Pizza, pizza…
The long drag of the winter months will be over sooner than you think. Before long, the sun will be out, the party will move outdoors…and we’ll be ready for it.
That’s because a few months ago, we finally got our Ooni pizza oven, after having our eye on one for years. A new pizza oven means plenty of garden parties, flexing of our hosting skills, and expanding our culinary horizons. If you’re considering upgrading your outdoor entertainment area, we’re here to help. We’ll break down Ooni’s various products and you can see for yourself if they’re worth your money.
What’s Ooni’s backstory?
Ooni is an Edinburgh-based outdoor pizza oven manufacturer. They were founded in 2012 by the Finnish-born husband and wife team of Kristian and Darina Tapaninaho, specializing in high-temperature outdoor pizza ovens for residential customers. They’ve won many accolades like the Retailers’ Choice Award at Glee Birmingham in 2015, and they were one of the first brands to introduce portable and affordable wood-fired ovens.
A quick review of Ooni Pizza Ovens
There are a variety of Ooni models available and you can find the one that meets your particular requirements and budget. Their ovens are powered by either wood pellets, gas, or a combination of the two, and the ovens’ size comes in at either 12″ or 16″ in diameter. Prices range from $299 to $799, depending on the size and specifications you select.
1. Ooni Koda 16 Gas Powered Pizza Oven
Ooni Koda 16, a larger gas-powered oven, is designed for stone-baking epic 16-inch pizzas and flame-cooking steaks, fish, and vegetables. The Koda 16’s large frame allows for a variety of cooking, and the wide opening, cordierite stone baking board, and innovative L-shaped flame makes cooking with gas a breeze.
You’ll be ready to cook in just 20 minutes if you turn on the instant gas ignition feature. For stone-baked, perfectly browned crust in 60 seconds, the Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven can reach 950°F (500°C), which is the blazing heat required by all Ooni pizza ovens.
2. Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
Fun fact: The Ooni Karu 16 is the first pizza oven to be ‘Recommended for Domestic Use’ by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the acclaimed international authority on true Neapolitan pizza. With this beast the pizza party can get much more versatile. You can use wood, charcoal, or gas to flame-cook in this oven, and tackle large pizzas, roasted meats, seared vegetables, and even fresh bread.
There’s temperature control, more fuel-efficient air flow, increased oven insulation, and great visibility thanks to new design features in this oven. (Also worth noting: The Ooni Karu 16 Gas Burner is sold separately if you intend on using the gas-power.)
3. Ooni Koda 12 Gas Powered Pizza Oven
A smaller version of the Koda 16, this small-but-mighty oven can crank out pizzas in 60 seconds, making the most of your precious time. This is the perfect entry point for you aspiring Pizzaiolos out there. It’s easy to use, incredibly compact, and ready to go right out of the box.
Ooni Koda 12 has an instant gas ignition and can reach temperatures of up to 950°F (500°C) in 15 minutes. Pizza can be cooked in just 60 seconds, while fish, vegetables, and steaks can all be roasted using the heat control dial.
4. Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
Ooni Karu 12 is a non-gas powered version of the Koda. This oven can cook authentic, wood-fired, stone-baked pizza in just 60 seconds as well, but only using wood or charcoal. (You can always upgrade to the gas power with the gas burner attachment.)
Using real wood or charcoal, the Ooni Karu fuel tray maximizes airflow and produces a powerful burst of searing flame that leaves no ash behind to clean up. For maximum heat retention, Ooni Karu’s stainless steel body is ceramic fiber-insulated, and it comes with an extra-thick Ooni Baking Stone and the patented Flame Keeper.
5. Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven
To provide a no-frills live-fire experience and intense flavors, the Ooni Fyra 12 streamlines wood-fired cooking. The gravity-fed pellet hopper automatically feeds through hardwood pellets, making cooking a breeze.
Similar to the other Ooni products, the Ooni Fyra 12 can reach temperatures of 950°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes, and cook authentic stone-baked pizzas in 60 seconds.
Final Thoughts
There’s a range of prices for the different Ooni ovens, but its definitely an investment at $299 for the base model. Ultimately, if you’re looking to add a pizza oven to your outdoor area, Ooni is a great brand that is well worth the price—these are high-quality appliances that will last for many years if you take proper care of it.
Using it at least twice a month will probably cause it to pay for itself anyway thanks to the gourmet, wood-fired pizzas you can pump out almost on a whim. (At least, that’s one way to look at it.)
