An example sauna stove can include an open-air container with a plurality of sides and is open at the top, a heat-conductive plate that includes a first surface that acts as a side to the open-air container and a second surface opposite the first surface, an electric heating element that is positioned on the second surface of the heat conductive plate, and a furnace chamber that utilizes the second surface of the heat-conductive plate as a surface to transfer heat generated by the furnace chamber to the open-air container.