Make the lazy man's version of a backyard bread oven -- the results are just as yummy.
The classic Italian backyard bread oven is probably beyond the scope of the everyday do-it-yourselfer, but that shouldn't stop you from having a functional, if slightly less attractive bread oven in the backyard. A mortar-free, demountable bread oven can be constructed in your backyard in a matter of hours and while it may not be as aesthetically pleasing as some styles of outdoor ovens it does a superb job of baking.
Instructions
1. Level out the ground where you want to build the oven. It should be around two bricks larger than the size of a square flu liner. The flu liner should be around 35 to 40 inches long, 20 inches wide and about 15 inches high -- large enough to accommodate firebricks on the sides and bottom, with enough room for a fire and a loaf of bread.
2. Lay a course of bricks onto the ground over the leveled area. Lay three more courses on top, staggering the brick joints, so that you have a stack of bricks, four bricks high.
3. Lay a course of pavers on top of the bricks, then a course of firebrick on top of the pavers.
4. Place the flue liner in the middle of the firebricks. Line the floor, sides and back of the flu liner with firebricks. Lays a single course of firebricks around the outside of the flue liner, over the top, sides and back, then finish the oven with a course of regular brick over the insulating firebrick layer.
5. Stack firebricks over the mouth of the flu liner once the fire is lit inside to seal the heat in. After about 6 to 8 firings, the flu liner will need replacing -- simply unstack the bricks around the liner, add a new liner and restack the firebrick and brick layers.
