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A homemade pizza is not only a pleasure but also a small culinary success. To fully enjoy this success, you need not only the right ingredients, but also the right accessories. A pizza oven makes it possible to bake a pizza just like at the Italian restaurant. With our pizza oven test 2023 we want to help you find the right pizza oven. We have compared the different types of heating and listed the respective advantages and disadvantages. We have also explained purchase and evaluation criteria to make your purchase decision as easy as possible.
Summary
- The pizza oven is an oven that can bake at very high temperatures. Due to its design, temperatures of up to 500 degrees can be reached, so pizzas are crispy in just a few minutes.
- One of the most important decisions when purchasing a pizza oven is the type of oven to heat. There are pizza ovens that are heated with wood, gas or electricity.
- There are compact models for delicious evenings for two, family fun with the kids or a barbecue in the garden. All models have a comparatively wide price range.
The Best Pizza Oven: Our Picks
When choosing a pizza oven, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. In the following section, we’ve selected the best pizza ovens to help you with your purchase.
Pizza ovens: buying and evaluation criteria
In the next section, we will go through attributes that can help you choose the pizza oven. The criteria below are designed to create a comprehensive picture of a pizza oven.
In the following sections we explain some of the most important criteria:
Material
There are usually three different types of pizza oven materials. We have explained the characteristics of stone, steel and cast iron pizza ovens.
Stone
The stone pizza oven is the classic among the ovens and is often seen in the gastronomic sector. These ovens take a little longer to heat up, but once the oven is heated up, pizza making is relatively quick.
Terracotta, cotto, and fireclay are a few of the heat-storing stones used in the construction of pizza ovens.
Stone pizza ovens also give a cosy visual atmosphere and are popular in the garden in private households. Stone pizza ovens are often used as a traditional oven to bake bread. Because they retain heat for a long time, other foods such as fish, meat and vegetables can also be cooked gently in the stone oven.
Steel
These modern pizza ovens are bought for their convenience. If you want your pizza on the table quickly, a steel pizza oven is the way to go. These ovens are usually delivered prefabricated and have a simple assembly. Steel pizza ovens are comparatively lighter in weight. Due to their mobility, these pizza ovens can be used in different places. Cleaning with this oven is also simplified.
Cast iron
The cast iron pizza oven offers a longer heat retention. This pizza oven heats up quickly and because of the cast iron, it also has a consistent heat.
The pizza becomes crispy and the fish tastily smoked.
Relatively easy to assemble, but difficult to move due to its heavy weight and you would have to plan its location in advance. The cast iron pizza oven is also easy to clean and maintain.
Size
The size of a pizza oven plays an important role and there are different sizes to choose from. Should it be several pizzas at once, just for you or many mini pizzas for a party? When buying, you should ask yourself the following questions to help you choose.
- How many pizzas do you want to prepare at once? Since the preparation time is very short, it can be a small tabletop pizza oven and the pizzas can be baked one at a time. If you want to bake other foods or keep them warm, a larger oven would be an advantage.
- How many people will be catered for? For single households and small families, a pizza oven that has room for 1 to 2 pizzas is suitable. Large families or people who like to invite more people should look at larger ovens.
- Which type of heating is preferred?Electric pizza ovens are the smallest versions. Especially when firing wood, they need enough space to reach the right temperature.
- Where will the pizza oven be used? Should the pizza oven be used at home in the kitchen or outside in the garden? Especially if it is a pizza oven that is heated with wood or gas, then this oven needs to go outside. But here, too, there are compact versions. Of course, space is also important. How much space do you have available?
Size also plays a role in preheating and heat retention of the oven. Waiting time is important when choosing the right size. The bigger your pizza oven is, the more energy or wood you will use. The pizza oven should therefore be as large as necessary.
Preparation time
The advantage of a pizza oven is that the pizza is cooked relatively quickly due to the high temperatures. As a rule, depending on the oven and temperature, the pizza can be crispy in about 5 minutes.
The preparation time may be slightly longer if the oven is preheated, depending on the material and size. The type of heating also plays a role, for example in the choice of wood and the handling of the fire.
Temperature
For a good result, the pizza should be baked at between 350 and 400 degrees. You cannot reach these high temperatures in a traditional oven. Even with a pizza stone, the temperature is not increased but evenly distributed to improve the final result.
With stone ovens, the temperature can reach 500 degrees, resulting in a quickly baked pizza.
Whether in the garden or on the table at home, the pizza ovens that can be bought online reach temperatures of 400 to 500 degrees.
Pizza ovens: frequently asked questions and answers
In the next section, we answer the most frequently asked questions about pizza ovens. We have picked out the most important questions for you and listed them below. After reading our guide, you will have all the information you need about pizza ovens.
