Having your own pizza oven used to be something only the wealthy people among us could enjoy, however, in recent times manufacturers have built compact and affordable outdoor pizza ovens for everyone to enjoy in their own backyards.
If you’ve always wanted to own an outdoor pizza oven then you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve compiled two lists of products for the best outdoor pizza oven under $500 and also the best outdoor pizza oven under $1500, so we’re sure you’ll find your perfect pizza oven whatever your budget is.
We’ve also included a buyers guide to help discover what you need to know before buying a new outdoor pizza oven and also some frequently asked questions that people have asked on the matter.
Ready to start making a delicious pizza?
If you’ve been eager to get your new pizza oven for a while now and you simply just cannot waste any more time then we’ve fast-tracked our best two options right here to save you from reading the entire article.
Our top option for the best outdoor pizza oven under $500 is the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Black and here are a few reasons we think it's a great choice.
- Easy to use
- No installation required (unless using gas option)
- Lightweight and portable
- Sleek modern design
- Cooks at temperatures around 900 degrees Fahrenheit
- Even cooking with no raw spots on pizza
- Easy to clean
- 3-in-1 oven as it gas, charcoal, and wood-fuelled
- Heats to optimum temperature within 30 minutes
- Can cook pizza within 2 minutes
If you’re looking to spend a bit more on your new pizza oven then our favorite option for the best pizza oven under $1500 is the ALFA One Pizza Oven and here’s a list of why we think it’s so worth the price tag.
- Quick and easy to assemble
- Quick cooking time
- Heats up quickly
- Stylish design
- Can cook lots of different food
- High-quality materials
- Large cooking chamber
- High temperature
7 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens under $500
OUR TOP PICK
Our top choice on the list is the Bertello Outdoor Pizza and whilst being smaller in size, it is definitely not one to underestimate.
One of the most exciting things about this outdoor pizza oven is that it offers itself as an authentic gas, charcoal, AND wood-fired oven, so is suitable for everyone in the market for a portable outdoor oven.
However, the gas burner attachment is sold separately and can range from $80-$100 to buy brand new. Due to the compact size of the oven, it only allows room for wood pellets to be used as fuel instead of whole logs, so you’ll have to buy wood pellets especially for your new oven.
We certainly can’t complain about the sleek, compact, and modern design of the outdoor oven, it will stand beautifully in any garden and won’t take up masses of room.
The inside of the oven features a cordierite stone which is the perfect material for a pizza oven as it can withstand high temperatures without breaking but it also retains heat well, so will cook the base of your pizza fast.
The cooking surface will allow you to cook a good-sized medium pizza without any fuss, however, you won’t be able to fit in anything larger than 12.5 inches.
Once lit, the oven heats up to the optimum temperature within 20-30 minutes depending on how many wood pellets you have used (may take longer with gas). The oven can reach up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit which is insane for an oven of this caliber.
The oven cooks the perfect pizza within only 20 minutes and will only need to be rotated once or twice in that time to ensure even cooking and a nice char around the crust of the pizza.
If you don’t want to just stick with pizza then you can also brand out and cook an array of other foods in your pizza oven and they’ll all get the crips, rich smoky flavor to them as well.
You’ll get similar results cooking your food with charcoal as a fuel, but we did not try to use the gas option as we didn’t have the correct attachment to make it work.
The Bertello oven weighs only 32lbs and is smaller enough to be carried around to different locations if needed, it also comes with legs attached to it, so will stand securely on a flat surface whilst you cook your pizzas.
The legs are not the longest, however, so you may want to consider putting it on a high surface so you can easily keep an eye on the pizzas if it cooks without having to bend down.
Cleaning pizza ovens, especially those that are charcoal or wood-fired can be one of the main concerns when you think about purchasing one, however, this Bertello pizza oven is easy to clean and only requires you to brush down the cordierite stone surface once it’s cooled down.
There are no accessories included in the price of the Bertello oven which could deter some people, however, there is no considerable need for a weather-resistant cover for the oven as it can be brought inside or kept in a garage when it is not being used.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- No installation required (unless using gas option)
- Lightweight and portable
- Sleek modern design
- Cooks at temperatures around 900 degrees Fahrenheit
- Even cooking with no raw spots on pizza
- Easy to clean
- 3-in-1 oven as it gas, charcoal, and wood-fuelled
- Heats to optimum temperature within 30 minutes
- Can cook pizza within 2 minutes
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with any accessories
EDITORS CHOICE
Whilst we don’t like to judge things for their appearance, at first glance, this pizza oven is not the most eye-catching in design and looks rather old fashioned for what should be a modern-day concept.
