Why is wood split into slender pieces and arranged loosely in the stove when you use in cooking?

Question

Why is wood split into slender pieces and arranged loosely in the stove when you use in cooking?

Answer 1

The small wood will start better and burn faster and then u put in the larger pieces.

Answer 2

i assume you mean the process of using kindling. The wood is arranged so that there is airflow between the pieces of wood to allow the fire to spread faster.

Answer 3

So that air can circulate.

Then you put the larger pieces of wood on top of the small pieces.

Answer 4

It's a more efficient way of using the fuel.

Answer 5

because it lights easier than big wood

Answer 6

you want a hot quick burning fire for cooking - arranging loosely allows air in & it burns quicker and hotter.

oh yes and open all the flues to let more air in.

Answer 7

Fuel load geometry: Small pieces of firewood arranged loosely in a crisscross pattern burn quickly because the combustion air can reach all the pieces at once. Larger pieces placed compactly burn more slowly because there are fewer spaces where the air can penetrate the load. Never add just one or two pieces of wood to a fire. Three or more pieces are needed to form a sheltered pocket of glowing coals that reflect heat toward each other and sustain the fire.

Answer 8

Yu only do that at the start as people have said.  What you want for cooking in a stove is hardwood that will go to coals quickly.  In large pieces.  So you will have a longer steadier source of heat.  Cooking in a stove implies baking which needs steady heat for a good amount of time.

Answer 9

This goes back to what is called the "fire triangle".  Fuel, oxygen and energy (heat) are the core elements needed to create a fire.

The reason for spliting wood into slender pieces and loosely stacking them is to maximize the fuel-oxygen-energy triangle.  With the wood (fuel) being thinly split it has more exposed surfaces; the loose stacking allows the oxygen to move more freely throughout the pile; which in turn allows the heat to intensify and operate more efficiently.

Hope this helps.

Answer 10

if there are gaps in between for air and flames it burns faster and hotter

a single big block will burn slowely and not very hot

Sounds as if you have never cooked on a woiod stove

Also different woods like ceder for example burn hotter than others

add more air and speed up the flames