There’s a reason Here’s why pizza is the menu choice for picky preschoolers, hungry teenagers, and gourmet foodies alike. Homemade pizza is a complete meal: irresistible, easy to make, and customizable to suit a wide range of dietary preferences. Until recently, aspiring pizza chefs were limited to heating their kitchen ovens to a standard 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, there’s a wide range of home pizza ovens that can heat up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, the perfect temperature for making crisp Neapolitan pizza in minutes.
I’ll be testing the pizza oven over the next few weeks with homemade dough (I love Ooni’s classic pizza dough recipe), fresh store-bought dough, and frozen pizzas. I’ll also be using an infrared thermometer to make sure the cooking surface is at a consistent temperature (the temperature indicated by the built-in thermometer). Pizza ovens are a lot more versatile than you’d think, and I also use them to sear steaks, quick-cook salmon, and pan-sear broccoli. These are my favorites. For those with limited outdoor space, I’ve also included indoor options and ovens that can fit on a small deck, balcony, or patio.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the best portable grills, best grills, and best camping stoves.
Updated August 2024: Added Solo Stove Pi Prime, Breeo Live Fire Pizza Oven, Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven, Ooni Koda 2 Max, and Piezano.
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