WOOD-FIRED Pizza Ovens
Buyers Guide
What is wood-fired cooking?
When food is “wood-fired” it simply means that it has been prepared in a wood-fired oven of some type. This could be a traditional wood burning oven that is made of a heat-conductive material such as brick or clay. It could also be a steel lined oven such as a KettlePizza kit on a Weber-style grill. Wood is used to heat the cooking chamber, which reaches high cooking temperatures. When cooking a pizza, this means that it will take mere minutes to cook an entire pie to crispy, bubbly perfection. Wood-fired pizza cooking is usually done “Hot and Fast”.
WHAT makes wood-fired pizza different?
Since pizza cooks very quickly in a wood-fired oven, the bottom of the crust will cook very quickly, giving it a wonderful charred flavor on the edges that makes it taste just a little smoky and delicious. If the floor of the oven is made of stone (pizza stone) the moisture will be absorbed from the dough during the cooking process. This will make the dough airy and crispy. A wood-fired oven will also cook the cheeses and toppings very quickly, which allows them to retain their freshness and natural flavors. The toppings will remain nicely textured and take on a smoky flavor that makes wood-fired pizza stand apart from other pizza cooking styles.
What is “Doming” when cooking a wood-fired pizza?
If the chef is looking for a crispier top for their wood-fired pizza a method called doming is often used. To dome a pizza, the pie is lifted into the “dome” of the pizza oven with the pizza peel and held there for several seconds. The heat in the dome is considerably higher than that of the pizza oven floor. This process slows the cooking of the crust while cooking the pizza top very quickly. This video is a nice example of “doming a pie” in a traditional wood-fired oven:
How does wood-fired pizza taste?
The biggest difference between wood-fired pizza and pizza that’s been cooked in a gas oven is the taste. The qualities of the burning wood build up inside the oven gives it a lovely rustic aroma that can’t be achieved by other means. Chefs often use different types of wood to achieve different flavors in their pizzas.
How long does it take to cook wood-fired pizza?
Cooking a pizza in a wood-fired oven usually takes between 90 seconds and 8-10 minutes depending on the heat achieved in the chamber. A Neapolitan pizza cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven at temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees Fahrenheit can cook in as little as 90 seconds. A KettlePizza Wood Fired Pizza Oven and Weber Kettle running around 700 degrees Fahrenheit can cook a pizza in 5-8 minutes. The rule of thumb for cooking pizza is always “Hot and Fast”. Although cooking a pizza is very fast in a wood-fired oven the process does take some time. A traditional style pizza oven made from stone or brick can take 1-2 hours in warmup time just to get to temperature and allow the heat absorbent materials to get to temperature. A KettlePizza oven with a Weber-style grill will take about 20 minutes to get to temperature. Since the chamber of a KettlePizza is made from steel which reflects the heat it takes much less time to get cooking.
Can you achieve pizza crust leoparding in a wood-fired oven?
“Leoparding” or leopard spots on a pizza occurs when the raised parts of the crust called the “cornicone” bubble and blacken in spots resembling the spots on a leopard. Achieving leoparding is no easy feat. An oven that can exceed dome temperatures in excess of 800 degrees F is usually required. Dough that has higher hydration and is properly fermented is also helpful in achieving leoparding on your pizza. The key to achieving the perfect spotting is the irregular textured surface of the dough.
Using a preferment (poolish) is the best way to prepare dough for leoparding as it gives the yeast more time to develop and makes the dough rise to form more prominent and more irregular bubbles instead of small ones. This article from Dishcrawl cites a great recipe for poolish: https://dishcrawl.com/poolish/
Can you cook other things in a wood-fired oven?
Yes! Pizza is not the only thing that can be cooked in a wood-fired oven. Anything that is made with pizza dough can be cooked in an oven on the stone. Calzones, breads, bread sticks can all be cooked in this way. By using an oven ready pan, many other types of foods can be cooked in your wood-fired oven. I often use cast iron fajita pans in the KettlePizza to cook steaks, fish and vegetables. Of course any food cooked in a wood-fired oven will take on those amazing smoky flavors that so many chefs desire.
What types of wood do you use in a wood-fired oven? Can you use charcoal?
As long as the wood is a “hard wood” you can use it in a wood-fired oven. “Soft woods” such as pine should not be used in a wood-fired oven as it contains pitch that can collect in the chimney and will give the food an unwanted flavor. Soft wood also burns much too fast to be effective in a pizza oven. Never use treated wood or leftover pieces of lumber as these woods are soft and often contain chemicals which are dangerous to ingest.
Some favorite types of wood that I cook with are apple, cherry and the old standby oak. In the Northeast oak is readily available from most firewood suppliers. I often ask to have the wood cut into fist sized chunks which are easy to handle and replace during the cooking process. This article describes many of the hard woods in more detail: https://www.kettlepizza.com/best-firewood-choices-for-kettlepizza-and-wood-fired-pizza-ovens/
Charcoal is used in the KettlePizza ovens in the bottom of the Weber-style charcoal grill. This offers the base heat and then hardwood is placed on top of the charcoal just prior to cooking the pizza. The hardwood spikes the heat and adds the smoky flavor.
How much does a wood-fired oven cost?
You should expect to pay at least a few thousand dollars for a traditional wood-fired oven that is made of brick or clay. These ovens are usually built on site and can be assembled from a kit or from scratch using bricks and/or clay. Some manufacturers offer premade wood-fired ovens that cost less than $1000. If you have a Weber-style charcoal kettle grill, a KettlePizza pizza oven insert can cost you as little as $129.
Are wood-fired ovens easily transportable?
Some wood-fired ovens are easy to move and some are not. A traditional oven which is made of brick, stone or clay will not be transportable and will hopefully be enjoyed where installed for many years. Some of the smaller pizza ovens such as our KettlePizza ovens are easily transported to any place where you may have a cooking grill.
WHAT accessories will I need with my pizza oven?
One of the most important tools that you will need with your pizza oven will be one or two high quality pizza peels. Many people choose to go with two and I will tell you why. Wooden pizza peels are best for preparing your pizza on. Add a little semolina or corn meal under the dough on the wooden peel and it helps the pizza to slide off and onto the stone.
Metal pizza peels are best for retrieving the pizza and turning the pizza while it is cooking. Aluminum peels are light and easy to handle and slide right under the crust very easily. A wooden peel is a bit harder to retrieve a pizza because it is thicker. If you are cooking numerous pizzas, two peels is key. That way you can prep your next pizza on the wooden peel and still have the metal peel for turning and retrieval of the pizza that is currently cooking.
Which pizza oven is best for me?
Every person has different needs and desires when researching pizza ovens. Consider how you will use the oven before making the investment. Is this oven going to be used multiple times per week where the cost of a traditional oven can be justified? Will you be on a tight time table when using the oven where warm up times are an important consideration? Do you want to be able to bring the oven to pizza parties and tailgates? Only you can answer these questions when trying to find the perfect pizza oven to complement your lifestyle! Of course we hope that you buy one of our American-Made KettlePizza Ovens but we understand that our product isn’t for everyone. For those in the market for a Professional Pizza Oven check out this review on Dishcrawl as it is very informative. We hope you find the perfect pizza oven to fit your cooking style.
