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.

Preparing the pizza dough for the BakerStone Pizza Oven Box is just like preparing for a wood fired pizza oven. I made my dough in the afternoon, then let it rise for a few hours. I then divided it into two balls, an let it rise for another hour. Then I pinched a small crust around the edges and used gravity to help me stretch out the dough. High-value products tend to come with a hefty price tag. The Roccbox is no exception. While the superb performance can justify the price, this pizza oven — including the gas and wood burners — is nearly double the cost of its direct competitors. Similarly, the oven itself is rather hefty. Despite its small footprint, this unit tips the scales at 44 pounds, easily making it one of the heaviest ovens in our lineup. That said, the heavy weight is due to unparalleled insulation, which drives the superior performance of the Roccbox — a portable pizza oven to make a Pizzaiuolo proud. 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. While looking for gas grill pizza accessories I ran into a product called the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven Accessory. Wow, that was a mouthful. I almost bought it, thinking it was a normal grill-top pizza maker like the KettlePizza or the BakerStone. However, it’s not. It’s a device made specifically for a portable gas grill from the company CampChef. As well, the Original Series Cooking Center can be converted to a gas griddle by removing the Pizza Oven Box (included) and replacing it with the BakerStone Original Series Steel Griddle (included).

Our Verdict

Burner firebox that hosts either the BakerStone OriginalSeries Pizza Oven Box or the BakerStone Heavy Duty Steel Griddle...both are included! 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 brand that put portable pizza ovens on the map lives up to its name with outstanding performance It’s smaller, so fits on the 2-burner gas grill, and is made for camping situations where you are taking your portable gas grill with you so you can make pizza while camping. Although this is definitely a cool idea, and I made review something like that in the future, it’s not a true comparison to the KettlePizza or BakerStone products. Easy-to-read icons display the temperature range for oven-style baking and extreme wood-fired temperatures Superior design precedes superior performance in this professional-grade oven made for the common cook

Reviews

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. 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 Secondary firebox consists of two stainless steel burners totalling an additional 25,000 BTU that power the BakerStone Original Series Pizza Oven Box or Heavy Duty Steel Griddle…both included. Set the burners to HIGH and preheat for approximately 20 minutes; once the needle reaches the desired temperature, you're ready to bake The ovens’ ceramic pizza stones, when heated, can hold very high temperatures, giving your pie a nice char on the bottom. The main differentiator in our tests was the heat source and how it affected the cooking on top of the pie; without a high temperature, you won’t get the dotted char known in the industry as “leoparding” (because it looks like a leopard, get it?). We found that the gas ovens with an exposed flame — the Ooni Koda 16 and the Gozney Roccbox —were best for getting a nice char.

The BakerStone is versatile, but it's not the easiest oven to transport. Dismantling it into sections may help improve portability. However, we feel this bulky, 48-pound oven is better off as the focal point of an outdoor kitchen than as a companion for car camping. It is capable of reaching the necessary temperatures to cook Neapolitan-style pizza, but the bulk and design of the firebox equate to a long preheating time. However, once it reaches the desired temperature, this price-pointed oven will bake just as well, if not better, than other top models on the market. There’s a few issues with the product listing, so don’t trust the photos or the specs. However, commenters have noted that it’s not the full size pizza box. It is about 30% cheaper though, so I’m confident it’s the smaller version. It also looks like supplies are limited, so it may not be available for long. Once your cooking temperature is reached, you can place your pizza into the oven using a wooden or metal pizza peel. Video: BakerStone Pizza Oven Box Tested & Reviewd Cooking Experience 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.

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!