At a Glance:
Benefits of Outdoor Pizza Ovens
Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Brands
How to Choose an Outdoor Pizza oven
There's nothing better than enjoying pizza cooked in a real pizza oven. Traditionally, pizza ovens have been commercial appliances located inside pizzerias and restaurants. However, thanks to the popularity of outdoor entertaining and cooking, it's now possible to enjoy the benefits of a true pizza oven right from your own backyard in your pizza oven outdoors. Outdoor pizza ovens allow homeowners to cook authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas and other dishes with the same intense heat as professional brick ovens.
In this article, we will explore pizza ovens outdoors, their main benefits, and recommend some of the best outdoor pizza ovens on the market suitable for residential use.
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What are Outdoor Pizza Ovens?
An outdoor pizza oven is essentially a miniaturized version of a traditional brick or stone oven designed for use outside the home. Similar to indoor pizza ovens, they use live fire or gas burners to heat firebrick or ceramic oven chambers to extremely high temperatures, often reaching upwards of 1000°F. This searing heat produces thin-crust pizzas with charred edges and a soft, airy middle in just 1-3 minutes.
The main types of outdoor pizza ovens include:
➥ Outdoor Wood Fired Pizza Oven: One of the most authentic options, these ovens are heated solely by burning wood logs inside the firebox. As the fire burns, it radiates heat through the brick walls and base into the cooking chamber.
➥ Outdoor Gas Pizza Ovens: For easier use, gas outdoor pizza ovens feature sealed burners that preheat the oven quickly to pizza-cooking temperatures with the turn of a dial. Many also have wood-burning capabilities.
➥ Outdoor Liquid Propane Pizza Ovens: Outdoor liquid propane pizza ovens offer the convenience of quick and easy pizza-making in outdoor settings without the need for a traditional wood-burning setup. These allow pizza enthusiasts to enjoy delicious, wood-fired flavor anywhere with a propane connection.
Regardless of fuel source, outdoor pizza ovens distribute and circulate heat efficiently to replicate the searing, leopard-spotted crusts achieved in professional settings. Best of all, they let you enjoy this pizza experience from the comfort and convenience of your own backyard.
Explore Featured Outdoor Pizza Ovens
Benefits of Outdoor Pizza Ovens
Beyond mouthwatering Neapolitan-style pizza, outdoor ovens provide a few key advantages over indoor cooking or regular grilling. Here are some of the top perks:
✅ Authentic Flavor: The intense dry heat radiated from outdoor brick oven pizza, stone, or ceramic cooking surfaces develops deep flavor by caramelizing the cheese and charring the crust's edges to a crisp. This authentic flavor can't easily be replicated.
✅ Backyard Entertaining: Pizza parties and cooking demonstrations become interactive events with an outdoor oven as the centerpiece. Guests can watch pies being prepared and slid into the searing chamber in your outdoor wood pizza oven.
✅ Easy Cleanup: Most outdoor oven exteriors are nonporous materials like stainless steel that wipe clean with ease and resist the elements. Interior hearths are also designed for easy dumping of ash.
✅ Year-Round Use: While gas models can cook in any weather, wood-fired options double as outdoor fireplaces on cooler nights - extending the backyard season.
Drawbacks of Ourdoor Pizza Ovens
As with any outdoor appliance, though, pizza ovens have a few potential downsides compared to regular kitchen ranges:
❌ Higher Upfront Cost: Exceptionally crafted outdoor ovens have higher price points that may exceed some budgets. Long-term, however, the value holds due to construction quality.
❌ Fuel Time Commitment: Wood-burning ovens necessitate maintaining a fire, adding logs, and dealing with ashes. Gas takes this variable out of the equation but may lack the authentic charcoal flavor.
❌ Space Needs: Even compact countertop ovens have sizable footprints that require sufficient counter or deck space dedicated to pizza cooking.
