Pizza is a universally loved food that has become a staple in many households but achieving that distinct smoky and crispy texture is the trick. Without a wood-fired pizza is a challenge for most home cooks. While it is possible to make a delicious pizza in a regular oven, nothing quite compares to the flavor and texture of a pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven.
Fortunately, with the increasing popularity of outdoor cooking, it has become easier than ever to get that wood-fired pizza flavor in your backyard. Investing in a pizza oven is a great way to enjoy the taste of freshly baked pizzas with your family and friends in the comfort of your own home. This introduction will explore the benefits of using a pizza oven and the factors to consider when purchasing one.
What is a wood-fired pizza oven?
A wood-fired pizza oven is a type of oven that uses wood as its primary fuel source to create high temperatures for cooking pizza. These ovens are traditionally made of brick or other types of heat-resistant materials and are designed to retain heat for long periods, allowing for consistent cooking temperatures.
The process of cooking pizza in a wood-fired pizza oven involves heating the oven to high temperatures (often between 700 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit) by burning wood in the oven. The pizza is then placed directly onto the oven floor or onto a pizza stone, where it cooks for a few minutes, resulting in a crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese.
Wood-fired pizza ovens are known for their ability to cook pizzas quickly and evenly, producing a unique smoky flavor that cannot be replicated with other types of ovens. They are often used for outdoor cooking and entertaining, creating a social experience and gathering point for family and friends.
What are the benefits of using a wood-fired pizza oven?
There are several benefits to using a wood-fired pizza oven:
- Enhanced Flavor: The high heat generated by a wood-fired pizza oven creates a unique and delicious smoky flavor that cannot be replicated with other types of ovens.
- Quick Cooking Time: A wood-fired pizza oven can cook a pizza in as little as 90 seconds due to its high temperature, resulting in a crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese.
- Versatility: A wood-fired pizza oven can be used for more than just pizza. You can also use it to cook other types of food, such as bread, roasted vegetables, and meat.
- Energy Efficient: Wood-fired pizza ovens are more energy-efficient than conventional ovens because they require less time to heat up and maintain their temperature.
- Social Experience: Wood-fired pizza ovens are often used for outdoor cooking and entertaining, creating a social experience and gathering point for family and friends.
- Aesthetic Appeal: A wood-fired pizza oven can add a rustic and charming aesthetic to your outdoor living space or backyard.
Overall, a wood-fired pizza oven is a great investment for any pizza lover who wants to create authentic and delicious pizza with a unique smoky flavor.
What factors to consider when purchasing a pizza oven?
When purchasing a pizza oven, there are several factors to consider to ensure that you get the right oven for your needs:
- Type of Oven: There are several types of pizza ovens available, including wood-fired, gas-fired, and electric ovens. Each type has its benefits and drawbacks, so it's important to choose the one that best suits your needs.
- Size: The size of the oven is an important consideration. You need to consider how many pizzas you will be cooking at once and whether you have enough space to accommodate the oven.
- Heat-Up Time: The heat-up time of the oven is another important consideration. You want an oven that heats up quickly so that you can start cooking pizzas as soon as possible.
- Temperature Range: The temperature range of the oven is also important. A good pizza oven should be able to reach high temperatures quickly and maintain those temperatures consistently.
- Construction Quality: The construction quality of the oven is important for durability and longevity. You want an oven that is made with high-quality materials and built to last.
- Cost: The cost of the oven is an important consideration, as pizza ovens can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. You want to choose an oven that fits your budget while still meeting your needs.
- Brand and Reputation: The brand and reputation of the pizza oven manufacturer are also important considerations. You want to choose an oven from a reputable manufacturer with a history of producing high-quality pizza ovens.
By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision when purchasing a pizza oven and ensure that you get an oven that meets your needs and budget.
Conclusion
A pizza oven can be a great addition to your backyard for anyone who loves to entertain and cook. The unique smoky and crispy flavor of a wood-fired pizza is hard to replicate with a regular oven, making it a sought-after delicacy. With the popularity of outdoor cooking, pizza ovens have become more affordable and accessible to the average consumer.
Whether you prefer a portable or built-in option, there is a pizza oven out there to fit your needs and budget. Investing in a pizza oven can not only elevate your pizza-making game but also bring a new level of fun and enjoyment to your outdoor gatherings.
Need help? We've done the research for you and found the Best Pizza Oven on Amazon. Every day, we read hundreds of reviews and try the highest-rated products we have on our list.