The BakerStone oven is fueled by propane gas and will only need about a 20lb gas cylinder, which unfortunately is not included with it but will only set you back about $40 to buy from a hardware store.
The oven is easy to install and use, and comes in two parts: the cooking chamber and also the firebox which will need to be attached underneath.
The oven will only require you to connect your propane gas tank to the firebox underneath the cooking chamber, turn the oven on and wait around for 30 minutes until it is completely preheated.
The oven can reach temperatures of over 800 degrees Fahrenheit, however, the temperature can change if you are cooking in windy or colder conditions. You can control the temperature of the oven by turning the dials on the firebox.
A great added feature to this model is the temperature gauge that sits on the front of the oven which will allow you to see when the oven is at the right temperature to start cooking, this saves you from grabbing your own thermometer and sticking it in and around the oven.
You can also add grill grates to the burners in your firebox to use it to grill meat, this is handy inclusive as this oven works super well as an all-in-one for camping.
The cooking surface is made from ceramic, which is not as good as cordierite stone but still retains heat well and distributes the heat evenly so your pizza base cooks all over. It’ll only take around 2 minutes to cook a crispy crust pizza.
The oven comes with small foldable legs that can be tucked away when being stored. It also only weighs 56lbs so can be easily taken away on camping trips with you but it is probably too heavy to carry to a location when walking.
Pros:
- Doesn’t take up too much space
- Portable
- Easy to install
- Quick cooking time
- Cooking temperature of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit
- Can modify oven to use as a grill
- Doesn’t have any cool spots in the oven
Cons:
- The cooking chamber is narrow so more difficult to clean
BEST VALUE
The Mont Alpi table top pizza oven is the third recommendation on our list of best outdoor pizza ovens under $500. The design of this model looks like a high-end professional pizza oven but at the fraction of the price.
The stainless steel exterior design is super modern and easy to clean to maintain its shine. It is a gas oven that will work with a propane gas tank.
The model also comes with a pizza stone included so you won’t have to buy one yourself, however, we’re unsure of the exact materials it's made of but we’re guessing they're not very high-quality as the base of the pizza takes a while to cook thoroughly.
The model also includes a drip tray and removable floor pan to clean your oven after using it will be a breeze. You can also put the components of this oven into the dishwasher.
Takes about 5 minutes to cook the pizza, so it is a bit slower than the other recommendations on here, however, it still isn’t very long at all when you consider the time it takes to cook in a conventional kitchen oven.
The oven temperature can only go up to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit which is a considerable drop compared to other ovens in our reviews. The removable doors, whilst handy to check on your food, will make the temperature inside the oven drop significantly.
It is very easy to use and the temperature can be adjusted using the dial on the front of the oven. You’ve also got a temperature gauge so you can see when your oven has heated fully when preheating it.
The design is pretty lightweight and comes in at around 30lbs, so will be able to be transported in and out of storage if needed.
Despite its weight, the cooking chamber of this pizza oven is fairly large and you will be able to cook larger foods in there, which is especially suited for cooking meals whilst road tripping.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Comes with a pizza stone
- Modern high-end exterior design
- Dishwasher friendly
- Big cooking chamber
Cons:
- Slower cooking time
- Lower cooking temperature (500 degrees Fahrenheit)
RUNNER UP
Ooni is one of the most popular brands for smaller and more affordable outdoor pizza ovens on the market and the Ooni Fyra 12 is another product to add to their list of great constructions.
For a pizza oven that is lower in price, you do get a well-built and sturdy construction with this one. It comes with a built-in chimney and also a convenient cylinder with a lid to put your wood pellets in without burning yourself.
It takes only a few minutes to install and also easy to use so is perfect for someone who has no experience with outdoor pizza ovens.
The Ooni can reach temperatures of up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, however, that is slightly lower when the door is removed from the front of the oven.
It only takes about 2 minutes to cook a thin crispy pizza but will take longer if you’re cooking a pizza with a thicker crust.
The oven works well for pizza and thinner foods, however, you could not use the oven to cook larger items such as large meats.
