Key Ideas
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A wood stove steamer adds moisture to dry air in your living space. Common designs are pots and kettles.
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You can add oils, herbs, and spices to your steamer to concoct a scent that complements the holiday vibes in your home.
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Steamers are easy to use and straightforward to maintain if used responsibly and cleaned after each use.
It's the holidays. You've got chestnuts roasting over an open fire, and you're cozied up with your loved ones in the den of your cabin, but dry air is wreaking havoc on the festive atmosphere. Arid rooms do more than ruin the holiday spirit: they can cause respiratory issues, sore throats, dehydration, and more. The air outside is already dry during the holiday season, so why leave the inside equally as harsh for your skin and sinuses?
Sure, you could grab a humidifier to moisturize the barren landscape of your household, but the sleek, plastic look of modern humidifiers doesn't pair well with traditional holiday decorations or the rustic aesthetic of a hunting lodge. Steamers that sit on your stovetop will match the decor, add a touch of humidity to the air, and give you a chance to try out that simmer pot recipe you’ve been looking at. If you've never used a steamer or aromatherapy to stay stress-free during the holidays, don't wait any longer. Wood stove steamers are the three-in-one solution you need to keep your cabin comfortable, stylish, and fragrant this season.
What Does a Wood Stove Steamer Do?
The main purpose of a wood stove steamer is to safely add moisture to the air in rooms with a wood stove. When your wood stove is lit, the heat produced will boil the water and release steam into the air. This steam will add much needed humidity to the parched atmosphere, ensuring your home stays cozy and comfortable.
If you don’t already have a worthy wood stove for your cabin or living room, IWAE has you covered. Options like US Stove's US1269E and Vogelzang's SR57E Rancher make stylish home heating effortless.
Benefits of a Wood Stove Steamer
The benefits of wood stove steamers go well beyond mitigating nose bleeds. Having the right amount of moisture in the air is beneficial for your home, particularly for buildings like log cabins and rustic, outdoorsy getaways. Wooden structures like these feel the full impact of dry, winter air, inside and out. Dry wood becomes brittle, so hydrating the wood of your structure is vital to keeping your shelter standing and safe. Otherwise, you might experience unwanted warping and splitting that leads to costly repairs, which could leave you without your hunting quarters for the season.
You can also use wood stove steamers to bring another level of warmth to your space with aromatics. It wasn’t Christmas in my childhood home unless a pot of water with star anise and cinnamon sticks was on the stovetop. Wood stove steamers humidify while diffusing the perfect holiday scent to round out the ambiance of your living space. Plus, these energy-efficient steamers don’t require electricity like their humidifier counterparts, meaning you’ll save money while stabilizing your home’s climate.
Simmer Recipes for Wood Stove Steamer Aromatherapy
Medical practices like aromatherapy use different scent combinations to trigger different reactions in the body. Even if a lack of humidity isn’t an issue, simmer pots allow you to diffuse fragrances to suit the scene you want to create. Some are purely about the vibe, like a fall simmer pot of cinnamon, clove, ginger, allspice, peppercorn, star anise, and orange peel. Others have a purpose, like the energy and focus combination that uses rosemary, basil, ginger, oregano, sage, and bay leaves. Both of these recipes from Mountain Rose Herbs are crowd pleasers, whether you’re staging a house for sale or selling your in-laws on your homemaking abilities this Christmas.
Choosing a Wood Stove Steamer
Once you’ve got the best wood stove for your space, it’s time to tackle the fun part: choosing the right wood stove steamer to complement the ambiance of your living space. IWAE offers a growing list of fireplace and wood stove accessories, including wood stove kettles and steamers, that are sure to impress, so let’s go over the differences and share some of our favorites from their selection.
What Material is a Stove Steamer Made of?
