Which Ooni Pizza Oven to Choose?
If you’re the proud owner of an Ooni pizza oven, you already know that these fantastic pizza ovens can elevate your homemade pizza game to new heights. But did you know that the fuel you choose can significantly impact your oven’s taste and performance?
In this post, we’ll dive into the world of the best fuel for your Ooni pizza oven, exploring the benefits and drawbacks of each type to help you make an informed decision.
With years of experience under our belts and as proud owners of an Ooni Koda 16, which we believe to be the best (read on to find out why or check out our review), we’re here to guide you through the world of fuel options for your Ooni pizza oven.
Join us as we embark on a journey to discover the best fuel for your Ooni pizza oven, ensuring you achieve the ultimate balance of efficiency, flavor, and convenience.
Read on and get ready to fire up your oven like never before!
There are several options for portable pizza ovens, which is where the Ooni Pizza Ovens, come in. Not to mention that you can buy 5 Ooni pizza ovens for the cost of a brick pizza oven.
Now, how do they rank against each other?
Let’s find out!
Here’s What You Will Find:
Ooni Pizza Ovens Lineup
Best Fuel for Ooni Pizza Oven
Ooni Fuel Option #1: Gas
For over a decade, Hank Hill eagerly sold customers “Propane and propane accessories” on King of the Hill, and – “I tell you what!” – there are several well-founded reasons for Hank’s propane enthusiasm.
One of the biggest reasons to go with gas is that it’s incredibly easy to cook with, especially compared to the other fuel sources on this list.
Ooni Gas Options
Ooni Koda 12
Features:
The Ooni Koda 12 is a top-tier gas-powered pizza oven that has become a favorite among home chefs and pizza enthusiasts alike. This sleek and portable oven offers a range of features that make it an excellent choice for creating mouth-watering pizzas in minutes. Let’s dive into the detailed features that set the Ooni Koda 12 apart from its competitors:
- Compact and portable design: The Ooni Koda 12 boasts a lightweight and portable design, weighing just 20.4 lbs (9.25 kg). Its foldable legs and detachable burner make it easy to transport and store, perfect for small spaces or taking your pizza-making skills on the go.
- Gas-powered convenience: The oven is fueled by propane, offering a clean and consistent heat source. Its easy-to-use gas ignition makes starting up the oven quick and hassle-free. You can also precisely control the heat using the responsive gas control dial.
- Rapid heat-up time: With its powerful heat output, the Ooni Koda 12 reaches temperatures of up to 932°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes. This high heat is essential for achieving the perfect Neapolitan-style pizza with a crispy crust and bubbling toppings.
- Cordierite stone baking board: The Ooni Koda 12 has a high-quality cordierite stone baking board designed to retain and distribute heat evenly. This ensures your pizza crust is always perfectly cooked with that sought-after crispy texture.
- Efficient L-shaped flame: The innovative L-shaped flame burner evenly distributes heat across the oven, minimizing cold spots and ensuring your pizza is cooked uniformly. This design also allows for optimal heat retention, so your oven stays hot throughout the cooking process.
- Durable, insulated construction: The Ooni Koda 12 is built with high-quality, powder-coated carbon steel that’s designed to withstand high temperatures and resist wear over time. Its insulated body helps maintain heat for efficient cooking while keeping the exterior safe to touch.
- Versatile cooking capabilities: While the Ooni Koda 12 excels at making pizzas, it can also cook a wide range of dishes, such as flatbreads, roasted vegetables, and meats. This versatility makes it a valuable addition to your outdoor cooking arsenal.
The Ooni Koda 12 is a reliable, convenient, and high-performing gas-powered pizza oven with these impressive features. Its compact design and quick heat-up time make it perfect for pizza enthusiasts who crave restaurant-quality pies in the comfort of their own backyard.
Ooni Koda 16
Features:
The Ooni Koda 16 is a remarkable gas-powered pizza oven that has won the hearts of pizza lovers and home chefs alike. This stylish and larger version of the Ooni Koda series offers various features designed to provide a top-notch pizza-making experience. Let’s explore the detailed features that make the Ooni Koda 16 stand out from the crowd:
- Spacious and portable design: The Ooni Koda 16 boasts a larger cooking area than its sibling, the Ooni Koda 12, with a spacious 16-inch cooking surface. Despite its size, it remains portable, with foldable legs and a detachable burner for easy transport and storage.
- Gas-powered convenience: Fueled by propane, the Ooni Koda 16 offers a clean, consistent, and easy-to-control heat source. Its gas ignition ensures a quick and hassle-free startup, while the responsive heat control dial allows you to manage cooking temperatures precisely.
- Rapid heat-up time: The Ooni Koda 16 heats up to an impressive 932°F (500°C) in just 20 minutes, providing the ideal high heat necessary for creating authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas with crispy crusts and delectable toppings.
