Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Buying Guide And Reviews

Experience the thrill of baking your favorite pizza recipes outdoors with no hassle! If you’re looking for a quality pizza oven that bakes like a wood-fired stove, you’re in luck. We scoured the internet to find the brand with the best outdoor pizza oven, and narrowed our selection down to ten amazing products.

Quality outdoor kitchenware and cooking ware isn’t hard to find, but there is a wide range of prices and styles available. A commercial grade pizza oven is best for serving high volume with consistently delicious results. Less costly, consumer grade pizza ovens, however, are more than adequate for entertaining your family or a date night under the stars.

At Fire Food Chef, our grilling and BBQ experts enjoy a crispy, golden crusted wood-fired pizza almost as much as they do smoked brisket. Whether you prefer gas or wood for fuel, check out 2020’s best outdoor pizza oven reviews for the one that works for you!

In a Hurry? This was our Winner:

Editor's Pick Badge
Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven

Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven

Why is it better?

  • Best value for the price
  • Longer performance without issues
  • Very durable and easily portable

98/100
our score


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Last Updated: January 4th, 2024

By William Clay: This article has been updated to reflect the most accurate information regarding outdoor pizza ovens available for those who are interested in making the perfect pizza. The best 10 available have changed, and information has been added to assist individuals in finding the best outdoor pizza ovens currently available on the market.

Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Overview

Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Reviews - Top 10


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 30 x 19.5 x 18” inches
  • Weight: 47 pounds
  • 17,000 BTU/hr
  • Double Layered Construction
  • Built-in Valve Ignition
  • Micro-Adjust Valve
  • Ventilated Oven Door
  • Stainless steel Construction

Best Suited For:

Outdoor baking, campsite, backyard patio

What We Like...

  • DURABILITY: Stainless steel exterior is rust resistant, easy to clean and durable
  • PORTABLE: Connects to any standard or bulk-size propane cylinder using a regulator and 5 ft hose. Can easily be stored for transport and sits on any flat surface securely.
  • DOUBLE-WALLED CONSTRUCTION: A double layered ceiling allows for better heat distribution and retention.
  • 17,000 BTU OUTPUT: Oven reaches temperatures as high as 700 degrees fahrenheit, so you can bake a wide range of pizza recipes quickly and safely.
  • BUILT-IN VALVE IGNITION: Valve ignition and micro-adjust valves allow for superior temperature control

Drawbacks…

  • SIZE: Being portable, the baking area isn’t as large as your kitchen oven. Its compact design doesn’t allow for much interior room. At best, you can fit a 10” inch pizza comfortably or two smaller 4’ inch pizzas at once.
  • QUESTIONABLE REGULATOR QUALITY: You may find, as some Amazon reviewers have, that the regulator for connecting a bulk propane tank is not the highest quality. The average lifespan seems to be about 1yr to 18 months before it needs replacing.
  • TEMPERATURE VARIANCE: Some users have noted that the deck heat is not the same as temperature reading on the top of the oven.
  • OVEN DOOR ISN’T SEALED: Since the door is a covering and not a pull-down, some heat escapes, resulting in temperature swings.

Overall, the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven performs admirably well for the price. You’ll need to turn the pizza regularly for the best results, but it’s reliable in a pinch and can perform for several hours with great results.

If you’re looking for an affordable way to enjoy legendary artisan pizza in the great outdoors, this is definitely a worthy investment.


Key Features

  • Stand Dimensions: 43 ¾” L x 31” W x 30” H. (inches)
  • Oven dimensions: 46 ½” L x 30 ¾” W.
  • Cooking Area: 1007 Sq inches
  • 1 ½” inch Refractory Pizza Stone Flooring
  • Double Wall Construction
  • Professional Pizza Peel And Brush Included
  • 430 Stainless Steel Construction

Best Suited For:

  • Outdoor baking, Commercial grade, high volume service
  • Fits 3 large pies (or 6 small size pies)
  • Requires wood 

What We Like...