One thing we did notice is that you go through a considerable amount of wood if you’re continuously using the oven over a couple of hours as you need quite a handful to keep the temperature high enough to cook.
The Ooni only weighs around 22lbs and comes with collapsable legs so is easy to transport around, however, it should be fine to stay put in your garden through the year as long as you keep a cover over it during harsh weather conditions.
Pros:
- Lightweight so very portable
- Cooks pizza in 2 minutes
- Minimal energy waste
- Reaches high temperature
- Heats up within 30 minutes
Cons:
- Burns through the wood fuel very quickly
RUNNER UP
The cooking (and eating) experience is faultless as the oven creates delicious smoky crisp pizza every time, in a matter of minutes.
The oven features a temperature gauge which is handy to check back on whilst you wait for your oven to heat up.
The oven takes about 30 minutes to heat up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit but will need you to add extra pellets every few minutes or so to maintain the high temperature.
The cooking chamber with the andmakers pizza oven is slightly larger and less narrow so will be able to fit some other different foods like meats or vegetables to cook inside.
The included accessories are what make this oven stand out from the rest. You’ll get a free pizza peel, pellet scoop, and also the pizza stone. However, the pizza stone doesn’t have the greatest heat retention so it takes a little longer to cook the base of the pizza.
The oven comes with a burner trap for you to put your wood pellets in and could easily fit small chunks of hardwood as well, however, you should only fill the burner tray up to about half otherwise it’s difficult to keep alight.
The oven does come with an attached chimney which is great, however, if you forget to open it before you’ve heated up the oven then it proves pretty difficult to open.
There is no handle for the lid so you’ll have to touch the metal to flip it open which can get very hot when the oven door has been on as well.
Whilst the oven is pretty easy to use, assembling it can prove somewhat difficult if you’re not too nifty with these kinds of things. The instructions are brief and some of the components of the oven will need a bit of fiddling to keep them secure.
Pros:
- Cooks pizza quickly
- Even cooking
- Easy to assemble
- Lightweight so portable
- Sleek design
- Comes with free accessories
Cons:
- Chimney lid has no handle so will burn you
RUNNER UP
The Deco Chef is super convenient as it's 2-in-1 so will allow you to use either charcoal or hardwood pellets, whatever you prefer to keep.
It also offers itself to function as a grill, so you’ll be able to cook a whole arrangement of foods for your friends and family. If you’re going to cook up some meat then you’ve got the added drip tray to collect any mess.
The oven does heat up pretty quickly, however, it struggles to reach 900 degrees Fahrenheit (which is stated on the packaging).
You’ll need to add fuel every time you cook a new pizza, which is not too much of an inconvenience, but make sure you have a big bag of whatever you need so you don’t get caught short.
You’ll need to take care when removing the fuel tray to add more in as the flames get moved around especially if it’s windy outside, so it’s probably best to use some heat-resistant gloves.
The Deco Chef is light enough to take away on any travels with you and will be easy to keep away in storage if you don’t always want it out in your backyard.
The oven requires no fuss to clean out as it comes with a dough scraper, a removable fuel tray, and drip day and you can also remove the baking stone inside the oven, so you can get even in the smallest of crevices to tidy up.
The oven does come with its own pizza peel so you won’t have to buy one separate to alongside it.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Drip tray included
- Baking stone included
- Easy to assemble
- Cooks pizza quickly
Cons:
- No safety warning about removing fuel tray
- No instructions to open metal chimney lid before heating
RUNNER UP
The Summerville Pizza oven is one of the largest outdoor pizza ovens on our recommendations today.
It has a classy and timeless design that is made from high-quality cast iron which helps the cooking chamber retain its heat so your pizza can cook within less than two minutes.
The oven is one of the best options if you’re looking for something to help make you the king or queen of hosting dinner parties due to its abilities to cook more than one item at once, however, due to its large size, you’ll need to be on top of adding pellets (every 10-15 minutes) to keep the heat high otherwise it can drop quickly and food will take longer to cook.
It’s fuelled by hardwood pellets or charcoal (which don’t come included).
The pizza stone included is not the largest and you could easily just buy a larger one of your own as the cooking chamber is big enough to cook 2-3 pizzas at the same time. You’ll even be cooking large meats in the oven and will be perfect for achieving that smoky flavor.
