The Horno Oven

The Horno Oven
Horno (pronounced Or'-nO) is Spanish for "Oven" or "Furnace".

In the western part of the U.S. it generally refers to wood fired earthen ovens usually made of adobe bricks covered in a thin plaster of mud.  Because the adobe walls are made of individual sun-dried mud bricks that are bonded together with mud mortar thay are often shaped like a beehive.  Used by Native Americans and the early settlers of North America, the Horno oven is still used in parts of New Mexico and Arizona.  The oven is used for baking and roasting, however other cooking can take place at
the opening while the horno is being fired.  A fire is built inside allowing the thick adobe chamber to absorb heat.  After two or three hours coals are removed to a nearby brazier for other use or to reheat the oven as needed.  Using a wooden bakers peel, or paddle, the goods to be baked are carefully placed inside the oven and the doorway is sealed.  An horno can maintain a useable, though slowly dropping, temperature for several hours.  In the case of corn the embers are doused with water and the corn is then inserted into the horno to be "steam" cooked.
LEONIS ADOBE GRAPEVINE
Li'l Ranchers Summer Fun Roundup
Every Tuesday
July 9th - August 13th
9:30AM to 11:30AM

Feed the Animals
Live Music
Games & Crafts
Story Time
Lots of Fun Activities
EVENT SCHEDULE
  • July 9th - Welcome to the Ranch
  • July 16th - Music on the Ranch
  • July 23rd - Cooking on the Ranch
  • July 30th - Animals on the Ranch
  • August 6th - Pow-wow on the Ranch
  • August 13th - Fiesta on the Ranch
  • $4 for Non-Members (per day)
    FREE for All Members
Click Here to Watch a Short Story on the Leonis Adobe Museum.