  • STYLISH YET MODERN: The ilFornino Pro is an impressive upgrade from the ilFornino Basic Series pizza oven, blending a traditional Napolitano oven with a modern appeal.
  • DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Inside and out, the ilFornino Pro is commercial grade quality, designed for the highest durability. The dome is a double wall heavy gauge stainless steel filled with 2 layers of refractory ceramic fiber insulation blanket. High Grade 430 stainless steel was used throughout its construction.
  • RAPID PREHEATING TIME: The ilFornino Professional Series flooring is made from 1 ½” thick refractory pizza stone, same flooring used in commercial ovens. This enables the oven to preheat in only 30 minutes while retaining heat over several hours of use.
  • ONE-FLAT-COOKING-SURFACE: Thanks to its flat cooking surface, you can as many as 3 pizzas in less than 70 seconds. The surface retains heat, reducing the amount of fuel required.
  • NO ASSEMBLY: ilFornino Professional Series is assembled from local materials in Valley Cotage, New York. The only component you need to attach is the chimney stack. It includes a Professional Peel, a Brush, and a Manual.

Drawbacks…

  • SIZE: This is one heavy duty outdoor cooking appliance. It isn’t designed for portability but there are wheels to make moving it easier. Due to the height of the chimney, you really need to have adequate clearance as well as sufficient space all around.
  • PIZZA PEEL HANDLE: On a minor note, it would be nice if the handle on the pizza peel was slightly longer. The oven can get extremely hot once it gets going.
  • MAINTENANCE: Careful and routine maintenance will be needed to keep the interior free of rust, bacteria and cooking debris. You may need to remove the chimney to store it securely. We suggest you clean it down after every use.

All in all, the ilFornino Professional Series Pizza Oven puts the power of a pizza professionals in your backyard. With enough fuel to reach the desired cooking temperature, this oven retains heat for hours to deliver consistently great tasting pizza every time.

If you’re willing to shell out more to enjoy authentic wood-fired style pizza, this is the one for you!


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 23.8 x 22.5 x 17.5 inches
  • Weight: 62.9 Pounds
  • Quick-Fit Gasket
  • Gas Burner (detachable)
  • Wood Burner (detachable)
  • Built-In Thermometer
  • Dense Wall Insulated Body
  • Dense Stone Flooring
  • Retractable Legs (Stainless Steel)
  • Professional Pizza Peel And Brush Included

Best Suited For:

  • Gas or Wood Fired (Dual-Fuel)
  • Fire and Stone Outdoor Pizza Oven
  • Outdoor use only, countertop pizza oven
  • Fits 11” inch pizzas only

What We Like...

  • COOKS IN SECONDS: Designed to reach high temperatures in excess of 932ºF, the Roccbox Portable Pizza Oven delivers artisan-style, perfectly charred and crisp pizza in only 60 seconds! Much faster than cooking in a conventional oven.
  • PRE-ASSEMBLED: Includes an inbuilt thermometer, retractable legs and detachable dual-fuel burners for ease of transport. The Roccbox set up takes only minutes. Just click the switch and start cooking!
  • DUAL WOOD AND GAS BURNERS: Enjoy a traditional wood-fired pizza, or switch to gas for convenience and less cleanup. With 86% heat retention, the Roccbox has excellent fuel efficiency and maintains consistent floor temperatures bake after bake.
  • COOL TOUCH EXTERIOR: Body insulation and the outer silicone skin make Roccbox the family friendly option. A unique safe-touch, silicone jacket protects you from high heat and accidental burns, compared to stainless steel ovens with hot exteriors.
  • PORTABLE DESIGN: Retractable legs, and evenly distributed weight in the design makes the Roccbox a great choice for the cottage, RV, camping ground, or your backyard. Its compact design is easy to clean, despite weighing over 60 pounds.

Drawbacks…

  • TEMPERATURE GAUGE: After the first use, the built-in temperature gauge became cloudy and very difficult to read.
  • WEIGHT: At 62 pounds, the combination of stainless steel and stone make this portable outdoor pizza oven quite heavy. If you place it on a surface such as a picnic table, be sure it rests flat.
  • COOKING AREA: The Roccbox can comfortably fit an 11 inch pizza, which is considered small or medium at best. Although it’s priced for commercial quality, it doesn’t have the cooking capacity to match. You have to cook one pizza at a time to serve a high volume occasion.

