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Italian Backyard Cooking Experience With A Wood-Fired Pizza Oven
The post Italian Backyard Cooking Experience With A Wood-Fired Pizza Oven appeared first on Homedit.
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…
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Our Favorite: Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven
Cooking in a wood-fired oven should be a fun experience yielding tasty results. Like so many other choices, it’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Find what’s right for you and you’ll have years of fun and food.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
This is probably the type of pizza oven that you automatically think of at the mention of authentic wood-fired pizza. It is also the traditional Italian pizza oven that you see in the shape of a half-dome or igloo. The main feature is that one internal chamber holds the fire and serves as the cooking space.
Family fun with rustic style – and delicious pizzas – is what you’ll get with the Clay Freestanding Wood-Fired Pizza Oven. This is a compact model that lets you burn your choice of fuel and looks great in the backyard. Cook up homemade pizza pies or give a pre-made pizza some extra oomph and flavor.
Pizza stones and certain techniques can yield a quality pizza, but not the same thing that you’ll get from a wood-fired oven.
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.
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.
Reasons Why You Need an Outdoor Pizza Oven
High Temperatures for Fast Cooking
The post Italian Backyard Cooking Experience With A Wood-Fired Pizza Oven appeared first on Homedit.
It Gives Food an Incomparable, Unique Flavor
For a super stylish centerpiece in your outdoor kitchen, you can’t beat the Alfa 5 Minuti 23-Inch Outdoor Countertop Wood-Fired Pizza Oven. It’s a compact design that can still accommodate two pizzas at once, meaning that you can host a big family or crowd of friends with ease. Just install this on your countertop and fire it up – no curing required!
You Can Cook More Than Just Pizza
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.
It’s More than Just Cooking – It’s an Experience
These outdoor pizza ovens feature two chambers, one for cooking and a second one to hold the fire underneath. Similar to the portable single chamber models, these types of pizza ovens are also made of steel with a porcelain cooking surface.
An Outdoor Pizza Oven is Party-Perfect
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Pizza Outdoors is More Fun
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.
It’s an Investment You’ll Enjoy
Alfa’s patented Forninox technology helps the oven withstand the stress that high temperatures create by fusing the properties of modern steel and old-school cooking on a brick surface. This special technology also lets you heat up with less fuel, thanks to ceramic fiber insulation and the refractory cement cooking
The best options for an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven:
1. Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven
If we’re talking about pizzas, you’ll probably be cooking one at a time, but you still want to make sure there’s enough space on the cooking surface for handling the pizzas. Base your estimates on the typically sized 12-inch pizza. Even if you’re doing one at a time, you want an oven with room for two pizzas, just so you can cook other things too.
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.
All of these types of pizza oven require having the masonry laid once the interior section is in place. It is a permanent structure and is not portable.
At the same time, the conductive heat transfers into the pizza from the cooking surface and convective heat from the fire is pushed around the oven.
- Provides consistent high heat thanks to hardwood pellet fuel
- Makes tasty woodfired pizzas up to 12-inched in size
- Hits 950°degrees in 15 minutes
- Bakes pizzas in little more than a minute
- Super portable at just 22 lbs.
- Up to a 3-year warranty
At the same time, the conductive heat transfers into the pizza from the cooking surface and convective heat from the fire is pushed around the oven.
- Ready to cook out of the box
- Totally portable
- Exterior stays safe to the touch
- Gas-fueled for convenience
- Cooks other foods too
At the same time, the conductive heat transfers into the pizza from the cooking surface and convective heat from the fire is pushed around the oven.
- Freestanding clay oven
- Cooks pizzas up to 11 inches in diameter
- Heats up to a maximum 400°F
- Burn a choice of fuel types
- Cooks homemade pizzas or premade products
At the same time, the conductive heat transfers into the pizza from the cooking surface and convective heat from the fire is pushed around the oven.
- Can reach desired cooking temperature in as little as 5 minutes
- Can accommodate 2 pizzas at one time
- Insulated to retain heat
- Fire brick cooking surface
- Wood-burning
At the same time, the conductive heat transfers into the pizza from the cooking surface and convective heat from the fire is pushed around the oven.
