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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best wood to burn outdoors?
Birch is the most versatile firewood. It burns evenly with good heat and works for everything. Beech and oak give long-lasting embers, good for cooking. Alder gives a mild smoky flavour, nice in a baking oven like Faster Greta. Avoid softwood like spruce and pine for cooking. It creates soot and bitter taste. The most important thing, regardless of wood type, is that the wood is properly dried. Below 20 percent moisture. Dry wood gives more heat and less smoke.
What are the rules for outdoor fires in Sweden?
During dry periods, fire bans may apply, issued by the county administrative board or municipality. Even without a ban, you are always responsible for fire safety. On private land it is generally permitted to use wood-fired products like Lillhälla and Faster Greta all year round. But always check local regulations and SMHI fire risk forecasts before lighting the fire. It takes a minute and saves you worry.
How do I burn with as little smoke as possible?
Dry wood is the most important thing. Below 20 percent moisture. Moisture is the main cause of smoke. Light the fire from the top, it gives cleaner combustion. Make sure there is enough air. Do not overfill the firebox. Products like Lillhälla and Faster Greta are designed with efficient airflow that keeps smoke down when used properly. But the foundation is always the same: dry wood and enough air.
How do I avoid bothering neighbours with smoke from my fire pit?
Dry wood is the most important thing. Damp wood produces heavy smoke and bad smell. Use wood with below 20 percent moisture. Do not burn large amounts at once. Keep the fire moderate and add wood gradually.
Wind direction matters. Do not light the fire when the wind blows straight towards your neighbour's house or outdoor area. Use hardwood like birch, beech or oak instead of softwood. Softwood produces more smoke and sparks. With the right wood and the right wind, an evening fire need not be a problem for anyone.
When and how can you light the fire?
Bohemen has a stove inside the tub - so no open fire. If you do not know what applies to wood burning, contact your municipality's environmental and building office to find out what applies exactly where you live. Describe how you intend to fire. Keep in mind that the smoke from wood burning can be annoying to neighbors.
How is the environment affected by wood burning?
Wood and other types of bioenergy are renewable energy sources that are part of the natural cycle. Biofuels, usually wood, are renewed within a foreseeable time and when they burn, carbon dioxide that goes out via the flue gases is released. The forest grows and uses carbon dioxide to build up new biomass and the carbon cycle is closed.
Read more about firewood and wood burning in the excellent book "Ved" (available in Swedish) by author Lars Mytting.
We don't have access to wood - can we make a fire with briquettes or eco heat logs instead?
Yes, it works splendidly. Examples of websites that sell these products:
What kind of wood is best for a pizza oven?
Birch is the best all-round firewood for a wood-fired pizza oven. It has a high heating value, is easy to find across the Nordics and burns with a fine, clean flame. Hardwoods like beech, oak, maple and ash give the very highest temperatures. Avoid softwood like spruce and pine, and always burn dry wood, below 18 percent moisture.
If you want to make proper pizza, the way it tastes in Italy and at good pizzerias, you must bake it in a wood-fired oven. Only then do you get temperatures high enough for a crisp base while the cheese and toppings cook perfectly. Here is a guide to which firewood works best, and why.
Which firewood gives the highest temperature in a pizza oven?
In a pizza oven you want as high a temperature as possible, ideally 400 degrees Celsius or more. That means burning wood with a high heating value. The heating value of a wood species tells you how much energy, in other words heat, you get from a kilo of firewood. Among Nordic species, hardwoods like beech, maple, oak, rowan and ash have the highest heating values and give the highest temperatures.
Most of us have some experience of a wood fire. We like lighting one to gather around on cold winter days, and starting a fire in the woods to grill a few sausages is no great feat. But in a pizza oven, the choice of wood matters more than it does by the campfire.
Does birch work in a pizza oven?
Yes. Birch, the most common firewood in the Nordics, has a relatively high heating value and works well in a smaller pizza oven like Faster Greta. If you want to bake your pizza on a stone over an open fire, for example on our fire pit Lillhälla, we recommend birch as the first choice. It gives a beautiful fire with bluish flames, and it smells wonderful too.
Can you burn spruce or pine in a pizza oven?
No, avoid softwood when cooking. Wood from conifers like spruce and pine gives fairly little heat per kilo. It also throws sparks, so softwood belongs behind a closed stove door. On top of that, softwood contains a lot of tar, which can give the food an unpleasant aftertaste.
How dry should the firewood be?
The wood should have a moisture content below 18 percent. The damper the wood, the harder it is to bring the oven up to heat. Damp wood also smokes far more than dry wood, and gives off tar fumes that can be harmful to breathe and that build up in the flue. If in doubt, check with a moisture meter.
What else makes a really good pizza?
A slow-fermented dough makes a big difference. Try our recipe for slow-fermented pizza dough, and read more about choosing and using an outdoor pizza oven.