Ooni Pizza Ovens: Everything You Need to Know to Get Yours

Ooni pizza ovens

Ooni Pizza Ovens – Table of Contents

Check Out the Ooni Pizza Ovens Features

Fuel Source

You can choose from gas, wood pellets, charcoal, or a multi-fuel option that allows using different fuel sources or a combination of the two.

Reliable

An Ooni pizza oven is the perfect addition to your outdoor kitchen. Impress your friends and family, show them you are a pizza PRO!

Versatile

You can use an Ooni pizza oven for more than pizza! You can easily make steaks, fish, desserts, and much more! The sky is the limit!

Ooni Pizza Ovens Other Features:

  • Ooni offers a variety of models to select from, so there’s one to suit your demands and budget.
  • They have 12″ or 16″ ovens in size and are fueled by wood pellets, gas, or a combination of the two.
  • Prices range from $299 to $799, depending on your select size and feature.

Meet Ooni Pizza Ovens

Ooni Pizza Oven - Karu 16
Ooni Pizza Oven - Koda 16
Ooni Pizza Oven - Karu 12
Ooni Pizza Oven - Fyra 12
Ooni Pizza Oven - Koda 12

How Does an Ooni Pizza Oven Work

Ooni pizza ovens use retained heat, a live fire, and hot hardwood or charcoal to create different cooking environments, including:

  • Fire in the oven
  • Hardwood or coals in the oven
  • Retained heat

In the following section, we will describe the mechanics of how your oven works and then describe the different wood-fired cooking styles.

Cooking with Fire

When cooking with live fire, your Ooni Pizza oven cooks simultaneously in three ways:

  • Reflected heat
  • Convection
  • Conductive heat

Reflected Heat

With reflective heat, flame from a live fire is bounced off the dome onto your pizza. This reflective heat cooks the pizza and recharges the cooking floor, returning heat to the floor to replace heat lost through cooking.

Convection Heat

Because your Ooni pizza oven breathes, drawing in cold air through the oven opening and exhausting hot air out the top half of the opening, it constantly moves hot, moist air across the top of your pizza. While modern convection ovens use fans and heat coils to move hot, dry air within the oven, nothing compares to natural convection.

Conductive Heat

Finally, the heat stored on the cooking floor is transferred directly into the pizza set on top of it. This is authentic pizza, which is set directly on the cooking floor.

This unique cooking ability lets you make Italian pizza, heart bread, and great roasts in your Ooni pizza oven, which makes Ooni-cooking, unlike any other type of cooking.

Cooking with Hardwood Pellets or Charcoal

You can use the heat of the charcoal and a hot oven to roast, brown, sear, and grill and to ensure that your oven will retain enough heat for longer periods of cooking. The smokiness of this fuel source will give your food a distinctive taste.

Cooking with Conductive Heat

For baking pizza and other dishes at temperatures where you usually cook in a conventional oven, your oven will cook for hours with retained heat. To achieve this, rake out the wood or charcoal from the fire and then close the oven door to moderate the temperature.

With this type of cooking, you can bake bread, desserts, and small roasts as the oven temperature falls.

What Can You Cook in a Pizza Oven

Check this article for more on what else you can cook in a pizza oven besides pizza.

What to cook in a pizza oven

What Can You Cook in a Pizza Oven?

Steak Cooked in Ooni Pizza Oven
Cooking Steak in Ooni Koda 16

Why You Should Get an Ooni Pizza Oven?

Ooni Pizza Oven Benefits

  • Higher cooking temperature 
  • Faster cooking time
  • Better pizza crust
  • Unique flavor 
  • Crispier toppings 