- Large cordierite stone baking board: The oven has a high-quality, large cordierite stone baking board designed to retain and distribute heat evenly across the cooking surface. This ensures consistent cooking and the perfect crispy crust on your pizzas.
- Innovative L-shaped flame: The Ooni Koda 16 features a unique L-shaped flame burner that evenly disperses heat throughout the oven, reducing cold spots and ensuring uniform cooking. This design also aids optimal heat retention, keeping the oven hot during cooking.
- Durable, insulated construction: Built with high-quality, powder-coated carbon steel, the Ooni Koda
- 16 is designed to withstand high temperatures and resist wear over time. Its insulated body helps maintain heat for efficient cooking while keeping the exterior safe to touch.
- Versatile cooking capabilities: While the Ooni Koda 16 excels at making pizzas, it can also cook a wide range of dishes, such as flatbreads, roasted vegetables, and meats. Its larger cooking surface allows for even more culinary creativity, making it a valuable addition to your outdoor cooking collection.
- Compatible with natural gas conversion: The Ooni Koda 16 can be easily converted to run-on natural gas with the Ooni Natural Gas Conversion Kit (sold separately). This allows for a more permanent installation and a direct connection to your home’s natural gas supply, offering convenience and cost savings.
- These outstanding features make the Ooni Koda 16 a reliable, convenient, and high-performing gas-powered pizza oven. Its larger size, quick heat-up time, and versatile cooking capabilities make it an excellent choice for pizza enthusiasts who desire restaurant-quality pies in their own backyard or outdoor gatherings.
What Kind of Gas Can You Use with an Ooni Oven?
The Ooni Gas Ovens have only been designed for propane gas use.
What Kind of Gas Tank Do You Need?
Propane Tanks
The type of propane tank you will use will depend on your region and regulator. You can use a propane tank from a gas company or a standard gas tank at hardware stores or gas stations.
Do you want to use a 1 lb camping propane gas tank?
The Ooni outdoor pizza ovens sold in the US come ready to use the 20lb, 10lb, or 5lb propane gas tank.
These gas tanks are cumbersome to carry as they are heavy.
So, if you want to go fully portable and use the 1lb camping propane tank, you must get a tank adapter and connect it to the regulator.
Easy!
What is a regulator? which one do you need?
A regulator controls the gas flow from your gas tank into your gas-fired oven. Without regulators, the gas would flow from the propane tank super quickly, and you’d have to buy many tanks to get your oven fired up.
Different regions and countries use different gas bottles with different connections.
The Ooni gas burner attachments are region-specific, so it is crucial when ordering to ensure that you select the model compatible with the region in which you wish to use the oven.
There are two things you need to know before you order:
- What is the mBar pressure in your area
- What fitting is on the top of gas bottles in your area
For ovens sold in the United States, the specifications are as follows:
- mBar Pressure – 28mBar
- Hose Outlet: 5/8” UNF
- 18 Hose nozzle threaded terminal (supplied fully assembled)
- Hose length: 0.92m
- Bottle Regulator: 2.8kpa (11Winch)
- Regulator inlet: QCC(HW-01) Left-handed female thread
If you live in another country, please check Ooni’s specifications here.
Pro Tip
Making pizza in an Ooni can be a challenge for some, mainly because the heat source is coming from one place, and the pizza will quickly burn on one side more than the other. To avoid this, you must turn your pizza regularly.
How to connect the propane tank to the oven
Turning On the Gas Ooni Pizza Oven to Cook Pizza
All you have to do is plug in the tanks, turn the dial when it’s time to get cooking, and off you go.
If you have never cooked with propane before, you might initially wonder how to attach the tank, but modern pizza ovens solve this by making the gas hose’s input of the Ooni gas burner attachment pretty straightforward.
Setting Up Your Ooni Gas Pizza Oven
This video is presented to you by Ooni Pizza Ovens.
Extinguishing the Gas Ooni Pizza Oven
It is also far easier to extinguish gas-powered ovens – turn off the gas. With other fuel sources, you must ensure that the last burnt embers of whatever you’re burning for fuel are fully extinguished before you can pack up and go, lest you accidentally start a fire or burn yourself.
An important note on extinguishing is that you need to give your oven at least one hour after extinguishing before attempting to move or clean it. After use, it is a very hot oven, and you need to be careful. So, ensure your oven is completely cool and dry before storing.
On the other hand, with a gas-powered oven, you turn off the gas, wait for the shell to cool again, and you should be ready to go.
This often means that the settings for gas-powered pizza ovens are relatively straightforward. This will likely be a welcome sight if you are new to pizza ovens.
Is Gas a Cleaner Source for Cooking?
Then we come to one of Hank Hill’s favorite things about propane – just how to clean a fuel source it is for cooking pizza.
Other fuel sources often leave a lot of soot, making for longer, messier cleanup times.
