Make Your Own Authentic Italian Pies in An Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

Wood-fired pizza ovens are the latest must-have for your backyard cooking experience. You might think that you need to eat a lot of pizza on a regular basis to justify installing one in your outdoor living space, but they are actually a very versatile addition. Sure, you can bake spectacular pizzas whose wood-fired flavor will outdo anything you can order in, but you can also cook many other things in a wood-fired pizza oven: Bread, vegetables, meats and marvelous steaks. And, while you probably don’t want to give up your grill for quick, daily grilling, a pizza oven is a worthy investment for family enjoyment and entertaining.

Of course, there are a number of decisions to make before shopping for a wood-fired pizza oven.

Throw a great Summer Party With Your Own Outdoor Wood Fired Pizza Oven

Portable or fixed?

This depends on where you want to put it. If you don’t have a permanent location for a fixed pizza oven, you can purchase a grill cart and install it on that. These are convenient because they can be wheeled around and easily store in the offseason. If you don’t use a cart, you’ll have to place it on a fireproof surface such as brick or stone, located at a safe distance from any structure. Wood-fired pizza ovens can also be incorporated in a full outdoor kitchen.

How large?

Consider how many pizzas you’ll want to make at one time and choose model that fits your needs. If you’ll mainly be cooking for a smaller family on a regular basis, a small pizza oven should work. If you have lots of parties or often feed a crowd, you’ll want to invest in something that can hold more pizzas at once.

What type of oven construction?

Most wood-fired pizza ovens are made with a stainless steel exterior, just like grills. This is because it retains heat well and is durable. Others — mostly the built-tin type — may be constructed of refractory cement in the Italian tradition. Also, the cooking surface is typically made of ceramic. Lastly, you’ll want to pay attention to the type of insulation used in the pizza oven. This is because super high heat is the key to cooking pizza properly, and the oven’s ability to not only heat up quickly but also to retain that heat is critical. You’ll want to look for insulation made from rock-spun wool or ceramic fiber for durability and performance.

What kind of fuel?

There’s nothing like the taste of a wood-fired pizza, so real wood is the way to go for an authentic flavor. That said, numerous models of wood-fired pizza ovens allow you to cook with charcoal or wood pellets instead of, or in addition to, real wood. Generally, a fire fueled by charcoal will not get as hot as a wood fire.

There are a few important things to keep in mind about a wood-fired pizza oven. Because you’re using real wood and need the oven to be at a very high temperature to quickly cook the pizza, it does take time to heat up to the proper temperature. Using real wood also means that you’ll have to tend the fire while preheating and cooking. If you’re the type of person who loves their gas grill because it’s quick and convenient, you might be happier with a gas version of an outdoor pizza oven.

When you’re ready to buy, here are some of the best options for an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven:

1. Ooni Pro Portable Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven – Stainless Steel

Ooni’s Pro Portable Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven is a fabulous oven that quickly cooks one 16-inch pizza at a time — in as little as one minute! Ideal for a family and for casual entertaining, the Ooni lets you choose between cooking with wood or charcoal — or both. You can use charcoal as the main source of heat and then before cooking, add the wood that imparts the marvelous flavor everyone craves. Even better, a wood pellet burner accessory expands the number of fuel options for this oven. The exterior of the pizza oven is made from durable stainless steel that looks fabulous and the interior cooking surface is 324 square inches of Cordierite ceramic. Thanks to the cordierite stone and ceramic fiber insulation, the oven can hit 932 degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes.

With this Ooni model, you can control the heat with the chimney as well as a ceiling vent, which makes it super versatile for cooking meats and vegetables as well as bread and other items. It actually has two different doors: A letterbox-style opening for sliding the pizzas in and out, and the Ooni Pro Door with Thermometer. This second door lets you keep an eye on the temperature and features a  fully removable door so that you can cook bread, large pieces of meat and food in a cast-iron skillet. Ooni pizza ovens come with a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship and by registering your Ooni online, you extend the warranty for an extra year.

2. WPPO Pro Lil Luigi Portable Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven W/ Accessory Kit – WPPOPROKIT

Portability is the name of the game with this WPPO Pro Lil Luigi Portable Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven that you can take anywhere. It has all the features you need to make great pizza and lots of convenient elements. With a stainless steel exterior, the double-walled Lil Luigi has an easy-load firebox to accommodate your file choice of wood chunks, wood chips, pellets, charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal. The fuel lights easily and within about 20 minutes it reaches up to 900 degrees with the oven’s high-flow downdraft system that helps circulate the air inside. The interior has fire blanket insulation and a cordierite baking stone floor to give your pizza that ever-popular crispy crust!

Other great features of this portable wood-fired pizza oven are the hinged door with a peephole, which lets you check on the doneness without letting heat escape. There’s also a built-in thermometer so you can keep track of the interior temperature. When it’s time to store or move the oven, the chimney comes off for easier handling and a storage cover/bag is included.  Finally, the essential tools for making pizza are included with the oven: a pizza peel, pizza pan, a wheel cutter and a coal poker. The Lil Luigi is covered by a one-year warranty against defects in manufacturing and workmanship.

3. Forno Venetzia Torino 200 40-Inch Countertop Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven – Copper

Backyard cooks in search of an authentic Italian wood-fired pizza will want to consider the Forno Venetzia Torino 200 40-Inch Countertop Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven. It’s ideal for a large family or for those who entertain frequently because this one can handle up to four pizzas at a time. This oven is meant to be installed on a heavy-duty cart or in an outdoor kitchen set up as it weighs over 300 pounds. Featuring Italian design and engineering, this countertop model has a big 32 x 24-inch refractory ceramic cooking surface. The Forno Venetzia Torino has superior cooking function because it is made with double-layered ceramic insulation that retains heat and optimizes performance. The design includes a built-in thermometer as well as a glass window in the door that lets you keep an eye on the food while it’s cooking without having to open it. The design incorporates the fire inside the chamber, imparting the authentic wood-fired flavor to food.