Ooni Pizza Ovens Overview

ooni karu 16

Ooni
Karu 16
Multi-Fuel

Ooni koda 16

Ooni
Koda 16
Gas

Ooni Karu 12

Ooni
Karu 12
Multi-Fuel

Ooni Fyra 12

Ooni
Fyra 12
Pellets

Ooni Koda 12 Front View

Ooni
Koda 12
Gas

Ooni Pizza Ovens Comparision Chart

FeatureOoni Karu 16Ooni Koda 16Ooni Karu 12Ooni Fyra 12Ooni Koda 12
FuelCharcoal, Wood Pellets, and Gas (Requires Burner)Propane Gas & Natural Gas (Requires Conversion Kit)Charcoal, Wood Pellets, and Gas (Requires Burner)Wood PelletsPropane Gas
Cooking Surface16.7 x 24.5″16 x 16″13 x 13″13 x 13″13 x 13″
Pizza Size12″ to 16″12″ to 16″Up to 12″Up to 12″Up to 12″
ChimneyYesNoYesYesNo
Weight62.6 lbs40.1 lbs26.5 lbs22 lbs20.4 lbs
Max Temperature950F950F950F950F950F
Time to Heat Up15 min20 min15 min15 min20 min

Additional Notes:

  • All Ooni Pizza Ovens are for outdoor use only.
  • All Ooni Pizza Ovens include a cordierite pizza stone.
  • All Ooni Pizza Ovens include a 3yr warranty
  • 60-day return policy

Everything You Need to Know About the Ooni Pizza Ovens

Press on Each Title Tab for More Info

Ooni Pizza Ovens Overview

It’s easy to see why the Ooni pizza ovens are becoming increasingly popular.

They provide a quick and easy way to enjoy the wood-fired pizza flavor in your garden.

They’re as easy to use as a traditional grill but are far more flexible since they can reach such high temperatures and cook various meals.

The Ooni pizza ovens are portable outdoor pizza ovens; they can’t be used indoors.

It takes 15 to 20 minutes to reach 950 degrees, and can cook your pizza in 60 seconds. They all contain a pizza stone that produces the beautiful, crispy crust of a conventional wood-fired pizza oven.

Out of the box, the Ooni pizza ovens are virtually totally constructed.

All you have to do now is spread out the legs and insert the pizza stone!

The Ooni Karu, Ooni Fyra, and Ooni Pro also require inserting the chimney. However, no tools are required!

You’ll need a 1-pound or 20-pound propane tank for the gas models.

Using any of the Ooni pizza ovens is easier than you think.

In 3 simple steps, you will be having pizza in no time.

Steps

  1. Light the pizza oven. Depending on the fuel source, the lighting will be different. Check the How to Light an Ooni pizza oven section for details.
  2. Wait 15 to 20 minutes to allow the pizza oven to reach temperature.
  3. Insert your pizza into the oven, rotate every 15 seconds, and in 90 seconds will be done!

To use an Ooni pizza oven is best if have the following items:

  1. Pizza Oven Table – You need to set the oven safely; a table that can hold both the weight and the surrounding temperatures will be best. Check our recommended tables.
  2. Gloves – This is a must! These ovens reach temperatures of over 900F; you need to protect yourself.
  3. Infrared Thermometer – Why do you need this? – Is best to know the temperature of the stone to know if the oven has reached the proper temperature.
  4. Wood Pizza Peel – Why do you need this? – Is best to assemble your pizza on the peel and slide it into the oven. Wood peels work better than steel to slide the pizza.
  5. Metal Pizza Peel – Why do you need this? – It is best to use a metal peel to rotate the pizza; if you use a wood peel, you may risk burning the peel and/or catching fire. You may also use a pizza spinner.

The Ooni pizza ovens do not require much space for storage. You can keep them anywhere with coverage, or if you plan to keep them outdoors, you can get a cover.

Ooni has different covers for your pizza oven, or you can get a custom cover.

Check this article for more pizza oven covers.

Did you know that the Ooni pizza ovens don’t require major cleaning?

The temperature inside the oven rises to such a high level that there’s no need to do anything else but use it. When you are done, just wipe it off, and you are done!

When dust builds on the exterior, and the stone, you’ll need to wipe it off from time to time, but other than that, no cleaning is necessary!

Most essential, you want a stone that can be removed to clean underneath and around it. When you take a pizza from the oven, it leaves burnt pieces of flour or cornmeal on the stone, which you must remove so that your following pies don’t taste like an old fireplace.