You don’t have to worry about soot with gas-powered pizza ovens. If you love cooking great pizzas but hate cleaning out wood or lump charcoal remnants each time, propane can be a more straightforward, cleaner solution.
This solution also means you don’t have to control chopping up any logs for your oven.
Granted, chopping logs for your oven is a bit too antique of a solution for even old-fashioned Hank Hill, especially given how easily wood pellets can be purchased, but even these need to be hauled around in bags.
While some propane tanks can be on the heavier side, you have plenty of options from which to choose, allowing you to find one that’s just the right size without being too unwieldy to carry.
While Hank Hill serves customers at his job at Strickland Propane, you can purchase propane in real life at most hardware stores and even some convenience stores.
Finally, you’ll want to ensure you get a gas oven with burners at the back of the oven, as this results in the best heat distribution.
Gas Fuel Pros and Cons
Pros
- The cleanest-burning option is leaving behind the least amount of soot.
- Quieter than other ovens
- Gas-powered ovens often have a more straightforward control fire scheme than others.
- A highly efficient fuel source
- Acquiring propane tanks is easy
Cons
- It doesn’t have the same smoky aromatic flavor profile as wood or charcoal.
- Can potentially add to your gas bill
- You can’t add any flavor profile (no wood chips)
Fuel Option #2: Wood
If you want to add rustic beauty to your home, a wood-fired pizza oven will look more authentically old-fashioned than a propane one. Even if they are old-fashioned, that antiqueness can be part of wood-burning stoves’ charm.
Wood-fired pizza ovens also cook pizzas differently than others. Instead of blasting warm air around the food or lighting a propane-powered flame, wood ovens create radiant heat from a natural fuel source that helps spread warmth around the dough.
Wood-burning fuel may be the way to go if you’re looking for a more natural way to cook pizza.
Pizza Pun
If you burn your Hawaiian pizza, try cooking it at aloha temperature.
Ooni Wood & Charcoal Pizza Oven Options
(Click on the image for more information on these ovens)
Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel
Features:
The Ooni Karu 12 is an exceptional multi-fuel pizza oven that offers unparalleled flexibility and performance for pizza lovers and home chefs. This powerful and adaptable oven has various features designed to provide a top-notch pizza-making experience. Let’s delve into the detailed features that make the Ooni Karu 12 a standout choice:
- Compact and portable design: The Ooni Karu 12 features a lightweight and portable design, with foldable legs and detachable components for easy transport and storage. Its compact size makes it perfect for small spaces, outdoor gatherings, or taking your pizza-making skills on the go.
- Multi-fuel capabilities: The Ooni Karu 12 stands out for its ability to use wood, charcoal, or gas as fuel sources. This versatility allows you to choose the fuel that best suits your needs and taste preferences, providing authentic wood-fired flavor or the convenience of gas.
- Gas compatibility: With the optional Ooni Gas Burner attachment (sold separately), the Ooni Karu 12 can be easily converted to run on propane, offering a clean and consistent heat source, as well as a quick and hassle-free ignition.
- Rapid heat-up time: The powerful design of the Ooni Karu 12 allows it to reach temperatures of up to 932°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes, providing the high heat necessary for cooking authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas with perfectly crispy crusts and bubbly toppings.
- Cordierite stone baking board: The oven has a high-quality cordierite stone baking board designed to retain and distribute heat evenly across the cooking surface. This ensures consistent cooking and the perfect crispy crust on your pizzas.
- Efficient airflow and heat retention: The Ooni Karu 12 features a specially designed airflow system and adjustable chimney vent for efficient combustion and consistent heat distribution. Its insulated stainless steel body ensures optimal heat retention, keeping the oven consistently hot during cooking.
- Durable, high-quality construction: Built with 430-grade stainless steel and a ceramic fiber-insulated shell, the Ooni Karu 12 is designed to withstand high temperatures and resist wear over time. Its sturdy construction ensures long-lasting performance and reliability.
- Versatile cooking capabilities: While the Ooni Karu 12 excels at making pizzas, it can also cook a wide range of dishes, such as flatbreads, roasted vegetables, and meats. It’s compact size and multi-fuel options allow for even greater culinary creativity, making it a valuable addition to your outdoor cooking collection.
The Ooni Karu 12 is a versatile, convenient, and high-performing multi-fuel pizza oven with these impressive features. Its adaptability, quick heat-up time, and compact design make it an ideal choice for pizza enthusiasts seeking restaurant-quality pies and diverse cooking options in their own backyard or outdoor gatherings.
Then there are the economic and environmental possibilities. On the one hand, wood can be a far more inexpensive fuel source than propane.
On the other hand, wood burning can be more “carbon neutral” for the environment than propane gas.
While you still have to worry about creosote (which can stain the interior of your oven) being released with wood burning in a way, it typically is not with gas ovens; wood-fired ovens can still be seen as better for the environment in some cases.
You don’t have to worry about power or gas outages with wood-burning ovens. As long as you have wood ready to burn, your oven is (in theory) ready to go.