Most stove steamers come in one of three materials: cast iron, stainless steel, and soapstone. Choosing the right steamer material is important not only to match the vibe of your space but to work with your lifestyle. Cast iron stove steamers hold heat well and sport a classic look that fits most traditional Christmas festivities. Cast iron stove steamers often feature festive designs, too, with bear lodge and steam locomotive steamers being popular options for the holidays. Stainless steel sets itself apart with powerful rust resistance so if you’re prone to leaving water in the steamer between uses, this option is a lifesaver (and a money saver). If you’re looking for a unique and modern wood stove steamer, soapstone has a sophisticated style that adds a touch of flair to your stovetop. Any option may suit your needs, so let size, cost, and style guide your hand.
Types of Wood Stove Steamers
Once you’ve picked the right material for your wood stove steamer, it’s time to decide on the style. You’ve carefully crafted a specific aesthetic for your living space; there’s no reason to clash with the decor to add some moisture to the air. Wood stove steamers provide you with two distinct design options: pots and kettles.
Pots
Wood stove steamer pots are often shaped like traditional casserole dishes. These large, often cast iron steamer options are easier to identify than their kettle counterparts. Standard wood stove steamer pots use a traditional lattice design to let steam to exit the dish while others boast ornate designs, such bear stove steamers, dragon stove pots, and more. These fun and functional figures add moisture and ambiance to your cabana. These options tend to be larger and hold more water, meaning you’ll have to refill them less frequently than kettles.
Kettles
Picture the stovetop tea kettle your mom uses to make coffee each morning at the cabin. Wood stove steamer kettles look remarkably similar with some minor adjustments. The spout is left fully unblocked to allow the steam to vent and hydrate the air in the room. There are options that have an old-fashioned appearance with a pop of color or ones with modern designs that invite intrigue, but both will provide the humidity your space needs this winter.
How to Use a Wood Stove Steamer
Using a wood stove steamer is simple in theory, but poses a few dangers in practice. Cast iron and soapstone both retain heat exceptionally well, so give your steamer time to cool after use to guarantee it’s not too hot to handle. Safety should always come first. Luckily, this step-by-step guide will walk you through how to use your steamer safely and without worry:
- Ensure your steamer is cooled and safe to handle before interacting with it. Check for cracks or breaks that could leak water.
- Fill the steamer with water to the line; do not overfill the basin or water can boil over
- Add herbs & spices for your aromatherapy session or simmer pot ambiance. (optional)
- Make sure the steamer is level and secure on your wood stovetop. Take care to avoid burning yourself if your stove is already lit.
- Check on your steamer every few hours until you get an idea of how quickly the water dissipates. Add water as needed to avoid the vessel drying out during use.
- Always store your steamer away from any heat source to prevent damage.
How to Clean and Care For Your Wood Stove Steamer
The method to best clean your wood stove steamer will depend on the material that it’s made of. For stainless steel, you won’t need more than dish soap, vinegar, and baking soda to keep your steamer looking like new. Soapstone requires even less upkeep, needing no more for cleaning than dish soap, warm water, and some elbow grease. Cast iron can be a fickle mistress at times, but Boiltrack has a prep and safety outline that will keep your steamer in great shape:
- Let the steamer cool, then empty it of any remaining water or debris.
- If mineral deposits have built up, fill the steamer with a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar. Let it soak for a few hours, then scrub with a sponge or non-metallic brush.
- Always dry your steamer completely to avoid rust.
- Season the steamer with a light layer of cooking oil on the inside and outside, then heat on low to let the oil seep in.
- For any remnant residue, use baking soda and water to make a paste; let it sit briefly then scrub. Lemon juice can be used to remove stains.
- Clean your steamer after each use.
Breathe Easy this Holiday Season with IWAE
The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about each dry breath you take. Wood stove heating is better than ever, and those benefits are easy to extend with a wood stove steamer in the mix. If you need help finding the right stove to match your home, hunting cabin, or other living space, the experts at IWAE are only a call away. We will help you find a great home-heating solution that fits perfectly into your space, both in size and aesthetic.
