Pizza Ovens

What is the difference between a pizza oven and a pizza stone on a grill?

Stored heat and heat from above. A dedicated pizza oven has a thick ceramic or refractory hearth that keeps cooking the moment a cold, wet pizza lands on it, plus a hot ceiling that finishes the top of the crust at the same rate. A stone in a covered grill gives up its heat to the first pizza and has no top-down radiant heat to match it.

How hot does an outdoor pizza oven get?

The gas ovens here run from roughly 800 to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. True Neapolitan pizza wants the top of that range, which is where a three-minute bake and a properly leoparded crust come from. Lower temperatures still make very good pizza, they just make it more slowly and with a different crust.

Should I buy a built-in or a countertop pizza oven?

It is usually decided for you by whether you are building an island. A built-in becomes part of masonry or stainless cabinetry and vents at counter level, so choose it when the kitchen is being constructed around the oven. A countertop oven is often the identical appliance standing on a counter or a cart, which suits adding pizza to an existing patio or keeping the option to move it.

Can I put a pizza oven insert in a kamado grill I already own?

Yes, if the insert is made for your grill's size. Inserts are matched to specific kamado shapes and sizes rather than being universal, so a Round insert and an Oval XX-Large insert are different parts. For a household making two or three pizzas at a time it is by far the cheapest route to real pizza-oven heat.

Gas or wood fired - which should I choose?

Gas if you want pizza on a weeknight, wood if the fire is part of the point. Gas ovens light and hold temperature without tending, which is what makes them get used. Hybrid multi-fuel ovens do both, at the cost of managing a fire when you choose wood. There is no quality penalty to gas at these temperatures.

How long does a gas pizza oven take to preheat?

Around 15 minutes on the gas ovens here, after which pizzas cook in roughly three minutes each. Preheat time is worth comparing between models, because it is the difference between deciding to make pizza and actually making it on a weeknight.

What cutout does a built-in pizza oven need?

It varies by model, and it is not a figure to take from a web page. Cutout and clearance requirements come from the manufacturer's current installation drawing for your exact configuration. Call 843-212-7209 and we will confirm both before your island is framed or your counter is templated.

What clearances does a pizza oven need to combustible construction?

More than most people expect, because these appliances run far hotter than a grill. Manufacturers specify minimum clearances to anything combustible, often alongside requirements for non-combustible surrounding wall construction and air intake at the base. Confirm the figures for your specific oven rather than assuming a general rule.

Do gas pizza ovens need electricity?

Most do, for ignition and lighting, though the draw is small. It catches people out on propane ovens mounted on carts, which still need a weather-rated outlet within reach of the power cord. Check the electrical requirement before you position the oven.

Can I cook anything other than pizza in a pizza oven?

Yes. The same heat profile handles flatbreads, rustic breads, roasted vegetables and proteins, and cast-iron searing. Ovens with removable doors can be run open for high-heat pizza work or closed for baking and roasting, which widens the range considerably.

What accessories do I actually need?

A long peel and a cover. The peel has to reach the back of the hearth through the oven's door opening, so measure it against the opening rather than buying on length alone. A cover matters more on a pizza oven than a grill because the chamber is open at the front, so wind-driven rain reaches the hearth through the door. See grilling accessories.

Which pizza oven brands do you carry?

Alfresco, Coyote, Artisan and Primo. Alfresco covers the built-in and countertop gas ovens, Coyote the 30-inch hybrid multi-fuel ovens, Artisan a premium 800-degree outdoor oven, and Primo the inserts that convert a ceramic kamado grill. Browse Alfresco or Coyote.