Minecraft’s blast furnace is a game-changer for players who want to maximize efficiency in their smelting processes. Doubling the speed of a regular furnace, this special block is an essential tool for quickly converting ores and metals into usable materials.
Understanding the blast furnace’s functionality and learning to use it effectively enhances gameplay, allowing players to save time and resources. In the following guide, we’ll delve into the details of how to make, operate, and optimize a Minecraft blast furnace for your crafting needs.
How does a blast furnace work?
The blast furnace operates on the same basic principle as a regular furnace, but with greater efficiency. Its sole purpose is to smelt ores, raw metals, and certain armors twice as fast. It is an invaluable asset when dealing with large quantities of materials that need processing.
However, the blast furnace is not a catch-all solution. It’s specifically tailored for iron, gold, and chainmail items, so players should keep a regular furnace on hand for cooking and smelting other items. Its speed is a trade-off; the blast furnace uses fuel at the same accelerated rate.
When activated, the blast furnace emits a light level of 13, making it a light source. But more than just practical, it’s also an aesthetic choice, giving your base a more industrial feel.
A key aspect of the blast furnace’s functionality is its role as an armorer’s job site block in villages. This means that when you place a blast furnace, it can convert an unemployed villager into an armorer, which is incredibly useful for trading.
What are the required materials to use a blast furnace?
To craft and use a blast furnace, you’ll need the following materials:
- Iron ingots: These are obtained by smelting iron ore in a regular furnace.
- A furnace: Crafted from eight cobblestone blocks.
- Smooth stone: Made by smelting stone in a furnace.
Having these materials on hand is the first step to upgrading your smelting capabilities in Minecraft.
How to make a blast furnace in Minecraft?
Creating a blast furnace is straightforward once you have the necessary components. Follow these steps:
- Open your crafting table to access the 3×3 crafting grid.
- Place the regular furnace in the center slot.
- Arrange three iron ingots across the top row.
- Put one iron ingot in both the left and right slots of the middle row, flanking the furnace.
- Place three smooth stones along the bottom row.
This recipe will yield one blast furnace that you can place anywhere in your Minecraft world.

What can you smelt in a blast furnace Minecraft?
The blast furnace is not a jack-of-all-trades; it’s a specialist. It excels in smelting:
- Ores: Primarily iron and gold ores.
- Raw metals: Such as raw iron and raw gold.
- Metal armor and tools: To reclaim some of the materials used in crafting them.
It’s important to note that items like food, sand, or cobblestone, which can be processed in a regular furnace, cannot be smelted in a blast furnace.
How to make smooth stone in Minecraft?
Smooth stone, a component in crafting blast furnaces, can be made by smelting stone in a regular furnace. Here’s how:
- Mine cobblestone with a pickaxe and collect it.
- Smelt the cobblestone in a furnace to get stone.
- Place the stone back into the furnace to create smooth stone.
Each stone smelted will give you one smooth stone, which is also a sleek building material for your constructions.
How to use a Minecraft blast furnace bedrock?
In the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, the blast furnace works identically to other versions. However, the user interface may differ slightly. To use it:
- Place the blast furnace on the ground by tapping on the desired location.
- Tap on the blast furnace to open the smelting interface.
- Add the items you wish to smelt in the top slot.
- Put your chosen fuel source in the bottom slot.
- Collect your smelted items from the right slot once the process is complete.
Using a blast furnace in the Bedrock Edition is intuitive and straightforward, allowing players to efficiently process metals and armors.
What are the steps to use a blast furnace?
Regardless of the edition of Minecraft you’re playing, the steps to use a blast furnace are the same:
- Place the blast furnace on a solid block.
- Right-click or tap on it to open the interface.
- Add the fuel source (coal, charcoal, or wooden items) to the bottom slot.
- Place your smeltable items (iron ore, gold ore, or metal equipment) in the top slot.
- Wait for the arrow to fill, indicating the smelting process is complete.
- Collect the resulting product from the output slot.
Remember that the blast furnace operates at double the speed, so your items will be ready in half the time compared to a regular furnace.
Related questions on how to use a Minecraft blast furnace
How to work a blast furnace in Minecraft?
To operate a blast furnace, insert your smeltable items and fuel into the respective slots. The furnace will begin processing your items at twice the speed of a regular furnace.

Minecraft’s blast furnace is primarily used for converting ores and old armors into their constituent materials. It’s a powerful tool that, when used correctly, can significantly speed up your smelting operations.
How does a blast furnace work step by step?
The blast furnace follows a simple, step-by-step process:
- Select the blast furnace in your hotbar and place it by right-clicking on a surface.
- Open the blast furnace interface by right-clicking it again.
- Add fuel to the bottom slot and the item you wish to smelt in the top slot.
As the process begins, an arrow icon will fill up, indicating the completion of the smelting process. Once full, retrieve your items from the output slot.
What can be smelted in a blast furnace?
Items that can be smelted in a blast furnace include:
- Iron ore into iron ingots
- Gold ore into gold ingots
- Used iron and gold items back into their respective nuggets
This specialization makes the blast furnace an essential addition to any efficient mining and crafting operation.
How do I use the furnace in Minecraft?
Using a furnace is fundamental:
- Place the furnace on the ground.
- Open its interface with a right-click.
- Place fuel, such as coal, in the bottom slot.
- Add the items you want to smelt or cook in the top slot.
Once the arrow fills up, the item is processed and can be retrieved from the right slot.
In conclusion, mastering the use of a Minecraft blast furnace can make a significant difference in your gameplay. By following this guide, you’ll be on your way to more efficient smelting and better resource management in your Minecraft adventures.

This guide is super handy for anyone looking to up their smelting game in Minecraft! I never realized how much more efficient a blast furnace could be. The step-by-step breakdown makes it really easy to follow. Can’t wait to try this out and save some serious time on my next mining session. Thanks for sharing these tips!