Ever dreamed of creating authentic pizza in your very own backyard? The addition of a pizza oven can help. From the best pizza ovens on the market, to what you need to consider before you drop the cash, we’ve compiled everything you need to know before you shop down below.
If you’re looking to up your dinner party game or simply expand your outdoor living capabilities, this gourmet addition will give your home the prized outdoor living you could only dream of. Not just for dishing out delicious bread-based foods for the whole family, a wood-fired oven can transform any outdoor space into an entertainer’s dream.
Before taking the plunge on a brand new pizza oven, read on for the five things to consider for your backyard:
What to consider when buying a pizza oven
- Size: Families should think big.
- Materials: Let your budget decide.
- Fuel: Keep your options open.
- Shape: Dome or barrel vault?
- Placement: Check council regulations.
If you’re renting or just not interested in a permanent structure but still want the wow-factor of a pizza oven, consider a portable pizza oven. They are relatively low-cost (starting at around $150) and can be wheeled away when not in use. (Photography: Natalie Hunfalvay | Image courtesy of Harrison’s Landscaping)
What is a good size for pizza ovens?
It’s okay to get fired up about installing your pizza oven, but think about how you will use it. The amount of food you plan to cook will determine the size you need. As a general rule, go for the biggest size that your space, and budget, will permit.
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If it will only be used sparingly, or for two people, a small oven – say, 60–80cm in diameter – will do.
For a family of four to six, a medium-size oven will cook two to three standard pizzas at a time.
Those planning to feed a big family or large groups of friends should consider an oven of 100–130cm in diameter. This will allow you to cook up to five pizzas at a time, along with a range of smaller sides.
Photography: Amanda McLauchlan | aremediasyndication.com.au
What is the best material for pizza ovens?
Choosing the right material for your pizza oven will impact its efficiency and price. Cob, or clay, is the most cost-effective material and is incredibly fuel-efficient; however, building a clay oven yourself can be tricky due to the risk of cracking if it’s not fired properly.
Another popular choice is brick. Both fuel-efficient and relatively inexpensive, it can be rendered to ensure a smooth, Mediterranean-style aesthetic that will suit most homes.
Natural stone is also an option, with similar qualities to brick but a higher price point. If you like the look of natural stone but not the hit on your budget, consider a stone facade with a less expensive material for the body.
Steel is a sleek, low-maintenance choice that suits more contemporary dwellings. It also looks great when incorporated into an outdoor kitchen beside a gas barbecue.
Photography: Sharyn Cairns | aremediasyndication.com.au
What is the best fuel for pizza ovens?
After authenticity? You can’t beat the instantly recognisable scent of a wood-burning oven. With the added benefit of being freestanding and not beholden to utilities, the result is pretty much the ultimate at-home luxury.
Contemporary gas or electric styles will work well in an indoor or enclosed kitchen and can also be hooked up to a gas bottle if you want to keep things outdoors. They are also easier to clean than charcoal-burning models.
Alternatively, have the best of both worlds with a gas-assisted wood-fire oven.
Photography: James Henry | aremediasyndication.com.au
What is the best shape for a wood-fired pizza oven?
Now the focus shifts to ambience. If you want to create a villa-like feel, then a traditional dome shape (also known as the Tuscan or Pompeii style) will transport you to the glorious Italian countryside without leaving your backyard. The chimney rises from the top, so the heat is more consistent and easier to maintain.
Another great shape for a pizza oven is the barrel vault. This creates a larger baking chamber, making it a top choice if you want to use the oven for cooking anything other than pizza.
A barrel-vaulted oven may be slightly trickier to master, as the elongated shape means it is prone to hot and cold spots and needs regular monitoring – but that’s nothing a bit of practice can’t fix!
Photography: Will Horner | aremediasyndication.com.au
Where is the best place to put a pizza oven?
Do you like to entertain indoors all year round? Or spend most of your entertaining time outside? It doesn’t really matter, as long as the location of your oven is where you like to cook most, to guarantee its full potential.
If you decide on an outdoor spot, make sure it meets your local council’s setback requirements (i.e. the distance of the oven from a property line or a structure). Also, to maximise its use, consider a location that’s at least partially protected from the elements.
Pizza ovens that are going indoors are ideally specified at the renovation stage, when the necessary additions can be applied without having to alter the existing kitchen too much. Indoor ovens are usually smaller to fit into the average kitchen, so keep that in mind.
The best pizza ovens to shop in 2024
2024’s top pizza ovens
- Karu 16, $1299, Ooni (here’s why)
- Dome pizza oven, $2999, Gozney (here’s why)
- Volt 12 electric pizza oven, $1499, Ooni (here’s why)
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Ooni Karu 16
$1299 (down from $1499), Ooni
Best for: multi-fuel functionality (wood, charcoal or gas)
One of the best portable pizza ovens that boasts authentic pizza making is the Ooni Karu 16 multi-fuel pizza oven. It’s the first and only pizza oven to be ‘Recommended for Domestic Use’ by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (the acclaimed international authority on true Neapolitan pizza).
With multiple fuel options available for versatility and a digital thermometer to display internal ambient temperature to ensure you’re cooking your pizzas to perfection, this pizza oven is well worth considering – especially if you’re after a portable option to add to your outdoor entertaining space.
Sizes: 81.5 x 50 x 83.7cm. Makes up to a 16” pizza.
Materials: Cordierite pizza stone, powder coated carbon steel & brushed 304, 409, 430, stainless steel.
Key features:
- Pizza stone size: 42 x 62cm
- 500°C maximum temperature
- Multi-fuel
- Weighs 24.8kg
- New hinged oven door design
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Gozney Dome pizza oven
$2999, Gozney
Best for: wood-fire & gas-fuel
If your budget (and space) allows, then the Dome pizza oven by Gozney is an entertainer’s dream. Not only will you be able to make delicious pizzas (and more) all summer long, but this pizza oven will also swiftly take the spotlight in any outdoor entertaining space. Unlike its competitors, the Dome is not portable and will earn its permanent place in your backyard.
Large and in charge, this Dome oven makes wood-fired cooking easy. It’s versatile making it perfect for beginners but also its professional specs make it a worthy contender for the homes of chefs. Roast, smoke, steam or bake to your heart’s desire via this incredibly luxe outdoor wood-fired oven.
Sizes: 660mm H x 630mm D x 732mm W. Makes up to a 16” pizza.
Colours: Olive, Bone.
Materials: 1.2” thick cordierite stone floor, 304-grade stainless steel shell, bonded ceramic-coated outer casing.
Key features:
- Digital thermometer
- 30mm double-layer stone floor and dense cavity insulation
- 500°C maximum temperature
- Weighs 58kg
- Innovative air ventilation
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Ooni Volt 12 electric pizza oven
$1499, Ooni
Best for: electric cooking
If you’re short on space outdoors and looking for a portable electric option, for $1499 you can find yourself an all-electric, versatile pizza from Ooni. The Volt 12 pizza oven conveniently fits on your kitchen countertop and reaches 450 °C in 20 minutes.
Sizes: Makes up to a 12” pizza.
Materials: Cordierite baking stone, powder-coated carbon steel.
Key features:
- 1600 Watts, 220-240 volts
- Lightweight for added portability
- Built-in timer, temperature control
- Boost function to help the stone to return to cooking temperatures quickly
