Using a stove for cooking is a traditional solution that is used today by those who want to expand the functionality of heating equipment. Arranging a brick niche without a casing is a labor-intensive process, so it makes sense to install a metal oven in a specially designed niche. High-quality specimens are easy to use and completely sealed, so that smoke and gases cannot get inside. Built-in cast iron oven for the stove is the most common choice. Due to the properties of the cast iron alloy, such a unit warms up within 10–15 minutes, distributes heat evenly and retains it for a long time even after the firewood is completely burned and the fire is extinguished. In this case, the location does not matter: heat accumulates well and is gradually distributed, despite the distance of the walls from the combustion chamber.
Steel ovens are made of heat-resistant metal. Heating up takes about 5 minutes, but cooling also begins quite quickly. This feature necessitates the frequent addition of firewood to maintain the required temperature. The walls are thinner than those of cast iron devices, so when installed near the fuel chamber they can oxidize and burn out within a short period of time. Steel ovens cost less compared to cast iron options, but their service life is shorter. Cast iron for stoves and fireplaces is characterized by increased resistance to fire, high temperatures and corrosion, is less prone to deformation, and in this regard outperforms its steel counterparts.
What points to consider when choosing a model?
In order for a stove oven to fit the heating structure and satisfy all needs, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
- Dimensions. These are the external and internal parameters of the cabinet, as well as the dimensions of the doors. It is optimal to find out what dimensions are needed at the design stage, but it is possible to install the oven in a brick oven when the structure has already been built, making the appropriate redevelopment.
- Weight. Cast iron is a fairly massive material. Therefore, you need to make sure that the brickwork can withstand the weight of the device.
- Type of doors - solid or glass. Doors made of heat-resistant glass are quite convenient, as they allow you to freely observe the cooking process. Blind doors do not have such a view - they are chosen if metal with artistic casting fits better into the design of the heating equipment.
- Additional functions. The presence of a thermometer and cool handles increases user comfort.
Aesthetic appeal is also an important factor. Oven fronts have different designs. So, you can choose an option with a rectangular, square or arched door shape, a simpler design, or the presence of decorative elements on the glass door frame or on the surface of the blind doors.
