Under ideal conditions, we found that the Etna Fermo’s pizza stone could reach its operating temperature of 500ºC in just 18 minutes, although it struggled a little to reach this temperature on cooler days. Even below 500ºC, it was able to cook a classic, thin-crust homemade pizza to perfection in just 60 seconds. What’s more, we found it matched the authentic flavour of wood-powered ovens. All commercial gas appliances must be installed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered engineer. Failure to do so will void the products warranty. Throughout testing, the Etna Fermo also revealed several neat design touches. The oven’s large internal capacity meant it was able to fit sizable pizzas of up to 16in, while its extra-wide opening at the front made it simple to adjust, turn and remove our pizzas as they cooked. The Etna Fermo’s U-shaped burner was another standout feature: both practical and pretty, it looked great in use and also ensured our pizzas cooked more evenly. Storage: consider the space you have available. The smallest pizza ovens we've tested are the BBQ-top models, which thanks to their small, boxy size, can easily be stored in a garage, shed or even inside somewhere. A number of the models on this list have easy foldaway legs, meaning they too will take up very little room when not in use. Some of the larger models we've tested will need to be kept outside in all weathers, in this case, a cover is an absolute must. If you're planning to make your own dough, you'll need a kitchen scale to properly weigh out the ingredients. Measuring cups aren't as accurate, which could throw off the proportions.

The main advantage to gas-powered pizza ovens is how low-maintenance they are by comparison: there’s no prep or waiting time, and no ashes to clean away afterwards. Instead, all you’ll need to do is attach a butane or propane canister. Also, the temperature of a gas pizza oven can be adjusted with the simple turn of a dial, although as explained, this isn’t essential. What else can be cooked in a pizza oven? Each time you use the pizza oven, you’ll want to start it at least 15 minutes before throwing a pie into the oven; you need to give the pizza stone at the bottom of the oven time to heat up, so you get that nice char on the bottom. And, you’ll want to let it “recharge” between each pizza, too. When tested with the gas burner, the Roccbox reached its maximum temperature of 500ºC in around 30-45 minutes. 12in pizzas cooked in around 60 seconds, sometimes less and the result was excellent, with a well cooked base and crispy crust. Unfortunately, the Roccbox struggled to reach the maximum temperature using the wood burner. It also required a lot of wood to stay hot and struggled to stay at a consistent temperature without regular tending. This meant pizzas took longer to cook but the results were still authentic and delicious. Another thing that might be worth investing in is an infrared or laser thermometer to measure the temperature of your stone (Ooni makes a good one); you’ll want one that can measure temperatures up to 1,000 degrees F if you plan on making Neapolitan-style pies. Key specs – Dimensions: 50 x ​​81.5 x 83.7cm; Weight: 28kg; Fuel Type: Wood, gas and charcoal; Portable: No; Max pizza size: 16inFuel type: some will be gas-fuelled, others need wood, or it may be a multi-fuel. Indoor pizza ovens plug into the mains so don't need any other means of generating heat. The BakerStone Pizza Oven Box pulls double duty: Since it was originally designed as a box to place on a grill, you can actually detach the top portion from the bottom “firebox” and do your pizza-cooking on a grill. The interior of the oven, composed of five sides of pizza stones, performed surprisingly well when up against the open-flame Ooni Koda and Gozney Roccbox. Because the five stones maintain and radiate a lot of heat, the pizzas we made came out with a good amount of char and were cooked evenly.

You’ll also want a few wooden peels or boards for cutting/serving, and a good pizza cutter. Many of these companies sell quality accessories that will make living your best #pizzalife that much easier. But to also keep things simple (and fair), we tested each oven with Margherita pizzas topped only with tomato sauce and hand-torn mozzarella, with a little basil and olive oil drizzled on after cooking. Despite its huge capacity, the Ooni is surprisingly compact at 50 x ​​81.5 x 83.7cm (including chimney), making it suitable for smaller gardens too. There’s a digital thermometer at the front, as well as a hinged door at the front and chimney on top, which allows you to control the airflow and temperature of the oven. In testing, we found the Ooni produced excellent results with both wood and gas, though the wood offered a crispier, smokier and more authentic pizza flavour overall. Adding and removing our pizza was easy, due to the Karu’s wide opening, and the reheat time was super speedy too – sometimes as little as 60 seconds.Yes, you can knead dough by hand, but one of the best stand mixers makes the job go a lot easier. If you plan on making large batches of dough, just be sure to get a mixer whose motor is powerful enough to stand up to all that mixing. Other gear for outdoor entertaining Whether you’re working with a stainless steel or wooden peel, we found that flouring the surface (semolina flour works best, especially for hotter ovens) and building the pizza right on the peel, then sliding it into the oven, led to the best results. You’ll also have to use a peel to pull out your pizza and turn it while it’s cooking, because you want a nice, even char. So get comfortable with your peel — it’s your pizza’s BFF! Key specs – Dimensions: 47 x 53 x 41cm (WDH); Weight: 20kg; Fuel type: Wood, gas; Portable: Yes; Max pizza size: 12in