Best Pizza Oven - Reviews
The Best
Product information
Roccbox is a convenient and portable option for outdoor cooking enthusiasts. Equipped with retractable legs, an inbuilt thermometer, and detachable dual-fuel burners, Roccbox can be easily transported and set up in a matter of seconds. Simply click the switch, and you're ready to start cooking your favorite dishes. Additionally, each Roccbox comes with a professional-grade pizza peel valued at $85, ensuring that you have everything you need to create delicious wood-fired pizzas at home.
To our amazement, the pizzas tasted like pizza from a restaurant. Pizzas come out delicious. The pizza oven gets hot quickly and fits a medium size cast iron pan to grill whatever.
A few said that the stone cracked literally within 6 months of purchase. Used sparingly about 2-4 times. Handled carefully and never dropped. Way overpriced for short-term use only. Can’t be taken apart like your grill to clean.
Our Thoughts - One thing to note after all of the toppings ended up on the bed of the pizza cooker is the peel needed to be floured well so that the pizza could slide off the peel easily. There is a learning curve before pizzas come out great.
Very Good
Product information
At Ooni Pizza Ovens, we believe that everyone should have access to great pizza, and that's why our motto is "Great Pizza". Our Ooni Karu 12 Multi-fuel pizza oven has been designed with this in mind so that you can create amazing pizzas from the comfort of your backyard.
With the Karu 12, you can start cooking in just 15 minutes by firing it up with wood or charcoal straight out of the box. Alternatively, you can use the Ooni Gas Burner attachment (sold separately) to cook with gas. The oven can reach a massive 950°F, and cook an authentic stone-baked pizza in just 60 seconds, giving you more time to relax and enjoy your delicious pizza.
The Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven features a custom-designed fuel tray that maximizes airflow and delivers a powerful blast of searing flame, which allows it to maintain ultra-high temperatures. Plus, there's no excess ash to clean up afterward.
This outdoor pizza oven is ultra-portable, weighing only 26.4 lbs, making it easy to move around, yet still packing all the power and heat of a larger wood-fired pizza oven.
Take your pizza game to the next level with one of our most popular ovens, and become a true pizzaiolo. Or, discover that you can even use your pizza oven to cook steak, fish, or veggies using our cast iron range of cookware. With Ooni Pizza Ovens, great pizza is just a few minutes away.
Preparing the pizza oven for cooking takes 15 to 20 minutes and only 60 seconds to bake it. For a large party, this is phenomenal. One pizza can be cooked every 2 minutes (say one minute to clean the pizza stone).
It can be costly to purchase the correct hardwood pellets. It needs a decent area on the table that is fireproof for safety. A few customers said that they received a damaged pizza oven.
Our Thoughts - We have given this pizza oven high points for its great design and the nice wood-flavored addition.
Good Value
Product information
This product boasts several convenient features such as a removable clean-out tray for easy maintenance.
It also has a quick one-touch setting that heats up to 450F in just 10 minutes.
The adjustable thermostat allows you to set the temperature from 150F to 500F in 25 increments, giving you precise control over your cooking.
Additionally, the long-life cal rod heating elements ensure durability and efficient heating.
With 120 volts, 12.5 amps, and 1500 watts, this product provides reliable and powerful performance.
Pizza commercial size is great for caterers or families. If you have an issue when you first get it, call customer support and they will replace the pizza oven right away. Just returned the old one in the box that the new one comes in. They are a local company with people who care about their reputation.
Some received used and not working pizza ovens. After returning the pizza oven the vendor doesn't give back the credit. This product will start smoking when you plug it in.
Our Thoughts - Makes perfect pizza every time, temperature control remembers the last setting. Better than heating the large oven and guessing when the pizza is done.
Good
BIG HORN OUTDOORS Gas Pizza Oven, Portable Propane Pizza Oven with 13-inch Pizza Stone.
Product information
Indulge in delicious pizza in just 60 seconds with the Big Horn Outdoors gas pizza oven. Equipped with 23000 BTU burners, this oven can reach a temperature of 662ºF in just 5-7 minutes, and cook a pizza at a maximum temperature of 1180ºF in just 60 seconds. The unique arc-shaped furnace chamber design allows for maximum heat energy retention and circulation.
Made of high-quality stainless steel, this propane pizza oven is specially designed for outdoor use, with a stable construction that is easy to disassemble for cleaning, storage, and moving. Assembly and installation can be completed in just minutes.
This gas pizza oven boasts a variety of great features, including a built-in thermometer for monitoring the inside temperature, two control knobs for easy ignition, four anti-skid feet for stability, and five holes on the door for observing and controlling combustion status.