Because they have chimney pipes where soot can build up, pellet, hardwood, and charcoal models require a little additional attention when it comes to cleaning. Run the oven on high for 15 to 20 minutes to burn out any excess chimney soot.

Check how to keep your Ooni oven like new.

You get a 60-day return policy with Ooni; if you don’t like your oven, they will buy from you within the first 60 days of purchase.

Registering your Ooni pizza oven with Ooni gives you a 3yr warranty.

What does pizza taste like in an Ooni pizza oven?

The flavor of your pizza will likely be determined by the kind of fuel you use. When using gas, the flavor is mild, and you can appreciate the ingredients‘ flavor.

The flavor is remarkably comparable to that of wood-fired pizza. The crust is delicate on the inside yet very crunchy on the exterior, and the cheese melts ooey-gooey in minutes.

However, when using hardwood pellets, or charcoal, the taste changes completely as these fuels add a little smokiness to the crust. Check which is the best charcoal for pizza ovens.

Learn More About Ooni Pizza Ovens

How to Light an Ooni Pizza Oven

Press on the Title Tab for More Information

Lighting an Ooni pizza oven can seem intimidating. But don’t worry; we broke it down into simple steps.

Let’s go through how to light each Ooni pizza oven with step-by-step directions, whether you’re using your Ooni pizza oven for the first time or doing some preliminary study before purchasing one.

Just choose the desired pizza oven, and there you go!

Lighting the Ooni Karu 16

Using wood or charcoal:

  1. Arrange 10-12 pieces of good quality hardwood (or 3-4 handfuls of charcoal) in the fuel tray and stick 1-2 fire starters within the pieces. Do not overfill the fuel tray.
  2. Slide the fuel tray to the back of the oven, open the front vents, and ensure the chimney baffler is open. Keep the front door closed at all times.
  3. Monitor the flame through the glass window on the door. Slowly add more wood/charcoal when the flame gets in full.
  4. Let the flame burn for at least 30 minutes while the oven heats up. Use the mounted thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oven. Add more fuel as needed.
  5. You can begin cooking when the oven reaches your desired temperature (800-900F).

TipFor safe cooking, ensure your fuel (whether charcoal or wood) emits clean smoke and has a coating of white ash on it.

Using propane gas:

The Ooni Karu 16 needs an optional gas burner attachment to work with propane.

  1. Open the vents, chimney, and front door of the Ooni Karu 16.
  2. Remove the backplate and attach the gas burner by gently tightening the 2 screws to fasten it to the oven. Don’t overtighten the screws.
  3. Push the heat dial control and gently turn it counterclockwise until the flame ignites. Keep the dial pressed in for 5 seconds before releasing.
  4. Set the temperature dial as high or low as you like. Close the door and let the oven heat up to your desired temperature.
  5. You’re ready to cook your pizza when the oven has reached the desired.

Lighting the Ooni Koda 16

Using propane gas:

  1. Connect the propane hose from the Ooni Koda 16 to your propane tank. Make sure the valve on the propane tank is set to open.
  2. Press the heat control dial and slowly turn it counterclockwise. After about 5 seconds, you should hear a click and see flames.
  3. Let the oven preheat for 15-20 minutes until it reaches your desired temperature.
  4. Adjust the flame as high or low as you like.

Lighting the Ooni Fyra 12

Using hardwood pellets:

  1. Fill the fuel tray with 2 scoops of Ooni hardwood pellets. Use the chimney cap as a scoop for easy measuring.
  2. Place a fire starter in the front part of the fuel tray and light it.
  3. Carefully slide the fuel tray into the back of the oven.
  4. Let the flame consume all of the starter pellets. This can take up to 5 minutes and can be monitored through the front viewing window.
  5. Slowly fill the pellet hopper with more wood pellets until the pellets reach the top. Leave about 1 inch of room at the top so the hopper lid can fully close.
  6. Using an infrared thermometer, wait until the oven reaches between 800-900F before baking.
  7. Add more pellets to the hopper as the flame dies down throughout the cooking process. Add the pellets gradually, rather than refilling the entire hopper at once, as this will help keep the flame strong.
  8. When you’re finished cooking, let the flame burn itself out completely and give the oven a few hours to cool down before cleaning up.

