Pizza Ovens: A Must-Have for Your Outdoor Kitchen

The pizza oven has long been a rare kitchen appliance that only the most dedicated of pizza chefs have had in their kitchens. However, this doesn't need to be the case anymore! Ooni has created a pizza oven that not only can make amazing pizzas, but is also meant to be used outside. Read on to find out more about Ooni outdoor pizza ovens, and the kinds of meals that you can cook with them.

Is An Outdoor Pizza Oven Worth It?

Outdoor pizza ovens come with a ton of benefits when you decide to add one to your outdoor kitchen. The main thing they can do is make cooking pizza easy and fun, but they also come with a host of other perks that can be beneficial to any outdoor kitchen. Having the oven outside ensures that you won't need to worry about cleaning up any mess inside the house while you cook, and it can save you indoor kitchen space. It's also a much more versatile kitchen appliance than you may initially think. Though it can cook an amazing pizza pie with ease, these ovens can cook a whole lot more than just that.

What Can I Cook in An Outdoor Pizza Oven (Other Than Pizza)?

On top of being able to cook a wide variety of delicious pizza pies, you can also cook a number of other dishes in an Ooni outdoor pizza oven. Since the pizza oven will function much like a regular oven, you'll find that you can efficiently bake things like rolls, and other doughy foods without a problem. You can also make some delicious dips with a nice layer of melted cheese over the top, or even some baked macaroni and cheese. If you like to cook your food to have a nice crispy texture, and you love that homecooked feel, the Ooni pizza oven will make a fine addition to your outdoor kitchen.

As of this writing, Ooni produces pizza ovens that run on gas, ovens that run on wood pellets, and multi-fuel ovens that can run on both. Each different fuel type comes with a few pros and cons that make them more suited to cook certain meals over others.

Gas Outdoor Pizza Ovens

Gas outdoor pizza ovens can reach high temperatures faster than other types of ovens, and they don't take much to maintain once they get going. You can also very easily control the temperature of a gas-powered oven. The downside of using gas as a fuel source is that, even though it is easy to cook with, many people believe that you miss out on that smoky flavor that you get when cooking with wood. You also will need to run a fuel line of some kind to the oven to get it to work. Whether you choose to run a utility line from your home or you choose to use a propane tank will be up to you. Overall, using gas can be an easier and more manageable option, but you may miss out on part of the taste that many people love from pizza ovens. However, wood-pellet-powered models come with many perks of their own.

Wood Pellet Outdoor Pizza Ovens

Using wood pellets as a fuel source will ensure that you'll get that authentic wood-fired taste, but you'll have to sacrifice some cooking control to do so. With wood pellets, you'll have to refill the oven between uses, and you need to keep a closer eye on your temperature levels, as they are more prone to fluctuating when cooking with wood.

Multi Fuel Outdoor Pizza Ovens

The outdoor pizza ovens that run on multiple different fuel types allow their user to make use of the best features of each fuel type. Being able to change from wood power to gas on demand allows you to keep that smoky taste, while also having the ability to better control your heat. Try to keep in mind that some models may be multi-fuel, but you may need to buy a separate conversion kit to allow them to take gas.

Figuring out the best size for your outdoor pizza oven will depend on the size of your outdoor kitchen, and what you intend on cooking with it. If you have an established outdoor kitchen, you're going to need to clear a space for your new pizza oven. If you're looking to build a new kitchen from scratch, then you're free to choose whatever size you want. If you're only looking to make personal pies with your pizza oven, you can probably go for a smaller 12-inch oven model without a problem. If you're looking to make large pizzas for the whole family, you may need to consider getting an oven with a little more space like a 16-inch model. Another thing to consider is the pizza oven's portability. If you wanted to take your oven on the road or out to a campsite, you would probably need to get a smaller model to be able to do so. Figuring out the size that's right is mostly up to personal preference - you just need to know what you're looking to do with the appliance beforehand.

The difficulty level that will come with using your pizza oven will depend on the type of fuel that you're using to run it, as we mentioned earlier. However, to be able to better handle your oven, you can make use of Ooni's selection of grilling tools and utensils. They make helpful items like pizza peels to help you manage the pizza while it's in the oven, and pizza cutters so you can easily cut it up after it's been cooked. They even make special pans that can help you cook meals other than pizza in the oven if you want. Ooni also makes great covers so you can keep your oven protected from the elements, or if you need to take it somewhere, you can get a cover with carrying handles.

When you put your pizza oven outdoors, you're sure to have one major question: Will it be okay outside? Many Ooni pizza ovens are meant to handle the outdoors to an extent. However, while these ovens are extremely high-quality, you need to take care of them as you would with any appliance. You can make use of one of the covers mentioned above to keep it safe from inclement weather, and make sure you give it a proper cleaning once in a while. These pizza ovens can easily handle being used quite often, and will last for years as long as you take proper care of them.

As far as style goes, these ovens should be able to blend right in with your existing outdoor appliances. You can find Ooni outdoor pizza ovens with a nice black exterior with stainless steel accents. These ovens would look excellent next to your grill, or near an outdoor bar. Even if you don't have a full outdoor kitchen, these ovens would look great next to your pool, or even right outside the back door. Ooni pizza ovens are able to make amazing pizza and look good doing it.