Best Outdoor Pizza Oven Brands
When shopping for a residential-grade outdoor pizza oven, the options are limitless. To help you find the best brand of outdoor pizza oven, we’ve rounded up some top manufacturers available at Fuse Specialty Appliances:
➤ Alfresco: Known for pioneering innovative electric and gas oven designs, Alfresco builds appliances durable enough for commercial use yet sized for the home.
➤ XO: Italian designs from XO combine refined aesthetics, power, and centuries of wood-burning oven experience.
➤ Lynx: Lynx builds grills and outdoor appliances to exacting specifications using only top-grade materials.
➤ Thor: Thor outdoor kitchen appliances are known for their robust construction, high-performance capabilities, and sleek design, making them a favorite choice among outdoor cooking enthusiasts.
➤ Hestan: Hestan is are known for their exceptional craftsmanship, innovative technology, and stunning design, delivering unparalleled performance.
7 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens
Now that we've covered the brands, here's a deeper look at 7 of the very best outdoor pizza oven options available:
Alfresco 30" Pizza Oven for Countertop Mounting
Shop this Alfresco Outdoor Pizza Oven
Available in liquid propane or natural gas, this Alfresco model is ideal for smaller patios or balconies. It preheats to over 750°F in 15 minutes for immediate pizza cooking. Stainless steel construction survives the elements, while a halogen light illuminates food inside the 30" cooking surface. At under 25" tall, it neatly mounts on most kitchen islands or bars.
Hestan 32" Steeletto Pizza Oven
Shop this Hestan Outdoor Pizza Oven
Crafted from marine-grade stainless, the Steeletto Hestan pizza oven combines beauty with serious cooking muscle. Its enclosed rear gas burner distributes heat evenly to reach 900°F. Pizza and protein can be prepared simultaneously thanks to a shelf. With its diminutive 30" height and roll-out design, cleanup is also straightforward.
Thor Kitchen 38" Stainless Steel Pizza Oven and Cabinet
Shop this Thor Kitchen Outdoor Pizza Oven
For those seeking a true outdoor cooking station, this integrated Thor option is ideal. Its classic cabinet design houses necessary tools while the masonry oven interior bakes Neapolitan pies to smoky perfection using supplied wood pellets. Large viewing windows also make the entire process a focal point for entertaining.
Lynx 30" Stainless Steel Napoli Outdoor Oven
Shop this Lynx Outdoor Pizza Oven
As the brand's premier pizza oven, the Napoli pizza oven demonstrates Lynx's unparalleled attention to detail. From its reversible chimney and pull-out hearth to advanced heat distribution and integrated blue accent lighting, no aspect is overlooked. Best of all, its commercial-grade construction will thrive for decades in the toughest of climates.
Artisan 28.88" Stainless Steel Pizza Oven
Shop this Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven
Compact yet mightier than its size implies, this liquid propane-powered workhorse gets hot fast while retaining temperature like larger installations. Its sloped roof concentrates radiant warmth as the 3/4" hearth develops deep crusts. Even cooking is assured thanks to a rear-mounted burner. Stainless construction also lasts indefinitely outdoors.
Alfresco 30" Pizza Oven for Built-In Installations
Shop this Alfresco Outdoor Pizza Oven
For the home chef seeking a permanent backyard oven, this Alfresco model integrates seamlessly into outdoor structures. Capable of reaching 900°F, ingredients like dough are transformed within minutes under the natural gas flame. Halogen lighting and a large insulated cooking cavity mean memorable pizza parties all summer long.
XO 42" Black Charcoal Powder Coat Freestanding Wood-Fired Pizza Oven
Shop this XO Outdoor Pizza Oven
Traditional baking is elevated to new levels using XO's firebricks and stack design optimized for wood burning. Richer flavors permeate ingredients as the chimney circulates scorching heat. This oven’s durability and portability via heavy-duty wheels also make it versatile for events.
How to Choose an Outdoor Pizza Oven
With so many outstanding outdoor pizza oven styles to pick from, determining the right fit involves considering key factors like:
- Cooking Frequency: Casual pizza parties only a few times a year? Or is it a weekly staple? Higher-end ceramic or stone ovens yield professional results but demand more commitment to care.
