Why not recreate the crunch of a crisp Neopolitan pizza…
…in the comfort of your own home?
In your kitchen oven, however, the temperature isn’t high enough…
…to cook anything at that temperature.
The pizza oven can provide the right heat for you.
The best pizza ovens are capable of reaching high temperatures…
…without requiring long warming times or extensive cleaning.
Also, pizza ovens are much more versatile than their name implies.
A high-heat oven is ideal for searing steaks, roasting fish…
…and getting the skins really crispy.
Roasting vegetables and side dishes in a pizza oven…
…helps develop flavors quickly, resulting in crisp exteriors and juicy, tender interiors.
Pizza ovens are available in a wide range of designs, from brick, gas…
…and wood-fired outdoor ovens to more expensive indoor models.
There are some that are small and portable…
…and some that will make quite a statement in your backyard.
A variety of pizza ovens from some of the most popular brands were tested…
…by our at-home testers. The pizza ovens were evaluated based on setup…
…heat retention, heat control, versatility, cooking time, and overall value.
Research and taste-testing led us to select the best models…
…including splurge-worthy models and more affordable ones.
Here are Peter’s words before moving on to the next part…
The pizza oven is phenomenal, I made good pizza on the first try,
and amazing pizza on the next two.
The pizzas were easy to make; I only had to cook two to get them right.
It’s made of quality materials and is portable.
Probably the closest thing to original Italian made pizza,
and I don’t mean the kind you get in tourist areas of Italy,
I mean the kind of pizza that is served at a restaurant built
into an old castle wall in the wine country!
It’s time to get started…
What to Look for When Buying a Pizza Oven
Location and Size
If you are planning to put your pizza oven somewhere…
…consider the space you have and if it will be comfortable to use.
You may need a smaller electric indoor oven if you live in an apartment…
…or home with limited outdoor space.
Typically, electric ovens can accommodate pizzas up to 12 inches in diameter…
…and they take up a moderate amount of counter space when in use.
You have a lot more options if you invest in an outdoor pizza oven.
The pizza ovens covered here simply require a stable wood, metal…
…or stone surface large enough to accommodate your oven…
…without risk of tipping over. The size of the oven depends largely…
…on the size of the cooking area inside.
A typical pizza oven can accommodate a 12- to 13-inch pizza…
…while larger models are able to accommodate 16-inch pizzas.
Heating
When it comes to pizza ovens, you want the hottest one you can afford.
The ideal temperature for cooking pizza is 750 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Authentic Neopolitan pizza is cooked in a wood-fired oven…
…at a temperature of at least 800 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 to 90 seconds.
Those pizzas are typically baked in huge…
…brick wood-fired ovens that bake hundreds each day.
With several outdoor models designed to burn wood…
…you can reach temperatures as high as 800 degrees Fahrenheit at home.
Many ovens have an insulated or double-layered ceiling…
…to help retain heat and maintain high temperatures.
There are some ovens that have two heating elements on the upper…
…and lower parts of the oven in order to bake the crust as well as the topping.
Although many pizza ovens claim that heat is evenly distributed throughout the oven…
…it is likely that you will still need to rotate the pizza…
…while it bakes-even for pizzas that only need to bake for a few minutes.
It will only take a few tries to become accustomed to handling a pizza peel.
Keep reading…
Design
Most small and medium-sized pizza ovens on the market today…
…have a streamlined contemporary look with a stainless steel finish…
…and an interior stone baking surface.
While some models are available in black or grey instead of silver…
…most do not come in a variety of colors.
In smaller pizza ovens, the heat source is usually at the back…
…but in the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven…
…the heat source is below the pizza stone.
Typical open-flame ovens allow the flame to extend across part of the roof…
…to directly heat a larger portion of the pizza.
A vaulted roof on the oven mimics the heating pattern of traditional brick ovens.
For gas-powered pizza ovens, the flame output can be controlled…
…with a dial on the ignition knob.
Similar to grills, wood- and charcoal-fired ovens use a starter and are lit with matches.
An electric pizza oven typically has a dial that allows you…
…to set a specific temperature or time, as well as an indicator light..
…to indicate when the oven is ready.
Portability
For making pizza or grilling at the park, on a camping trip…
…or at a friend’s backyard cookout…
…several small pizza oven models come…
…with collapsible legs and removable parts.
Usually, portable pizza ovens come with a carrying bag…
…to keep everything together so that they can be quickly assembled and disassembled.
Although the oven you choose may be portable…
…keep in mind that it might not necessarily be light.
Some portable ovens are as light as 25 pounds…
…while others can weigh as much as 50 pounds.