Considering the high price tag, you might expect a bit more cooking surface so you can do three pizzas at once, for instance. Compared to our top pick, the Roccboxx delivers comparably quality pizza but at a higher cost.

That being said, this outdoor pizza oven is extremely easy to use, and the dual fuel option is a bonus worth considering. With routine cleaning, the Roccbox Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven should last you several years of use!


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 10.5 inches
  • Weight: 26.7 Pounds
  • 12.5" wide x 13.5" Cooking Surface
  • Includes Cordierite Stone, Wood Chip/Pellet Scoop, and Wood/Charcoal/Pellet Tray

Best Suited For:

  • Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven Cooking
  • Charcoal, Wood, Pellets or Gas Burner (sold separately)
  • Outdoor use only, countertop, tabletop, backyard patio
  • Fits 12” inch pizza

What We Like...

  • PORTABLE DESIGN: Suited for any outdoor setting, the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven achieves authentic brick oven style pizza for a little taste of Italy wherever you are. Its lightweight construction weighs in at only 26 pounds, much less than a stand alone pizza oven for outdoors.
  • HIGH COOKING TEMPERATURE: Achieves temperatures over 930 degrees Fahrenheit (500 Celsius) whether you use wood, charcoal, pellets or the gas burner attachment (sold separately). Most other portable pizza ovens don’t come anywhere close to this level of performance. You can literally fire your pizza through to a golden, crispy crust in sixty seconds.
  • VERSATILE COOKING OPTIONS: In addition to pizza, this sturdy outdoor pizza oven can cook a wide variety of foods, including meat, fish, vegetables and dessert pizzas.
  • PIZZA ACCESSORIES: Cordierite stone, wood chip/pellet scoop, and wood/charcoal/pellet tray are all included. It comes with everything necessary to use wood pellets.
  • PREHEATING: Requires 20 - 30 minutes of preheating to achieve optimum temperatures for wood-fired pizza.

Drawbacks…

  • COOKING AREA: The one drawback of any portable pizza oven is the limited cooking area. 12.5" wide x 13.5" deep cooking surface is enough space for a small - medium size pizza (10” - 12” inch). If you are planning on serving more than 10 people for an evening, you’ll only be able to cook one pizza at a time.
  • LEARNING CURVE: Although the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven achieves high temperatures, there are nuances to maintaining the high temperatures needed for authentic tasting wood-fired pizza. Definitely not for amateurs.

Lightweight, yet sturdy, the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven is a worthy consideration for anyone who enjoys authentic wood-fired pizza. With its high temperatures, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better portable pizza oven for the same price. Solidly constructed, the additional accessories are definitely worth it to enjoy combination fuel cooking (wood, gas, charcoal).


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 32.5" x 31" x 49" inches
  • Weight: 220 Pounds
  • Cooking Surface: 25" x 30" x 15" inches
  • 403 Stainless Steel
  • 100 - 800 Degrees Fahrenheit

Best Suited For:

  • Portable Outdoor or Indoor Pizza Oven Cooking
  • Fits 2 -3 Large pizzas
  • Wood Fuel Required

What We Like...

  • DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: 430 Stainless Steel Construction, Polished Steel Exterior. 4 Castors are also included for ease of transport.
  • RAPID HEATING TIME: The oven only needs five minutes of preheating to achieve temperatures close to 800 degrees fahrenheit. Allows you to fire your pizza crust and cook through your toppings in less than two minutes. The 32.5” Artisan Pizza Oven has an impressive temperature range of 100 - 800 Degrees F for a rapid heating time.
  • LARGE COOKING AREA: Overall Inside Size: 25" W x 30" D x 15" H. The large cooking space can accommodate 2 - 3 large pizzas at one time.
  • PIZZA ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: Pizza Stone Surface, Wire brush/broom, large pizza peel (large spatula), pizza turner spatula and pizza cutter are all bundled with this amazing artisan style pizza oven and grill.

