Edward Brock In this article, I continue to discuss my most favorite topic — pizza. If you had followed my blog for a long time, you would have noticed that pizza is my passion, and I know a lot of tips and not obvious ideas on how to cook it really great! But the reason lies not only in the recipe or cooking process but it is also important to use the right oven. Therefore, today, I want to discuss how to choose the best commercial wood-fired pizza oven.
My friends and other people often asked me to help them select a professional wood-fired pizza oven for a restaurant. I am aware of different types of these kitchen appliances as well as the nuances like duration, maximum temperature, and so on. I also know that people who are not professionals in this field often make a mistake and may buy a pizza oven of poor quality. But a true nightmare is when people use a common oven to bake pizza! It was the motivation for me to write this pretty long article and teach you all the features and pitfalls of pizza ovens. Are you interested in this topic? Then, continue to read!
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Commercial Pizza Oven Reviews with Links for Purchasing
In this section, I compiled the list of TOP-5 wood fired pizza ovens. We will look at each oven in detail and consider the following points:
- General info about the oven;
- What you will get with the oven purchasing, in other words, what is in the kit;
- The advantages and disadvantages of each item;
- How to use the oven;
- How good is the price as compared to other ovens;
- Accessories: what I advise to buy additionally with this oven.
1. ilfornino Professional Series Wood Fired Pizza Oven — One of the Best Portable Wood Burning Ovens
General Info About the Oven
This wood-fired oven was made especially for those pizza lovers who want to buy the oven for home use. This series of professional ovens were designed to be portable and easy to use. The ilFornino was established by Chris Salman who was really fascinated by the pizza made in Naples. Being an American, he decided to make it possible to cook such a pizza in his native country. There was no problem in finding the recipe but in high-quality and portable ovens. After a certain period of time, the ilFornino company appeared.
This pizza oven features stainless steel construction that will keep the isolation inside five times better than in the traditional oven. The total cooking area is about 1007 square inches. Therefore, it is the best match for home pizza cooking. The average time for making a pizza is about 22 minutes.
What’s in the Kit?
With the professional pizza oven, you also get a professional peel, a brush, and a manual. With this equipment, you can clean the oven floor or move a pizza inside the oven. The handles of the accessories are made of wood, which protects against burns.
What’s Good About It and What’s Not So Good?
- ilFornino Professional Series- is an upgrade from the ilFornino basic pizza oven. Many upgrades to all the reviews received from ilFornino basic.
- High Grade Stainless Steel construction 430 Stainless with a thicker gauge. Higher gage Stainless Steel than the original ilFornino basic oven.
- ilFornino Professional Series is made with high-density insulation that will keep your oven 5 times more insulated than the traditional pizza oven. Two...
- Small in size. Suitable for home cooking;
- There is a thermometer on the lockable door that shows the temperature inside the oven;
- Made from high-quality steel;
- Good isolation.
- Steel heats up very quickly, so be careful;
- It is not shipped to all countries.
How to Use — the Instructions
First of all, I need to say that the oven has detailed instructions on how to use it properly. Therefore, here I will describe the general process without tiny nuances. I highly recommend you to read this instruction before starting to use the oven.
- Light a fire;
- Wait for approximately 30 minutes;
- Put your pizza inside the oven with a peel;
- Wait for 20 minutes;
- Take out the pizza.
How Good Is the Price?
As the company made the oven specifically for home cooking, it is sold at an affordable price. Moreover, the oven is small. Therefore, you will not spend so much money on delivery.
The Accessories
- Pizza Royale Natural Bamboo Pizza Peel: as the peel is made of steel, I recommend you to buy a wooden one. This will make your pizza more flavorful and help to avoid burns.
- MAYFERTE BBQ Cooking Extreme Heat Resistant Oven Gloves: the gloves will help you not to get burns during the cooking process.
2. Cuore Ovens New Model 1000 Plus Gourmet Wood-fired Oven Kit — Best Commercial Stone Pizza Oven
General Info About the Oven
Cuore Ovens is the company that created modular pizza ovens for the outdoor kitchen. Made from stone, this oven can distribute the temperature evenly inside the box, so you need to rotate the pizza less often. The internal diameter is about 35 inches. By the way, this oven can be used not only for pizza cooking but also for other meals. The only disadvantage is that the company operates only in America, so if you want to order the delivery to other countries, you may face problems.