- Space Available: Compact or built-in options suit small patios while sprawling freestanding cabinets need ample deck space. Measure clearance areas.
- Fuel Preferences: Purists may want the complexity of wood-fired pizza ovens. Gas provides consistent temps regardless of the weather. Hybrids offer both conveniences.
- Budget: Expect to invest a minimum of $1,000-2,000 for worthwhile construction. Consider additional installation or delivery costs too for built-ins.
- Safety: Gas automatic ignition alleviates common wood handling issues. Choose models rated for outdoor use from reputable brands.
- Features: Compare specs like oven sizes, maximum heat levels, insulation quality, construction materials, and included accessories.
Outdoor pizza ovens grant backyard chefs the gift of incredible entertainment through restaurant-quality food cooked in beautiful appliances made to withstand every party.
Taking cooking and entertaining habits into account assists with narrowing the field to each homeowner's perfect backyard oven. Pricier options typically have higher resale value too as quality builds retain their usefulness for decades.
Choosing the right style simply requires assessing individual needs and setting a budget - the rewards of hot masonry cooking await. With many brands pushing the culinary boundaries of outdoor innovation, residential pizza oven enjoyment remains on the rise.
FAQ
How do you use an outdoor pizza oven?
Most standalone or freestanding outdoor pizza ovens are simple to operate once assembled and installed properly. Gas models require turning on the fuel source and ignition switch to preheat the oven for 15-20 minutes until reaching 700-900°F. Wood fired pizza oven outdoor needs building and maintaining a fire with logs. Pellets automatically feed on select designs. Once fueled, add your dish or pizza directly onto the hot cooking surface or stone for 3 minutes until charred on the bottom. Rotating half-way through yields signature crisp-soft results. Accessories like peels, brushes, and cutters ease sliding food in and out as well.
Should you build your own outdoor pizza oven?
While building an exterior masonry oven from scratch can be a rewarding DIY project for the experienced builder, pre-made ovens offer various advantages over self-construction. They come pre-assembled, eliminating multi-day assembly timelines. Commercial-grade materials and engineering ensure safe, optimal performance for your outdoor kitchen with pizza oven.
Are outdoor pizza ovens really worth it?
For serious pizza and bread lovers, an outdoor pizza oven is absolutely worth the investment. Not only do they let home chefs achieve the same charred crusts as famous pizzerias, the entertainment factor cannot be overstated. Few gadgets make cooking such a social, family-friendly process. Guests young and old will delight over watching dough stretch and pies emerge bubbling from intense heat. While initially costly, excellent build quality means ovens will function reliably for generations of pizza parties to come. For those that prioritize authentic home cooking, outdoor ovens prove invaluable.
Where to buy an outdoor pizza oven near me?
If you are looking for an outdoor pizza oven in South FL, check out the options available at Fuse Specialty Appliances. We have locations across the state, including North Palm Beach, Naples, and more. Shop online or stop by one of our locations, today!
Why Trust Fuse Specialty Appliances?
Fuse Specialty Appliances carries an incredible selection of premium and high-end appliances for your home. With over 30 years of appliance knowledge, our team of experts represents the best and brightest in the industry. Our teams bring decades of experience working with designers, architects, cabinet makers, contractors, and everyone who is involved in designing and building a dream kitchen. We provide our customers with a unique, boutique-style experience where we get to know your goals for your kitchen. This more connected dynamic helps us ensure that we help you realize your kitchen dreams.
Shop Outdoor Pizza Ovens at Fuse Specialty Appliances
Visit one of our South Florida locations to see what a difference shopping locally with an experienced staff can make. Or shop outdoor pizza ovens online! Our friendly experts are always happy to help you find the best outdoor pizza oven — whether you call us, use our online chat feature, or visit us in person.
→ Learn more: 10 Must-Have Items for Your Outdoor Kitchen