Well, let me tell you, I’ve seen a thing or two in my days. And one thing I always wanted was one of them outdoor brick ovens. You know, the kind you see folks using to bake up them tasty pizzas and breads. So, I decided, I’m gonna get me one of them things. This is a big thing, I will tell you how to make it.
First off, you gotta figure out where you gonna put this thing. You need a good flat spot, not too close to the house, mind you. Fire and houses, they don’t mix too good. That is the thing you need to know first. It is important to build an outdoor brick oven, you know.
Then, you gotta dig. Yeah, a lot of digging. You gotta make a hole for the base of this oven. Not too deep, but deep enough to hold all them bricks and stuff. This is call “pad site”, some people say. I don’t know, it is a hole, just a hole.
- Dig a hole, not too deep.
- Make it flat on the bottom.
- This is where the oven will sit.
Now, you need to make a form. This is like a wooden box without a bottom, you put it in the hole. This is to hold the concrete, you see. You need concrete to make a strong bottom for the oven. It is important for building an outdoor brick oven. You know, that thing is heavy. If you do not do that, it will break.
Concrete, that’s the next thing. You mix up that powder with water and rocks, make it all soupy-like. Then you pour it into that hole you dug. Make sure it’s level, you know? Use one of them leveler things. You don’t want no lopsided oven. A good outdoor brick oven needs a good base.
Let that concrete sit for a few days. It’s gotta get hard, like a rock. You can’t be building on no wet concrete. Patience, that’s what you need. Plenty of patience. You need to wait. Maybe a few days, maybe a week.
Now comes the bricks. You need them special firebricks, they can handle the heat. Regular bricks, they’ll just crack and crumble. You gotta lay them firebricks down on that concrete base. This is the floor of your oven. This is where the fire will be. You see, it is very important. If you use normal bricks, it will all break after fire.
Then you start building up the walls. Round and round, like a big beehive. You need some clay and sand, mix it with water, make it like mud. That’s what holds the bricks together. It’s a messy job, but it’s gotta be done. You can also use the mud to fill the gap.
You gotta leave a hole in the front, that’s the door of the oven. You put the food in there, you see. You don’t want to brick it all up! You need an opening, to get the pizzas in and out.
And up top, you need a hole for the smoke to get out. That’s where you put a stove pipe. You don’t want no smoke in your face when you’re baking, do you? It makes your eyes water, and cough, you know.
You have to make the oven in a curved shape. Some people use a brick saw to cut the bricks. So they will fit the shape. It is not easy to do. Some people do not even do that. They just break the brick with a hammer. But using a saw is better.
Keep building up those walls, higher and higher. It takes time, you know. Can’t rush these things. It’s like making a big clay pot, only stronger, because it’s made of bricks. And it’s gonna be hot, so it’s gotta be strong.
Once you get to the top, you gotta close it all in. Make a dome, like a little igloo. It’s tricky, but you can do it. Just take your time, use plenty of that mud. It will be fine. It does not need to be perfect.
Now, after all of that, that oven is very heavy. It will cost a lot to make one. I saw some people say, it is about $2,000 to $8,000. That is a lot of money! But if you do it yourself, it will be cheaper.
Then, you gotta let it dry. For a long time. Weeks, maybe even a month. You can’t rush it. If you build a fire in it too soon, it’ll all crack and fall apart. All that work for nothing. So you must wait.
Finally, when it’s all dry, you can build a little fire inside. A small one, just to test it out. See if it works. If it doesn’t crack, you’re good to go. Building an outdoor brick oven is not easy, you know, it takes a long time. But once you have it, you can make very good food.
Then you can start baking! Bread, pizza, whatever you want. It’ll taste so good, cooked in that brick oven. All that work, it’ll be worth it in the end. You can make the best pizza in this oven. Better than any pizza you buy from the store. Trust me, I know. I have had a lot of pizzas. This is the best way to make them.
So, there you have it. That’s how you build one of them outdoor brick ovens. It is not easy, but it is worth it. It ain’t easy, but it’s worth it. Just remember what I told you, and you’ll be alright. And always be careful around fire, you hear?