Use An Earth Stove

Earth stoves are an efficient way to cook using firewood. Earth stoves make efficient use of wood fuel, utilizing about 25 to 30 percent of fire energy (compared to less than 10 percent by open fires), and are therefore beneficial in efforts to conserve fuel and help the environment. Although primarily used in regions of East Africa, you can use an earth stove in any location where you use wood for cooking purposes. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Light the fire in the earth stove. Because of its enclosed fire area, you need to light the fire outside of the stove and then insert the burning material. The safest method is to insert some non-burning fuel and kindling before lighting. Then add a long stick that is burning only at one end to start the fire.

2. Place filled pots into the pot holes of the stove. For optimal heating and fuel usage, make sure the pots fit snugly into the holes.

3. Cover all pot holes in the stove top. Even if you do not need the holes, keeping them covered ensures that the heat from the fire remains trapped.

4. Stir the pot contents frequently. It is difficult to adjust the heat of an earth stove and stirring helps to avoid burned food at the bottom of pots.

5. Cover the fuel entry door and the pot holes when you finish. This will extinguish the flames and will retain the stove's heat inside until its next use.

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