This is the main part…
Our Top Picks for Pizza Ovens
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ooni Koda 12 Gas Pizza Oven – Award Winning Outdoor Pizza Oven – Portable Gas Pizza Oven For Authentic Stone Baked Pizzas – Great Addition For Any Outdoor Kitchen | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven – Portable Wood Fired and Gas Pizza Oven – Backyard Pizza Maker by Ooni Pizza Ovens | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | ROCCBOX Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven - Includes Professional Grade Pizza Peel, Built-In Thermometer and Safe Touch Silicone Jacket - Propane Gas Fired, With Rolling Wood Flame - Grey | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Presto 03430 Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Let’s go through them one by one…
Ooni Koda Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven
- Our Ooni pizza oven is much more than a pizza cooker - use your pizza ovens to roast meat, fish and vegetables
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
There is no easier way. With the gas on, the oven can reach temperatures…
…of as high as 932 degrees Fahrenheit in 15 minutes…
…(according to the manufacturer), or you can lower the heat control dial…
…to cook the pizza slowly. It took the oven about 25 minutes (at full power)…
…to reach 800 degrees Fahrenheit for the pizza stone.
With super-high heat, the Ooni Koda can cook pizza in 1 minute…
…so you can feed your family quickly and easily.
It’s also great for searing steaks and chops, roasting vegetables, and more.
The oven has a sleek design, no chimney, and three legs that make it stable on any surface.
With stainless steel accents, the body is powder-coated, cold-rolled steel.
It weighs about 20 pounds and is easy to transport.
Legs can be folded up for easy storage when not in use.
Comes with a stone baking board for perfect pizza crusts.
Pizzas up to 13 inches can be cooked in this oven (the pizza stone is 13 1/4 inches wide).
There is a bigger brother that can handle pizzas up to 16 inches…
…and can also be converted to run on natural gas if you need more space.
It’s not completely weatherproof, but it’s easy to move out of inclement weather…
…and it’s easy to clean. If you purchase directly from Ooni…
…you will receive a three-year warranty.
Pros:
- Cooks pizza in 60 seconds
- No assembly required
- Highly portable
Cons:
- Can be tricky to rotate pizza
“The Koda isn’t just useful for pizza, either. We fired up whole fish, steak, lamb chops, pineapple, tomatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, beets, and other veggies.”
Pete Scherer — Writer
Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
- GREAT PIZZA – A motto that Ooni Pizza Ovens live by – We believe that everybody deserves great pizza and our Ooni Karu 12 Multi-fuel pizza oven has been designed with that sole purpose in mind
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Cooking over wood is incredibly appealing because of the delicious flavor.
The Ooni Karu uses wood or charcoal…
…just like many barbecue grills, to scratch that itch.
Use hickory, mesquite, or maple wood for their unique flavors…
…or use charcoal from the grill for heat and smoke without the woody taste.
If you need much heat, you can raise the temperature to 932 degrees Fahrenheit…
…in about 15 minutes.
With a stainless steel body and ceramic fiber insulation…
…it retains heat, while the Ooni baking stone retains heat…
…for a perfect crust every time.
You can use the included pizza stone for family-sized pizzas…
…or you can use smaller individual ones as everyone tops their own pizza.
So no one will have to wait long for them to bake.
In fact, our reviewer cooked a pizza in just 45 seconds…
…when placed near the back of the oven.
Using a chimney baffle, you can adjust the oxygen flow…
…for high heat or low and slow cooking.
With a port on the back, it’s easy to add more fuel or to add new wood for different flavors.
The legs fold down for a smaller footprint when moving or storing.
To convert it to propane, a gas burner adapter can be purchased separately.
Pros:
- Cooks pizza in under a minute
- Burns wood or lump charcoal
- Gas adapter available
Cons:
- Burns through fuel quickly
- Needs attention during cooking
Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo Pizza Oven
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
When using an indoor pizza oven, you don’t have to worry about weather…
…fire, or lighting conditions. Authentic pizza can’t be baked…
…with the same temperatures as standard ovens or countertop ovens.
That’s where this oven from Breville shines…
…since it reaches 750 degrees Fahrenheit…
…and can cook pizza in less than two minutes…
…so you can treat the family to pizzas while watching a movie.
The exterior is well insulated, so it stays cool in spite of the high temperatures.
The pizza stone produces the char you’d typically find on wood-fired pizza…
…while the radiant heat creates the leopard-spotted crust…
…while convection heat cooks the cheese and toppings to perfection.
For more or less heat to be applied to the top or bottom of the oven…
…unlike ovens that only allow for overall temperature control.
Breville’s smart appliances have easy-to-use settings…
…so you can choose from frozen thin-crust pizza, deep dish pizza, or wood-fired pizza.
You can also customize the settings to get the best results…
…for any pizza style and preference.
Everything from a frozen pizza to a thin Margherita…
…to a meaty Bolognese pan pizza was baked successfully by our tester.
You won’t get the same smoky flavor as with a wood-fired grill…
…but for ease and convenience, the Breville cannot be beat.
This oven comes with a stainless steel pizza peel…
…for sliding pizzas in and out of the oven…
…as well as a carbon steel pan with a handle for thicker pies.
