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How Do Pizza Ovens Work

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published August 29, 2024

The intense heat that comes from wood or charcoal gives your pizza a smoky flavor that's difficult to replicate in a standard oven. Having a pizza oven at home and knowing how a pizza oven works will help you use it efficiently.

Things To Keep In Mind

A pizza oven is a special oven designed mainly for baking pizzas. Unlike regular ovens, they can reach higher temperatures. They are fueled by wood, natural gas or electricity. Propane pizza ovens are typically fueled with propane or natural gas. Charcoal pizza ovens use wood or charcoal as fuel. There are electric ovens available too which don't need any fuel. There are different sizes of ovens available, small ones can be used at home and bigger ones in restaurants.

Types Of Pizza Oven

Several types of pizza ovens are available, depending on the need and the use. Here are some types of pizza ovens for you to check.

Wood Fire Pizza Oven

A wood fire pizza oven is also called a wood oven. This is because it uses wood as its fuel. Here are a few features of wood ovens that show how a wood fire oven works: 

  • Wood ovens reach higher temperatures than regular ovens. This helps in baking the pizza with crispy crust and perfectly melted cheese.  
  • The high heat helps in less cooking time. The pizza will be ready a few minutes after you put the raw food in. 
  • Wood enhances the flair of the pizza . Different woods like oak, cherry, or apple add different tastes.

How Does A Wood-Fired Oven Work

  • The fire starts when you light the wood inside the oven. The oven is usually made of materials like brick, clay or metals that hold the heat well. 
  • As the fire burns, the oven heats up from the inside uniformly. The floor of the oven stores heat which is important for cooking pizza base. The dome shaped roof makes sure the heat circulates evenly.  
  • The oven reaches a temperature that varies between 700 fahrenheit to 1000 fahrenheit. The embers are spread out and the pizza is placed inside the oven. With the high heat, pizza cooks quickly in a few minutes. 
  • The wood smoke adds a smoky flavor to the pizza.

Caution

To prevent accidental fire, place your oven away from flammable materials. Wear heat-resistant gloves to prevent burns when handling the oven. Always keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of sand nearby in case of emergency.

Attachable Pizza Oven

An attachable pizza oven is a portable oven set that can be used on other appliances. These are attached to a gas grill to bake pizza. These are the best use for your home. 

Features

  • Attachable pizza ovens are lightweight and compact. This makes it easy to move, store, and carry outside for events.
  • They are easy to use. These are designed in a way that anyone can understand the functionality with one use.
  • Attachable pizza ovens are versatile. They can also be used to cook vegetables, meats, and bread apart from pizza. 
  • These ovens are very cost-effective. These are accessible options for home cooks and chefs. 
How Does An Attachable Pizza Oven Work
  • The pizza oven is attached to the heat source, commonly to a gas or a charcoal grill. The attachment process is easy to set up and remove as well. 
  • Once the oven set up is complete, it is heated with an underlying grill or the heat source. The dome of the oven retains the heat. 
  • The ovens are designed to spread heat evenly across the pizza, ensuring that it is cooked uniformly.  
  • The pizza is cooked within 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the model. 

Understanding how a pizza oven works is important to cooking good pizza. Whether it's an outdoor or attachable pizza oven, operating it requires proper information. The wood-fired pizza oven adds smoky flavors to your pizza, but the overall pizza tastes just as you want it to. A pizza oven functions on high heat, equal heat distribution, and the right materials to cook a perfect pizza.