This also means you can save money on your gas bill – and if you already have to spend a lot on that to keep your home warm during winter, this can be a great way to cut costs.
A well-built wood-fired oven is also typically highly dependable. It would be best not to worry about breakdowns or fussy controls. Wood-burning ovens have served humanity for millennia; the best ones are built to last.
Finally, there’s no replacement for the cozy ambiance of a wood oven’s flicking flames and crackling embers.
Wood Fuel Pros and Cons
Pros
- Wood is very common, allowing you a lot more heating freedom
- The heat distribution of wood-fired ovens can be better than some other models
- Wood-fired cooking methods are considered more “authentic” by some people.
- The ambiance of a classic wood-burning oven is hard to beat
Cons
- The ambiance of a classic wood-burning oven is hard to beat
- You constantly have to find new supplies of wood
- After cooking, you must deal with a lot more ashy residue and cleanup time.
- While they may save on gas costs, good wood chips can be expensive in their own right.
- These ovens tend to be on the larger side.
Best Wood for the Ooni Pizza Ovens
Ooni Premium Hardwood 5″ Oak Logs
Features:
Ooni Premium Hardwood 13cm (5″) Oak Logs are made from 100% oak hardwood from sustainable sources. Our hardwood kindling is free from chemicals, aromas, or additives, for a pure fuel that infuses your dishes with all-natural flavors and burns for longer.
Perfectly sized for Ooni Karu, keep 5 or 6 pieces of kindling burning simultaneously for consistent heat. Each 7-8kg box will last enough to cook dozens of pizzas.
Our Oak Logs are kiln-dried and FSC certified. Please note that wood logs are a natural product in varying shapes and sizes. What you receive may differ from the images shown on this page, but they will fit and fire your oven regardless.
Fuel Option #3: Charcoal
The most significant benefit of cooking with charcoal is the distinct flavor that comes from doing so, which is hard to replicate with other fuel sources.
However, that doesn’t mean that flavor doesn’t come with a cost.
Not only can charcoal-burning ovens be more expensive, but they can also be a hassle to clean out afterward.
Charcoal isn’t the cleanest-burning substance in the world, which can mean long cleanup times after you’re done cooking.
Ooni Multi-Fuel Oven
The Ooni Karu 16 is a portable, multi-fuel pizza oven designed for outdoor use. It is made with high-grade stainless steel and can reach temperatures up to 932°F, allowing for quick cooking times of 60 seconds or less. Wood or charcoal fuels the oven. It can also be fueled with gas with the optional gas burner. It is easy to set up and use and comes with a built-in thermometer and a preheating time of just 15 minutes. The Ooni Karu 16 is perfect for backyard parties, picnics, or camping trips.
Features:
The Ooni Karu 16 is an exceptional multi-fuel pizza oven that delivers unparalleled flexibility and performance to pizza lovers and home chefs. This powerful and versatile oven boasts various features that combine convenience and adaptability, ensuring a top-notch pizza-making experience. Let’s delve into the detailed features that make the Ooni Karu 16 a standout choice:
- Spacious and portable design: The Ooni Karu 16 offers a generous 16-inch cooking surface, making it ideal for larger pizzas or multiple smaller dishes. Despite its size, it remains portable with foldable legs and detachable components, allowing for easy transport and storage.
- Multi-fuel capabilities: The Ooni Karu 16 stands out for its ability to use wood, charcoal, or gas as fuel sources. This flexibility allows you to choose the fuel that best suits your needs and taste preferences, providing authentic wood-fired flavor or the convenience of gas.
- Gas compatibility: With the optional Ooni Gas Burner attachment (sold separately), the Ooni Karu 16 can be easily converted to run on propane, offering a clean and consistent heat source, as well as a quick and hassle-free ignition.
- Rapid heat-up time: The powerful design of the Ooni Karu 16 allows it to reach temperatures of up to 932°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes, providing the high heat necessary for cooking authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas with perfectly crispy crusts and bubbly toppings.
- Large cordierite stone baking board: The oven has a high-quality, large cordierite stone baking board designed to retain and distribute heat evenly across the cooking surface. This ensures consistent cooking and the perfect crispy crust on your pizzas.
- Efficient airflow and heat retention: The Ooni Karu 16 features a specially designed airflow system and dual airflow control for efficient combustion and consistent heat distribution. Its insulated stainless steel body ensures optimal heat retention, keeping the oven consistently hot during cooking.
- Durable, high-quality construction: Built with 430-grade stainless steel and a ceramic fiber-insulated shell, the Ooni Karu 16 is designed to withstand high temperatures and resist wear over time. Its sturdy construction ensures long-lasting performance and reliability.
- Versatile cooking capabilities: While the Ooni Karu 16 excels at making pizzas, it can also cook a wide range of dishes, such as flatbreads, roasted vegetables, and meats. Its larger cooking surface and multi-fuel options allow for even greater culinary creativity, making it a valuable addition to your outdoor cooking collection.
