Fuel type: Gas or wood pellets
The Gozney is a great oven, but heavier than the average model at 60 pounds.
Outdoor pizza ovens primarily run on gas, wood or wood pellets. Propane gas pizza ovens can be connected quickly, turn on instantly and heat up in just a few minutes. They also burn cleanly, with less smoke and little mess to clean up. They can be connected to propane tanks in the same way as a grill.
Wood and charcoal ovens, on the other hand, must be loaded (and sometimes refilled) with fuel before use and take longer to heat up; in addition, a constant temperature is more difficult to maintain. They also cause even greater damage, leaving behind ash and soot. Although you might assume that wood-fired pizza ovens impart a smoky flavor, the pies are not subjected to a lot of smoke or in the oven long enough to absorb the wood flavor. The ovens smell good once lit.
Gozney introduced a large oven fueled by old-fashioned firewood.
There is no significant cost difference between different types of fuel. It’s more a matter of personal preference. Wood pellets can be purchased online or at most hardware and grocery stores and are available in a range of wood varieties.
There is also electric pizza ovens, including this expensive model from Breville and this new entry of Ninja. Electric pizza ovens only reach a temperature of around 700 degrees F. Purists may tell you that’s just not hot enough to make really good pizza. We plan to test a few electric pizza ovens soon and will let you know.
The Alpha Nano is the largest oven of all the models we tested, allowing you to roast whole chickens and other foods that don’t fit in most home pizza ovens.
Size and portability
If you have a dedicated space for your oven, a larger, heavier model should do the trick. If you want to store it between uses or move it regularly, a more portable oven is a better choice. Home pizza ovens start at around 20 pounds, while semi-portable and stationary pizza ovens can weigh several hundred.
Accessories
A pizza peel is the most important tool for making pies at home.
One accessory you will definitely need for your new pizza oven is a pizza peel. This unique paddle-shaped tool allows you to safely slide and remove a pizza and rotate it for even cooking. Remember, these ovens heat up to 950 degrees, so you don’t want to take any chances with a shaky spatula or small tongs.
The other accessory you’ll probably want to invest in is a cover, especially if you plan to leave it out between uses. Some pizza ovens come with a custom lid, but many do not.
Cost and value
Quality home pizza ovens start at around $300 and go up (very high!) from there. More expensive pizza ovens tend to feature larger, sturdier frames, larger oven capacity, and they reach hotter temperatures more quickly. You can find cheap pizza ovens for under $250, but so far we haven’t tried one that’s worth the investment.
A pizza peel is the most essential accessory for making pies at home.
