Outdoor cooking can be a lot of fun and there are plenty of devices to help the intrepid chef do so. Traditional grills and pizza ovens are some popular options as well as fire pits and chimineas. Chimineas are well-known as a decorative way to warm up a patio when sitting outside. However, these products are also surprisingly good for cooking outdoors, depending on what you intend to cook. This article looks at cooking with a chiminea and includes ideas, tips, and tricks to getting the most out of your chiminea for cooking!
Cooking with a Chiminea
Cooking with a chiminea can be quite fun, and can produce great results, depending on what you intend to cook. The process is a little different than cooking with a traditional grill, but depending on the fuel you use (charcoal, wood, or gas), the type of chiminea, and the food you wish to cook, you can get some serious gourmet foods, or just some quality pizza for the family.
Now lets dig into the variables that go into cooking with a chiminea.
What is a Chiminea?
At first glance, a chiminea looks like a freestanding fireplace. Its typical primary task is to serve as a heating tool for outdoor patios, but it can also be a great method to use to cook food.
Chimineas are typically shaped like a column, with a firebox or bowl in the base, and a tube running up the top acting as a chimney. The shape is often compared to an upside-down lightbulb. Of course, there are many modern-style chimineas with varied shapes and styles.
Unlike a grill, a chiminea tends to be a bit safer to use because it redirects flames upwards through its chimney. This way, no open flames are shooting around everywhere, and smoke is channeled up and away from those seated around the chiminea.
What to Look for in a Chiminea
There are a few things to look for in a chiminea before investing in one. The first thing is to check the type of material it’s made of.
Materials
Clay is perhaps the most traditional material for a chiminea, and can be beautiful and effecive. However, it can easily be broken, so be careful with your clay chiminea. Beyond clay, most newer chimineas are made of metal, typically steel, aluminum, or cast iron. These materials can rust, but they are often cheaper and quite beautiful.
The right material to use really depends on one’s needs. For instance, if one wants to use their chiminea for quite a bit of cooking, a cast iron material might be best to use thanks to its extreme durability. However, if one just wants to use it every now and then, a terracotta/clay one might be a good choice.
General Shape
Some chimineas are designed around cooking, while others are more for style and heating. For example, this Castle Creek cooking chiminea is outfitted around the idea of cooking with a chiminea and is practically an outdoor oven. It includes a cooking grate as part of the system, and is an excellent choice for a cooking chiminea.
Last update on 2023-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Chimney
Another good thing to look for in a chiminea for cooking purposes is the top of it. To make sure that enough smoke is removed when cooking, the chimney portion of the unit should be large and should send the smoke away from people’s faces. This will help to ensure that the chiminea is properly disposing of the smoke.
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Last update on 2023-09-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Firebox
Some chimineas have fairly small fireboxes, and cannot fit full-sized logs in them. To ensure that your chiminea will be capable of supporting the log size you want, and the food you intend to cook, be sure to check the firebox size.
One of our favorite chimineas, the Red Ember Alto, has a small firebox and logs must typically be further cut. It’s probably not a good choice for many cooking tasks, but the style is so worth it!
Last update on 2023-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Utensils to Use with a Chiminea When Cooking
When cooking with a chiminea there are plenty of cooking utensils one can put into it.
Pizza Stone
A popular option is a pizza stone. These can easily fit into the opening of a chiminea and can be safely heated up when put inside. A chiminea can get much hotter than a traditional indoor gas or electric oven, and it is possible to cook a much more professional pizza on a hot oven (most pizza shops cook at 750′ plus).
Just be sure the stone you choose will fit into your chiminea.
- MEASURES 15" in diameter by 0.59" in thickness. The stone can...
- VERSATILE USE- it bakes pizza, bread, pizza, pastries, etc, a good...
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Last update on 2023-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Skewers
Skewers can also be placed in the interior without fear of burning up. To ensure though that nothing catches on fire, there are special chiminea grills one can buy and place over the kindling materials so the food items can be safely put over the burning logs or charcoal.
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Last update on 2023-09-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Materials to Heat up the Chiminea With
There are a few different materials one can use when it comes to heating up their chiminea. One of the most popular options when it comes to cooking with it is charcoal. This is an affordable option and very easy to use.
One can also place some logs in the interior as well if one desires to have their food flavored with a soft earthy taste. Anything that usually is used to light up a grill can be put into the chiminea to help heat it up for cooking, and woods like applewood and pearwood can impart flavor into whatever it is you’re cooking.
We should also mention that while we love pinon wood for its mosquito-fighting effects and general scent, you shouldn’t cook with it. But you should burn it after you’re done the cooking!
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Cooking Tips
While cooking with one of these products isn’t difficult, there are a few things one should keep in mind before attempting to do so.
Add the Food as Soon as Possible
While sometimes outdoor cooking devices can heat up and be left alone for a bit before one puts some food into it, this isn’t the case with a chiminea. As soon as it heats up to the right temperature, the food needs to be put in instantly.
This is because the materials inside heat up quickly and the kindling materials can rapidly burn up. By quickly putting it in once the temperature is right, the food will cook faster and more evenly.
Clean Your Chiminea Often
In order to ensure this product works well, it’s important to clean it often. By just taking a grill brush to scrape off the grill tray and a shovel to remove the ash, one can keep their chiminea running for a long time. When done removing these materials, water can be scrubbed around the interior to help remove ash and dust inside.
It’s a simple process but can take a bit of time. However, it will help to keep the chiminea to run well and prevent significant build-up which can actually destroy the flavor of the food cooking inside it.
While you’re at it, look for signs of bare metal, and paint exposed metal with high heat oven paint.
Last update on 2023-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Add Some Herbs or Spices to the Cooking Materials
A unique thing one can do to add some flavor to the food cooking inside is by adding some spices or herbs to the flaming material on the bottom. This will not only smell divine but add a soft herb and spicy flavor to the food inside.
Make Sure Meat or Fish Pieces are the Same Size
If you plan to cook meat or fish inside the chiminea, you need to make sure all of the pieces is very similar in size and thickness. This way, the chiminea will cook them evenly and properly and each piece will be done at the same time.
What type of food can be cooked inside a chiminea?
When it comes to food, there are plenty of types one can cook inside their chiminea. Pizza, tofu, fish, and meat can be put inside. One can even bake bread in it, although this is a bit more technical compared to other food types.
In addition to this, if the chiminea’s chimney can be removed, one can use the center holding piece like a grill to barbeque but without the risk of open flames. One can even put sandwiches inside to make a melt and give a unique taste to them.
And marshmallow s’mores are always a reliable option for the kids (and adults).
Conclusion
Using a chiminea is a fun and unique way to cook food outdoors. Not only is it stylish, but it tends to be a safer method to use when it comes to outdoor cooking. By keeping the tips mentioned above in mind, one can easily pick the right chiminea for their yard and cook some delicious meals with it.
If you haven’t yet purchased your chiminea, it’s probably best to pick one up that is designed around cooking and patio heating together, like the Oliver and Smith shown here.
- Iron Chimenea Firepit
- Wood Steel Grill - Great for Making Hot Dogs and Burgers
- Large Chimney 28" x 18" x 62" Tall
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Last update on 2023-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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