The Ooni Karu 16 is a versatile, convenient, and high-performing multi-fuel pizza oven with these impressive features. Its adaptability, quick heat-up time, and generous cooking surface make it an ideal choice for pizza enthusiasts seeking restaurant-quality pies and diverse cooking options in their own backyard or outdoor gatherings.
Charcoal Fuel Pros and Cons
Pros
- Charcoal imparts a unique smoky flavor to the pizza that is difficult to replicate with other fuel sources.
- Charcoal ovens can reach higher temperatures than gas or wood-fired ovens, allowing for a crispy pizza crust on the pizza.
- Charcoal is a relatively inexpensive fuel source.
- Charcoal ovens are relatively low maintenance.
- Charcoal ovens are portable and can be used for outdoor cooking.
- Charcoal ovens are versatile and can cook various foods besides pizza.
Cons
- Charcoal ovens take longer to heat up than gas or wood-fired ovens.
- Charcoal ovens are more difficult to control the temperature, and it can be harder to maintain consistent heat.
- Charcoal can be messy to work with and produces ash that needs to be cleaned up.
- Charcoal ovens can produce smoke and ash that can harm breathing.
- Charcoal ovens require more attention and monitoring during use than gas or wood-fired ovens.
- Due to air quality regulations, charcoal ovens may not be legal or allowed in certain areas.
- Charcoal can produce Carbon Monoxide, which is dangerous if not used correctly, and proper ventilation is required.
Cooking with Wood and Charcoal
This video is presented to you by Ooni Pizza Ovens
Best Charcoal for the Ooni Ovens
After trying many different brands of charcoal, this is the one we prefer. The charcoal lumps are clean and come in various sizes, some of which are rather huge.
We generally light charcoal with the chimney method, which takes a long time to get going, but we found that this charcoal seems to light in less than half the time we’re used to.
It burns beautifully and appears to last a long time, as I’ve been able to close the grill and re-use the half-burned charcoal for future use (probably because the pieces are so large to start with). As a result, we believe it is appropriate to refer to this charcoal as “premium.”
FOGO Charcoal was born from the love of BBQ. We believe charcoal is not only a fuel but an ingredient. The First Ingredient.
When creating the FOGO line, we focused on 3 main things.
- Flavor - We use a blend of tropical hardwoods that gives you a mild smokey flavor.
- Quality - Consistent quality is important to us and we work hard so that you can have the same FOGO experience in every bag.
- All-Natural - FOGO is an all-natural, free of chemical hardwood charcoal that will enhance the flavor of your food.
Fuel Option #4: Wood Pellets
This is by far the least famous option on our list, but that doesn’t mean it lacks upsides.
For one thing, like gas and wood, there are conditions under which it can be pretty cost-effective.
(Click on the image for more information on this oven).
Ooni Fyra 12
Features:
The Ooni Fyra 12 is an outstanding wood pellet-fired pizza oven that delivers an authentic wood-fired taste and exceptional performance to pizza lovers and home chefs alike. This compact and efficient oven boasts various features that provide an unmatched pizza-making experience. Let’s explore the detailed features that make the Ooni Fyra 12 a top choice for pizza enthusiasts:
- Compact and portable design: The Ooni Fyra 12 features a lightweight and portable design, with foldable legs and detachable components, making it easy to transport and store. Its compact size is perfect for small spaces, outdoor gatherings, or taking your pizza-making skills on the go.
- Wood pellet fuel: The Ooni Fyra 12 is fueled by wood pellets, offering a clean and sustainable heat source that imparts an authentic wood-fired flavor to your pizzas. The gravity-fed pellet hopper ensures a consistent flow of fuel for optimal combustion.
- Rapid heat-up time: With its powerful heat output, the Ooni Fyra 12 reaches temperatures of up to 932°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes. This high heat is essential for achieving the perfect Neapolitan-style pizza with a crispy crust and delectable toppings.
- Cordierite stone baking board: The Ooni Fyra 12 has a high-quality cordierite stone baking board designed to retain and distribute heat evenly. This ensures your pizza crust is always perfectly cooked with that sought-after crispy texture.
- Efficient design and heat retention: The Ooni Fyra 12 features an innovative design that maximizes airflow, fuel efficiency, and heat distribution for consistent cooking. Its insulated body helps maintain heat for efficient cooking while keeping the exterior safe to touch.
- Durable, high-quality construction: Built with powder-coated carbon steel and a ceramic fiber-insulated shell, the Ooni Fyra 12 is designed to withstand high temperatures and resist wear over time. Its sturdy construction ensures long-lasting performance and reliability.
- Versatile cooking capabilities: While the Ooni Fyra 12 excels at making pizzas, it can also cook a wide range of dishes, such as flatbreads, roasted vegetables, and meats. This versatility makes it a valuable addition to your outdoor cooking arsenal.
