Chimenea

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Chimenea burning wood Chimenea-20080706.jpg
Chimenea burning wood

A chimenea (UK English) [1] or chiminea (US English) [2] ( /ˌɪmɪˈn.ə/ CHIM-in-AY; from Spanish chimenea [tʃimeˈnea] , in turn derived from French cheminée, "chimney") is a freestanding front-loading fireplace or oven with a bulbous body and usually a vertical smoke vent or chimney.

Contents

History

Historically chimeneas have been made out of fired clay and used for heating and cooking. These traditional designs can be traced to Spain and its influence on Mexico. The first use of a traditionally designed chimenea appears around 400 years ago.

The chimenea was once a daily life necessity that served a domestic purpose. The chimenea of the past was used indoors for heating and cooking, usually by an open window or in the center of the hut or home with an opening in the roof to allow smoke to escape. With the advent of the modern home, chimeneas are now used outdoors mainly for entertainment in a backyard setting.

More modern clay chimeneas have clay that has been heavily grogged to better handle the thermal stresses that often fracture traditional earthenware items. Manufacturers now also offer cast iron and aluminium chimeneas, which can become very hot on the outside, but are much less fragile than the traditional clay models, and may be better suited to climates with wide temperature ranges.

Fuels

Firewood is most commonly used for fuel; pressure-treated lumber is not recommended but hardwood is the best. Softwood is only used for kindling. The best types of hardwood include oak, cedar, pear, sycamore, ash, apple and cherry. Charcoal and ethanol can be used in some types of chimenea. Pinyon wood is commonly used in the Southwest US in chimineas.

Smoking

Chimeneas have a tendency to smoke without regular maintenance. The amount of smoke is generally dependent on the type of fuel. Unseasoned or wet wood, leaves, and too much tinder are causes of smoking. Periodic cleaning is necessary. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoking (cooking)</span> Exposing food to smoke to flavor or preserve it

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hearth</span> Place for a fire to heat the home and to cook food, usually of masonry

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firewood</span> Wood used for fires

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stove</span> Device used to generate heat or to cook

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitchen stove</span> Kitchen appliance designed for the purpose of cooking food

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonry oven</span> Baking chamber made of fireproof brick, concrete, or stone

A masonry oven, colloquially known as a brick oven or stone oven, is an oven consisting of a baking chamber made of fireproof brick, concrete, stone, clay, or cob. Though traditionally wood-fired, coal-fired ovens were common in the 19th century, and modern masonry ovens are often fired with natural gas or even electricity. Modern masonry ovens are closely associated with artisan bread and pizza, but in the past they were used for any cooking task involving baking. Masonry ovens are built by masons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonry heater</span> Heating device

A masonry heater is a device for warming an interior space through radiant heating, by capturing the heat from periodic burning of fuel, and then radiating the heat at a fairly constant temperature for a long period. Masonry heaters covered in tile are called Kachelofen. The technology has existed in different forms, from back into the Neoglacial and Neolithic periods. Archaeological digs have revealed excavations of ancient inhabitants utilizing hot smoke from fires in their subterranean dwellings, to radiate into the living spaces. These early forms eventually evolved into modern systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outdoor fireplace</span> Place for building fires outside of the home

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fireplace insert</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wood-burning stove</span> Type of stove

A wood-burning stove is a heating or cooking appliance capable of burning wood fuel, often called solid fuel, and wood-derived biomass fuel, such as sawdust bricks. Generally the appliance consists of a solid metal closed firebox, often lined by fire brick, and one or more air controls. The first wood-burning stove was patented in Strasbourg in 1557. This was two centuries before the Industrial Revolution, so iron was still prohibitively expensive. The first wood-burning stoves were high-end consumer items and only gradually became used widely.

References

  1. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/chimenea [ bare URL ]
  2. "Definition of CHIMINEA".
  3. How to stop a chiminea smoking