A method of recovering uranium (U) metal from uranium tetrafluoride (UF.sub.4) using a furnace including a reactor is disclosed. The method comprises placing UF.sub.4, a first material, and a second material that is different from the first material into the reactor. A eutectic composition comprising the first material, the second material, and fluoride has a melting point that is less than the melting point of U. The method further comprises raising the initial temperature of the UF.sub.4, the first material, and the second material to initiate a reaction between the first material, the second material, and the UF.sub.4 which drives the temperature of the reactor to a raised temperature to form a slag phase and a metal phase separate from the slag phase in the reactor.