Logs for a wood burning range cooker have a harder job than logs for an ordinary stove. A range has to heat the kitchen, cook the dinner and often warm the water, all from one firebox. As a supplier of fencing and timber supplies in Clitheroe and Ready to Burn certified firewood, we supply many farmhouse kitchens across Bowland. This guide covers what a range needs from its fuel.
What a Range Cooker Asks of Its Fuel
A living room stove can rise and fall in temperature without much harm. A range cooker is different. The oven needs a steady heat for a casserole, a loaf or a Sunday roast.
Therefore, the fire has to be predictable. It must come up to temperature in a reasonable time. After that, it must hold that heat for hours with small, regular reloads.
Softwood for a Quick Heat-Up
First thing in the morning, the range is often cold or ticking over on embers. You want heat fast so the kettle boils and the hotplate gets going. Softwood is ideal for this stage.
Our 10 nets of softwood logs and 2 nets of kindling are kiln dried Norwegian Spruce and Larch. Softwood is lighter and catches quickly. As a result, the firebox warms through faster than with hardwood alone.
Pair it with a natural firelighter. Homefire Twizlers firelighters are made from wood wool and burn for seven to ten minutes. They are odourless and smokeless, which matters when you are cooking a few feet away.
Hardwood for Holding Oven Temperature
Once the oven reaches temperature, switch to hardwood. Denser wood burns longer and more evenly. So the oven thermometer stays steadier between reloads.
Our 1m3 hardwood logs are a mixed, kiln dried load. Species may include silver birch, oak, ash, sycamore, beech, alder and hornbeam. We cannot specify the mix, but every log arrives under 20% moisture content.
Mixed species actually suit a range well. Birch and alder catch readily, while oak and beech hold the heat. Consequently, you can pick the right log from the pile for the stage of cooking.
How Many Logs for a Wood Burning Range Cooker Through the Day
A range that runs from breakfast to bedtime uses far more wood than an evening stove. Many farmhouse cooks reload every hour or so during baking. In deep winter, the fire may barely go out at all.
Because of this, logs for a wood burning range cooker are best bought in bulk. A 1m3 load gives a good working stock for a busy kitchen. Our guide to firewood for a farmhouse covers planning a winter supply off the gas grid.
Eight Inch Logs and the Size of the Firebox
Range cooker fireboxes are often smaller than stove fireboxes. Some are narrow and deep. Others are shallow with a grate close to the hotplate.
Our logs are cut on average to 8 inches long, with a maximum diameter of 6 inches. That length fits most range fireboxes without the door catching. Even so, measure yours before you order, since older solid fuel conversions vary.
Smaller splits also help with steady cooking. They burn evenly and let you fine tune the heat. By contrast, one huge log can smother the fire and drop the oven temperature.
Why Dry Logs Matter More on a Range
Wet wood is frustrating on any stove. When logs for a wood burning range cooker are wet, they ruin the cooking. Moisture boils off first, so the oven struggles to climb and the hotplate stays lukewarm.
Wet logs also leave tar in the flue and soot on the oven walls. That reduces heat transfer and means more cleaning. In contrast, Ready to Burn logs under 20% moisture burn hotter and cleaner from the start.
Logs for a Wood Burning Range Cooker in Rural Bowland
Farmhouses around Slaidburn and Newton-in-Bowland often rely on a range as the heart of the house. Many have no mains gas, so logs for a wood burning range cooker matter all winter. Winters are long, and the fells catch every passing storm.
We deliver regularly to customers looking for logs for sale Slaidburn and logs for sale Newton-in-Bowland. A 1m3 load is tipped loose on your drive or yard. Our driver will reverse to the most suitable spot and avoid blocking field gates.
Please note our drivers cannot stack logs or carry them into a building. So have a barrow ready and a dry store close to the kitchen door. Add any lane or yard notes in the comments box when ordering.
Keeping a Kitchen Supply Close at Hand
Keep a day’s worth of logs by the range in a basket or crate. The warm kitchen keeps them dry and ready. However, never stack wood against the range body or on the hotplate surround.
Refill the kitchen supply from your outdoor store each morning. Bring in a mix of softwood and hardwood. That way, you always have the right fuel for the stage of cooking.
Storing Fuel for a Range Through Winter
A busy range can get through a 1m3 load faster than many people expect. So plan storage for your logs for a wood burning range cooker before the first delivery arrives. A covered store with slatted sides keeps the logs dry and lets air move.
Keep softwood and hardwood in separate bays if you can. That way you grab the right fuel without sorting through the pile. In addition, keep kindling somewhere completely dry, such as a porch or outhouse.
Order your next load before the store runs low. Bowland lanes can be awkward after heavy snow. Our article on ordering logs before a cold snap explains why timing matters.
For dry logs for a wood burning range cooker, call us on 01200 449930. We offer free delivery on orders over £150 across all BB postcode areas and aim to deliver within 5 working days.