With a large cooking area of 13 inches, this multi-function pizza oven is not just for baking pizzas but is also perfect for roasting steaks, chicken, fish, lamb chops, sausages, and vegetables. The foldable pizza peel, 13-inch pizza stone, and 5-foot propane regulator hose are included, making it perfect for a variety of occasions such as barbecue parties, camping trips, or catering events.
Restaurant style results in your backyard. This pizza oven checks all the boxes. There is a burner under the pizza stone to help get a crispy crust and the top burner ensures a nicely browned top. This oven heats up quickly but would recommend closing the door and heating it with both burners on high for at least 30 minutes. This is a gem! A great addition to any outdoor kitchen.
For some users, the bottom burner didn't ignite or wouldn't stay on. A few mentioned that they received damaged pizza ovens.
Our Thoughts - Cooks pizza fast for a great price, and the pizza tastes like at the pizza parlor.
Good
Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Everything Bundle - Gas, Wood & Charcoal-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven.
Product information
Experience the best of both worlds with the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven – as seen on Shark Tank! This innovative oven allows you to cook with wood and gas at the same time, giving you the option to use charcoal, wood, pellets, and/or the gas burner attachment for authentic wood fire and gas brick oven pizza.
The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven can reach temperatures over 930 degrees Fahrenheit (500 Celsius), ensuring that your pizzas cook to perfection every time. Included in the package are the Bertello Oven, Gas Burner, Pizza Peel, Wood Tray for Gas Burner, Cover, and Thermometer, giving you everything you need to get started.
With a 12.5" wide x 13.5" deep cooking surface, this outdoor pizza oven is perfect for creating authentic wood fire and gas brick oven pizza. Don't settle for anything less – try the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven today and experience the ultimate in pizza-making technology!
Many happy users: It changes everything about homemade pizza. The wood-fired taste makes the pizza amazing. Don’t know if we can do without one anymore. Having the gas and the wood burning makes for a quickly cooked pizza.
Customer service is not a great help. A few users said that they were only able to get the oven up to about 650 at the front of the stone and 750 at the back. Nowhere close to the advertised 930 degrees Fahrenheit. Others said that they received dented, used pizza ovens, and missing items.
Our Thoughts - With any of these pizza ovens there is a learning curve. Do your homework, whether it's through Amazon reviews or other relevant forums. You must be prepared for some trial and error. Note: Don't let your first run be used for entertaining guests...unless you want a different kind of "entertainment".
Good
NutriChef NCPIZOVN Portable Outdoor Gas Oven-Foldable Feet, Cooks 12" Pizza in 60 Seconds.
Product information
Take Your Pizza Anywhere: The Outdoor Pizza Oven is designed to be lightweight and portable, perfect for outdoor applications. Cook up delicious meals in your backyard, garden, at the beach, or any outdoor space with the gas-powered convenience of this oven.
Instant Heat: With its built-in gas ignition and adjustable heat control dial, this oven offers easy and efficient cooking of a variety of dishes, including roast meats, fish, and vegetables.
Easy to Transport: The folding feet of this outdoor pizza oven make it easy to transport and store. It also comes with a gas burner and pizza stone, allowing you to try out all your favorite recipes and bake bread, cookies, pies, and other pastries to perfection.
High-Temperature Cooking: The oven reaches a temperature of up to 932ºF, allowing you to bake 12” pizzas in just 60 seconds. Preheating takes only 10-15 minutes, so you can prepare multiple pizzas in advance and bake them all in just a few minutes.
Simple to Use: The oven can be assembled and installed in minutes with no tools required. It includes one set of regulators with a 39.37” hose, making it a fast and easy way to bake a fresh or frozen pizza. Cleaning the stainless steel exterior is easy with a small towel and cleaning solution.
Overall we think this is probably one of the best values for a gas outdoor pizza oven. The oven itself has a good solid build, although if it had a thicker top and walls it would be awesome.
Some users said that the heat regulator is faulty, even at the lowest temperature it burns the side of the pizza. However, because there is only a burner on the left and back, the front and right sides of the pizza still had the raw dough. Others mentioned that the pizza oven turns on and turns off, and it doesn't maintain the flame.
Our Thoughts - The operating instructions are not great. The starting procedure in the instructions is not accurate. When you follow the instructions for igniting after it ignites your need to continue to hold the gas knob in for 10 seconds or so before releasing and adjusting the flame or it will go out. We suspect it has a thermocouple for safety. The ignition system is reliable and it works well.
One of the drawbacks of the design we think is the thickness of the stone. A thicker stone would make the pizza oven able to hold the heat longer.
Looking for additional patio essentials? Check out our other articles.
Elice Fernandez
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