- 32 x 24 inch cooking surface holds up to four 10-inch pizzas at once
- Sturdy stainless steel construction
- Heats up in 15 to 30 minutes
- Freestanding and easy to roll around
- Made in the USA
- No curing required
You can only get a true Neapolitan-style pizza with the high heat that a pizza oven provides. Its specific construction and heat retention create the perfect environment to cook up that thin, bubbly crust that you love. High temps also mean that you can easily feed a crowd with their favorite pies because they take just two or three minutes in the pizza oven. There’s no waiting 10 or 15 minutes per pizza like you do in an indoor oven, even when using a pizza stone.
The Bottom Line
Some of these ovens are Tuscan style, which means they are taller and have a larger opening, while others are known as Neapolitan because the rounded section is a little flatter and not as high.
- Large cooking area
- Holds up to four pizzas at once
- Heats up in 15 to 20 minutes
- No curing or installation required
- Cook anything in this oven
- Two-year warranty, Five-year for dome welds
- Must be used outdoors only
If you’re the type of outdoor cook who loves a gas grill for the convenience of turning a knob and being ready to cook, a large pizza oven – especially a brick oven – is probably not for you. Large wood-fired ovens take a few hours to heat up, so you’re not going to do that for a couple of pizzas. These ovens are good for cooking a succession of foods because the oven stays hot for such a long time.
Construction and portability
Portable or fixed?
Another type of brick pizza oven is the barrel vault oven that sports a rectangular interior and a dome in the shape of a half-barrel.
Of course, there are a number of decisions to make before shopping for a wood-fired pizza oven.
How large?
What type of oven construction?
Depending on the type you choose, an outdoor pizza oven can be a bit of an investment, especially if you choose a built-in style that requires masonry work. That said, it is money well spent because it’s not only for family cooking, but also for entertaining. You’ll enjoy it as will your friends and family. Besides, it also means spending more time outdoors, enjoying the backyard or patio.
Many people think that wood-fueled ovens are a lot of bother but the wood-pellet fuel used in the Ooni Fyra 12 pizza oven makes it super simple to use.
What kind of fuel?
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Advances in manufacturing and technology have allowed manufacturers to create a wide range of portable outdoor pizza ovens. Some are truly portable, countertop-style models that you can move around, take camping or tailgating. Others are “portable” in that you can wheel them across the patio out of the way or into the garage for storage.
The perfectly puffed crust of a wood fired pizza with the ease of a gas grill are yours when you choose the ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven. This portable model can reach temperatures over 932ºF and cook your pizza in just 60 seconds. Set this up anywhere and start cooking in about 15 minutes.
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. T
Types of Outdoor Pizza Ovens
1. Brick Pizza Ovens
The exterior of these ovens is definitely not made from brick and instead features a double-layer sheet metal dome or top. All have some sort of insulation material around the cooking chamber to help retain heat and create those high temperatures that are a must for pizza. Installation of these ovens is very simple and they tend to use less wood than the large brick ovens.
Alfa’s pizza oven requires little assembly and best of all, no curing, which can be very time-consuming. Designed to be installed on a countertop, the copper-colored powder-coated stainless steel dome retains heat and a built-in thermometer lets you keep an eye on the interior temperature. Best of all, this oven’s 465 square inches of cooking space is perfect for making pretty much anything – breads, meats, vegetables and even desserts!
We love it because even though it requires a dedicated countertop space, installation is simple and you can be grilling the same day you get it! This model makes it simple to get authentic wood-fired flavor in your own backyard. Did we mention how great it looks too?
Real pizza aficionados love the Neapolitan style oven because it is designed specifically for pizza. You can certainly bake bread and cook other items in it, but its shape and design help it achieve some of the hottest temperatures, ideal for pizza.
True Neapolitan pizza ovens cook at a temperature of around 800°F – 905°F, which is much hotter than your home oven. That’s why all kinds of indoor gadgets fall short when trying to recreate an authentic pizza –always wood fired.
The Ooni Fyra 12 comes with a Cordierite stone baking board and the chimney cover doubles as a pellet scoop. You’ll want to purchase a pizza peel for safely shuttling the pizzas in and out of the oven. Some users say they also purchased an infrared thermometer to keep an eye on the interior temperature.
2. Fully-Assembled Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens
Why Should I Buy the Ooni Fyra 12?
3. Portable Wood Fired Pizza Ovens
Speaking of other foods, you can cook just about anything else in a pizza oven too. Make as many pizzas as you want while the oven is at its hottest, and then use it to cook meats, breads and other dishes while the temperature is lower. There can be enough residual heat to bake breads and rolls or other dishes outdoors even as the oven cools down.
