The best ooni pizza oven featured in this guide are the products I’ve selected through thorough testing, research, and discussions with the manufacturer. I’ve ranked the ovens in terms of Build Quality, performance, Flavor, efficient heating, easy portability, and of course, value for money.
Ooni Koda 16 Pizza Oven
ooni Fyra 12 Wood Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven
Ooni Volt 12 Electric Pizza Oven
I started my outdoor cooking feat with lots of terrible experiences because of subpar pizza ovens.I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a big device and it ended up being a mistake.
These ovens won’t stay lit. When they do, it’s not steady, which means I’d have to constantly spin the pizza every second to avoid burnt food. Another annoying issue is they rust quickly, even with covers.
So, I decided to purchase one of the Ooni pizza ovens – the Koda 16. That was the best decision I ever made for my baking career. This gas-powered model comes with a powerful gas burner for intense heat and will keep knocking out fantastic piping-hot pizzas.
If you don’t want to gamble with your hard-earned money, here are my top 5 Ooni pizza ovens. They are the most engineered models with unmatched performance, which make them stand out from the competition.
📌Things You Need to Know..
- You might struggle to make a choice when it comes to Ooni products. This is because they offer top-quality product lines. Everyone seems to swear by theirs. So, it’s unclear which model will work best for you.
- Also, most oven comparison review websites recommend products without considering your cooking needs. It’s more like a one-size-fits-all option that may never work for you.
- I have handpicked 5 Ooni pizza ovens, considering only important factors. This includes their cooking performance, build quality, size, and design.
- Also, I will suggest who should buy a particular model. This will ensure that you find the right unit that best suits your cooking needs and preference.
🤔Why Choose an Ooni Pizza Oven?
Are you still on the fence about going all in on one of the top-quality pizza ovens from the market-leading Ooni? Here are four compelling reasons to splurge on one:
Convenience
Ooni pizza ovens, unlike grills or most of its competitors, are hassle-free to light, cook and clean.
When it comes to having a fun cooking experience, the Ooni pizza oven is your go-to. It requires less tendering. This frees up more time for you to prep your ingredients and enjoy small talks with your guests.
The Ooni pizza oven has a high temperature that makes it almost self-cleaning. This saves you from the painstaking task of brushing off stubborn food debris.
Versatility
When it comes to versatility, only a few grills or pizza ovens match up. The Ooni models are the most engineered ovens for pizzas. They are also handy for whipping appetizers and cast-iron to side dishes.
Their unmatched cooking performance makes them ideal for various cooking options. You can make Keftedes Greek meatballs, sear steak with garlic butter, and more.
Cost-effectiveness
Ooni pizza ovens are not cheap. However, they offer durability, high performance, and many accessories. This makes them a good value for their cost.
Ooni pizza ovens use less fuel to reach high temperatures compared to other models. This makes them a cost-effective option. If you bake frequently, an Ooni pizza oven can help you save money on fuel costs.
Enhanced taste and quality of pizza
This is one of the reasons every homeowner wants to own an Ooni pizza oven. This oven is trustworthy. It heats up in less than 20 minutes. It can produce the crispiest and charred pizzas you have ever eaten.
This oven has a wood-fire burner. So, guests can launch their own personally-topped pizza dough into the rolling flame. The result is an authentic pizza with stunning “leoparding.”
🔍Which Ooni Pizza Oven Is Right For You?
There’s no arguing that most of the best ovens and chefs’ favorites are mostly Ooni pizza ovens. Yet, this does not mean you should buy any pizza oven from this market leader that comes your way.
The Ooni Koda 16 provides a remarkable propane cooking experience. It produces charred and firm-crust pizzas. Sadly, it requires ample backyard space. For folks who prefer hardwood pellet cooking, you can’t go wrong with the phenomenal Ooni Fray 12.
⭐Best Ooni Pizza Oven Review
Ooni Koda 16 Pizza Oven
My top pick for the best Ooni outdoor pizza oven is the Koda 16. Why? It’s powerful, gas-powered, and has a modern design. It’s perfect for baking 16-inch pizzas with almost no stress. This is because of its innovative L-shaped flame. It guarantees even doneness in one turn, reducing the chances of ruining your pizza.