The Ooni Fyra 12 is a reliable, convenient, and high-performing wood pellet-fired pizza oven with these impressive features. Its compact design, quick heat-up time, and authentic wood-fired taste make it perfect for pizza enthusiasts who crave restaurant-quality pies in the comfort of their own backyard or on the go.
What kind of pellets can you use with your Ooni oven?
You can use any pellets made of hardwood and food safe for cooking pizzas.
Ooni also sells the pellets for the Fyra 12 pizza oven; they are 100% hardwood pellets optimized for neutral flavor and high temperatures. It also has low moisture content and is the perfect size for Ooni Fyra.
Ooni Premium Hardwood Pellets
The perfect natural fuel for your pellet-fueled Ooni pizza oven.
The Premium Hardwood Pellets are 100% oak, sourced directly from US forests. They light quickly, burn efficiently, and produce very little ash waste. All Ooni products that contain wood have been responsibly sourced.
Want to try a different kind of pellets?
If you are up for trying different kinds of pellets to add a more pronounced flavor to your incredible pizza, you can experiment with Bear Mountain All-Natural Hardwoods Pellets. Made in the USA.
Flavored Wood Pellets:
- Alder
- Apple
- Cherry
- Gourmet Blend
- Hickory Maple
- Mesquite
- Pecan
The Hickory Maple has a sweet flavor and mild aroma reminiscent of Maple syrup.
Your secret weapon for adding a rich, smoky flavor to your pizza. Flavors are created from choice hardwoods and are free from fillers or binders. Choose premium all-natural wood pellets to deliver a perfect, clean smoke.
Pellets Fuel Pros and Cons
Pros
- A greater degree of fuel efficiency than you’ll find with many woods and charcoal ovens.
- The price of pellets can often be more affordable than that of wood and charcoal ovens.
- The price of pellets can often be more affordable than that of wood and charcoal ovens.
- You don’t have to pay for gas, easing your gas bill.
- More portable than many kinds of wood or charcoal-burning ovens.
Cons
- Pellet ovens are often less attractive than wood and charcoal options.
- Pellet bags can be pretty heavy to haul around.
- Pellet models require electricity, so if there’s a blackout or out camping, you’re out of luck.
- Pellet-burning ovens can also be noisier than some other types of ovens.
How to start your Ooni Wood or Wood Pellet Pizza Oven Faster
You can use a natural firestarter to speed up things a little bit. Here is the one we recommend.
Ooni Premium Natural Firestarters
Features:
Ooni Premium Natural Firestarters are the best way to light our wood-fired Ooni pizza ovens.
Ooni Premium Natural Firestarters are made from 100% natural wood shavings. They are free from chemical aromas for pure and quick fuel ignition in your Ooni 3, Ooni Fyra 12, Ooni Karu 12, or Ooni Karu 16 pizza oven. Just fill the fuel tray with the firestarters.
Get the flames going in a matter of seconds, no matter whether your fuel of choice is wood pellets, wood, or charcoal. Each firestarter is coated with fully refined wax for fast and easy lighting, with a burn time of 8-10 minutes to ensure you successfully ignite.
Best Fuel Source for Ooni Comparison Chart
Ooni Pizza Ovens Fuel Options
| Ooni Oven | Gas | Wood | Charcoal | Pellet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ooni Fyra 12 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Ooni Koda 12 | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ooni Koda 16 | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ooni Karu 12 | Yes (Needs Ooni Gas Burner) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ooni Karu 16 | Yes (Needs Ooni Gas Burner) | Yes | No | No |
Ooni Temperature Chart
Ooni Pizza Ovens Temperature and Preheating Time
| Ooni Oven | Temperature & Preheating Time |
|---|---|
| Ooni Fyra 12 | Reaches 950°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes |
| Ooni Koda 12 | Reaches 950°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes |
| Ooni Koda 16 | Reaches 950°F (500°C) in 20 minutes |
| Ooni Karu 12 | Reaches 950°F (500°C) in 15 minutes |
| Ooni Karu 16 | Reaches 950°F (500°C) in just 20 minutes |
Fuel for Ooni Pizza Ovens – FAQs
Can I use natural gas or butane in an Ooni oven?
The Ooni Gas Burner has been designed for propane gas only.
How do I extinguish my Ooni Oven?
Gas Pizza Ovens: Turn off the gas flow and leave your Ooni oven to cool.
Wood and charcoal pizza ovens: Let the fire burn down naturally and leave your Ooni oven to cool.
Pellets pizza ovens: Let the fire burn down and leave your Ooni oven to cool.
How long does it take for Ooni Oven to heat up?
Gas Pizza Ovens: It’s the fastest. You can be at top temperatures within 20 minutes of preheat time. You can cook anywhere from low and slow to super high temperatures of 932˚F (500˚C).
