Compare the Top 8 Pizza Ovens
Tips and FAQ
Honorable Mentions
We've tried a lot of pizza ovens. Here are a few that we liked that didn't quite make our top picks.
Photograph: Stove Pi Prime
Solo Stove Pi Prime for $450: The Solo Stove Pi Prime remains a very, very tight contender for our top gas oven pick. If you've heard of Solo Stove, it's because of its smokeless, stainless steel fire pits. This made the company's transition to high-heat pizza ovens more or less seamless. Instead of the conventional elongated design, the Pi Prime oven's fuel attachments are long and slim and hug the back of the oven. This allows Solo Stove to keep its signature round, symmetrical design. This really is a great design, and this remarkably compact propane pizza oven has previously been among WIRED's top picks. The cooking surface is large enough to accommodate a large Lodge cast-iron pan. If you have a small backyard, the top's flat surface is a convenient storage space, and the stove doesn't sacrifice any of its heating capabilities for these details. So why is the Koda 2 better than Solo Stove Pi Prime in our books? The Koda 2 allows for bigger 14-inch pies, and the broader opening makes launching a bit easier. (But note, if you live in a windy area, the Pi Prime offers better wind shielding than the Koda.)
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Halo Versa 16 for $499: At first blush, the Halo Versa 16 appears to offer much the same specs as the All-Clad gas-powered pizza oven, but for half the price. It's got a rotating pizza stone, room for a 16-inch pie, and a clever extra feature: a little heater under the pizza stone. This said, the built-in thermometer isn't accurate (at all!), and insulation isn't the best, leading to a hot exterior. The oven doesn't reach its advertised top temps of 950 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can generally heat the stone to about 800 degrees. Consider this a better oven for New York–style pies, at a quite affordable price when you take into account the rotating stone.
Gozney
Gozney Roccbox for $499: When Adrienne So first reviewed the dual-fuel Gozney Roccbox, she praised the fast recovery time that has made the Roccbox popular among pizza pop-up chefs, allowing her to make 10 pies in less than 30 minutes when cooking pizza with propane. That said, few home pizza makers need such throughput, and the 44-pound device is heavier than other competitors. The optional woodbox was oppressively difficult to use, for those who want the ability to cook with fire. But the Gozney's price, previously among the most expensive entrants, now seems downright reasonable. And Matthew Korfhage's experience using the default propane option has been good, with terrific temperature stability.
... continue reading