There’s more to the dynamic Koda 16. It comes with a large cooking surface to cook about anything without limitations. This best-rated Ooni pizza oven rocks the revolutionary black powder coating.
It’s better at protecting your oven against scratches, corrosion, and wear and tear than stainless steel. Plus, they look more stunning and elegant than stainless steel models.
L-shaped burner – this is a unique feature on the Ooni pizza oven. It runs along the oven’s left and rear sides. This feature provides unparalleled gas cooking performance on any outdoor oven. Thus, eliminating the need to give your pizza a good spin every 15 seconds.
Excellent ceramic fiber insulation – this oven does not have doors. But, it relies on its breakthrough ceramic fiber insulation to maintain the flame. The insulation helps the oven reach extreme temperatures in just a few minutes. Despite the soaring flames in the chamber, the exterior remains safe to touch.
Large cooking surface and wide opening – The Koda 16 offers ample space. it’s perfect for baking a massive 16-inch Neapolitan pizza. You won’t feel cramped while cooking, unlike its competitors. Also, the wide opening makes it easier to launch, turn and retrieve your culinary treat safely.
Best For:
Outdoor chefs looking to purchase a premium pizza oven to bake batches of delectable pizzas for a crowded party with ZERO stress.
Pros:
- A generous 5-year warranty backs this unit. If there’s a fault with the craftsmanship and performance, Ooni will be responsible, not you.
- It can reach a searing temperature of 850 degrees F. This happens in less than 30 minutes. It is then ready to cook some of the most delicious Neapolitan pizzas.
- The exterior body of the oven has a matte finish. The matte finish helps prevent overheating. It also helps maintain the appearance of the oven.
- It is integrated with the latest built-in flame safety device that prevents the fire from burning outside the oven.
- It is simple to set up and hassle-free to clean up afterward – thanks to its self-cleaning ability.
Cons:
- It weighs a hair over 40 lbs, which I find too heavy to move around frequently.
- You can only cook with gas. So, you can’t achieve that wood-fired taste.
ooni Fyra 12 Wood Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven
I used the Fyra 12 Ooni pizza oven for two months and found it the best for making smoky Neapolitan pizza. The reasons? Pellets are much easier to light and manage compared to other solid-fuels. Its hopper system is taller. Thus, holding more pellets at once, so no more babysitting or constant refueling.
The manufacturer uses the same powder-coated carbon steel shell on the Fyra 12’s exterior as on the premium Koda 16. This provides great insulation and better cooking performance. The powder-coated carbon steel shell also makes the Fyra 12 more durable.
Yet, I love how easy it is to disassemble the Fyra 12 into smaller parts for transportation and storage. You can store the parts inside the cavity. No more misplaced chimneys or parts.
This 22lbs oven is perfect for making side dishes while infusing meals with a smoky flavor.
Outstanding steel construction – The pizza oven is the cheapest option from Ooni. Still, it has a powder-coated carbon steel shell. This shell helps the oven burn longer and waste less energy. The result? An outstanding pellet-firing cooking experience.
Searing baking temperature – Fyra 12 comes with a taller pellet hopper. It delivers beautiful rolling flames with less supervision and tendering. The oven floor quickly comes to a temperature above 800 degrees F in less than 20 minutes. It’s eager to churn out fantastic pizzeria-quality Neapolitan pizza.
Ultra-compact design – The Frya 12 is the most portable outdoor countertop pizza oven. It’s lighter, more compact, and cheaper than other models. It takes up less space and effort to carry, weighing about 22 lbs. You can take it on your next camping trip for a hint of smokiness on your food.
New bakers are not ready to make huge investments in an outdoor pizza oven – money and space-wise – but want to make memorable crisp-crust pizzas.
- It has an amazingly quicker heating time than its competitors – at least at its price range.
- Perfect for making sumptuous smoke-infused 12-inch Neapolitan pizzas
- The door features a viewing hole, which solves a crucial problem: heat loss due to the frequent door opening.