Wood and charcoal pizza ovens: leave your Ooni oven to preheat for 20-30 minutes. Keep an eye on the fire and add more fuel as needed. Remember, less is more, and adding too much at once can smother the flame.
Pellets pizza ovens: After 10-15 minutes of preheating, your Ooni oven will be ready to cook a pizza in 60 seconds.
How much fuel do I need for the Ooni oven?
Gas Pizza Ovens: The Ooni propane burner consumes propane at approximately 350g/h.
Wood Pizza Ovens: Ooni recommends using pieces of kiln-dried hardwood approximately 15cm (6″) long; just a handful will do. Refill as necessary.
Pellets Pizza Oven: Ooni ovens burn hardwood pellets at around 1kg (or 2 lbs) per hour.
Charcoal Pizza Oven: A handful of charcoal will do. Refill as necessary.
Can I add wood chips to the Koda gas oven?
Ooni does not recommend adding wood chips to the Koda oven while cooking, as is designed as a gas-only model.
Did You Know?
You can use charcoal and wood alone but you can combine them for even heat and unbeatable flavor.
The Last Slice
We hope you learned the best fuel for a pizza oven. There are benefits to using each of these different oven types.
For example, it’s hard to beat wood ovens for rustic charm or charcoal for its smoky flavor.
So what is the best fuel source for Ooni? Gas-powered ovens are the all-around winner here.
They are more versatile in their cost-effectiveness and overall performance than the other fuel sources listed here.
Propane-powered ovens are typically easy to use and transport, making them an excellent choice for those looking for a more portable pizza oven.
Add to that the fact that their clean-burning nature makes for far less cleanup time, and it isn’t hard to see why they’re an increasingly popular option.
These options have their place and charm; however, propane-powered pizza ovens offer some of the best cost-efficiency and performance, making them the best overall choice.
Our Recommendation
The Ooni Koda 16 is an indispensable tool for any aspiring chef or grill lover. This sleek, cast-iron pizza oven quickly heats up to 932°F and cooks delicious pizza in just 60 seconds.
With its smart gas ignition system and advanced flame control knobs, it provides a unique cooking experience that's sure to turn heads. And because of its robust construction and corrosion-resistant powder coating, this oven is built to last through years of use outdoors.
And best of all, the Ooni Koda 16 is easy to use and clean, making outdoor cooking a breeze. Don't miss out on the chance to elevate your outdoor cooking game!
- Fast heating time
- Portable design
- Large cooking area of 16 inches for increased dining capacity.
- Gas-powered oven with adjustable temperature control up to 932°F for optimal cooking results.
- 3yr warranty
- Easy to clean enameled steel surface.
- The high initial cost of purchase may be prohibitive for some customers.
- Fuel canisters must be purchased separately, increasing overall costs of operation.
- Not suitable for indoor use due to the release of carbon monoxide from burning fuel canisters indoors.
- Requires frequent monitoring when in use, as the oven has no built-in safety features to shut off automatically if left unattended for too long.
Why Do We Prefer the Koda 16
In terms of size, the two options are the same and perform at the same level.
- The Ooni Koda 16 beats all the others as it has an L-Shaped gas flame which allows cooking the pizza in one turn. As well as it produces less soot than the Ooni Karu.
- The Ooni Karu does give you the option of being multi-fuel, it has a nice stainless steel casing, but that does come with certain disadvantages, mainly cleaning. It also gives the choice of having the opportunity to add wood flavor to the pizza.
- However, we must choose the Ooni Koda 16 over the Ooni Karu because it offers more portability since it has no chimney, is easier to clean, and is better looking than the Ooni Karu.
- Which fuel option do you think is best? Do you agree with us or not? Don’t be afraid; let us know what you think!
Ooni Accessories You Must Have
Ooni Modular Tables are the perfect surface for your Ooni pizza oven and accessories.
All Ooni pizza oven models fit perfectly on the stainless steel work surface, and your propane tank will fit neatly on the lower shelf.
These tables are made of robust powder-coated carbon steel. They also feature two height-adjustable shelves and built-in hooks for your Ooni peels and accessories. Plus, the two lockable casters will keep your table steady while you cook.
Designed for cooking pizzas up to 12 inches wide, our perforated aluminum Ooni 12″ Perforated Pizza Peel is a high-quality, lightweight peel for sliding, turning and retrieving pizzas from your oven with ease.
The two Ooni Pizza Topping containers ensure you have plenty of toppings to keep the pizza flowing. The custom-fit clear lids for each container means they can be easily stacked and stored in the fridge. The weather-resistant, powder-coated frame and stainless steel cover fit perfectly on our Ooni Modular Tables and it is easy to transport for cleaning and storage. Build your outdoor kitchen and level-up your pizza prep with the Ooni Pizza Topping Station.
We’re proud to reintroduce the Ooni Stack, originally funded on Kickstarter by you, the Ooni community, and now back by popular demand — and better than ever, thanks to some key design tweaks.