Drawbacks…

  • ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: Weighing in at 220 pounds, the 32.5” Artisan Pizza Oven is a beast! You’ll need at least two people to assemble it. Double check leg positions before you tighten screws that have little threaded cylinders for accepting screws.
  • REQUIRES SEASONING: Would not recommend using this pizza oven straight out of the box without taking the time to burn off chemicals. First firing smelled like burning chemicals from the finish on the stainless steel on the interior. About half way through the second firing, the smell dissipated enough to use, so take your time.
  • HOT TO TOUCH: Be extremely careful around children and pets if you plan on installing this in your backyard or outdoor pool deck. Kids really enjoy making pizza but the exterior gets extremely hot so keep children at a safe distance while cooking.
  • THIN PIZZA STONE: The pizza stone is pretty thin and prone to chipping, but you can order a replacement.

Although the 32.5” Artisan Wood Fired Pizza Oven requires some assembly, the results are well worth it. For the price, this outdoor pizza oven heats up quickly with a top down fire, and is ready for pizza after thirty minutes of preheating.

High temperatures suitable for wood-fired pizza are easy to achieve with this stainless steel pizza oven, but keep kids and pets at a safe distance to avoid getting burned by the extremely hot exterior. 


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 32.3 x 23.2 x 14.6 inches
  • Weight: 67.9 Pounds
  • Stainless Steel
  • 932 Degrees Fahrenheit Maximum Temperature

Best Suited For:

  • Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven Cooking
  • Fits 13” - 16” inch Pizza
  • Wood, Charcoal, or Gas(attachment required)

What We Like...

  • LARGE COOKING AREA: The Ooni Pro Outdoor Pizza Oven is a larger portable oven with enough cooking area for a large, cheesy 16” inch pizza. Ideal for catering an outdoor party!
  • RAPID COOKING: Using dual air flow control, the Ooni Pro rapidly cooks delicious, neapolitan style pizza in just 60 seconds. Heats up to 932ºF / 500 degrees celsius in just 20 minutes. The insulated steel walls and stone baking floor provide the optimum heat retention for a range of dishes.
  • FLEXIBLE FUEL OPTIONS: The Ooni Pro features combination fuel technology so you can cook with wood, charcoal, pellets or gas (attachment required). You’ll feel like a pro cooking 16” pizzas as well as roasting meat, fish and vegetable dishes in just minutes.

Drawbacks…

  • QUITE HEAVY: For a portable outdoor pizza oven the Ooni Pro is a bit heavier than you'd expect, which can make for somewhat awkward assembly and placement. It is, however, relatively easy to put together.

Few portable pizza ovens can achieve the high temperatures needed for quickly cooking pizza, and the Ooni Pro is one of them. A bit on the pricier end, the Ooni Pro really does stand up to more expensive outdoor pizza ovens.

With its versatile combination fuel options and large cooking surface, you can use the Ooni Pro to cook a wide range of dishes. Cater an outdoor party or take it on your next camping trip, this is a pizza lover’s pizza oven indeed.


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 23 x 17 x 28 inches
  • Weight: 27.6 Pounds
  • Stainless Steel
  • 932 Degrees Fahrenheit Maximum Temperature

Best Suited For:

  • Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven Cooking
  • Wood Pellets or Gas (attachment required)

What We Like...

  • PORTABLE DESIGN: Built in the traditional wood fire oven style, the Ooni 3 sits on any flat surface, weighing in at only 27.6 pounds. Take it to the beach, camping ground, or fire it up in the comfort of your backyard!
  • ENERGY EFFICIENT: The Ooni 3 runs on energy-efficient wood pellets that lend pizza an authentic wood-fired flavor.
  • RAPID COOKING: Preheating the Ooni 3 only takes ten minutes. Use wood pellets to achieve temperatures as high as 932ºF. Delicious thick-crust pizza is ready in two minutes or less, thanks to the extreme heat achieved.
  • STONE FLOORING: Custom made cordierite stone baking board serves as the flooring and the perfect heating surface. The stone is extremely durable, and resistant to extreme heat. Retains heat superbly for consistent, crispy, wood-fired pizza every time.
  • COMPETITIVE PRICE: Considering the quality of construction and high temperatures, this outdoor pizza oven is very competitively priced. Anyone on a budget, who’s new to the experience, will certainly get their money’s worth.