- Lightweight and no hassle to move around
- Not suitable with any other solid fuel options except pellets
- There are more parts to clean compared to the Koda 16
Ooni Volt 12 Electric Pizza Oven
In my opinion, Ooni’s electric pizza oven is the best for people with no backyard space. It uses electricity to generate enough heat to crisp your pizza without stress. It’s the perfect choice for beginners. With an automatic mode, you can consistently make mouthwatering pizzas in 90 seconds.
I love its compact design. It doesn’t need extra counter space. It comes with a 13-inch cooking space. The 13-inch space is generous enough for baking a 12-inch pizza without feeling cramped or too careful.
Consistent cooking results –The latest Volt 12 has two heating elements. You can cook the top and bottom of your pizza at different temperatures. This feature ensures consistent cooking results for your pizza. Thus, it’s suitable for whipping up various pizza styles, including Detroit-style pizzas.
Wide range of heat settings – one of the features of the new Volt 12 is a wide range of heat settings. These settings include automatic and manual adjustments. They cater to both new and experienced pizza makers. With this all-electric pizza oven, you can skip the long learning curve. Instead, you can start making iconic pizzas in just a few minutes.
Innovative “Boost” function – is unique to this fast-selling electric oven. You can quickly get the baking stone back to 850 degrees F for subsequent pizzas. So, every pizza is as tasty, delicious, and fantastic as the first.
Best For:
Homeowners without backyard space need a high-performing pizza oven to bake memorable restaurant-quality pies.
Pros:
- The all-electric pizza oven is revolutionary. It has a weather-resistant powder-coated steel shell. This provides extra outdoor protection.
- The oven also has superior insulation. This helps to hold the temperature longer and better.
- It scores high on portability with its built-in handle for easy transportation despite its nearly 40 lbs weight.
- The oven has Boost mode, temperature control, and a timer. Thus, cooking pizzas with a charred base perfectly.
- It features a heat-retaining triple-paned borosilicate glass door. The door helps to keep the heat inside the oven for better cooking performance.
- The warm interior lights come in handy for keeping track of the baking progress. You can check on your pizza without opening the door and losing heat.
Cons:
- Everything is perfect as it should be on the Volt 12 because it comes at a steep price. The manufacturer offers a 2-year warranty for this model. It’s great that it has such a warranty.
Ooni Karu 12G Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
KitchenAid KSM150PSOB Artisan 一 boasts a durable and timeless stainless steel construction that exudes elegance and class on any counter.
It offers exceptional versatility with its wide range of accessories. With the revolutionary 59-Point Planetary Mixing Action, this premium appliance ensures a thorough ingredient amalgamation, eliminating the need to scrape down the sides.
Furthermore, the multi-fuel oven is meticulously engineered with a 15mm thick baking stone. The stone heats up faster and retains heat longer than its competitors. Thus, this oven makes authentic traditional Neapolitan pizzas with a firm crust.
Award-winning design – the Karu 12G is an improved design of the top-tier Karu 12. This model has a more stunning and sleek look than its predecessor. The oven has a borosilicate glass door that traps heat for better cooking efficiency. This is one of its standout features. At the same time, you watch all your culinary creations come to life.
Three fuel options – this newly-released model is miles ahead of its competitors. Using gas, charcoal, or wood, you can crank this oven to 850 degrees F in the shortest time. The fuel tray is bigger to hold more wood or charcoal. Significantly reducing the time between top-ups. Unlike the others, you don’t have to babysit this one.
SureGrab door handle – small things do matter! The Karu 12G pizza oven has heat-safe materials on all touchpoints. This includes the handle of the chimney baffle, ensuring a safe baking experience.
Serious bakers are looking for a pizza oven that offers the best of three worlds – gas for quick cooking, wood for authentic smoke flavor, and charcoal for long baking periods.
- Integrated with an analog thermometer to ensure you take advantage of the right time to launch your pizza or the subsequent ones.
- This first-class hybrid model features a sleek design with a more modern look to elevate your outdoor settings.
- Its impressive insulation holds heat longer than any other products I tested
- Unparalleled wood fire baking performance, delivering artisan-quality pizza with the revered smoky flavor
- Backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee, this model has no risk. If you don’t like it, the manufacturer will repurchase it.
