The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

The old can of ashes trick

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

The old can of ashes trick

I noticed in one of bernard Clayton's recipes,  he mentions filling a metal can with some ashes and placing it in the electric or gas oven, to give it that rustic wood oven flavor.  I believe I've seen only one recipe with those instructions. 

I'm thinking to myself,  man I want to do that with all of them.  Lol.  We have a local pork barbecue restaurant with wood oven out back with top quality wood ashes. I really don't feel like burning stuff for this.  I'll bet they'd give me a few cans worth.  

Has anyone tried this technique?  And did it really taste like wood fired oven bread? 

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

If you try it, please be sure to let us know your findings. Always willing to learn something new.

I have used THESE BEFORE in my smoker and BBQ pit. They throw off a lot of smoke, just a few pellets should be sufficient. You might be able to put a small handful of pellets in a cast iron pot and light them. Let them burn out and smolder, then place in the oven. - - - Thinking out loud...

Dan

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

Thanks Dan!  I'm about to try it in about 30 minutes.  Here's my can of fresh ashes.  That's a thick, ancient Maxwell house can.  Likely circa 1960s. 

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

I am interested to hear your assessment.

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

Actually I took the can out because I decided that this particular loaf shouldn't be treated with it. It's not really a rustic style.  I'll work tomorrow on one that fits better and let you know.  

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

I used the can of ashes trick and it definitely smelled like a wood oven inside my electric oven.  It's a Danish rye and I haven't tasted it yet tho.  The outside crust smelled like it was baked in a wood oven.  I have a hunch I'll be doing this again. 

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

Waiting for the flavor report. 

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

I had two other people smell and taste test it.  They said they could smell and taste a difference.  The wood firedness was there they said.  

I thought it was fantastic but I'm biased.  Imho it's definitely worth a try.  Go to your local wood fired pizza shop or barbecue restaurant and ask for some ashes.  

I just happened to be in the mountains last weekend and had some nice campfires.  Found my dad's old coffee can and brought home my bounty.  Haha. 

Here's the crumb of my Danish eye & walnut

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

works for me.....   :)

berryblondeboys's picture
berryblondeboys

I cleaned my oven using self-clean for the first time after living here for 9 years. It's wasn't terribly dirty as I spot clean when I need to and I always keep a drip pan in the bottom when I make pies and such. Well, the damn oven stopped working properly. It's a double oven. Now I can only use the lower (non-convection) oven as something happened to allow humidity to get to the top oven and shuts down AND the fan above the oven can slip off the peg and make a terrible racket. I NEVER should have cleaned my oven!

DanAyo's picture
DanAyo

This idea might be great for pizza. 

berryblondeboys's picture
berryblondeboys

Hm... now where to get ash. 

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

If you have access to a firepit you can make your own.  It doesn't take much.  Or go check out your local barbecue joint. 

berryblondeboys's picture
berryblondeboys

Thanks! I can probably even use some of my own when I make something on the grill where I need wood chips for smoking a bit.

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

If you have a Carrabba's restaurant nearby, I know they have wood fired ovens.  

Benito's picture
Benito

What an interesting idea, thanks for sharing.

Benny 

BreadLee's picture
BreadLee

You are welcome benny.  It's very intriguing for us guys without wood fired ovens.