Drawbacks…

  • LIMITED COOKING CAPACITY: The Ooni 3 can accommodate a 12” inch pizza. As such, the limited cooking area makes it less useful for multiple pizza production. It requires at least 2 people on pizza duty rotating the pizza and refilling the pellet feeder every 5 minutes or so. If you need an outdoor pizza oven for serving in high volume situations, there are better options.
  • HOT EXTERIOR: Walled with stainless steel exterior, the Ooni 3 really gets hot to the touch, especially roaring at peak temperatures. Make sure kids and pets are kept at a safe distance while cooking.

Priced considerably lower than a commercial grade outdoor pizza oven, the Ooni 3 maintains the same great design features that have made the series so popular with pizza aficionados. High temperatures and stone floor baking, combined with versatile fuel options give the Ooni 3 a lot of range.

When you factor in the lightweight construction, it’s considerably easier to store, pack, and travel with than some of the other top picks in our review. This is a great choice for beginners, or as a gift for someone who’s always been curious about making authentic wood-fired pizza.


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.6 x 24.8 inches
  • Weight: 27.6 Pounds
  • Insulated Steel Shell
  • 932 Degrees Fahrenheit Maximum Temperature

Best Suited For:

  • Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven Cooking
  • Tailgating, Camping, Beach, Backyard Patio, etc
  • Gas Only
  • Makes 9” - 12” inch Pizzas

What We Like...

  • VERSATILE: The Ooni pizza oven is much more than a pizza cooker - use your pizza ovens to roast meat, fish and vegetables. Enjoy Neapolitan-style pizza in just 60 seconds, or try roasted fish, vegetables and steaks.
  • RAPID COOKING: Ooni Koda can fire up in 15 minutes and cook 13" pizzas simply by turning a dial. The insulated steel shell means optimum heat retention.
  • CONVENIENT GAS POWER: With its built-in gas ignition you can get instant flames with the press of a button. Use the adjustable heat control dial for an effortless cooking experience.
  • FLAME COOKED FLAVOR: Authentic wood-fired pizza is in your hands. The Ooni Koda has a built-in, patented flame keeper device that carries rolling flames down and onto the food for that slightly smoked taste and aroma.

Drawbacks…

  • LIMITED COOKING SPACE: Like many portable outdoor pizza ovens, the Ooni Koda works best with small size pizzas, 9” to 12” inches. At twelve inches, though, it gets harder to rotate your pizza due to the limited interior space.
  • CLEANING IS DIFFICULT: Removing the stone flooring can be hard since it isn’t very thick and it gets extremely hot. Give it plenty of time to cool and wear some quality BBQ gloves to protect your hands.
  • PREHEATING REQUIRED: Give the Ooni Koda a good 15 - 20 minutes to achieve the maximum temperature. It isn’t as rapid heating as some of the other selections in our review so you’ll need to factor in the preheating time into your overall cooking time.

Other than the limited space, the Ooni Koda is one of the best portable outdoor pizza ovens on the market. It’s priced a little higher than we would like but still lower than many of our top picks.

Since it’s gas-powered, the Ooni Koda a great outdoor pizza oven for beginners. Quickly achieve the optimum cooking temperature without the hassle of cleaning up ash and soot. There’s always a learning curve involved, but if you can manage a charcoal grill then you’ll have a ton of fun with the Ooni Koda simplified yet authentic wood oven design.


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 17 inches
  • Weight: 27 Pounds
  • Stainless Steel Shell (Non Insulated)
  • 932 Degrees Fahrenheit Maximum Temperature
  • Pizza Stone Included

Best Suited For:

  • Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven Cooking
  • Tailgating, Camping, Beach, Backyard Patio, etc
  • Gas Only
  • Makes 13” inch Pizzas

What We Like...

