Chicago Brick Oven · Installation
Cure Your CBO Oven: Why the First Three Fires Are Low + Slow
Curing gradually removes moisture from the oven's refractory components before high-temperature cooking. Skip it and the refractory can crack from steam pressure.
By Reed · Updated November 10, 2026
What you need
- Dry kindling
- Clean hardwood
- Oven thermometer (optional)
Step by step
Wait for install materials to finish setting
Mortar, surround adhesives, and any wet-set installation materials must cure to their spec before the first fire. Rushing this stacks moisture problems on top of each other.
Open the oven doorway completely
During curing, keep the doorway fully open. This lets moisture escape as vapor rather than condense back on the refractory.
First fire: tiny flames, long duration
Start with dry kindling + small pieces of hardwood. Target temperature close to 212°F (just under boiling) — hot enough to drive off moisture, cool enough to avoid steam flash.
Rebuild the fire gradually over 2-3 days
Add small amounts of fuel to maintain low temperature. CBO's wood-burning manual outlines the specific day-by-day temperature schedule — follow that, not a generic 'keep it going' approach.
Hybrid owners: choose gas-cure or charcoal-cure
Hybrid ovens can be cured with gas OR by the charcoal/coals method. Both are documented in the Hybrid manual; pick the one you'll be using most.
Finish with a controlled first high-heat fire
Only after the 2-3 day low-temperature cure is complete, build a normal fire and bring the oven up to pizza-cooking temperature. First cook feels earned at this point.
Common mistakes
- Rushing the cure with a 'test pizza'. A hot test pizza bake on day 1 has cracked many refractories. If you're impatient, build up gradually across days — don't skip to full heat.
- Closing the door during cure. Trapped moisture = cracks. Keep the doorway open the entire curing period.
- Using wet or green wood during cure. Green wood adds moisture to the oven — exactly the opposite of what curing is trying to accomplish. Use clean, dry hardwood.
Hands-on tips
- Buy an oven thermometer if your model doesn't ship with one — 'as close to 212°F as possible' is a visual + instrument judgment, not a feel.
- CBO's curing demonstration videos live on the brand's blog and YouTube — watch one before firing to know what to expect.
- A second curing may be necessary after extended disuse or excessive moisture exposure (e.g., winter season in a wet climate).
Questions people ask
How do I cure my oven?
Curing gradually removes moisture before high-temperature cooking. Follow the current written instructions in your model-specific manual (CBO-500, CBO-750, CBO-1000, or Hybrid).
What's the best way to start a wood fire after curing?
Once properly cured, start with dry kindling and build the fire gradually using dry wood. The core principle is slow ramp-up — jumping to full flame cracks refractory the first time and shortens oven life after that.
Do I need to re-cure the oven after a season offline?
A second curing may be necessary after extended disuse or excessive moisture exposure. Err on the side of a shortened re-cure before the first spring firing.
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