The large design of the oven may be off-putting to some as it looks difficult to assemble and maneuver around, however, it does come with two wheels so you can wheel it into a storage area if needed.
It is quite a tall oven and because it has a chimney attached, you won’t want to keep it under a covered area in your backyard otherwise it can get pretty smoky.
The oven is a lot heavier than the others on the list, so if you were looking for something that you can carry into the truck of your car then this would not be a good option.
You’ll be able to leave this to its own devices whilst it heats up ready for cooking and check back on the temperature gauge featured on the front to see when it’s ready to pop your grub in.
Pros:
- Good customer service
- High-quality materials
- Portable due to the wheels
- Can cook multiple dishes at once
- Classic design
- Cooks food quickly
- Comes with a chimney to release smoke
Cons:
- Heavier than other models
- Struggles to stay hot due to size
5 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens under $1,500
OUR TOP PICK
The Alfa One pizza oven really excels with its compact yet stylish design which would fit seamlessly in any backyard without looking too obtrusive.
We love that the main component of the oven is a reddish-brown color as it makes a change from the typical stainless steel ovens we see saturating the market today, it also looks great contrasted against the steel of the legs and the chimney.
The wood holder is one of the key features of this oven as it lets the air come in underneath all the wood and blows it outwards to so the flames and the heat fill the oven so allows the oven to get hot very quickly (just 20 minutes).
If you want to cook Neapolitan style pizzas then you’ll only need to wait just 10 minutes before it’s ready to insert in the oven.
If you want to cook meat inside your Alfa One then you’ll need to place them on a tray to put inside the oven as there is no drip tray built-in so it will be difficult to clean if you just place it on the surface.
The Alfa is extremely easy to put together and comes with detailed instructions on how to assemble and start up for the first time.
It can be quite daunting inserting your wood pieces at the start especially when there are already flames there, but if you want to ensure ultimate safety you can put some heat-resistant gloves on in case a flame blows towards you.
The oven doesn’t come with a pizza stone but it also doesn’t need one, as you cook the pizza on the floor of the pizza oven and it cooks perfectly without sticking.
The Alfa One does come with a handy curved pizza peel, which will allow you to put in and remove your pizza from the oven without having to use your finger
The cooking chamber is surprisingly big considering the size of the overall construction and you could fit two small pizzas inside, one fairly large pizza, or a few pieces of meat or veg to cook your meal in one.
It is fairly heavy, weighing in at 110lbs so you’ll need the help of someone else to carry it to your surface as it has a large surface area as well.
It wouldn’t be the ideal camping trip pizza oven due to its weight however due to its quality and price, we doubt you’d want to use them on your trips away and want it to remain safely in your backyard.
The design, quality, and heating capabilities really do justify the price of the oven and is one of the best looking high-end outdoor pizzas ovens we’ve come across.
Pros:
- Quick and easy to assemble
- Quick cooking time
- Heats up quickly
- Stylish design
- Can cook lots of different food
- High-quality materials
- Large cooking chamber
Cons:
- It is fairly heavy
EDITORS CHOICE
The Mimiuo pizza oven is on the lower end of the price scale for our items on our list of 5 best outdoor pizzas ovens under $1500 but the price doesn’t mean it falls short in power and heat.
The oven is fueled by propane gas (not included) and will only take 20 minutes to reach its maximum temperature.
The oven is pretty small in size and is very equipped with folding legs, which can be tucked underneath and carried to store somewhere when not in use.
Despite its small size, you can still fit a decent size pizza in the cooking chamber with no problem or you can even cook some sizzling steaks or veggies in there to change it up.
If you are going to cook meat in there, we recommend putting them on a thin tray to make the cleaning process easier when you’ve finished. However, it is still possible to cook food directly on the ceramic stone that comes with the oven.
The oven can reach temperatures around 900 degrees Fahrenheit and can cook your pizza within 1 minute, so if you want to prepare lots of pizzas in advance and then put them in one after each other, they’ll all be ready within minutes.
When cooked, the pizza does not carry that mild gas flavor that some over gas ovens contribute whilst cooking.
The oven comes inclusive of its own pizza peel and pizza stone, so you can start cooking straight away once your product arrives home.
The interior is easy to clean with a soft sponge and soapy water and you can also maintain the clean shine of the exterior by using a specialized stainless steel cleaning solution with a rag, so it will always look brand new.