What’s in the Kit?
The oven comes with 7 refractory prefabricated parts, the oven mouth cover, and a thermal insulation blanket. There is also detailed instruction on how to assembly the oven at home.
What’s Good About It and What’s Not So Good?
- It is made from stone that distributes the heat evenly;
- You can cook whatever you want inside this oven, not only pizza;
- Portable, thus it suits both indoor and outdoor kitchens as well as restaurants.
- The company operates only in the USA;
- Quite expensive.
How to Use — the Instructions
Before you can start to use this oven, you need to assemble it. Therefore, make sure that all the details are not damaged. As I have mentioned above, there is an instruction on how to do it inside the oven kit. In general, the principle of working is very similar to the previous one: light a fire, wait for some time, put a pizza, and take it out. The only difference is that you can rotate the pizza less often as the stone distributes the heat evenly.
How Good Is the Price
The oven costs about $1000. In my opinion, it is a moderate price for such a qualitative product.
The Accessories
- Concord Cookware CONCORD Banjo Burner 10″ Diameter Burner Head: to rotate pizza inside the oven;
- BBQ Grill Temperature Gauge Waterproof Large Face: to see the temperature inside the oven.
3. Western Pacific Xl Pizza Oven — Multifunction Oven from Stainless Stee
General Info About the Oven
Unlike other companies described in the review above, Western Pacific specializes in the manufacturing of large ovens with additional shelves and other accessories. You will find the ovens made from stainless steel as well as other kitchen appliances in their assortment.
Western Pacific XL Pizza Oven is much bigger than the ovens I have described previously. Its overall size is 44 x 30 x 80 inches, and the weight is 250 pounds. But the most significant advantage of the oven is that it heats up very quickly, in just five minutes. I do not recommend using this oven for home purposes, it is more suited for pizza restaurants.
What’s in the Kit?
The oven kit by Western Pacific includes the following accessories: wire brush, pizza turner spatula, and waterproof cover. As the oven has shelves on the bottom, you can put all these items on it.
What’s Good About It and What’s Not So Good?
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- This oven is made from stainless steel;
- It is suitable for cooking several pizzas at the same time;
- The oven warms up very quickly.
- Big and heavy;
- The item is hard to transport.
How to Use — the Instructions
This countertop pizza oven is very easy to use. All you need to do is to open the door, and put the wood inside the oven. Then, wait several minutes until the fire lights up and heat the walls. After that, put pizza or pizzas inside, and wait for approximately 20 minutes.
How Good Is the Price?
The Western Pacific ovens are more expensive than the competitor brands described above. You can purchase this oven at $1,400 – $1,600. But, after buying, you may be sure that this kitchen appliance is durable and high-quality.
The Accessories
- Grill Armor Extreme Heat Resistant Oven Gloves: prevents burns;
- Grillinator 18″ BBQ Grill Brush for Charcoal, Pellet, Infrared & Gas Grills: with it, you can clean the oven floor fast and easy
4. Chicago Brick Oven Residential Outdoor Pizza Oven Kit — Best Commercial Brick Pizza Oven
General Info About the Oven
Chicago Brick Oven is one of the leading manufacturers of wood-fired ovens in the USA. The company was established almost 15 years ago, in 2006. Despite the fact that Chicago Brick Oven has been on this market for a long time, for all the years of their existence, they have never tried to change their direction or expand the product range. For them, quality has always been more important than quantity, and this commitment has paid off. Chicago Brick Ovens are known for their durability and excellent performance. The company’s products are used by some of the most renowned chefs in the country, and they have earned a loyal following among home cooks as well. While other companies have come and gone, Chicago Brick Oven has remained a consistent presence, thanks to their commitment to quality craftsmanship. In truth, this business philosophy is very close to me: do just one thing, but do it better than anyone.
The manufacturer focuses on the fact that this oven is better to use outdoors, not indoors. The oven can be heated to temperatures above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and features a solid cast-iron door.
