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What is a Chiminea?

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Starting a fire in the backyard is all the rage these days. There are all sorts of options from an elaborate brick fireplace, to a fire pit to tables with braziers built into them. There is  another option though, a Chiminea.

And just what is a Chiminea?

Well it’s kind of a cross between an outdoor fireplace and a pot bellied stove.

Chiminea are commonly made out of pottery, cast iron or aluminum and can be found in many sizes. They have a large fat bottom that tapers into a round tall stovepipe.

You can fit a Chiminea  into any corner of your patio. Just mke absolutely sure that you place it  on a fireproof surface and have also that there is plenty of ventilation. Accidents happen and you don’t want a hot spark lighting up your roof.

These are designed for use outdoors in your garden entertainment area. Never use one indoors as it can produce large amounts of toxic carbon monoxide.

Pretty much anything is burnable in a chiminea, wood, charcoal you name it. Just make sure that you never use lighter fluid to get your fire going. It can damage and stain the chiminea, weakening it.

Leaf Style Cast Iron Chiminea

Whenever you use a chiminea do make sure to let it completely cool before cleaning it out.

If you have a chimenea made out of pottery or clay, then any sudden temperature change can crack and break it. Never spray water on it to cool it down, well unless you feel like it’s time to buy a new one.

So what is a chiminea?

Easy, it’s an affordable way to add some heat to your backyard parties.

If you purchase a small  portable one, you can move it around your yard until you find just the right spot for it.

Not only is a chiminea a great way to stay warm on a chilly evening,  there are even chiminea ovens that you can cook in while keeping warm.

So why not take the opportunity to whip up a tasty pizza and some baked potatoes to eat while you are keeping warm. Enjoy!

Can You Cook In a Chiminea? You Sure Can

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Many people who have a chiminea in their backyard initially purchased it as a way to be able to have a great heating element in their backyard. But eventually, they always ask the question, can I cook in my chiminea? The answer is yes and here’s how.

Season

You should always season your chiminea before you ever use it for cooking food. You never know what kinds of chemicals and treatments were used on it when it was being made and you want to burn these off. To season it start a number of fires in the chiminea and let them burn for a while. This should burn off any residue.

Preheat

The first thing you need to do is preheat the chiminea. If you have cooked with any type of grill you understand this is typical procedure for cooking. Start by setting charcoal briquettes inside the chiminea and let them burn for a while. It is important that you use self-lighting charcoal, as you do NOT want to use any lighter fluid or other accelerant in your chiminea.

Bring On the Food

Put the food you want to cook on skewers or wrap them in foil. You can also put them on metal sheets before putting them in the fire.

If you have a grill built into your chiminea you can set the food on this area. If not, you can set foil wrapped foods directly on the charcoal and let them cook that way. Make sure to use a tool like tongs made for a grill to put the food items in, as the chiminea will be hot.

Check your food. A chiminea can cook food very quickly sometimes; so don’t get too far away from your food. The reason for this is because the heat radiates into the food from all sides, as it is essentially a hot pot. You should check it regularly (every 10 minutes or so)

What to Look for When Buying a Chiminea

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 If you have been thinking about putting some sort of heating device in your backyard, you may be learning towards a .

These are great looking heating devices with a large, round fat bottom with a tall, tapered stovepipe. Chiminea are generally ornately decorated so they add a little flair as well as heat to your outdoor entertaining area.

So what do you need to know when you are considering buying a chiminea?

Well the first thing that you need to think about is what type of chiminea you want to purchase. They come in a range of materials, sizes and styles.

 

Things to Consider When Buying A Chiminea

Are you looking for a chiminea strictly for heating purposes or do you want one that you can also cook on. If you want to cook on your chiminea look for one with a removable chimney.

There are many styles available that allow you to cook all sorts of food from pizza to jacket potatoes.

Materials:

While the original chiminea were made out of clay, today you can purchase chimineas made out of any of a number of materials including metals such as aluminum and copper.  So its simply a matter for you to decide what will look best in your yard and what type of durability you want as some of the styles are more likely to break than others.

Clay Chiminea – While clay is traditional for making chimineas, it is also fragile. Over time, and use, the clay chiminea can become brittle and break easier than those made of other materials.

Copper Chiminea – While copper is a very beautiful metal to look at, it also can be a little less sturdy than some other metals because of its softness. Take this into account when considering it for a chiminea.

Cast Iron Chiminea – Cast iron is a very strong and very sturdy metal. It will hold up to generations of use. The down side of cast iron is its weight, as it is very heavy.

Size:

The next thing to think about is the size of chiminea you want to have in your yard. Chimineas range from small tabletop sizes to very large furnace-like pieces that can heat a large area.

When it comes to size, you will need to know how much space you have for the chiminea not only  in width, but also in the height that you have available.

