How to Buy An Outdoor Pizza Oven
What is a Pizza Oven
A pizza oven is an oven that normally has a domed cooking chamber. They can reach extremely high temperatures - up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit or more. The cooking surface, which typically has a ceramic, brick, or stone coating, gives pizzas their crispy crust by drawing moisture out of the pizza dough.
But don't think that outdoor pizza ovens are for cooking pizzas only - far from it! Become a master baker of bread loaves or cook a steak fit for a king. Both are possible with outdoor pizza ovens. Imagine the looks you will get if you pull a turkey out of your pizza oven for thanksgiving!
Types of Pizza Oven
One of the first decisions you will need to make when considering outdoor pizza ovens is what fuel you would like to use. There are a few options to choose from, with the 2 most common options being wood or gas-fired. Both choices will give you great pizzas, but there are a few small differences to consider. Do you want the convenience of fast pizzas and minimal cleaning or do you want to become the master pizza maker, learning cooking secrets that you will never share? Have a look below to find your place in the sun.
Wood Pizza Ovens
these are the original ways pizzas were cooked. Due to the materials, they are made with, wood-fired outdoor pizza ovens keep the temperature higher for longer. This allows faster cooking, which helps keep the nutritional value of the ingredients intact. Wood-fired outdoor pizza ovens can also add unique flavors to your pizzas.
Gas Pizza Ovens
outdoor pizza ovens that are heated with gas provide better temperature control than wood-fired pizza ovens. As they produce no residue from cooking, maintenance is easier - a big factor to consider when buying a pizza oven. Gas-powered outdoor pizza ovens need less space than traditional wood-fired outdoor pizza ovens.
Pizza Oven Configurations
Built-In Pizza Ovens
Built-in outdoor pizza ovens tend to cook faster than other ovens and can be more energy efficient than external cookers. Tired of pizza? These masterpieces are also great for baking, roasting, and just about anything else you can do in a conventional oven.
Countertop Pizza Ovens
Countertop outdoor pizza ovens are designed for just that - to sit atop a counter! These ovens take up less space than built-in outdoor pizza ovens and will still cook quite quickly. They will also adapt to other types of cooking when pizza is not on the menu.
Freestanding Pizza Ovens
While they look like a permanent structure, freestanding pizza ovens have the added advantage of being able to be moved around when needed. The cart also gives you plenty more storage space for all those essential accessories that will always be required.
Portable Pizza Ovens
Portable outdoor pizza ovens are perfect for camping and tailgating. Due to their size, you will not need a lot of space when traveling. Portable outdoor pizza ovens are the least expensive option and the most convenient for those who are always moving around.
Pizza Oven Construction
The exterior will generally be made of some type of steel. In budget models, this will be a cheaper grade of steel that is either painted or powder-coated. When you start looking at more premium outdoor pizza ovens, the benchmark is 304-grade stainless steel. It has excellent strength, toughness, and resistance to corrosion.
The interior of an outdoor pizza oven is a different story. Materials range from cement through to steel bodies with refractory floors built in. In some of the budget models, the refractory may be included as an insert.
Pizza Oven Size Guides
Outdoor pizza ovens come in all sizes, from being suitable for a solo meal to an oven big enough to feed a sporting team. The size will determine, among over things, how many pizzas can be cooked at a time and how many people can be fed. The following tips will give you an idea of the size and quantity of pizzas each will cook.
Small
Generally best for one person. Good for 1 standard-sized pizza at a time, and ranges in size up to around 26 inches.
Medium
Useful for a small party with a few friends. Should be able to cook 2 - 4 pizzas together, and ranges in size from 27 - 33 inches.
Large
Perfect for big parties and large families. I can cook up to 5 pizzas at a time, and ranges in size up to 39 inches.
Extra-Large
Great for the entire neighborhood. Will take 6 or more pizzas at once and is well above anything over 39 inches here.
Pizza Oven Classes
The class of a pizza oven will come down to a few factors, namely the quality of the materials used, the output generated, and what features and accessories are available. Depending on your requirements, outdoor pizza ovens can be categorized as follows.
Entry-Level
These are the cheapest pizza ovens on the market. They have very few accessories but are generally portable and easy to take wherever. Just don’t expect them to last.
Practical
Practical pizza ovens have a nice balance of price and quality. They still lack many of the features one might desire, but they will last a bit longer than the entry-level pizza ovens.
Premium
Premium pizza ovens offer a lot more for those who choose to buy in. They look great, have plenty of accessories to play with, and will be made to last quite a while.
Luxury
Luxury pizza ovens are the best on the market. Built to last, they come with some of the newest innovations and plenty of accessories to customize your experience.