What’s in the Kit?
The oven has the installation and accessories kits. The first one consists of Anchor Plate, Insulating Board & a Blanket, Steel Plate, and Mortar. The accessories kit included in the oven pack contains the following items: Pizza Peel, Brush, and Infrared Thermometer.
What’s Good About It and What’s Not So Good?
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- A portable wood fired pizza oven;
- Easy to install;
- The oven can be heated to the temperatures above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit very fast.
- The oven suits for the outdoor use only;
- It is not shipped to all countries and regions.
How to Use — the Instructions
First of all, you need to install the oven. In the box you receive after the purchase are the detailed instructions on how to do it with the pictures. Then, follow the common usage steps:
- Light the fire;
- Wait for several minutes;
- Put your pizza inside;
- Take it out when the pizza is ready.
How Good Is the Price?
Frankly speaking, this pizza oven is quite expensive. In order to buy it, you need to pay almost $3000. But for this money rate, you will get a high-quality and durable product.
The Accessories
- Dracarys BBQ Ash Tool Poker: it is an ideal tool for removing the ash from the oven;
- Kamado Joe BJ-PS24 Big Joe Pizza Stone: this ceramic plate distributes the heat evenly for crispy and hot pizza.
5. Lisboa Pizza Oven Stone Arch — One of the Best Wood Pellet Pizza Oven
General Info About the Oven
This Lisboa Pizza Oven was created by the Authentic Pizza Ovens company. I always recommend this brand to all people who are going to open a small pizza restaurant. Why? Just look at the ovens constructed by this company, and you will understand this! All their products are handmade and not resemble each other. Each item has its own style and charm. For instance, the stone arch oven is made in the Portuguese style and has blue shades on the walls.
The materials used in this oven are bricks and ceramics. The item is very durable, high-quality, and suitable for cooking various dishes, not only pizzas. It has one door that is divided into two parts. Therefore, you can check the meal and do not open the whole door. Moreover, the oven has triple insulation. It means that no matter what temperature is inside, the exterior walls will always stay cold.
What’s in the Kit?
Each oven kit includes the following accessories: Cast PREMIUM HIGH GRADE ALUMINUM Chimney, Ceramic Portuguese Baking Dish, thermometer that shows the temperature from 0 to 500°C, and Ultra Fire.
What’s Good About It and What’s Not so Sood?
- Ceramic Portuguese Baking Dish: (10” x 14.5” x 3”) It’s perfect for roasting chicken, veggies, casseroles, desserts, bread, and more! Thermometer:...
- Please note that the door on this model opens from left to right and is split like a barn/dutch door. Weights & Dimensions Are Not Exact As Each Oven Is...
- Make sure the oven you purchase is TRIPLE insulated-DON'T FALL FOR DISCOUNTED OVENS- No insulation, No CookiNG!!! THE MOST AUTHENTIC BRICK PIZZA OVEN –...
- High-quality bricks and ceramics;
- Authentic look. The oven features the Portuguese style;
- Has a decent accessories kit.
- The thermometer shows the temperature only up to 500°C;
- Expensive;
- The oven requires the weather protection cover from the rain. It is not included in the purchased kit, so you need to buy it additionally.
How to Use — the Instructions
The oven has a detailed guide on how to install and use it. Moreover, you can view the videos on the official brand’s sites. From these videos, you can find well-illustrated instructions on how to assembly the oven as well as tips on how to use it to get a crispy and delicious pizza.
How Good Is the Price
All ovens manufactured by the Authentic Pizza Ovens company are quite expensive. For example, the average price of this Lisboa oven is more than $2000.
The Accessories
- Pizzacraft Pizza Oven Protective Cover: if you plan to cook outdoor, this cover is necessary to protect the oven against the rain;
- Aluminum 17.5 inch Pizza Spinner Turning Fork (2-Pack): with this accessories kit, you can cook your pizza much faster.
How to Buy: a Complete Guide and Tips
Now, I want to make some accents and explain why I decided to write this review. First of all, it is about a “commercial wood-burning pizza oven”. This term means that the ovens are quite large, expensive, and people may have installation difficulties at home and without a specialist. Secondly, I assume that you are going to buy the pizza oven for business purposes. For example, you plan to open a pizzeria, or you want to buy a new oven for your Italian restaurant.