  • LIGHTWEIGHT & PORTABLE: The Mont Alpo Table Top Pizza Oven is a great addition to any patio, RV or Camp site. Weighing only 27 pounds, it’s lighter than some of our other top picks and works best for baking outside. Use it as your outdoor patio or camping oven.
  • RAPID PRE HEATING: This stylish outdoor pizza oven gets rapidly preheats in no time and cooks gorgeous flame fired pizza in under 5 minutes. With its simple, wood oven design, the unit performs exactly the same as your indoor oven would.
  • VERSATILE: Besides crispy, crusted pizza, you can also roast a chicken, joint of beef or the thanksgiving Turkey on the Mont Alpi Table Top Pizza Oven. This award winning pizza oven will have you feeling like a pro.
  • DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: The high grade stainless steel shell is easy to maintain while resisting wear and tear for years.

Drawbacks…

  • TEMPERATURE CONTROL: With sufficient preheating, the Mont Alpi Table Top can reach over 500ºF but it is not insulated. Adding a second stone, however, can help reduce the risk of overheating the existing stone flooring.
  • HOT EXTERIOR: Since the Mont Alpi Table Top doesn’t have insulated walls, the exterior shell gets very hot to the touch. If small children or pets have access to the cooking area, be sure they are kept at a safe distance.

Competitively priced with similar outdoor pizza ovens, the Mont Alpi Table Top is an economic alternative to the more costly, double walled kind of pizza oven. The lack of insulation means that ambient temperature can really have an impact on your results. It’s also not the most child-friendly, as the exterior gets really hot to the touch.

That being said, if you’re not too picky about style, the Mont Alpi functions in the same manner as your indoor oven with the convenience of a gas burner. It’s lightweight enough to travel by car to remote camping grounds, a beach or your favorite municipal park.


Key Features

  • Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 20 inches
  • Weight: 35.4 Pounds
  • 932 Degrees Fahrenheit Maximum Temperature
  • 14” inch Cordierite Pizza Stone
  • Includes Grill Brush, Peeler and Pizza eBook

Best Suited For:

  • Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven Cooking
  • Tailgating, Camping, Beach, Backyard Patio, etc
  • Gas Only
  • Makes 13” inch Pizzas

What We Like...

  • HIGH TEMPERATURES: Reaches cooking temperatures of 700 fahrenheit and can preheat in only 10 minutes. A special moisture vent at the top of the oven releases moisture from cooking and prevents your crust from going soggy. On a standard 1 pound propane tank you can cook for as long as two hours (with adapter).
  • RAPID COOKING: Faster than conventional ovens, the Pizzacraft Pronto cooks your pizza in 5 - 6 minutes. In just minutes you and your guests can enjoy delicious slices of perfectly crisp oven style pizza. Inside, the reflective heat shield redirects heat across the top of the pizza, cooking your toppings at the same rate as your crust for that authentic brick-oven aroma and taste.
  • PORTABLE: Ideal for occasions such as tailgating, camping and picnics.
  • DUAL LAYER COOKING SURFACE: The Pizzacraft Pronto features a special dual-layer, interlocking cordierite pizza stone with a heat-diffusing hollow core for achieving an evenly-baked crust every time.

Drawbacks…

  • For beginners, you may find the front opening is very small. You’ll also need room to rotate the pizza as it cooks at high temperatures, which means you’re better off sticking to small size pizzas.

It may not have a lot of cooking surface, but consistent performance backed by competitive pricing makes the Pizzacraft Pronto a definite winner. Special design features such as the moisture vent and dual layer pizza stone give added value to an already great outdoor pizza oven.

If you’re looking for an affordable gift to surprise a pizza-making addict you know, this is the ideal choice. It’s light enough to carry and set up right in your backyard for family night, and portable enough to travel just about wherever you want to go. You’ll never need to pay for delivery pizza again!


What Type Of Oven Is Best For Pizza?

Personal hobby or competition cooking? Family gathering or intimate dinner for 2? Your cooking needs will largely determine the type you need.

