Firing and Curing a New Cob Oven
A new cob oven must be cured with a series of progressively larger fires before reaching full cooking temperatures. Skipping this causes steam damage to the dome.
Cure the Oven
Light a small fire no bigger than your hand for the first three firings. Gradually increase size over 5 to 7 sessions. Let the oven cool fully between each firing session.
First Fire Checklist
Remove any tools or debris from the dome interior
Use dry hardwood only, never treated wood or softwood
Start with a pencil-thin kindling fire in the center
Observe the dome exterior for cracking steam vents
Patch any cracks with fresh cob after cooling
Repeat 5 times before pushing to pizza temperatures
Once fully cured, push the fire to the side to create a hot coal bed. The dome should glow faintly. Brush the floor clean and test with a handful of flour before loading the first pizza.