12” Pizza Oven Smackdown: 8 Top Picks Go Head to Head for Pizza Perfection

Brief Summary

This video reviews and compares eight different 12-inch outdoor pizza ovens, evaluating their assembly, build quality, exhaust types, insulation, stone thickness, vertical opening, fuel types, heat-up time, cooking performance, and ease of cleaning. It also highlights useful pizza-making accessories and discusses warranty information and portability. The Gozney Roccbox is the favorite overall due to its fast heating and superior pizza quality.

Eight pizza ovens are tested and compared.
Key factors include heat-up time, cooking performance, and ease of cleaning.
Useful accessories and warranty information are provided.

The Best Pizza Oven Contenders

The video introduces eight pizza ovens ranging in price from $349 to $499. The Solo Stove Pi Prime is the least expensive at $349, while the Gozney Roccbox is the most expensive at $499. Discount codes are available for Solo Stove and Ninja, with links provided in the description. The video aims to provide valuable information to help viewers choose the best pizza oven for their needs.

Discount Codes

Discount codes are available for Solo Stove and Ninja products and can be found in the video description. The description will be updated with any new discount codes as they become available.

Assembly

Assembling the pizza ovens is generally straightforward due to their tabletop design. The most challenging aspect is peeling off the plastic from stainless steel ovens, which typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

Build Quality

The Gozney Roccbox stands out with its build quality, featuring a velcro strap for easy carrying and tall, foldable legs. The Solo Stove Pi Prime is also noted for its solid construction, seamless design, and sturdy base.

Exhaust Types

The pizza ovens handle exhaust in three different ways. Four models (Ooni Karu 12G, Stoke Stove, Cru 30, and WPPO Little Luigi) have an exhaust stack. The Solo Stove Pi Prime, Gozney Roccbox, and Bertello vent exhaust out the front. The Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven vents heat and exhaust out the back.

Insulation Test

The insulation of each oven is assessed by knocking on the outside and listening to the sound. Ovens with good insulation sound quiet, while those with little to no insulation sound hollow.

Stone Thickness

Stone thickness is an important factor because thicker stones retain more heat, which helps in making multiple pizzas quickly. While larger pizza ovens typically have thicker stones, the differences among the portable units tested are not significant.

Vertical Opening Measurements

The vertical opening of each oven varies, affecting the ability to cook items other than pizza. The Cru 30 has the largest opening at almost 6 inches, followed by the Ninja Woodfire Oven at 5 and 3/8 inches. The Bertello has the smallest opening at around 2 inches.

Fuel Types

The ovens use three primary fuel types: wood, propane, and wood pellets/charcoal. The Cru Model 30 is wood-powered, while the Ooni Karu 12G ships as a wood-only model but can use propane with an adapter. The Bertello oven can burn propane and wood simultaneously. The Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven is electric but can use wood pellets for smoke flavor. The Stoke Stove and WPPO Little Luigi can use wood pellets, wood splits, and charcoal.

How Long Does It Take To Heat Up

The time it takes for each oven to reach a cooking temperature of 700 degrees Fahrenheit is tested. The Gozney Roccbox is the fastest, reaching 700 degrees in 10 minutes and 10 seconds using propane. The Cru Model 30 reaches the temperature in 10 minutes and 25 seconds using wood. The Solo Stove Pi Prime reaches 700 degrees in 11 minutes and 7 seconds. The Ooni Karu 12G takes 32 minutes using wood.

How Long Does It Take To Cook A Pizza

The time it takes to cook a basic cheese pizza in each oven is tested, using the same frozen Neapolitan dough balls from Ooni to maintain consistency. The pizzas are stretched, topped, launched, and turned by the same person to ensure fairness.

How Did Each Pizza Oven Perform Overall

The video shows the results of cooking pizzas in each of the ovens, highlighting the visual outcomes and cooking performance.

The Most Useful Pizza Oven Accessories

Several useful pizza-making accessories are highlighted, including the ThermoWorks IR gun for measuring stone temperature, the Ooni medium table for holding the oven and supplies, dough trays, semolina flour for easy dough handling, frozen dough balls, the Solo Stove prep board, the Ooni topping station, and the Dow Strong Orbit pizza cutter.

Infrared Thermometer

An infrared thermometer is used to measure the temperature of the pizza stone, helping to prevent burning or undercooking the pizza.

Pizza Oven Table

The Ooni medium table provides ample space for the pizza oven and storage for dough trays, toppings, wood, and peels.

Dough Proofing Trays

Dough trays are used every time pizzas are made.

Semolina Flour

Semolina flour is used to prevent dough from sticking and to make stretching the dough easier.

Frozen Dough Balls

Frozen dough balls from Ooni are recommended for those who don't want to make dough from scratch. They are easy to prepare by thawing overnight and letting them rise for a few hours before use.

Pizza Prep Board

The Solo Stove prep board is used for shaping dough and includes containers for semolina flour and toppings, as well as a pizza crust measuring guide.

Pizza Topping Station

The Ooni topping station helps organize and store pizza toppings, with dedicated lids for each container.

Pizza Cutter

The Dow Strong Orbit pizza cutter is highlighted as the best pizza cutter.

Cleaning Pizza Ovens

Cleaning varies by oven. The Pi Prime and Roccbox are easy to clean in gas mode by brushing the stone and wiping down the exterior. The Ooni Karu 12G requires pulling out the wood tray. The Cru Model 30 is cleaned using a flat metal peel. The WPPO Little Luigi and Stoke Stove have removable drawers for ash. The Ninja Woodfire allows the stone to be removed and flipped. The Bertello is more difficult to clean due to the stone removal process.

Pizza Oven Portability

All the pizza ovens are portable, weighing between 30 and 46 pounds. The Roccbox includes a velcro carry strap, and the Ninja Woodfire allows components to be stored inside for transport.

Best Warranty

The Stoke Stove and Solo Stove Pi Prime offer lifetime warranties. Stoke Stove also offers a 365-day trial period. The Roccbox and Karu 12G have a 5-year warranty, while the Cru has a 3-year warranty. The Ninja Woodfire and WPPO Little Luigi have a 1-year warranty. Warranty information for Bertello was not available.

Final Thoughts On Each Oven

Final thoughts on each oven are shared after weeks of testing. Discount codes are available in the description.

Gozney Roccbox

The Roccbox is the favorite overall due to its fast heating, superior pizza quality, fantastic pizza peel, and portability. It performs better with gas than wood.

Solo Stove Pi Prime

The Solo Stove Pi Prime offers ample space and produces the second-best pizzas. The wide burner and control knob at the front are appreciated.

Cru Model 30

The Cru Model 30 is the most fun to cook on with wood, offering a similar experience to larger, more expensive wood-fired ovens.

WPPO Lil Luigi

The WPPO Little Luigi had initial issues due to incorrect stone placement, but performed well once corrected. The small fire drawer requires frequent refueling.

Bertello

The Bertello stands out for its ability to use both gas and wood simultaneously. It is recommended to preheat with gas and then add wood for optimal results.

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven

The Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven is the easiest to use, producing amazing pizzas with minimal effort. It is an excellent option for those who want pizza oven results without the traditional work.

Ooni Karu 12g

The Ooni Karu 12G operates like other Ooni ovens, with insulated sides and easy wood access. Testing the gas burner version is recommended for better performance.