- The Karu 12G has a smaller opening than its predecessor, which is not a terrible deal breaker if you are a good pizza spinner.
- The analog thermometer is more challenging to read and precise. You should stick with your Infrared thermometer.
ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven
From my testing, no other pizza oven handles large batches of 16-inch pizza like the Karu 16. It has a wider opening to fit your massive pies and give them a good spin without the toppings falling off. Also, it’s engineered to optimize airflow for quick heating and achieving insanely high temperatures.
I love how this model supports charcoal or wood-fired cooking to impart your food with the most authentic wood-fired flavor. This unit offers restaurant-grade performance that you’d be hard-pressed to find on any other pizza oven out there.
Multi-fuel versatility – this is one of the best things about the Karu 16 and why it’s heavily sought after. You can cook your pizza with either gas or solid fuels. This means you can bake faster and still enjoy the subtle smoky taste with the same machine.
Advanced features – unlike the Karu 12G, this model has a large-screen digital thermometer to ensure you are baking at the right temperature. It’s really the end to soggy or undone pizzas. Also, it features a new ViewFlame glass oven door that keeps the oven well-insulated for top-tier baking performance.
Insane heating performance – the Karu 16 is not a joke. In its propane form, this unit gets the oven floor’s temperature above 900 degrees F in 20 minutes. Thus, knocking out charred, crispy pizza in less than 60 seconds. Thanks to its minor incremental temperature regulator, you have total flame control.
If you’ve got a hungry crowd to feed and want to do it quickly with zero issues, Ooni Karu 16 is the most advanced pizza-making machine fit for this high-demand baking task as of now.
- This unit heats up to 900 degrees F with propane for mouthwatering results.
- It features sturdy build quality and advanced engineering, ensuring it doesn’t discolor or wear or tear due to prolonged exposure to harsh outdoor conditions.
- Every touch point features heat-safe material for extra safety
- Large opening to fit a 16-inch pizza peel with ample room to turn your pizzas
- I find the Karu 12 too heavy to move around and take up a dedicated space in my garden
📊Comparisons of Ooni Pizza Oven
| Koda 16 | Frya 12 | Volt 12 | Karu 12G | Karu 16 | |
| Best For | Overall | Pellets | Indoor | Multi-fuel | Large pizzas |
| Fuel Source(s) | Gas | Wood pellets | Electricity | Charcoal, wood, and gas | Charcoal, wood, and gas |
| Maximum Pizza Size | 16 inches | 12 inches | 12 inches | 12 inches | 16 inches |
| Baking Stone Thickness | 0.6 inches | 0.4 inches | 0.4 inches | 0.6 inches | 0.6 inches |
| Opening Height | 4.37 inches | 3.34 inches | 3.58 inches | 3.86 inches | 5.71 inches |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs | 22.05 lbs | 39.2 lbs | 34 lbs | 62.6 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | 2 years | 5 years | 5 years |
🧾Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Ooni Pizza Oven
Size of Opening and Cooking Surface
Consider the opening size for ovens to ensure that launching and spinning your pie is seamless. This is essential as you must constantly give your heartily topped pizza a good spin for even browning and doneness.
With this in mind, a 16-inch pizza oven should have a larger opening than its 12-inch counterpart. Also, remember that the opening might be a different size than the interior cooking chamber.
The little difference doesn’t matter on paper until you need to maneuver whatever you are baking without the toppings falling off.
Portability
Ooni pizza ovens are not created equal. Some models feature a more compact structure to ensure they are a cinch to transport if need be. My pick for portability from this top-brand lineup is the Koda 12. It weighs about 20.4 lbs, slightly lighter than the 22 lbs Frya 12 and the 26.5 lbs Karu 12.
You want to avoid the Koda 16, weighing about 40 lbs. While you can still transport this model, it is something other than portable, and it can be very awkward to move around. The heavyweight Karu 16 is 22 lbs heavier than the Koda 16. You’ll need an extra hand to transfer this particular oven, except you purchase an Ooni pizza oven stand.