What is a pizza oven?
The design of a pizza oven and the high temperatures mean that pizzas are baked in just a few minutes. A traditional stone pizza oven, which is heated with wood, has a dome shape. Air can flow through the opening and circulate to light the fire and let the smoke escape. There are also pizza ovens that are heated with gas and increasingly popular household pizza ovens that run on electricity.
What types of pizza ovens are there?
| Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza oven with wood | Pizza gets a special flavour, Reaches high temperatures, Gives an atmosphere, Can be visually very beautiful | Can only be used outdoors, Toxic fumes, Higher initial costs and running costs, Usually heavy and not mobile |
| Electric pizza oven | Easy to use, Fast heating and baking time, Transportable, Easy to clean | Mostly small in size, Only 1-2 pizzas at a time, An extra kitchen appliance to store, Mostly only usable for pizzas |
| Gas pizza oven | Reaches high temperatures, Pizzas are baked in under 5 minutes, Space for several pizzas or other foods, Quick to set up | Can only be used outdoors, Toxic fumes, Higher initial and running costs, Mostly heavy and not mobile |
Since gas and wood-fired ovens produce exhaust fumes, electric pizza ovens are usually purchased for household use. In the gastronomic sector, gas and wood ovens are also operated inside the restaurant and the exhaust gases escape through a built-in chimney. Those who like to hold parties in the garden can benefit from the atmosphere that a wood or gas pizza oven gives.
What does a pizza oven cost?
| Type | price range |
|---|---|
| Electric pizza oven | approx. 40 to 250 euros |
| Steel pizza oven | approx. 250 to 1500 euros |
| Stone pizza oven | approx. 1500 to 3500 euros |
Stone ovens are the most expensive and also the most traditional. These ovens are massive models that usually rule a particular place. The charm and aroma of stone ovens make them very popular. There are also small models that you can buy for as little as 500 euros. The steel pizza ovens can convince with a modern design. Starting at 250 euros, nothing can stand in the way of a garden party. In addition to stone ovens, other foods can also be prepared in steel ovens.
The most compact and affordable option is the electric pizza oven. It convinces with its mobility and easy handling. With this variant, you are limited in the number of pizzas you can bake at once. Depending on the manufacturer’s equipment and additional accessories, prices can vary upwards or downwards. There are high-quality pizza ovens of all types and from a medium price range.
What are the alternatives to a pizza oven?
| Alternative | Description |
|---|---|
| Pizza stone for the oven | The pizza stone is a portable cooking surface made of ceramic or stone. The stone is a cheap alternative to the pizza oven, which is heated on the lower rack of the oven. It is easy to use and saves space. The stone offers an even baking result but the baking time is longer. |
| Pizza box for the grill | The pizza box is a grill accessory that is placed on a gas or charcoal grill. The pizza box usually consists of a steel cover with a thermometer and a pizza stone. As with the traditional pizza oven, the pizza box can also reach very high temperatures, so that the pizza is baked in a few minutes. The bonnet covers the entire grill so that only one pizza can be baked. |
Both alternatives have certain advantages that are not to be sneezed at. Nevertheless, pizza ovens seem to be superior to the alternatives in many respects. If you want to save time, prepare several dishes or simply create a cosy atmosphere, a pizza oven is a good choice.
How do you preheat a pizza oven?
To begin with, it is advisable to start with a small fire in the middle of the oven. Then slowly spread the charcoal over the bottom of the oven. Once the oven has reached the right temperature (depending on the model and size of the oven) you can push the fire back with a fire scraper and sweep the charcoal residue with a brass brush. The pizza will then bake in the desired place. There are also models made of steel that can also be heated with wood. These models have a special compartment for burning the wood so that the wood does not come into direct contact with the pizza. For electric models, most pizza ovens are preheated in a few minutes at the touch of a button.
What accessories do I need for a pizza oven?
- Pizza slider
- Oven brushes
- Globe slider
- Pizza shovel
- Pizza lifter
- Thermometer
- Cutting utensils
- Cutting boards
You can also buy the above-mentioned accessories in a set to have all the important utensils at hand.
Conclusion
There is no substitute for the atmosphere of baking a homemade pizza in a pizza oven. Whether for a family evening at home or a barbecue in the garden, a pizza oven can help create delicious memories. There are compact pizza oven variants in every heating mode. For the individual beginner, even an electric pizza oven can score, if you like it more cosy and want to give yourself time to bake then a stone pizza oven is a good choice. If time is of the essence, you can also use a steel pizza oven that is heated with wood or gas. Pizza ovens can also cook other foods gently or even smoke them. Photo source: Tavani / 123rf
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