Best Wood Fired Pizza Oven
Pizza is a beloved food worldwide, and there's nothing quite like a wood-fired pizza to bring the taste of Italy to your home.
Wood-fired pizza ovens are becoming increasingly popular as they provide a unique and delicious way to cook pizzas, bread, roasts, and other dishes. They also add a touch of rustic charm to any outdoor space.
With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which pizza oven is the best for your needs. In this article, we'll explore the best wood-fired pizza ovens that you can use at home, taking into consideration factors such as size, ease of use, and price.
The 7 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens for Home: An Overview
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Alfa Allegro Wood-Fired Largest Oven - Best Overall
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Alfa Stone L Large Size Gas-Fired Oven - Runner Up
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Alfa Brio Gas-Fired Pizza Oven - Best for Neapolitan Style Pizzas
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Alfa 5 Minuti Wood-Fired Pizza Oven - Best Value for Money
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Alfa Ciao Wood-Fired Pizza Oven - Best Portable Pizza Oven
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Kucht Professional Venice Wood-Fired Pizza Oven - Best Freestanding Pizza Oven
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Italia 24" x 24" Wood-fired Pizza Oven - Best for Harsh Weather
The 7 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens for Home: Detailed Reviews
When it comes to outdoor pizza ovens, especially those that use wood, people have positive things to say because they add a delicious authentic taste to foods. Also, they can cook pizza at high temperatures, giving it a crispy and chewy consistency.
In this review of the seven best pizza ovens, you'll see how each product measures up to what you have in mind.
1. Alfa Allegro Wood-Fired Largest Oven - Best Overall
The Alfa Allegro is the latest oven in the Alfa Linea Moderno series. It's most suitable for people who throw pizza parties or do outdoor cooking on a large scale. Chefs who plan to perfect their craft will also find this pizza oven a worthy investment, especially if they'll use it regularly.
The oven comes in antique red and yellow colors, so you can choose one that fits the theme of your kitchen, patio, or garden. Also, the colors are coated with powder to make them durable.
What we love about this pizza oven is that it's a hybrid; it utilizes gas and wood. Also, it doesn't consume much wood, and the gas consumption is low if you use the gas line. You can use lump charcoal as a wood substitute.
This outdoor pizza oven has a large cooking surface, accommodating up to 5 or 6 pizzas at a time. The dome is made of stainless steel, allowing the unit to quickly reach a high temperature.
The floor of the cooking chamber is made of refractory bricks, which transfer heat from the bottom of the unit to the top. You should expect a perfectly cooked crust all the time.
And to keep the oven hot once it's fired, Alfa Allegro uses ceramic fiber insulation. There's a pyrometer that allows you to check the temperature of the cooking chamber. It's fitted with a solid door that has two handles for draught adjustment.
The unit comes as a top version that you can place on an existing base. However, you can purchase Alfa's dedicated base. It's black and matches the colors of the top version, giving it a sleek appearance.
Specs:
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Heating time: 20 minutes
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Pizza capacity: 5
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Bread capacity: 11 lbs
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Cooking floor: W39.4” x D27.6” x H37.4”
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Recommended fuel: gas, lump charcoal, or wood
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Maximum oven temperature: 1000°F
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Weight: 308 lbs (top only) or 485 lbs (with the base)
What We Like
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Dual fuel oven
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Large cooking space
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Modern appearance
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Has a functional base version to keep you organized
2. Alfa Stone L Large Size Gas-Fired Oven - Runner Up
With more than 40 years in the direct heat cooking niche, Alfa Forni's large-size stone gas-fired pizza oven combines innovation and a front arch design. It sits comfortably on an Alfa table, serving you the flexibility you need to set up your kitchen in a garden.
The outdoor pizza oven runs on natural gas, but with the Alfa hybrid kit, it can function as a wood-fired oven. Also, its large interior capacity allows you to make four pizzas at once, so you can conveniently host more guests.
The interior of the Stone L model is made of stainless steel, which speeds up the heating time. Your first batch of homemade pizza should be ready within 30 minutes, making the Alfa Stone L faster than most outdoor pizza ovens on the market. And when you're cooking desserts, the unit has a glass door that allows you to check on the food.
Alfa Stone L Large Size Gas-Fired Oven is a great solution for commercial kitchens that require high-quality cooking performance. But you can also go for it if you often host many guests for pizza nights.