Fuel Type
Ooni pizza ovens fire up using charcoal, hardwood, wood pellets, or gas. However, some models use a combination of two or more fuel options. It’s crucial that you make an informed decision, as your choice of fuel directly affects your learning curve, usability, and overall experience.
Propane
Like the good ol’ gas grills, gas-powered pizza ovens are easy to ignite and bring to temperature quickly. Another main advantage of this pizza oven over other options is its consistent and even heating regardless of the outdoor condition.
On the downside, you might have to lug a 20 lbs propane tank alongside your pizza oven, which can be stressful.
Wood pellets
From my experience, I love the pellet-burning models for their convenience when compared to other solid-fuel options. They light up faster and burn just as hot to get your pizza oven to temperature within 20 minutes.
On top of that, maintaining a steady cooking temperature with pellets is easier than with charcoal and hardwood. Thanks to their innovative auger system, you don’t have to spend much time tendering to the fire.
Disappointedly, I find these pellet-burning ovens responsive to windy and humid conditions.
Lump charcoal
One of the biggest perks of owning a charcoal pizza oven is the availability. You can quickly get your hands on lump charcoal at your hardware store without the stress of lighting a solid wood.
However, their fireboxes are not very sizable. This means you have to oversee the fire, which can be annoying if you make many pizzas for a big party. Plus, it really takes a while to come to temperature, and maintaining the heat is a serious challenge.
Hardwood
For making amazing restaurant-quality pizzas with irresistible smoky flavor, this is where wood-burning pizza ovens surpass the others. However, there are a couple of inconveniences with this model.
The firebox usually comes with less room, so you either find a supplier selling the right size of wood kindling that fits or stick with cutting the wood yourself. Regardless of your option, a hardwood-burning pizza oven often takes longer to fire up to temperature. You would also have to deal with the stress of igniting and building a fire.
Price
Ooni pizza ovens cater to a wide range of budgets, with models available at various price points.
For folks not looking to break the bank, Ooni has the pellet-burning Frya 12 at the most affordable price. If you are willing to shell out more dough for a powerful gas pizza oven, then you can go wrong with the reasonably-priced Koda 12 and Karu 12.
However, larger models like Koda 16 come at a steep price, which is justified by the amount of power and ample cooking space they offer.
Premium models like the top-selling Ooni Karu 16 come at a saltier price tag. These options include handy features like a glass door, built-in thermometer, etc., to improve users’ overall experience, especially with batch pizza making.
Ease of Use
No one wants to spend hundreds of dollars on an outdoor oven only to struggle with it. Some Ooni pizza ovens come with chimneys for better heat management. However, this handy feature makes setting and covering it up a bit tasking.
Also, you want to consider other factors like its opening size and built-in features. Models integrated with thermometers, like the Karu 16, make keeping track of your cooking process a breeze.
🙋What Else Can You Cook In An Ooni Pizza Oven?
I loved my Karu 16, and it has successfully made some of the most amazing Neapolitan pizza I have ever had. However, that is not all I crank out of this best-in-class multi-fuel pizza oven.
Here are 10 other delectable foods aside from pizza you can make out of any Ooni pizza oven:
- Steak
- Focaccia
- Marinated Shrimp
- Salmon Filet
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Peach Cobbler
- Dinner Rolls
- Marinated Chicken Thighs
- Salsa Verde
- Cast Iron Skillet Cookies
🤔How to Use the Ooni Pizza Oven?
Ooni pizza ovens can easily achieve temperatures up to 900 degrees F, which can scare first-timers.
In this section, I’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to bake a crispy pizza without missing.
Step 1: clean out the oven if it has been used. If it’s a wood-fired oven, start the fire and allow it to come to a temperature. For gas-powered models, open the gas valve, and crank the temperature to the highest for about 15 – 20 minutes.
Step 2: sprinkle semolina or cornmeal flour on your peel before placing the dough to give it extra crispness for a successful launch. Apply your toppings and sauce sparingly on the evenly spread dough. (avoid letting the dough sit out for too long or pressing it to the peel)
Step 3: before launching your heartily-topped pizza into the oven, lower the temperature to prevent your toppings from burning. Keep the pizza a few inches away from the rolling flame. Also, give the pizza a good spin after every 10 – 15 seconds for even browning.