Now, it’s time to take your pizza prep game to the next level with our space-saving storage solution. Stuck-together dough balls stop here when you proof them individually in each of the Stack’s three durable, borosilicate glass bowls.
This cast iron pan is the perfect size for use with all your Ooni ovens!
Is it a Griddle? Is it a Sizzler? It's both! Say hello to the Ooni Dual-Sided Grizzler Plate.
Use the versatile smooth Sizzler side for fajitas or frying eggs, or flip and use the Ooni Grizzler ribs for those picture-perfect seared grill marks on the meats.
The new and first-ever cookbook, Ooni: Cooking with Fire, is written by Ooni co-founders Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland to share our story, recipes, and inspiration for great outdoor cooking. Experience the beauty of cooking with fire and our favorite Ooni dishes inspired by their time spent living and working in Finland, London, and Scotland.
Streamline your pizza prep and make the perfect dough every time with our Ooni Dual Platform Digital Scales. Measure out all your ingredients to a tenth of a gram - yes, even those tiny amounts of salt and yeast - using the brushed stainless steel platforms, a dual LCD display to see both platform measurements simultaneously, and a custom-fit measuring dish for yeast or herbs.
The Ooni Pizza Oven Brush is a 2-in-1 stone baking board brush and scraper tool featuring a comfortable wooden handle, plus a durable stainless steel scraper and bristles.
Protect your Ooni Fyra 12 come rain or shine with the Ooni Fyra 12 Carry Cover, one of the best-selling pizza oven accessories.
The Ooni Fyra 12 Carry Cover is a waterproof outdoor cover and features aluminum buckles for maximum toughness meaning it’s one of our most popular Ooni pizza oven accessories!
Know exactly when your pizza stone is ready to cook the perfect base. The Ooni Infrared Thermometer with a laser pointer will allow you to accurately measure the surface temperature of your Ooni pizza oven instantly.
Protect your Ooni Koda from the elements and easily take it on the go with our 100% waterproof Ooni Koda Carry Cover. Featuring durable straps with a cushioned carry handle, cast aluminum harness buckles, and a loop for securing your gas regulator when on the move.
Start your pizza party off right with this awesome Ooni accessories bundle. Organize ingredients for maximum flavor combo creativity with our topping station. Gauge stone temp in seconds with an infrared thermometer, and use the turning peel to cook like a professional pizzaiolo. And when the pizzas are piping hot, use the pizza cutter wheel to slice them in a hurry, then serve those pies in style on our bamboo peel.
Additional Ooni Resources
Ooni Koda 16 Review [Find Why the Koda 16 is the #1 Portable Pizza Oven Recommended by the PROs in 2023]
the PROs
Ooni Koda 16 Review Are you looking for an honest Ooni Koda 16 review? Why is the Koda 16 our …
What Does Ooni Mean? (Everything You Ought to Know)
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What Does Ooni Mean? Picture this: you’re sitting in your backyard, a warm summer breeze tousling your hair as the …
How to Cook Frozen Pizza in Ooni Pizza Oven (Step by Step)
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How to Cook Frozen Pizza in Ooni Pizza Oven After a tiring day at school or work, we all want …
Ooni Pizza Ovens – The Definitive Buying Guide (How to Choose the Best!)
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The right ingredients are essential to making a great pizza. The same goes for pizza ovens. Find how to choose the right Ooni Pizza Oven to be the Best Pizza Maker!
Ooni Pro vs Roccbox: Battle Royale. Find Which One Will Make You the Conqueror
the PROs
This comparison of the Roccbox and Ooni Pro will definitely get you in the mood for pizza – but which pizza oven is perfect for you? Let’s find out!
Top 10 Ooni Pizza Oven Accessories – Must-Haves that Will Make Your Life Much Easier
the PROs
This article focuses on some of the best accessories and items to, not only improve your pizza-making skills but make the entire process much easier. With these must-have accessories to accompany your Ooni oven, you will become a pizza pro in no time!
Top 5 Ooni Pizza Oven Tables (+Bonus Tables)
the PROs
Best Pizza Oven Stands Ooni Pizza Oven Table Ideas Are you ready to take your pizza game to a whole …
The Secrets for Keeping Your Ooni Like New
the PROs
Is your Ooni oven filthy? Learn how to properly clean your Ooni oven. You will find the secrets on how to keep looking like new.
9 Ooni Pizza Oven Tips that Will Make You a PRO!
the PROs
What do you need to know about using this pizza oven? How do you go about baking and serving your first pizza? Here is everything you need to know, including innovative pizza oven tactics to enhance your baking experience.
Enjoy!
Not a PRO? Not a Problem!
Take a pizza class to bring your pizza skills to the next level,
so you can be a PRO!
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Pizza for Beginners: Don’t Buy Pizza, Make It! Here’s How to Get Started!
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