Accessories: take a look at which accessories your chosen pizza oven comes with. In our eyes, a pizza peel is an essential, but some brands don't provide these as standard, and this will be an additional cost. Another note on becoming a pizzaiolo. Even if you’re not an expert at making pizza dough —we certainly weren’t! — you’re better off trying your hand at making homemade dough or buying dough from a local pizzeria that specializes in thin-crust pies than buying store-bought refrigerated or frozen dough. In our tests, both store-bought doughs we tested (Trader Joe’s for refrigerated, Wegman’s for frozen) were difficult to roll out to a desired thinness, and had a tendency to burn on the outside while not getting fully cooked inside. If you do use store-bought dough in one of these ovens, a good rule of thumb is to use a floured rolling pin to try to get it as thin as possible before cooking. (But really, avoid it if you can.) The Nano's temperature control allowed us to precisely adjust the flame inside the oven, but the knob did get hot to the touch. Also, this is a heavy and expensive oven, so once you set it up in your yard, you're not going to want to move it, unlike some of the more portable options from Ooni and others. But, it's a good option if you're looking for a pizza oven that will be the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen. Suitable for use with wood and gas, the Roccbox is an incredibly stylish and portable outdoor pizza oven. Its compact size and easy set-up makes it ideal for al fresco dining whether you’re in the garden or camping. The oven is almost fully assembled straight out of the box and it comes with pretty much everything you need to get started, with the exception of the fuel itself.Outside of price, the biggest factor to consider when buying a pizza oven is the fuel source. Ovens can be heated by either propane, charcoal, or wood pellets (there are also electric options for indoor models). Before choosing an outdoor pizza oven, decide which heat source is right for you. In our tests, the propane ovens were easier to control, but pizza ovens that used either wood, wood pellets, or charcoal gave the pies a smoky flavor reminiscent of good grills.Plus, it's easier to carry a bag of charcoal or wood pellets than it is a tank of propane, especially if you're planning to bring your pizza oven to a camping trip or tailgate.

Ooni has seen booming business for its line of outdoor pizza ovens, some of which operate on gas, and others a combination of gas and wood. The Koda 16 is the larger of its two propane-powered Koda models — with a 16-inch cooking area vs. the Koda 12’s 12-inch cooking area —and for its ease of setup, relatively lightweight construction, no-fuss functionality, large cooking space, and powerful L-shaped flame, we felt it’s the most versatile, family-friendly model for cooks who might want to experiment with different pie sizes, as well as cooking other non-pizza items in the oven. That why it took home the Tom's Guide 2022 Award for Best pizza oven. The Ooni Karu is one of the more portable pizza ovens on this list, too. The fibre-insulated ceramic body weighs only 12kg, the smoking chimney can be removed and each of the four legs can be folded away for easy carrying.Product images are for illustrative purposes and even though we do our outmost to depict the items as accurately as possible the images may differ slightly from the actual product in some cases. Somewhere in your garden, where it’s relatively sheltered from the breeze, as winds can send cool air into your oven and bring those cooking temperatures down. You’ll want a flat, even surface on which to rest your oven, whether that’s a heatproof tabletop, or the ground if it has its own legs or stand. It takes just ten minutes to get to temperature (this varies depending on the temperature of your BBQ) and stays hot enough to cook a 12in pizza to crispy perfection in a matter of minutes. Once everyone is pizza-d out, the removable stone base makes it easy to clean and its small size and helpful handles on both sides make it a doddle to store away.