Note: It’s essential that the stone’s temperature is at most 800 degrees F before baking. Else, it might turn out soggy and unpalatable.
🎭Comparing the Ooni Pizza Oven to Other Pizza Ovens
The vast number of brands out there is overwhelming, which explains why most home chefs prefer to stick with familiar brands like the trustworthy Ooni. However, there’s another brand known for its innovative lines of outdoor ovens, Gozney.
Their top-selling Gozney Roccbox is similar to the Ooni Karu 12. This best alternative to the Ooni pizza oven is a super-sleek, propane-powered pizza oven that will surely churn out amazing culinary treats.
While it comes with many bells and whistles and one of the best gas-powered performances, its higher price can be a terrible deal breaker. For the same price, I could purchase the best-in-class Ooni Koda 16.
Furthermore, I noticed the Gozney Roccbox has a smaller opening, making it slightly tricky to rotate pizza for even cooking. Also, the wood-burner accessory is sold separately and still fails to get the oven floor hot enough to crisp the pizza base in 90 seconds, like Ooni’s.
💭Related FAQ
What size Ooni pizza oven should I get?
It comes down to your cooking needs and backyard space. If you have ample outdoor space and are okay with dedicating space to a pizza oven, the 16-inch models are perfect.
However, for folk looking to bake right from their patio, a 12-inch model might be your best bet. For more information on making the right decision based on size, check out the buying section of this comprehensive Ooni pizza oven review.
Is an Ooni pizza oven worth it?
Suppose top-quality build materials, professional-grade baking performance, and a decent warranty are precisely what you look for in an oven.
In that case, purchasing an Ooni pizza oven will be a worthwhile investment.
What gas bottle do I need for the Ooni pizza oven?
Ooni gas-fueled ovens are compatible with the standard gas bottle of up to 30 lb. However, if you own a 1 lb camping gas tank, the Karu 12 and Koda 12 are the only compatible ovens from the Ooni’s beautiful lineups.
Can you use Traeger pellets in an Ooni pizza oven?
The only lineup with wood-pellet compatibility is the Frya 12, which fires up with any pellet. While I made puffy edge, crisp-crust pizza with pellets from other brands, I found the superior burning performance of the Ooni pellets enticing.
How long does it take for the Ooni pizza oven to heat up?
Depending on the fuel options and outdoor weather conditions, the Ooni pizza oven takes about 15 – 30 minutes to reach a searing temperature. The gas models heat up faster than the solid-fuel options.
How long does a propane tank last on an Ooni pizza oven?
From my experience, a 1 lb camping gas tank lasts nearly 2 hours. So, for a full 20 lb propane tank, you should get more than 20 hours of cooking on high heat.
Can you cook fish in the Ooni pizza oven?
Ooni pizza ovens pride themselves as a versatile cooking machine that can whip up anything from tasty pizzas to steak. They are great for a wide range of cooking options and can perfectly cook your fish.
Do Ooni pizza ovens rust?
Ooni pizza ovens feature cutting-edge stainless steel construction. Although they are powdered coated for protection against rust, wear, and tear, some parts are still susceptible. However, I find using a stainless steel polish and cleaner effective for restoring its shine.
Ooni Pizza Oven Review: Conclusion
If you made it all the way down here, it means you want to make the right investment. There are lots of models from Ooni, which can be confusing. However, these ovens feature best-in-class engineering, meaning they are super durable with unmatched baking performance.
Nonetheless, you should only consider a product that caters to your unique cooking need and fits into the available outdoor space without breaking the bank.
If you are still on the fence, I recommend my favorite, the Koda 16; it packs enough power and has a spacious cooking chamber to cook old and new recipes perfectly.
Tim Anderson
Tim Anderson is the founder of pizzapeopleaz® and has been in the pizza industry since 1998. Since then, his mission has been to make a pizza lover’s guy into a personal pizzaiolo. And each year, he continues to help more people with Pizza chemistry, pizza Crust, pizza oven, and oven troubleshooting.