Remember, a Chiminea has a top where heat will rise out of, so you want to make sure there is nothing that will burn or could be damaged by heat that is too close to that space.

A chiminea is a beautiful piece of heating equipment that will look stylish wherever it sits.



Blue Rooster Cast Aluminum Chiminea – Gatsby Design

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blue-rooster-chiminea-gatsby

Blue Rooster Chiminea

I have to say, I love the look of a chiminea in the backyard. And they not only look good  but they are also practical in that a chiminea is an efficient wood burning fireplace.

Unlike open fireplaces and fire pits, the chiminea has a chimney with provides the drafting required to stop your fire simply smoldering  which is what happens when there is insufficient airflow.

And there is nothing like a smoky fire to  cause friction between neighbors plus it is uncomfortable for you and your friends when you are gathered around enjoying an evening together.

Because the fire is confined within the chiminea you know that your family and your entertainment area are safe.

The Blue Rooster Company are synonymous with manufacturing chimineas in Cast Aluminum which are efficient outdoor fireplaces that burn cleanly, light easily and are safe to use.

You can’t go past a cast aluminum chiminea for low maintenance and years of use.  It won’t  warp, crack or rust  and because it is lighter than cast iron, it can be  moved around to suit.

Features of the Blue Rooster Gatsby Design Chiminea

 The Blue Rooster  Cast Aluminum Chiminea – Gatsby design has:

  • An attractive detailed Design
  • Safe Single Opening door
  • Non-Rusting Solid Cast Aluminum Alloy Body
  • Decorative Removable Rain Lid

The removable lid gives you the option of cooking pizza, bread, or grilling meats and vegetables when you are entertaining.

Start Your Own Backyard Pizzeria with a Mexican Chiminea Pizza Oven

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Imagine a group of friends sitting outside under the fading warmth of the setting summer sun.  They’re talking and laughing, having fun, surrounded by the lush greenery of a lovely garden.  With a flourish, one of them stands up, walks over to a gorgeous outdoor oven, and pulls out a fresh, hot pizza, to the great delight of all.  Although this might sound like a fantasy set in old-time Sicily, it could actually be a scene from one of your own parties, with the help of a Mexican chiminea pizza oven.

If you are used to the typical small chiminea ovens, you might wonder how it is possible to bake a pizza in one.  The answer lies with a new generation of Chiminea ovens which are far larger than their clay cousins, and are usually made out of cast iron or cast aluminum, often with a separate oven added for baking above the cozy roar of open flames.

If you’ve never tried outdoor baking, you will be amazed at how much fun it is.  Pizzas, breads, cakes, and other baked goods can be served hot and fresh, without you needing to run back and forth to the kitchen.  So you get to spend more quality time with your family and friends.

And if you’d like to take a break from pizza to serve steaks or burgers, it’s no problem.  Chiminea pizza ovens can be converted into standard open grills by simply removing the top part of the chimney.  Easy, convertible cooking for a wide variety of foods will be at your fingertips with this revolutionary outdoor oven.

Not only is a Chiminea pizza oven a great tool for cooking, but it is also a beautiful way to add warmth and coziness to your garden or patio.  Your guests will love to gather around the crackling flames when the evening chill sets in.

Selecting Firewood For a Clay Mexican Chiminea

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A clay Mexican chiminea is a beautiful and practical addition to an outdoor patio or garden.  Not only does it add atmosphere to your yard, but it provides light, warmth, and a cooking area all in one.  By selecting the right firewood for your chiminea, you can preserve its lifespan and keep it looking great and running well for years to come.

Seasoning Your Chiminea

When you first use your chiminea, it is important to season the clay so that it can harden.  First, add sand or gravel to the bowl of your Mexican chiminea to insulate the clay from the heat of the fire.  Then set a very small fire using fat wood and let it burn out naturally.  Do this five to ten times before attempting to build a larger fire in your chiminea.

It is important to remember never to use lighter fluid or any other chemicals in your Mexican chiminea.  The clay can soak up the toxic chemicals and ruin any other food you try to cook in your firepot.

Firewood for Normal Chiminea Use

Once the clay of your Mexican chiminea has been seasoned, it is time to learn to build regular fires.  You never want to overfill a chiminea, which was designed for small fires that are not overly hot.  Do not use logs that touch the sides of the chiminea, or which extend outside of the opening.  For most standard chimineas, this means using firewood that is approximately nine to fourteen inches in length.

Standard fireplace logs are typically too large for use in a clay chiminea, though you can cut them down yourself.  Also beware of pressure treated woods, which contain toxic chemicals, and wet or green wood, which will cause unpleasant smoking.

Good choices for Mexican chiminea firewood include aromatic woods like hickory, mesquite, and apple wood.  Pine and cedar are also lovely choices which help to drive away mosquitoes.

By choosing your firewood carefully, you can extend the life of your Mexican clay chiminea while getting the most from its cooking capabilities

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