The Mimiuo is easy to operate, comes with simple instructions, and creates top quality pizza every time so there’s hard to find faults with it, however, as it is borderline on the high-end scale you may expect a larger cooking space for the price tag that it comes with.
Pros:
- Modern appearance
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Comes with an oven cover
- Folding legs
- Lightweight and portable
- High temperatures
Cons:
- You may expect more cooking space for the price
BEST VALUE
The Summerset pizza oven comes in two varieties, a built-in option or a countertop one to save space.
We opted for the countertop option as it is slightly lower in price and built it into any outside counters you may have, we didn’t need the extra storage that accompanies the freestanding one.
However, if you want to go the full hog then the freestanding pizza oven offers two side tables that fold out to keep all your utensils and food on whilst you cook, it also has a large cupboard underneath where you could keep all your raw pizzas which are ready to be put in the oven.
The oven does look more so like your conventional kitchen oven but allows the freedom to cook outdoors.
It has two cooking racks which can be placed in three positions so it gives you great versatility in all the food you can cook inside it. It also has a glass viewing window where you can check up on your food whilst it cooks.
The Summerset oven comes with protective feet underneath so the surface or counter won't scratch or tarnish the stainless steel design. You’ve even got interior lighting inside the oven, so you’ll be able to see what you’re doing when cooking late at night.
The oven is available in natural gas and propane gas so will suit customers who have a preference for what they want to use as fuel.
The Summerset oven has a maximum temperature of 450 degrees although the pizza stone will heat up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit so is perfect for all your Neapolitan pizzas. It also comes with a wood smoker box so you can get that authentic tasting pizza even in a more conventional style oven.
Despite the oven being so large, it is very easy to clean and is also benefited by the removable grease drip tray which collects any debris from the food whilst it cooks.
The oven is very heavy-duty and can cook lots of food all at the same time and is best suited for someone who loves cooking large feasts and will make the most of it otherwise the price will not be justified.
The ability to choose from a countertop option or a freestanding option is a big selling point and will allow all customers to fit the oven anywhere in their backyard without having to compromise on space.
Pros:
- Freestanding or countertop option
- Propane or natural gas option
- Lots of cooking space
- Cooking stone included
- Can cook most foods inside
- Comes with smoker box for authentic flavor
- Cooks pizza within two minutes
Cons:
- The maximum temperature of the oven is not the highest
- Oven looks more conventional than authentic open pizza oven
RUNNER UP
The Blue Roost Casita outdoor fireplace oven is the heaviest and heavy-duty option on our entire guide. It weighs a whopping 260lbs and is not recommended for easy transportation or taking on camping trips with you.
Its beautiful design will certainly make a statement in your garden whether you use it as a pizza oven or a fancy fireplace. If the design wasn’t tempting enough then the fact that this chiminea oven will last a lifetime will really change your mind.
It’s made with quality materials and will endure years of use and with the use of a cover during harsh weather conditions, you shouldn’t have any problems maintaining the quality of it.
The Blue Rooster is the only outdoor oven on our list that will allow you to burn full-size logs for fuel, so you’ll be able to gather hardwood around your area to burn without having to buy specialized size or wood to burn.
The oven burns with very little smoke, so you won’t have to leave it completely uncovered out in your backyard.
The oven also comes with a big lifetime warranty, so if you run into any problems you’ll be able to contact the customer service team who will send out full replacement parts and accessories or guide you with any further help you may require.
You’ll be able to fit two medium-sized pizzas in the cooking chamber and you also have the option of grilling meats and veg on the surface if that is more your style.
You’ll have to purchase a pizza stone if you don’t already have one as this one only comes with the cast-iron surface to cook the food on.
We’d recommend always using an alternative surface for cooking otherwise the food can end up burning from the flames. Let the flames die down a little before putting in your food to cook.
The oven can cook pizza at its maximum temperature within 4-5 minutes which is longer than most of the other outdoor ovens we’ve recommended, however, we were willing to overlook the cooking time because of the design and the use of the fireplace for warmth and light during the evenings.
Pros:
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Easy to clean
- Used as fireplace or oven
- Burns with little smoke
- Beautiful design
- Can use larger logs to burn
Cons:
- Very heavy so will require a few people to move it around
- Doesn’t cook as quick as others
RUNNER UP
Last on our list of best outdoor pizza ovens under $1500 is the Maximus Black Wood Fire oven by the brand Authentic Pizza Ovens. You can use paper, wood kindling, and coal for your fuel inside the oven.
