Many realtors tell homeowners that the aroma of food cooking engages potential buyers. Apple pie, savory meats and baking bread are three sensory catalysts that vault to the top of the list. For me baking is the hands down winner. Adding a bread oven to your home is like adding an extra layer of love for your family.
My grandmother used an old wood burning bread oven/stove to produce light, airy loaves. Memories of my mother baking biscuits in a cast-iron Dutch oven over an open fire make my mouth water. Some of the most vivid memories of my childhood are baking days. I would arrive home from school to find the warm, buttery smell of hot bread wafting out the door to greet me. It all equates to love.
Installing a wood-fired pizza oven is an excellent way to carry the tradition to a new level. Gathering around an outside pizza oven while the aroma fills the air, gives people a chance to tease the senses and share their day. Modern ovens are designed to heat up quickly—normally within 20 to 30 minutes—and hold the temperature for hours. This gives you flexibility to host an impromptu gathering or an overnight pizza party for the graduates. You can also cook vegetable and meat dishes to serve along with your favorite pie.
Baking in a bread oven is similar to using a pizza oven, but there are definite differences. The temperature and humidity factors are two of the major differences. Many experts agree that you can bake exceptional bread in a pizza oven, but not the other way around. Since bread ovens operate using a lower temperature, the pizza won't cook as fast and the dough may dry out on the inside. Baking bread with a higher temperature allows the crust to form quickly without drying out the inside.
Many ovens on the market have a variety of options. New technology in materials is often combined with the old world methods for a superior result. Look for ovens that cook top and bottom simultaneously. Cooking around an outdoor wood-burning pizza oven is a wonderful way to add some love to family gatherings. Watch for party crashers.