Brick Oven
Brick ovens are one of the oldest, most universal types of oven found in use around the world. Made primarily for outdoor baking, a brick oven offers the ultimate in authentic pizza making. Wood is the most common fuel, but you can also find gas-fueled brick ovens.

Plenty of space, clearance, and ventilation for smoke is necessary if you plan to use a brick oven. They are also more difficult to clean and maintain than a conventional oven because they are constantly exposed to the outdoors, as well as soot and ash from wood.

Once the brick oven is sufficiently preheated, your pizza can be baked to crispiness in literally seconds because of the high heat.

  • Most preferred type for taste
  • Can be either gas or wood-fired
  • Retains heat and distributes evenly across surface area
  • Outdoor or indoor use

Baking Pizza In A Brick Oven (Jamie Oliver)

Pizza Deck Oven
You’ll most likely see a pizza deck oven in most commercial pizza restaurants. Heavy duty and energy efficient, they generate high BTU’s and are great for baking pizzas, bread, pies, casseroles, or just about anything with a crust.

Using conduction heat rather than convection, a pizza deck oven achieves high temperatures suitable for baking a range of pastries, desserts, bread and pizza. They are literally the work horses of the restaurant industry, and are the most commonly found in the restaurant industry.

  • Most common type of oven found in pizza restaurants
  • Generates high BTU’s for a range of baking needs
  • Energy efficient fuel consumption (gas or electric)
  • Can be installed for indoor use or outdoor

Conveyor Pizza Oven
A conveyor oven uses a conveyor belt to convey food through a heated chamber. The food is then cooked using forced air impingement, radiant heat, or infrared heat. Commercial grade conveyor ovens can bake several pizzas in succession for a rapid turnover.

The advantage of a conveyor oven is the time you save loading and unloading pizza. You simply load the pizza onto the conveyor, and let the belt do the rest.

A typical conveyor oven can cost anywhere between $5000 - $30,000, making them a significant investment. They’re best suited for commercial purposes.

  • Most useful for commercial purposes
  • Can be costly to repair due to moving parts
  • Not suitable for residential use
  • Indoor use, electricity required

Pizza Convection Oven
Similar in design to a pizza deck oven, a convection oven is significantly less costly and more accessible than conveyor oven or brick oven type. They’re designed to heat the air inside the cooking chamber, with a maximum temperature of 500 - 600 degrees fahrenheit.

A convection oven is great for heating a frozen pizza, frozen pie, or other frozen baked goods. They tend to be smaller in surface area than brick oven, for instance, but are very easy to use. Often, a timer is included so you can load your frozen pizza, set the timer, and walk away.

Since convection ovens are electric, they are most often available as countertop models for indoor kitchens.

  • Energy efficient and easy to use
  • Indoor use, electrical supply required
  • Ideal for frozen pizzas and other frozen baked goods

How To Bake Pizza In A Convection Oven


Why BTU’s Matter In A Quality Pizza Oven

  • BTUs measure heat energy, so they are a critical factor in choosing a quality pizza oven, grill or stove. 
  • The higher the BTU, the more heat it can generate. Your cooking needs will largely determine the BTU’s you need. For baking pizzas, cakes, and pies, you’ll want a minimum of 15,000 BTU’s.
  • Higher BTUs also means you can cook food faster. You’ll be able to serve more people in less time, but it may also mean burning through your propane faster. Be sure to always have a sufficient supply of propane for your baking needs when using a pizza oven in the outdoors.

Final Thoughts…

Whether you decide on a brick oven for the flavor and taste, or a conveyor oven for convenience and efficiency, the right type of oven makes all the difference. If you’re new to the world of pizza baking or you don’t want to break the bank learning, the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven is an affordable way to get started.


References

[1] How much time and at what temperature I should keep the pizza into the normal oven? (Quora)
[2] How many BTUs are needed to gas fire a 900-1000 F wood-fired-style pizza oven? (Quora)

About the Author William Clay

William Clay is a BBQ enthusiast dedicated to sharing his grilling (and overall cooking) expertise with FireFoodChef's readers.