Pros:
- Mimics wood-fired ovens
- Multiple pizza settings
- Manual control for infinite options
Cons:
- Expensive
- No auto-shutoff
Go on…
Roccbox Portable Wood and Gas Pizza Oven
- A PREMIUM, PORTABLE FIRE AND STONE PIZZA OVEN - reaching high temperatures of over 932ºF to give you the ideal balance of thin base and perfectly puffed up, charred artisan crust - in just 60 seconds.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Gozney Roccbox pizza ovens are a favorite among pizza connoisseurs.
The portable oven, which can be powered by either gas through a propane hookup…
…or by wood, can turn out a pizza every 90 seconds.
Despite reaching scorching temperatures of more than 900 degrees Fahrenheit…
…the oven works fast.
With retractable legs and a carrying strap…
…you can easily move the device to a park, your backyard, and other locations.
The oven weighs more than 50 pounds so carrying it around is a bit of a workout.
The oven comes with a built-in thermometer and a pizza peel…
…so you can easily transfer pizzas in and out of the oven.
The dual heating options come in handy:
…You may prefer the flavor of a wood-fired oven…
…but you can’t beat the convenience of a propane hookup.
We tested the oven for other foods that benefit from a high temperature as well…
…not just pizza: Peach and onion tarts, steak, and a whole fish were cooked perfectly in it.
Despite the high price, the design of the Roccbox combined…
…with its efficiency makes it a standout product…
…and according to our tester, it will produce authentic Neapolitan pizza.
Pros:
- Hot enough for Neapolitan pizza
- Cooks pizza in one to three minutes
- Built-in thermometer
- Good heat distribution and retention
Cons:
- Wood burning attachment is impractical
Presto Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
If you’d rather cook your pizza indoors but don’t want your kitchen to heat up…
…this pizza oven is the perfect solution-and it’s fun to watch.
A frozen pizza or your own homemade pizza cooks…
…in about half the time it would take in an oven.
Pizza trays rotate continuously to ensure even baking.
The top and bottom heating elements can be controlled separately…
…so if the crust is browned before the cheese is gooey…
…you can increase the top heat and reduce the bottom heat.
You can walk away without worrying about a burned pizza…
…when a timer turns off the heat, and an audible signal will alert you …
…when your pizza is done. The pizza tray is removable…
…and has a nonstick coating that makes cleaning easy.
It can cook pizzas up to 12 inches in diameter.
You may have seen a few different versions of the Presto Pizzazz…
…when searching for used models.
The pizza maker has remained essentially the same with every model…
…regardless of packaging and finishes.
Pros:
- Highly cost-effective
- Designed for indoor use
- Timer with alert
- Top and bottom adjustable heating elements
Cons:
- 12 inch max pizza size
- Doesn’t cook at extreme temperatures
How Hot Do Pizza Ovens Get
It will be easier to maintain a decent cooking temperature over the cooking period…
…if you build up the fire to be somewhat hotter than you are cooking.
Set the temperature to 850 degrees Fahrenheit (450 degrees Celsius)…
…wait 20 minutes, and then begin cooking, keeping the temperature…
…above 750 degrees Fahrenheit (400C). Pizzas will be ready in about 90 seconds…
If your oven is set to 650 degrees Fahrenheit (350 degrees Celsius)…
…the pizza will take about 4 minutes to cook. As previously said…
…this will transform the pizza’s dynamic to a dryer crust. The quick cooking…
…produces a delicate interior and crisp edge to the crust.
Here’s a handy table. I made this to get a sense of what cooking temps are like…
…in a wood-fired oven. The temperatures required for various sorts of food…
You don’t realize how much more you can cook on the inside!
- 750°F + 400°C+ Pizza cooking Pizza, garlic bread, naan bread
- 540 – 600°F, 280 – 320°C Grilling Steak, sardines, shrimp
- 450 – 540°F, 230 – 280°C Roasting Turkey, Roast potatoes, whole fish
- 400 – 450°F. 200 – 230°C Baking Bread Sourdough, pizza rolls, foccacia
- 210 – 250°F , 100 – 120°C Slow cooking Pulled pork, BBQ ribs, stews
And, finally…
Sum Up!
You may not want a pizza oven if you turn to pizza as a fill-in-the-blank option…
…on nights when you don’t feel like cooking.
The oven you already have is more than adequate for frozen pizzas.
If, however, you enjoy turning out pizza crust, painting sauce…
…and artfully placing toppings, a pizza oven may be a good kitchen investment.
Conclusion
Among our top picks, we recommend the Ooni Koda…
…Gas-Powered Outdoor Pizza Oven…
…due to its unique combination of portability, authenticity, and eye-catching design.
If you would like a pizza oven to use indoors…
…the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo Pizza Oven would be ideal.
It features temperature control with a simple user interface.
Was this helpful?
Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