It’s actually the successor model to the first-ever wood-pellet fueled pizza oven. It’s also great for cooking other foods like steaks or other meats.
4. Single Chamber Models
This small but mighty portable outdoor pizza oven gives you the puffy crust of wood-fired pizza but without the wood fire. Those who are dedicated to their gas grills will love the convenience of this gas-fired pizza oven that has the same heating power of a wood-burning oven.
Pizzas and parties are a great mix and this fabulous wood-fired pizza oven lets you have both anytime you feel like it. Cook up a few pies for the family or turn out a crowd’s worth of crusty Neapolitan pizzas for a gathering.
5. Dual Chamber Models
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.
Entertaining is no problem with an outdoor pizza oven. The quick cooking of the high heat means you can make a long succession of pizzas in a short amount of time and still cook other foods. It’s a lot of fun to have friends and family join in, topping their own pizzas. The pizza oven becomes the centerpiece of your outdoor entertaining and adds to the special atmosphere of your party
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.
One type of barrel vault oven is fully enclosed with a door on the front, making it perfect for pizza and breads, but also suitable for grilling. It’s also great for cooking in clay pots. The open style of barrel vault oven is just that: Completely open at the front. The design lets you use a full grill and cook just about anything, but it also makes it a little less than ideal for pizza.
Think Before You Buy a Wood-Fired Pizza Oven
Your Location
Whether you want to cook a range of dishes for dinner or want to crank out up to 60 pizzas on an hour for a party, the Bella Grande Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven will handle it with ease.
The Oven’s Location
Why Should I Buy the Bella Grande Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven?
Your Cooking Style
It actually has two different doors: A letterbox-style opening for sliding the pizzas in and out, and the Ooni Pro Door with Thermometer.
There’s a hopper that uses gravity to automatically feeds the pellets into the fire and a compact 6.5-lb. bag of pellets will give you a good 2-3 hours of cooking time.
What You Like to Cook?
Before investing in a wood-fired pizza oven, it’s important to know what type you need. You can tell by considering all the factors that play into your cooking style, family size and personal preferences.
Cooking Capacity
FAQ
What Temperature Do I Need for Pizza
The Basics
The Basics
How Can Pizza Ovens Get So Hot?
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.
Flip the switch and within 15 minutes, the oven will hit 900 degrees and within 30 minutes, the stone interior will be at 840-850 degrees. The temperature level is easily regulated by adjusting the eight of the flame. For those who would rather have wood, a detachable wood burner can be purchased separately.
Can I Cook Other Things in a Pizza Oven?
The Extras
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.
What Makes a Wood-Fired Pizza Oven Different from Gas or Electric?
The ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven comes with the Gas Burner, a pizza peel, bottle opener and the user’s manual. The oven is also supported with a library of delicious recipes, “how to” videos, Guest chef interviews and cooking sessions available on the Gozney website.
- Fast, hot cooking. Gas and electric ovens use primarily direct heat for cooking. A wood-fired pizza oven pizza uses radiant, direct and indirect heat to cook. The higher temperature cooks super hot and super fast – in just minutes!
- Changeable flavor profile: Just as smoking meats with different woods changes the flavor of the meat, switching up the kind of wood you use fir your pizza oven can change the flavor profile of the final product.
- Authenticity. Believe it or not, there is an Italian association . (True Neapolitan Pizza Association or Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) that sets the rules for what counts as an authentic Neapolitan pizza. A wood-fired pizza oven is one of the specifications.
Conclusion
This is a stylish backyard pizza oven that will give any outdoor space a bit of authentic clay oven flair. Crafted in Mexico, it comes with a stand that puts it at a convenient height.
The great wood-fired cooking versatility of the Bella Grande Outdoor Wood-Fired Pizza Oven makes it a fabulous choice for people who want one oven that does it all. It heats quickly and can bake pizzas for a big crowd as well as cook virtually any other foods. This oven has a quality stainless steel exterior and is made in the USA. Best of all, it’s freestanding and doesn’t require installation or a dedicated outdoor kitchen space.
The quickest and easiest route to setting up a wood fired pizza oven in the backyard is to buy one that is assembled and ready to use. These can be built into an outdoor kitchen, serve as a stand-alone unit, or come as a portable model. The interiors are cured and set to go, the insulation is in place and the exterior is attractive and functional.