The door to the cooking chamber comes with a wooden handle to help remove it with ease, so you don’t end up burning your hand.
The door also has built-in adjustable vents so you can control the temperature a little bit better whilst your food cooks inside
The Maximus wood fire oven doesn’t come with a pizza stone to keep your pizza on so you’ll need to buy your own. The oven does, however, come with a ceramic dish so you can cook meat, fish, bread and vegetables in.
You will also get two pizza peels included so you can keep one raw pizza on one and then use the other to insert and remove another.
The temperature gauge on the front of the oven is handy, however, it is not properly secured and can be easily pushed out from within the oven. You may need to glue it into place to keep it from falling out.
Despite its heavy-duty design, the outdoor oven only weighs 130lbs so can still be transported for camping trips or tailgates if needed.
The cooking chamber is fairly large and has room to cook two 12 inch pizzas at a time and due to the 90 second cooking time, you can cook up to 30 pizzas per hour, so it is great if you’re hosting friends and family.
Pros:
- Cooks pizza very fast
- Portable
- Can fit two 12” pizzas inside
- Will blend in nicely with a backyard
- Comes with a free cooking dish
- Two pizza peels included
Cons:
- Temperature gauge not secure
- No pizza stone included
Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens Buying Guide
Size
Outdoor pizza ovens can come in a huge range of sizes and not every one of them will be able to fit comfortably in your backyard.
Before making a definite decision, or even before looking to browse through the options for outdoor pizza ovens, measure up the space where you’d like to keep your pizza oven so you know everything will fit correctly. 7
Larger ovens will often offer more cooking space so you’ll be able to cook multiple pizzas or foods at the same time, these larger ovens tend to be in the shape of a dome.
If you’re looking for just a regular outdoor pizza oven to use for you and your family then you won’t necessarily need one that is very large, however, larger doesn’t always mean better.
However, if you’re someone who loves to host dinner parties for lots of people at your house, then a larger-sized pizza oven will be better for you as you’ll be able to cook large quantities of food at the same time. The largest pizza ovens are used for commercial purposes.
Weight
Whilst it’s all well and good having a large, high-quality outdoor pizza oven being delivered to you but what you’ll need to consider beforehand is how you’re going to install or lift it.
Many ovens, especially those made of brick or concrete are extremely heavy and can be near impossible to lift it without the help of a handful of people.
So before you order your new pizza oven, you'll take a look at the weight of the product and consider if you, or yourself and a team of people can lift and install it in place.
Some brands may even offer a service where they send their own staff out to carry themselves or use machinery to your backyard for you.
Design
Outdoor pizza ovens are commonly designed in a dome-shaped oven, this has better heat efficiency and better hot airflow so the pizza cooks evenly and leaves fewer cool spots within the oven.
You can get more rectangular-shaped pizza ovens but we recommend the dome-shaped one for the best cooking experience.
One design feature you’ll need to look out for with outdoor pizza ovens is whether they have legs attached to them or not.
If you haven’t got a flat surface like a wall or a table in your garden which will be able to support your new pizza oven then you’ll either need to find a surface strong another or opt for a pizza oven with legs so you can position it anywhere in your backyard.
Fuel Source
One of the biggest things to consider when buying an outdoor pizza oven will be what fuel source will the oven need and what one would work best for your needs.
Gas pizza oven
Gas pizza ovens are the cleanest ways to cook pizzas, so if you’re someone who hates tidying up after dinner then a gas oven is the way to go. There’ll be no need to chop or order any wood for your oven as it is fueled by connecting it to a gas cylinder which you can buy from any hardware store.
You can even use the one that you use for your BBQ and then get it refilled when it runs out. Gas ovens do tend to be easier to use than wood-fired pizza ovens as you only need to do is turn it on, heat the oven up, and then pop your pizzas in.
Wood pizza oven
You will need to burn timber to fire up a wood-fired pizza oven, however, you should try to stick to hardwood or wood pellets when fueling your oven as colored woods can cause chemicals to leach into your food whilst it cooks.
