Thinking hard about a Jotul 600!! Cooking question?

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Stubborn Dutchman

Stubborn Dutchman

Member
Hearth Supporter
Jan 11, 2010
144
Northern Lower Michigan
For over a year now I have been trying to scrape up enough $$$ to purchase this stove. I fell in love with the Brown enamel model the local dealer had sitting on display. I'm finally in a position to bite the bullet and purchase the stove and a SS liner. This stove will be replacing an antique wood cookstove.

My lurking here has me concerned about the durability of the enamel finish vs some cast iron cookware (for the occasional pot of chilli) and a coffee pot. I have a brochure that shows a replacement stainless insert for the top of the Oslo. I didn't see a listing for this option on the 600 so I'm wondering if I shouldn't order an extra top in plain black to save wear and tear on the enamel top. Would a thin soap stone cut to fit the outline of the center section work instead? I'm worried about the soapstone causing the enamel underneath to blister.

Looking for any suggestions and tips any of you experienced cookers care to share.

TIA
 
Stubborn Dutchman said:
For over a year now I have been trying to scrape up enough $$$ to purchase this stove. I fell in love with the Brown enamel model the local dealer had sitting on display. I'm finally in a position to bite the bullet and purchase the stove and a SS liner. This stove will be replacing an antique wood cookstove.

My lurking here has me concerned about the durability of the enamel finish vs some cast iron cookware (for the occasional pot of chilli) and a coffee pot. I have a brochure that shows a replacement stainless insert for the top of the Oslo. I didn't see a listing for this option on the 600 so I'm wondering if I shouldn't order an extra top in plain black to save wear and tear on the enamel top. Would a thin soap stone cut to fit the outline of the center section work instead? I'm worried about the soapstone causing the enamel underneath to blister.

Looking for any suggestions and tips any of you experienced cookers care to share.

TIA
Click to expand...

It would also probably scratch the surface as well due to grit being in the stove top/soapstone surface.

You might want to use a trivet to raise the pots off the surface to limit contact with the stove.
 
I was going to say the same thing, a trivet. Or get the Oslo F-500 and get the SS plate and replace the stock cast plate.
 
It seems to me that someone else with enamel used the soapstone for cooking but don't remember for sure. You could always call Woodstock and ask as they sell the soapstone blocks for on top of the stove. Keep in mind though that should you put the extra stone on there it will drop the cooking temperature which might or might not be good. I'm thinking that Slow1 got extra stone for his Fireview but ended up not using it but then, he already had a heavy rock to set the additional rock on so I think it dropped the temperature too low. You might do a search on that one.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
It seems to me that someone else with enamel used the soapstone for cooking but don't remember for sure. You could always call Woodstock and ask as they sell the soapstone blocks for on top of the stove. Keep in mind though that should you put the extra stone on there it will drop the cooking temperature which might or might not be good. I'm thinking that Slow1 got extra stone for his Fireview but ended up not using it but then, he already had a heavy rock to set the additional rock on so I think it dropped the temperature too low. You might do a search on that one.
Click to expand...

You are voicing some of the same concerns I have. I'm leaning towards buying the second top in black to experiment on and save the enamel finish. If I don't use it enough or the black contrast bothers me too much, I can always reinstall the original one. I'm sure the black insert will be cheaper than buying one with the enamel finish. They are such a gorgeous looking stove, I hate the thought of screwing up the tops finish.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.
 
I think you guys are talking about two different stoves, woodstock and Jotul...
 
Stubborn Dutchman said:
For over a year now I have been trying to scrape up enough $$$ to purchase this stove. I fell in love with the Brown enamel model the local dealer had sitting on display. I'm finally in a position to bite the bullet and purchase the stove and a SS liner. This stove will be replacing an antique wood cookstove.

My lurking here has me concerned about the durability of the enamel finish vs some cast iron cookware (for the occasional pot of chilli) and a coffee pot. I have a brochure that shows a replacement stainless insert for the top of the Oslo. I didn't see a listing for this option on the 600 so I'm wondering if I shouldn't order an extra top in plain black to save wear and tear on the enamel top. Would a thin soap stone cut to fit the outline of the center section work instead? I'm worried about the soapstone causing the enamel underneath to blister.

Looking for any suggestions and tips any of you experienced cookers care to share.

TIA
Click to expand...

Seems complicated . . . I would just go with a trivet to avoid scratches. I put a soapstone top on my Oslo . . . but I have the slab up on footies to allow cooling and air circulation and I have a plain Jane black matte finish which certain members here enjoy reminding me is perhaps my one and only regret as the blue black enamel is very sharp looking.
 
The problem with cooking on any of the Jotul or any other stoves with enamel finishes is the likelihood that at some point something is going to boil over and leave a very noticeable stain if not damage the finish in some more serious way. If you're determined to use the F600 for some cooking, you'd be better off, as Jake says, with the plain cast iron rather than the enamel finish. You'll undoubtedly still experience the occasional spill, but it will be easy to repair. Repairs of the enamel to restore it to like new condition are pretty much impossible.
 
I heated many pots full of water on my Jotul F600CB stove last winter. These were big 4-5 gallon canning pots. I have the brown enamel finish on my stove, but I was always careful to place the pot on the stove without dragging it on the surface, and to do the same when lifting it off.
I also used it to finish some maple syrup.

I think that it is fine for cooking as long as you are very careful never to spill anything on it, never drag the pots across the surface, and make sure there is no food on the bottom of the pot when you set it on the stove.

For cooking food, I bet you could just set a metal baking tray (one with vertical sides) on the stove and set any cooking pots on that. That way if anything spilled it would be caught by the tray.
 
I use a 12" x 12" piece of soapstone tile under my cast iron steamer kettle to keep from scratching my stove, with no problems it keeps the heat down just right so as not to boil over. I would not dream of cooking on this stove for fear of messing up paint. For cooking during power outages I use propane grill on back porch.
Yes they sell an oval cook top but I still would not consider it on the enamel paint.
 
Thanks to all for the input. I hadn't considered the possibility of boil overs so some of tray seems like a great idea. Maybe I could make some sort of spacers and let it also function as a trivet. I have a two burner griddle that might work.
 
Dave360up has it right. You can do it, but be very careful. If not,I would consider getting the plain unit with the stainless top or at least the blue-black enamel version.
 
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