Lighting the Ooni Karu 12

Using wood or charcoal:

  1. Remove the chimney cap and ensure the front door cover is in place to ensure good airflow during the initial burn.
  2. For Wood: Create a small structure within the fuel tray using a few pieces of good quality kiln-dried hardwood. Place 1-2 fire starters on top and slide the tray into the back of the oven. Light the fire starters and close the oven hatch. Wait until you have a nice clean smoke before cooking.
  3. For Charcoal: Place 1-2 handfuls of lump wood charcoal on the fuel tray and place a fire starter (or two) on top. Slide the fuel tray into the back of the oven, light the fire starters, and close the hatch. Don’t begin cooking until the charcoal is burning white, and don’t add more charcoal until they’re burning red. When adding more charcoal, wait around 10 minutes before it burns clean before cooking.
  4. You can begin cooking when the pizza stone reaches your desired cooking temperature (800-950F).
  5. To increase the temperature of the oven and the flame’s height, ensure the chimney baffler is fully open using the adjuster on the side. For a lower and slower temperature, close the baffler to reduce airflow.

Lighting the Ooni Karu 12

Using propane gas:

To use the Karu 12 with propane, you first need the optional gas burner attachment from Ooni.

  1. Remove the chimney and fuel tray and place the chimney cap in the oven body (to close off the hole on the top of the oven).
  2. Keep the front door of the oven removed at all times when cooking with propane.
  3. Remove the defender plate from the back of the oven and attach the propane burner by tightening the screws with the included Allen key (don’t overtighten, or it will be difficult to remove later).
  4. Connect the propane hose from your propane tank to the back of the Ooni pizza oven gas burner.
  5. Push the heat control dial in and turn it slowly counterclockwise about 90 degrees until you hear a click and the flame lights.
  6. Keep the dial pushed in for another 5-6 seconds before you release it (this is a safety feature).
  7. If the flame doesn’t light on the first try, wait another 15-30 seconds and try again.
  8. Let the oven heat up to your desired temperature setting.

Lighting the Ooni Koda 12

Using propane gas:

  1. Connect the propane hose from the Ooni Koda 12 to your propane tank. Make sure the valve on the propane tank is set to open.
  2. Press the heat control dial and slowly turn it counterclockwise. After about 5 seconds, you should hear a click and see flames.
  3. Let the oven preheat for 15-20 minutes until it reaches your desired temperature.
  4. Adjust the flame as high or low as you like.

Ooni FAQs

We’ve answered 25 of the most popular questions in our article Ooni FAQs; you can check this article out for any Ooni questions, and if we didn’t offer an answer, you can always contact us, and we will be more than glad to provide an answer for you.

Ooni pizza oven faqs

Are You Ready to Get Yours?

Get the Best Deal at Ooni

Get the Ooni Pizza Oven that is Best for You!

ooni karu 16

Ooni
Karu 16
Multi-Fuel

Ooni koda 16

Ooni
Koda 16
Gas

Ooni Karu 12

Ooni
Karu 12
Multi-Fuel

Ooni Fyra 12

Ooni
Fyra 12
Pellets

Ooni Koda 12 Front View

Ooni
Koda 12
Gas

Which Ooni Pizza Oven Do We Recommend?

Here’s Why the Ooni Koda 16 is Top Our Pick

  • It’s big enough to cook a personal pizza or pizza for two.
  • Gas means control! You are in charge! You can control the temperature from low temperatures of 485˚F (250˚C) to high temperatures of 950˚F (500˚C). Lower temperatures mean you will be able to cook other items that require more time and less temperature. Bake a Pie or a Cake!
  • We love the “L” shape fuel/heat distribution, it cooks the pizza 180 degrees, one turn, and you are done.
  • No chimney, portable, and easy to clean and store.
  • Gas is readily available
  • The black powder coat keeps better than stainless steel.

So join the PROs and get yours today!

Our Top Pick
Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven
4.5

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!

