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Fuel type: Gas vs. wood pellets
The Gozney is an excellent oven, but heavier than the average model at 60 pounds.
Outdoor pizza ovens usually run on gas, wood or wood pellets. Propane gas Pizza ovens can be connected instantly, ignite quickly and heat up in minutes. They also burn cleanly, with less smoke and less mess to clean up. They can be hooked up to propane tanks the same way you can a grill.
Wood and charcoal Furnaces, in contrast, must be loaded (and sometimes reloaded) with fuel before use and take a long time to heat up; Also, a constant temperature is trickier to maintain. They also make a bigger mess, leaving ash and soot behind. Although you might think that wood-fired pizza ovens impart a smoky flavor, the pies are not exposed to much smoke or the oven enough to absorb the flavor of the wood. The ovens are very fragrant once they light up.
Gozney brought out a large furnace fueled by old firewood.
There is no significant difference in cost between different types of fuel. It’s more a matter of personal preference. Wood pellets can be purchased online or at most hardware and grocery stores and can be used on a variety of wood types.
There is also electricity pizza oven, including this expensive model from Breville and this new entry from Ninja. Electric pizza ovens only reach temps of about 700 degrees F. Purists may tell you that’s not hot enough to make a truly great pizza. We plan to test some electric pizza ovens soon and report back.
The Alpha Nano is the largest oven of all the models we tested, allowing you to grill whole chickens and other foods that won’t fit inside most home pizza ovens.
Size and flexibility
If you have dedicated space for your oven, a larger, heavier model should work. If you’re looking to store it between uses or move it frequently, a more portable oven is a better option. Home pizza ovens start at around 20 pounds, while semiportable and stationary pizza ovens can weigh several hundred.
Accessories
A pizza peel is the most important tool for making pies at home.
An accessory you need for your new pizza oven a pizza crust. This unique paddle-shaped tool allows you to safely slide a pizza in and out and rotate it for any cooking. Remember, these ovens get as hot as 950 degrees so you don’t want to take any chances with a wobbly spatula or small tongs.
Another accessory you’ll probably want to invest in is a cover, especially if you plan to leave it out in the elements between uses. Some pizza ovens have a custom lid, but many do not.
Cost and value
Quality home pizza ovens start around $300 and go up (high!) from there. More expensive pizza ovens tend to have larger, stronger frames, more oven capacity and reach hotter temperatures faster. You can find cheap pizza ovens for under $250, but so far we haven’t tested one that’s worth the investment.
A pizza peel is the most critical accessory when making pies at home.
