended periods, you will lose a lot of heat through those cob walls. A more efficient approach would be to make most of the exterior walls out of a more insulating material such as straw bale.

How fast can a cob go?

Make a reasonable calculation of all this and you come to an average speed of about 6 miles per hour.

Can you use a Cobb indoors?

Do not light or use the Cobb indoors. Do not cover the Cobb with a cooking surface or dome until coals are 30% grey in colour. Do not add extra unlit coals when you are cooking food.

What can you cook in a Cobb?

Prepare delicious stir-fries, chillies and stews in minutes. With the Cobb frying dish, you can take your outdoor wok-style cooking to the next level. And if you also fancy some fresh pancakes and tasty omelettes, the Cobb frying pan is the perfect accessory to add to your cooking arsenal.

Can you bake in a Cobb?

You can even bake bread and rolls in the Cobb (just keep loaves smaller, for best results). The fenced grate raises food off the main cooking surface, removing the need to turn food all the time, allowing you to roast or bake in the Cobb.

Does cob melt in the rain?

Cob is very resistant to weathering. Because of its porous nature, it withstands long periods of rain without weakening.

Should I replace my 20 year old oven?

Oven ranges should usually last you around 10 to 15 years, so if your oven is over 15 years old, now could be an appropriate time to consider a full oven replacement.

What oven lasts the longest?

A wall ovens is typically the longest lasting appliance in your home. On average, ovens last 15 to 20 years.

How long does a cob home last?

How long does cob last? The oldest cob house currently standing is 10,00 years old. If this doesn’t speak to how strong and durable cob houses are, then nothing will. Cob houses are built to stand forever as long as their roofs are maintained, and they are properly looked after.

Are cob homes fireproof?

Cob is fireproof, resistant to seismic activity, and uses low-cost materials, although it is very labour intensive. It can be used to create artistic and sculptural forms, and its use has been revived in recent years by the natural building and sustainability movements.

Is a cob house fireproof?

Cob is also highly fire resistant—it was used for centuries to build ovens and kilns—and earthquake-safe when built to the methods outlined in the new IRC appendix. And, says Nilsson, cob buildings are non-toxic and environmentally friendly, often using clay-soil from the site.

Can you waterproof cob?

A: Linseed oil and lime plaster are both sometimes used to seal cob against weather.