Of course, it does not mean that you can not buy the pizza oven for home use, but you need to take into account that commercial ovens are large, expensive, and, usually, designed to cook several pizzas at the same time. If you are still the same pizza connoisseur as me and plan to buy a pizza oven for home, then take care of the place where it will stand beforehand. For example, in my case, it is a courtyard. I love to gather a large number of acquaintances, come up with various activities, and treat everyone with pizza.
Next, I want to outline the main features every commercial pizza oven should have:
- The ability to reach high temperatures fast and easy. As you know, pizza requires high temperatures (about 400 Celsius or even more) to be baked correctly and in the best traditions;
- It should warm up very quickly. As a result, you can cut your costs on electricity;
- The oven should not transmit any external smells to food, but at the same time, leave such a small smoky flavor;
- Made from high-quality materials, like brick, wood, stone, etc.;
- It should look good in the kitchen and cause a feeling of fire in nature.
In fact, the oven makes the pizzeria. I tell this phrase to everyone who turns to me for advice in finding the best commercial pizza oven. When you try a pizza cooked in a special oven intended only for pizzas for the first time, you will immediately feel the difference. In this case, you will feel subtle notes of smoke in the aroma, try crispy sides and perfectly cooked cheese. By the way, the cooking process in this type of oven slightly differs from the one in the common oven. Therefore, the next section is devoted to the issue of how to use a commercial pizza oven so that everyone will remember your pizza for a long time.
How to Cook Pizza in a Wood Fired Oven: a Step-by-Step Guide
As I have mentioned above, dealing with a wood fired oven differs from cooking in the electrical or gas-fired oven: the process is much harder. Below, I mention the factors that you need to take into account when your pizza is ready to go to the wood-burning oven:
- The fire. You should buy only high-quality wood and learn how to put it in the oven as it warms up very quickly;
- The optimal temperature. It is very important for pizza to be put in the oven at a sufficient temperature. A lot of people make a mistake and place a pizza too early or late. For example, did you know that the average wood-fired oven can heat up to 1 000°C (1 800° F)? However, the optimal temperature range for baking a pizza is about 400-450°C. It is 850 degrees in Fahrenheit. Therefore, adapt the number of firewood you put in the oven to the number of pizzas you want to cook;
- The humidity. The air in these ovens is dry. Due to this factor and the high temperatures, pizza is cooked very quickly. However, sometimes such factors can lead to overdried pizza. To prevent this from happening, wipe the place where you will put the pizza with a damp cloth before cooking. This way, you will create steam.
- Do not forget about rotating. In electric ovens, the heat is distributed evenly throughout the space, so you don’t have to waste time on rotating pizza. However, in a wood-fired oven, everything is arranged differently. The heat from the fire is not distributed evenly, so you’ll have to rotate a pizza 180 degrees from time to time.
- Finally, do not forget to clean the oven. The most important point here is to be sure there are not any cracks on the oven floor so it can warm up evenly.
So, by now, you should know all the essential information about commercial pizza maker ovens and how to cook pizza in them. Hopingly, this will ease your decision-making process.
Have You Already Chosen the Oven?
In this article, we have taken a thorough look at what types of pizza ovens you can purchase, figured out how to use them, and what features should each oven have. To sum it up:
- If you want to make your pizza crispy and well-baked, it is necessary to use a specialized pizza oven;
- There are ovens designed for indoors and outdoors cooking. Also, you can buy an oven that is suitable for both outdoor and indoor kitchens;
- To make a pizza well-baked from all the sides, you always need to rotate it;
- Do not forget to follow the proper fire, temperature, and humidity levels inside the ovens;
- It is important to clean the item on a regular basis.
Now, I want to ask you: what type of pizza oven do you intend to buy? Do you prefer the indoor wood pizza oven or the one for outdoor use? What purposes are you following? Do you plan to cook a pizza at home or in the restaurant? Please, write your answers in the comments below. Also, if you have some additional questions about the article, you can leave them in the comments as well. I will answer as soon as possible.