Wood-fired pizza ovens tend to reach higher temperatures than their gas or electric counterparts, therefore, your pizza will cook quicker. Cooking your pizza and any other food in a wood-fired pizza oven can often give it a smoky flavor, which is a feature unique to this kind of oven.
As well as being a cooking appliance, you could also use the wood-fired oven as a decorative piece in the garden by using it as a small fireplace, this is especially nice during the cooler evenings after eating dinner outside.
However, whilst there are many positives to a wood-fired pizza oven, they do require more maintenance and attention whilst cooking as you may need to keep adding more wood to keep the temperature high. You may also need to clean the interior of your wood pizza oven as the ash and dust from the wood can build up after a while.
Stationary or portable
If you plan to take your outdoor pizza oven on trips with you or even just to a neighbor’s backyard then you’ll need to find one that is not too heavy and easily carried. Some outdoor ovens have foldable legs on them so you can oven by the base of it.
Others even have wheels on the legs, so you can roll it around your backyard to wherever you want it to sit. If you intend to put your outdoor pizza oven away when it’s not being used or just store it safely during the winter months, then you’ll want to find something that can be easily carried.
Accessories
Numerous accessories can come included when you buy a pizza oven and you’ll want to keep an eye out for them on your hunt for a new one. To insert and remove your pizza from the oven, you’ll need something called a pizza peel which looks like a giant spatula but with an even longer handle.
This allows you to safely move the pizza around in the oven without burning your fingers when you’re putting the pizza near the heat. You can even use heat resistant gloves to help remove the pizza and also if you need to open or close any doors that may be in the oven.
You’ll want to consider getting a cover for your outdoor pizza oven if you don’t plan on storing it away during bad weather, otherwise extended periods in harsh weather conditions can cause the oven to rust or erode. Look out to see if any brands offer a free cover included in the price of their ovens.
As outdoor pizza ovens are primarily used for cooking a homemade pizza, you may need a pizza rocker cutter or a dough cutter to help you in the process of making your pizza yourself.
Although you can buy all these accessories separately, it will considerably add to the total cost, so it will be very beneficial to find an oven which includes all these accessories, especially the weather-resistant cover as they will be custom fit to your oven for full protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to build your own outdoor pizza oven?
Once you’ve bought all the materials you could be looking in the region of $200 - $1000 depending on what type of materials you’ve bought.
If you are having your pizza oven custom built by someone you could be looking at over $1000 and if you were going to hire someone to build it out of your materials then you’ll need to factor in labor costs into your total bill.
How do you cook pizza in an outdoor pizza oven?
You’ll want to start your oven 1-2 hours early, depending on if you have a wood or gas oven, this will allow the oven to reach its optimum temperature. You use a temperature probe before starting to make sure that it’s the right temperature.
You’ll want to put your pizza on your pizza peel and then insert your pizza and then remove the pizza peel. Make sure the pizza is right near the flame, however, you don’t want it touching the flame otherwise it’ll burn.
Rotate your pizza whilst it cooks so it gets perfectly cooked all the way around. If you want your pizza to be a bit crispier, you can maneuver your pizza back onto the pizza peel and then lift it to the top of the pizza oven where it is the hottest.
Can you use an outdoor pizza oven indoors?
There are certain models from brands that can be installed and modified to use in the house, however, as pizza ovens are normally open and they produce extremely high temperatures, it can be an easy fire hazard so they’re normally recommended to be used outdoors.
If you want to put your outdoor oven indoors, you could always get in touch with the brand itself to see what options you have.
Can I BBQ in an outdoor pizza oven?
Yes you can, that is one of the greatest benefits of owning an outdoor pizza oven as it can be used for numerous cooking styles.
Does a wood-fired pizza oven taste different?
Pizza that has cooked in a wood-fired oven will taste more smoke than if it has cooked in a gas pizza oven.
The base and dough of the pizza will taste more woody as it’ll be directly in contact with the ash and soot from the wood logs, however, as the pizza is only in there for a couple of minutes, it will not have a prominent taste.
How long does it take to cook a pizza in an outdoor oven?
It will depend on how hot your pizza oven is, the hotter the oven the quicker time it will take.
If your pizza oven is at optimum temperature then it could cook in as quick as 2 minutes, but if your oven is still trying to reach its hottest temperature it could take as long as 15 minutes.
Don’t put your pizza in the oven as soon as you start it up unless you want to be waiting a couple of hours for your pizza to cook.
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