On the outside, the pizza oven has a stylish look that also very durable. The dome is UV resistant to help prevent fading of the powder-coated finish. The Forno Venetzia’s signature chimney cap and oak handle on the oven door complete the look. This outdoor pizza oven is covered by a two-year warranty against manufacturer defects. Keep in mind that chips and cracks are considered normal, don’t affect the oven’s performance and are not covered by the warranty.

4. WPPO Pro 4 25-Inch Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven On Cart

Another model that offers all the advantages of a cart model is the WPPO Pro 4 25-Inch Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven. This is a mid-sized model that has a 24″ x 19″ cooking surface, able to accommodate a large pizza. The 483 square-inch cooking surface is made from 1 1/4-inch- thick cordierite baking stone for efficient cooking and the entire oven has excellent heart retention thanks to double-walled steel with more than 4 inches of fire blanket insulation inside.

This stylish 25-Inch pizza oven is made from high-grade 304 stainless steel both on the exterior as well as the interior. Temperature control is very effective because of the downdraft air system incorporated in the oven. The front of the oven includes a built-in thermometer that lets you check the cooking temperature without opening the oven door, which saves heat. Four heavy-duty pedestal feet are adjustable so that the oven is always level. While the oven comes with a black powder-coated steel cart that has a wood holder, this model could also be placed on a stone or brick countertop. WPPO Pro 4 pizza ovens are covered by a warranty against defects in manufacturing and workmanship.

5. Forno Venetzia Pronto 500 33-Inch Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven – Red

A freestanding model like the Forno Venetzia Pronto 500 33-Inch Wood-Fired Pizza Oven is ideal for backyard cooks who want some portability around the patio or who don’t have room for a large permanent outdoor kitchen set-up. The Pronto 500 is larger than the small, fully portable models and it has a cooking surface that’s 24 x 20-inch — big enough for two personal size pizzas. As quickly as they cook at up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit, this size is ideal for a family or small parties. It comes with its own wheeled stainless steel cart, complete with a folding side-shelf, and a tool holder that is height-adjustable. Underneath, two shelves provide plenty of space to conveniently store wood.

The Pronto is also a convenient way to get the wood-fire Italian taste for food because it arrives ready to go, with no assembly or curing necessary before use. Inside, the oven’s double-layered ceramic insulation is superior at retaining heat, which a critical element for any piazza oven. It also uses less fuel than other pizza ovens. A built-in thermometer lets you easily monitor the interior cooking temperature so everything comes out just right. The exterior of the pizza oven is very durable with its very stylish red UV-resistant dome that helps prevent fading of the powder-coated finish. The Forno Venetzia’s signature chimney cap and oak handle on the oven door complete the stylish look of this outdoor wood-fired pizza oven. It is covered by a two-year warranty against manufacturer defects. Keep in mind that chips and cracks are considered normal, don’t affect the oven’s performance and are not covered by the warranty.

6. Alfa 4 Pizze 31-Inch Outdoor Countertop Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

Old World flavor and new technology make for a convenient yet authentic experience with the Alfa 4 Pizze 31-Inch Outdoor Countertop Wood-Fired Pizza Oven. Made in Italy, this pizza oven uses a special technology patented by Alfa Forninox that brings the oven to the proper temperature in as little as 20 minutes and still uses very little fuel compared to some other models. The cooking surface of this oven is quite large at 31 1/2″ x 23 3/5″, which means that you can cook four pizzas at once. It has excellent heat retention because the cooking floor is made from refractory tiles and the specially shaped upper dome is insulated with ceramic fiber.

• Minimal assembly & no curing required before use
• Designed for countertop installations

On the exterior, the dome features a copper color that is powder-coated steel. A built-in thermometer lets you keep an eye on the temperature inside the oven so that your food is done to perfection. This pizza oven is big enough to be versatile for cooking anything from larger cuts of meat to vegetables, potatoes, breads and more. Everything you cook will have that marvelous wood-fired flavor because the food is cooked right next to the fire in the oven. Best of all the oven arrives fully cured and ready to use out of the box. Alfa ovens are covered by a two-year residential warranty against defects in manufacturing, as long as you properly maintain the oven.

7. V70 27-Inch Ready To Finish Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

For some people, only an authentic built-in outdoor pizza oven will do and for them, the Alfa Cupolino V70 27-Inch Ready To Finish Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven is the choice. The Cupolino 70 is for the serious wood-fired pizza maker because it is meant to be permanently built into an outdoor kitchen or patio set up. This is not a model that you unbox and start using. It is designed as an insert for a custom brick or stone masonry outdoor oven construction. It’s a three-piece refractory brick oven that features a 27-inch diameter fire brick cooking surface that can handle up to three pizzas at a time. They’ll all get the quintessential wood-fired flavor as the food cooks right next to the fire.

The tall, spherical dome and floor of the oven are refractory clay, which evenly distributes the heat, allowing it to reach cooking the desired temperature in 45 minutes. The door helps contain the heat and protects it from the elements. Once the oven is installed, no curing is needed and you can cook anything in the Alfa pizza oven, from roasts and steaks to vegetables, breads and other items.

A custom install, a smaller portable model, or anything in-between —  any of them will give you and your family a wonderful outdoor wood-fired pizza experience. Decide what size you need and get ready for years of great pizzas, breads and more!

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