The 5 Best Pizza Ovens for 2023, Tested and Reviewed – CNET
The 5 Best Pizza Ovens for 2023, Tested and Reviewed - CNET
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The 5 Best Pizza Ovens for 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Turn your backyard into a world-class pizzeria with one of these excellent at-home ovens.
What’s the best pizza oven for 2023?
The Ooni Koda 12 is the best pizza oven for most people.
Ooni
Based on our testing of seven models, the reliable and fairly priced Ooni Koda 12 is the best pizza oven for 2023, but there are other models we liked and also recommend.
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Preparing a simple pizza at home is easy, but creating one on par with a professionally crafted pie requires an oven capable of reaching searing temperatures. Thanks to a new crop of the best pizza ovens that are foolproof and semiportable, America is hosting a pizza party in its collective backyard.
With small, at-home pizza ovens reaching air fryer levels of buzz, there are now several types and various models available from a slew of brands including Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove and Alpha. There are propane-powered ovens that click on in seconds and others powered by wood pellets, hardwood and charcoal. One thing they all have in common is that they’ll reach the blistering hot temperatures you need to get perfect pizzas, just like the ones you’ll find at your favorite slice shop. Those hot temps also mean pizzas are typically cooked in about two or three minutes. Starting to see the appeal?
After many rounds of pies and a few burnt crusts, we recommend these five as the best at-home best pizza ovens for 2023.
Best pizza ovens for 2023
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The versatile gas-powered Koda is portable, weighing just 20 pounds, and it’s easy to operate. It ignites in seconds and reaches the coveted 900 degrees Fahrenheit — the optimal temperature for cooking killer pizzas — in less than 15 minutes.
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The Roccbox made a flurry of excellent pizzas in under two minutes per pie. The rotund Roccbox is easy to set up, and it reached 900 degrees F in under 13 minutes. It runs on gas as default, but a wood burner attachment can be purchased as an extra (we only tested it using gas).
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Wood pellet pizza ovens tend to be a bit cheaper than gas-powered ones, but they also require a bit more manual labor. The Fyra retails for $349 but can often be found on sale for less than $250, making it the most budget-friendly model on our list.
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At $550, the Versa is considerably pricier than the Ooni models, but it has two advantages that make it worth the cost: The rotating pizza stone eliminates the need to manually adjust your pies. And the unique liftable lid provides unparalleled access.
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Alpha’s smallest oven, the Nano, is larger and heavier than any of the other ovens on this list. But it’s beautiful and sturdy, can accommodate larger pies and makes excellent, evenly cooked pizzas in just a few minutes.
Other pizza ovens we tested
Solo Pi Pizza Oven: Another solid pizza oven that’s sturdily built and fast to cook, but more expensive than the Ooni Koda.
Ooni Karu: Ooni’s multifuel pizza runs on wood, charcoal or gas via an adapter, making it a good option if you plan to regularly use more than one fuel source to cook pizzas.
The Ooni Koda 12 is the best overall pizza oven for the price.
Ooni
How we evaluated pizza ovens
We hand-tested all of the ovens on this list over the course of several months, assessing build quality and how easy they were to set up and connect to a fuel source.
A picturesque pie pulled from the hot chamber of the Alpha Nano.
David Watsky/CNET
We cooked a minimum of three pizzas in each, following the manufacturers’ guidance on time, temperature and technique. Ovens were scored on their ability to produce crispy crust and toppings that were fully cooked and cheese that was evenly melted. We also took notes on how long each oven took to cook a pizza. Spoiler alert: None of these ovens take more than five minutes to bake even a large pie.
We also evaluated the ease with which the ovens attached to their fuel source and how intuitive the dials and controls were. Finally, we looked out for any ovens that were particularly difficult to break down or clean after use.
Top pizza ovens compared
| Ooni Fyra | Ooni Koda 12 | Gozney Roccbox | Halo Versa | Alpha Nano | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 22 lbs. | 20.4 lbs. | 60 lbs. | 44 lbs. | 125 lbs. |
| Max pizza size | 12 in. | 12 in. | 12 in. | 16 in. | 19 in. |
| Max temp | 950 F | 950 F | 950 F | 950 F | 1,000 F |
| Fuel source | Wood pellets | Gas | Gas or wood | Gas | Gas |
| Price | $349 | $319 | $499 | $550 | $1,999 |
| Peel included | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Buying guide: What to look for in a pizza oven
Fuel type
The Gozney is an excellent oven, but heavier than the average model at 60 pounds.
David Watsky/CNET
Home pizza ovens run on either gas, charcoal or wood. Propane and natural gas pizza ovens can be connected quickly, ignite instantaneously and heat up in just a few minutes. They also burn clean, with less smoke and little mess to clean up.
Wood and charcoal ovens, in contrast, need to be loaded (and sometimes reloaded) and take longer to heat up; also, an even temperature is trickier to maintain. They also make a bigger mess, leaving behind ash and soot.
And though you may assume wood-fired pizza ovens would impart a smoky flavor, the pies are not in the oven long enough to absorb much of that wood flavor.
The Alpha Nano is the largest oven of all the models we tested, allowing you to roast whole chickens and other food that won’t fit inside most home pizza ovens.
David Watsky/CNET
Size and portability
If you have a dedicated space for your oven, a larger, heavier model should work. If you’ll be looking to store it away between uses or move it around regularly, a more portable oven is a better choice.
Accessories
One accessory you’ll definitely need for your new pizza oven is a pizza peel. This unique paddle-shaped tool allows you to safely slide a pizza in and out and rotate it for even cooking. Remember, these ovens get as hot as 950 degrees so you don’t want to take any chances with a shaky spatula or tiny tongs.
The other accessory you’ll likely want to invest in is a cover, especially if you plan to leave it out in the elements between uses. Some pizza ovens come with a custom cover, but many don’t.
A pizza peel is the most critical accessory for making pies at home.
Ooni
Best pizza oven FAQs
How long do pizzas take to cook in a pizza oven?
This depends on the size of the pizza and how hot you have your oven turned up to. But most modern at-home pizza ovens cook pizzas in less than five minutes, often as quickly as two or three.
Can you make other food in a pizza oven?
You can make much more than pizza in an at-home pizza oven. Because the ovens get so hot, they’ll sear steaks and burgers without overcooking the inside. You can also make crispy potatoes, roasted chicken, vegetables and fish in about half the time it would take in a standard oven.
Is a pizza oven worth it?
Pizza ovens have become one of the buzziest home kitchen appliances for a reason. They work extremely well, are easy to use and turn out pizzeria-quality pies with just a little practice. A good pizza oven can also be had for as little as $250, making them a worthy investment for a pizza lover.
How hot should a pizza oven get?
Most pizza ovens crank up to a scorching 900 degrees F. That heat allows the pizza to cook, crisping the bottom and crust and melting the toppings without drying out the inside.
How do you clean a pizza oven?
The pizza stone is likely the part of the oven that will need cleaning regularly. Because most pizza ovens have stones that are attached, you’ll have to wait until the oven cools and wipe the inside of the cooking chamber and pizza stone surface with a wet rag. Avoid the use of soap since any residual could affect the flavor of future food. For stubborn bits, Ooni makes a pizza oven grill brush for $30, but your existing grill brush will also do the trick. If the stone can be removed, wait for it to cool and run it under hot water and scrub it with soap, as needed.
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