Pros:
  • 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.
Cons:
  • 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.
Check it Out Read Our Review
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!

Ooni Pizza Oven Accessories

Ooni Perforated Pizza Peel

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.

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Our Top Pick
Ooni Topping Station

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.

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Ooni Stack

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.

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Ooni Dual-Sided Grizzler Plate

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. 

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Ooni: Cooking with Fire Cookbook

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.

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Ooni Dual Platform Digital Scale

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.

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Our Top Pick
Ooni Brass Brush

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.

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Ooni Fyra 12 Cover

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!


Check it Out Check it Out at Ooni
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Ooni Infrared Thermometer

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.

Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!
Ooni Koda Carry Cover

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.



Check it Out
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you!

Ooni Pizza Ovens vs. Competition

How Does Ooni Pizza Ovens Compare with Its Competitors?

  1. Gozney Roccbox

The Roccbox is the closest competitor to Ooni; it offers multi-fuel support (wood, charcoal, gas) with only one model with different colors, green and gray.

Roccbox vs Ooni

The Roccbox makes excellent pizza; its thick insulation keeps the temperature consistent and includes an outside thermometer.

However, it is expensive compared to Ooni, is very heavy, and has a small opening making it difficult to rotate any pizza. Not to mention that you can only fit a 12-inch pizza.

Ooni, on the other hand, has six different models you can choose from; you can choose a 16-inch model, which is reasonably priced, and the opening is larger, giving you more space to rotate any pizza.

The deal-breaker, of course, is the warranty; you can get an extended warranty of 3 years when you register your product with Ooni.

As you can see, the Ooni models differ in fuel source and size, not in color. Ultimately, you want an oven that gives you enough space to work with and not necessarily choose a fashionable oven.

  1. Big Horn Outdoors Pizza Ovens

Big Horn pizza oven has legs that can be folded, thus making it occupy less space. It only uses wood pellets to cook pizza.

The durable and lightweight pizza oven equipped with folding legs requires minimal assembly without tools, it can quickly come apart for easy cleaning and storage, and it weighs just 25lb, ideal for backyard or outdoor cooking events.

The Ooni, on the other hand, has detachable legs.

  1. Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven

Bertello outdoor oven is a Portable Pizza Oven cooker that can either use wood gas or charcoal to prepare pizza, unlike Ooni, which gives you options to use gas, wood pellets, charcoal, or both. It’s smaller than Ooni and does not have a cordierite pizza stone.

  1. Mimiuo Portable Wood Pellet Pizza Oven

Mimiou oven only uses wood pellets as fuel. It has foldable legs, unlike Ooni, which has detachable legs

Don’t be deceived by its small size; these ovens can produce superb pizzas that rival some from your favorite eatery. It has been a great supplement to our outdoor setup, and we’re looking forward to putting it to the test again and again. Although we love the rotating stone, it requires electricity to operate, so camping is not a good choice.

Additional Ooni Pizza Oven Resources

Still Not Sure About Which Fuel Source to Choose?

Check These Other Alternatives

You Can Also Check by Configuration

Check Out Our Favorite Pizza Oven Brands


Press on the logo to learn more

Kalamazoo-Logo
Chicago Brick Oven Logo

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!

Costco Pizza Delivery

Costco Pizza Delivery: Find How You Can Get It Now!

the PROs

People go to Costco’s food court for many different reasons, but the cheesy slice of pizza they serve is among …

Pizza for Beginners: Don’t Buy Pizza, Make It! Here’s How to Get Started!

the PROs

You have this idea that you want to make pizza at home as opposed to ordering it, but where do you start? Don’t worry! Here you will find answers and directions to all your questions.

Pizza toppings under cheese or over

Pizza Toppings Under Cheese or Over Cheese? [Why the Order Matters]

the PROs

Is Pizza Cheese on Top or Bottom? Hey pizza lovers, are you wondering if you should layer pizza toppings under …

let's make pizza image

Newsletter

Subscribe to our Recipe of the Week newsletter and receive our partners’ latest recipes, tips, and discount offers.

Keep in Touch!

info@homemadepizzapro.com