7 Best Home Pizza Ovens For Restaurant Quality Pies
You're working this scorching hot pizza oven, maybe in a dirty white tee like Carmy in The Bear. You're sweating, running around with toppings, or better yet, pulling them off herb plants you've been growing in an indoor garden. Then you're taking out these beautiful, blistered pizzas with and drizzling them with perfect amount of olive oil made by, like, some little family in Sicily. And your guests are just wowed by it all. And for you it's just a regular night. This is just what it feels like to own a pizza oven of your own.
These little things—which have really blown up over the past decade—make charred Neapolitan style pizzas incredibly easy to perfect. You don't even need any techy smart kitchen gadgets, nor do you need a big, decked out outdoor space to fit a massive oven. Several of these models will work on a balcony, and one even works inside, so it's easier than ever to add a good-looking summer tool to your perfectly curated kitchen arsenal.
GOZNEY
Dual Fuel Pizza Oven
You can just look at this dual fuel model from Gozney and see it means the most business. It's the biggest option on this list, allowing you to make restaurant-sized pies. And the big ceramic coated interior really functions as well as a brick oven.
This one has some added versatility with an easy read thermostat, and the ability to function as a regular outdoor oven. So you could, hypothetically, drop the temp way down and cook a brisket low-and-slow.
SOLO STOVE
Pi Starter Bundle
Little secret, the makers of the hottest fire pit of the moment also make a great pizza oven starter kit. It burns wood when you want to do the whole thing, and gas when you're strapped for time, both with great results. The sleek, round stainless steel design will look great with any outdoor setup, and the kit gives you everything you'll need to cook.
OONI
Karu 12 Multi-Fuel
Ooni's Karu 12 is the brand's smallest wood burning model, and it's a bit of a revolution on that front. Opposed to the Solo Stove, Gozney, and other Ooni wood burning models on this list, this thing is a fraction of the size. It's only 26.5 lbs, and it carries easily with the Karu 12 case. Perfect if you're going to take
The only slight drawback is that if you ever want to have the ease of gas-fired pies, the attachment costs $100. Not a fortune, but annoying nonetheless.
OONI
Karu 16 Essentials Bundle
Ooni is on this list twice, because the brand really does make the easiest pizza ovens around. One of the main reasons is the big, hinged doors on the front of their ovens. The door window lets you see what's going on without leaking heat, but once you open it, you get a considerable amount of space to pull that pie out. It makes the whole experience a lot easier, avoiding any first time mistakes.
TIERRA FIRME
Tile Pizza Oven
Cooking backyard pizzas in a real brick oven... that's sexy. This model loses out on the modern specs, but damn if it doesn't look cool. The cooking surface is a tad small, only 12-inches by 12-inches, and for that reason it may be more finicky than more modern ovens.
But on the plus side, the best pizzas are made in wood fired clay ovens, and this little one will set you back less than $200. And did we mention how cool it looks?!
VEVOR
Gas Outdoor Pizza Oven
If you're trapped in an apartment but desperately need to make your own pizza, Vevor's gas model is the way to go. Gas-only means it's easy to use, and since it doesn't have a big chimney like other models, it packs into a neat little case that's easy to carry. Take it on the train to a park, or walk out to your apartment common space. The barrier of entry with this one is almost nonexistent.
BREVILLE
Pizzaiolo Pizza Oven
Perfect for if you're truly stuck in an apartment, or just want to cook pizzas indoors without setting off smoke alarms. This lil thing gets up to a respectable 750°F, enough to get that charring and blistering. Serious insulation keeps all that heat inside. And, best of all, it doesn't look too bad, so you can leave it out on the countertop.
Things to Consider When Buying a Pizza Oven
- Indoor or Outdoor: The reality is, most pizza ovens are going to be outdoor only. In restaurants, they have a chimney that fully exits the building, which is just not a feature in modern homes. The only way to have an indoor pizza oven is to go with an electric model like the Breville Pizzaiolo.
- Temperature Range: A pizza oven should at least reach around 700°F, as anything lower will give you difficulty in getting that perfect char. But most options exceed that, normally getting up to around 900°F.
- Fuel:Â Typically it'll be gas, wood, or both. Gas is a lot easier to start and control. Wood is the undeniably classic way, which many people prefer.
- Attachments:Â This can be a big one. If you're lugging this pizza oven to a campsite or friend's crib, you want it to have some sort of carry case. And if you've never cooked pizza before, one that comes with a stone and peel (the big spatula-looking thing you take it out of the oven with) will be a good buy. Beyond that, most ovens, and all on this list, will have a stand that raises them off the surface they are on, so as to not scorch your picnic table or anything.
From:Â Esquire US