Specs:
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Heating time: 15 to 30 minutes
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Pizza capacity: 4
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Bread capacity: 8.8 lbs
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Cooking floor : W31.5” x D23.6”
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Maximum temperature: 1000°F
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Recommended fuel: Natural gas, LPG gas, or wood
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Weight: 312 lbs
Why We Like It
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Ready to cook within 15 minutes
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Utilizes dual fuel method
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Can cook four pizzas at a go
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Cooks food evenly
3. Alfa Brio Gas-Fired Pizza Oven - Best for Neapolitan-Style Pizza
The Alfa Brio Gas-Fired Pizza Oven comes with a hybrid kit for wood. So, if you're in a yard with no gas line, you can easily switch to wood and enjoy the smoky flavor it adds to your pizza dough.
This outdoor pizza oven reaches cooking temperature within 30 minutes, enabling you to quickly whip up 2-3 Neapolitan-style pizzas. The only other oven capable of cooking such delicious Neopolitan pizzas is a wood-pellet pizza oven.
Also, the manufacturers have a patented solution that ensures the unit traps more heat and retains it for a long time. As a result, food cooks quickly and evenly.
The Brio outdoor pizza oven is made to balance on a countertop or a base in your garden. You can also purchase a multifunctional Alfa table for your outdoor kitchen or garden. Because the pizza oven is insulated with ceramic fiber, the internal temperature won't affect the surface on which it's placed.
Best of all, Alfa doesn't only provide pizza ovens. It also offers cooking accessories that can up your pizza game, like pizza peel sets, oven brushes, ash shovels, and more.
Specs:
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Heating time: 20 to 30 minutes
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Pizza capacity: 2 - 3
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Bread capacity: 4.4 - 6.6 lbs
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Cooking floor: W27.5” x D19.7”
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Recommended fuel: Natural gas, LPG gas, or wood
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Maximum temperature: 1000°F
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Weight: 215 lbs (top only)
What We Like
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Patented technology for heat retention
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No need to cure before using
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Cooks 2 to 3 pizzas within 2o to 30 minutes
4. Alfa 5 Minuti Wood-Fired Pizza Oven - Best Value for Money
Alfa 5 Minuti is a proper wood-fired pizza oven that cooks authentic pizza within 5 minutes. It's compact and fits into smaller spaces in the garden or on the balcony. The dome-shaped oven box is designed to reach cooking time quickly while consuming less wood.
Also, the refectory floor stores heat and circulates it from bottom to top. So, you don't have to flip your dough for even cooking. You can whip up two pizzas or a 4.4 pounds loaf of bread at a go in the oven, including other foods like steak, pie, and stews.
The door has a wooden handle so you can easily open the oven and adjust the draft. Also, it's removable, allowing you to close and roast or open it and cook up a crispy pizza.
The outdoor pizza oven comes with a functional base for ease of movement. It's coated with seven layers of heat-resistant paint, so you won't get burned if you accidentally get close to it. Also, it has a shelf to hold firewood, a handle, and four casters with brakes.
Specs:
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Heating time: 15 minutes
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Pizza capacity: 2
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Bread capacity: 4.4 lbs
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Cooking floor: W23.6” x D19.7”
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Recommended fuel: lump charcoal or wood
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Maximum temperature: 1000°F
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Weight: 160 lbs (top only)
What We Like
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Highly portable for family gatherings, camping trips, and beach days
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Quick heating time
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Available in top, top and base, or top and table
5. Alfa Ciao Wood-Fired Pizza Oven - Best Portable Pizza Oven
The Alfa Ciao is a simple but functional wood-fired pizza oven that reaches cooking temperature within 20 minutes. It's available in bright yellow and grey to match the sunny day when you're hosting a party in your yard.
Besides pizza, it can cook almost anything your traditional oven would cook. So, you won't need multiple pieces of equipment on a day out.
The inner chamber is insulated to trap heat, while the external parts are made of stainless steel for durability. Also, it's coated with heat-resistant powder, preventing the unit from losing heat and enabling it to withstand harsh weather conditions.
The refractory bricks in the Alfa Ciao outdoor pizza oven function like the traditional wood stove. They absorb excess moisture from your dough instead of drying it out. In the end, you'll get a crispy pizza crust that isn't achievable by normal ovens unless you use a pizza stone.
The unit has an in-built pyrometer, making it easy to check the hotness of the cooking chamber. This way, you can easily calculate how long it'd take you to complete your cooking so that you don't leave your guests hungry.
Additionally, the door is removable and has a wooden handle for easy opening and closing when the oven is hot. Although the Alfa Ciao is heavy, you can opt for one with a rolling base if you plan to move it around. If not, it'd stay put on your outdoor kitchen countertop or any solid base.
Specs:
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Heating time: 15 minutes
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Pizza capacity: 2
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Bread capacity: 4.4 lbs
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Recommended fuel: lump charcoal or wood
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Cooking floor: W27.6” x D15.7”
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Maximum temperature: 1000°F
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Weight: 176 lbs (top only)
What We Like
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Sleek design
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Quick cooking time
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Fuel-efficient
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Built to withstand the elements
6. Kucht Professional Venice Wood-Fired Pizza Oven - Best Freestanding Pizza Oven
The Kucht Venice is a standalone pizza oven made with quality stainless steel, in and out. Not only is it rust-resistant, but also easy to clean and durable.
It comes with an all-weather cover to protect it from the elements when it's not in use. Also, it has a removable tray that collects ash so that you can easily dispose of it without making a mess.
The oven is big, providing you with enough space to cook multiple dishes. The floor is made with firebricks to help the unit withstand high temperatures over time. Also, the dome-shaped design ensures heat retention for even cooking.
When cooking pizzas, the in-built dial thermometer allows you to check the cooking temperature. You can also adjust the updraft using the flue damper handle so that the fire can be redistributed.
For convenience, Kucht Professional Venice wood-fired pizza oven has foldable tables on both sides, a bottom shelf for wood storage, and caster wheels for moving around. It's one of the best portable outdoor pizza ovens on our list.
Specs:
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Heating time: 4 minutes
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Maximum temperature: 800°F
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Interior dimensions: W 31" x D 22" x H 15"
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Weight: 230 lbs
What We Like
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Designed for heat retention
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Large cooking surface
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Easy to clean
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The interior and exterior are made of stainless steel for durability
7. Italia 24" x 24" Wood-Fired Pizza Oven - Best for Harsh Weather
The Italia 24 x 24 wood-fired pizza oven by Sole Gourmet is built with stainless steel and reinforced with corten steel to ensure durability in even the harshest of weather.
The materials are solid and rust-resistant and allow you to reach the perfect cooking temperature within 15 minutes.
The Italia outdoor pizza oven is also fuel-efficient and generates less smoke, making it an eco-friendly solution. It's an ideal piece of equipment for cooking pizza, smoke-flavored roasted meat, vegetables, and crusty bread.
The cooking chamber is surrounded by rock-spun wool for insulation and increased cooking efficiency. Depending on your cooking needs, you can choose between the freestanding and the moveable or the countertop option that's fitted with rubber feet.
Specs:
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Heating time: 15 minutes
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Weight: 250 lbs
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Oven dimensions: W24" x H14" x D24"
What We Like
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Solid construction
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Eco-friendly and fuel-efficient
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Fast pre-heating
Factors to Consider When Buying a Wood-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven
There's no one-size-fits-all pizza oven, so you need to determine what's best for you. Below are some factors to consider when choosing a wood-fired outdoor pizza oven.
Space and Portability
The most important feature you should consider is the available space in your outdoor kitchen. You need to be sure that it's large enough to accommodate the guests and your pizza oven comfortably.
Also, if you don't move houses often, you can consider a heavy or stationary outdoor pizza oven, one that you can fit into your home's structure. But if you relocate every now and then or want to take your pizza oven on camping trips and picnics, portable pizza ovens would be ideal.
Design and Construction
The model you choose should be efficiently built to support your cooking needs. An outdoor pizza oven may be made of brick or steel.
Brick may last for a long time if you can maintain it. But high-quality steel will be ideal because it's rust-resistant and can cope well under harsh weather conditions.
Another factor to consider is the aesthetic of your oven. Some ovens resemble authentic pizza ovens with brown shades and brick-like designs. Meanwhile, some are brightly colored to add a splash of color to your outdoor kitchen.
Heat Retention and Insulation
Wood-fired pizza ovens don't function like gas varieties. However, you want your oven to get hot quickly and retain the heat so that you can make multiple pizzas without worrying about refiring the oven.
A properly insulated outdoor pizza oven will ensure that the heat generated stays within the cooking chamber. You should look for a model that has ceramic fiber insulation. It's usually placed in between a thick stainless steel exterior and interior. You may also find it beneath the exterior portion of the dome.
The floor of the interior may be made of refractory cement, firebrick, or both. This allows heat to circulate around the oven for an evenly cooked pizza.
Size of the Cooking Surface
The size of your oven's cooking surface depends on the amount of food you want to cook in it. Some ovens can cook up to 4 pizzas at a go, while others can only get you one or two.
Additionally, your pizza oven isn't dedicated to pizza. You may want to cook other foods in it, like vegetables, bread, and meat. Therefore, you should consider choosing an oven that can accommodate the food, your cookware, and the firewood.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best wood-fired pizza oven isn't a walk in the park because each model has its unique functionalities. If we had to choose one, we'd go for the Alfa Allegro. It cooks up to 5 pizzas in a single batch, consumes less fuel, has great insulation features, and you can opt for a dedicated base.
Whether you want a portable or large oven, our review covers various cooking needs, and you're sure to find one that suits you. And don't forget to go over our buying guide before heading out to make a purchase!
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