Outside of price, the biggest factor to consider when buying a pizza oven is the fuel source. Ovens can be heated by either propane, charcoal, or wood pellets (there are also electric options for indoor models). Before choosing an outdoor pizza oven, decide which heat source is right for you. In our tests, the propane ovens were easier to control, but pizza ovens that used either wood, wood pellets, or charcoal gave the pies a smoky flavor reminiscent of good grills.Plus, it's easier to carry a bag of charcoal or wood pellets than it is a tank of propane, especially if you're planning to bring your pizza oven to a camping trip or tailgate. Despite its huge capacity, the Ooni is surprisingly compact at 50 x ​​81.5 x 83.7cm (including chimney), making it suitable for smaller gardens too. There’s a digital thermometer at the front, as well as a hinged door at the front and chimney on top, which allows you to control the airflow and temperature of the oven. In testing, we found the Ooni produced excellent results with both wood and gas, though the wood offered a crispier, smokier and more authentic pizza flavour overall. Adding and removing our pizza was easy, due to the Karu’s wide opening, and the reheat time was super speedy too – sometimes as little as 60 seconds. Under ideal conditions, we found that the Etna Fermo’s pizza stone could reach its operating temperature of 500ºC in just 18 minutes, although it struggled a little to reach this temperature on cooler days. Even below 500ºC, it was able to cook a classic, thin-crust homemade pizza to perfection in just 60 seconds. What’s more, we found it matched the authentic flavour of wood-powered ovens.

Ease of build and use: We timed how long it took to build the oven and rated the instruction manual. We then assessed how easy it was to use the oven. Pairing great aesthetics with impressive functionality and performance, the Etna Fermo is one of our current favourite pizza ovens. Key specs – Dimensions: 47 x 53 x 41cm (WDH); Weight: 20kg; Fuel type: Wood, gas; Portable: Yes; Max pizza size: 12in Yes, you can knead dough by hand, but one of the best stand mixers makes the job go a lot easier. If you plan on making large batches of dough, just be sure to get a mixer whose motor is powerful enough to stand up to all that mixing. Other gear for outdoor entertaining Ooni has seen booming business for its line of outdoor pizza ovens, some of which operate on gas, and others a combination of gas and wood. The Koda 16 is the larger of its two propane-powered Koda models — with a 16-inch cooking area vs. the Koda 12’s 12-inch cooking area —and for its ease of setup, relatively lightweight construction, no-fuss functionality, large cooking space, and powerful L-shaped flame, we felt it’s the most versatile, family-friendly model for cooks who might want to experiment with different pie sizes, as well as cooking other non-pizza items in the oven. That why it took home the Tom's Guide 2022 Award for Best pizza oven.Product images are for illustrative purposes and even though we do our outmost to depict the items as accurately as possible the images may differ slightly from the actual product in some cases. Throughout testing, the Etna Fermo also revealed several neat design touches. The oven’s large internal capacity meant it was able to fit sizable pizzas of up to 16in, while its extra-wide opening at the front made it simple to adjust, turn and remove our pizzas as they cooked. The Etna Fermo’s U-shaped burner was another standout feature: both practical and pretty, it looked great in use and also ensured our pizzas cooked more evenly. The Nano's temperature control allowed us to precisely adjust the flame inside the oven, but the knob did get hot to the touch. Also, this is a heavy and expensive oven, so once you set it up in your yard, you're not going to want to move it, unlike some of the more portable options from Ooni and others. But, it's a good option if you're looking for a pizza oven that will be the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen. Key specs – Dimensions: 50 x ​​81.5 x 83.7cm; Weight: 28kg; Fuel Type: Wood, gas and charcoal; Portable: No; Max pizza size: 16in Suitable for use with wood and gas, the Roccbox is an incredibly stylish and portable outdoor pizza oven. Its compact size and easy set-up makes it ideal for al fresco dining whether you’re in the garden or camping. The oven is almost fully assembled straight out of the box and it comes with pretty much everything you need to get started, with the exception of the fuel itself.

The Fyra is also the least expensive of Ooni's ovens — and one of the cheapest pizza ovens overall — so it won't burn a hole through your wallet while it's cooking your pies.

Seahams No1 Pizzeria

Somewhere in your garden, where it’s relatively sheltered from the breeze, as winds can send cool air into your oven and bring those cooking temperatures down. You’ll want a flat, even surface on which to rest your oven, whether that’s a heatproof tabletop, or the ground if it has its own legs or stand. The Ooni Karu is one of the more portable pizza ovens on this list, too. The fibre-insulated ceramic body weighs only 12kg, the smoking chimney can be removed and each of the four legs can be folded away for easy carrying. If you’re looking for a pizza oven that’s smaller than average but doesn’t compromise on quality, this model from La Hacienda might just be the ideal fit. More of a nifty BBQ accessory than a standalone pizza oven, this clever contraption sits on the grill of an existing gas or charcoal BBQ, letting you add authentic Italian pizzas to your garden party with ease. Accessories: take a look at which accessories your chosen pizza oven comes with. In our eyes, a pizza peel is an essential, but some brands don't provide these as standard, and this will be an additional cost.

While Danish brand Witt may not have the name recognition of competitors like Ooni or Gozney, we can safely say it deserves to. This stylish pizza oven impresses from the first glance with its sleek, modern design and striking range of colour options. Coming largely pre-assembled, the Etna Fermo is also simple to set up, needing just a AA battery and a bottle of butane to get it going. Key specs – Dimensions: 77 x 40 x 80cm; Weight: 12kg; Fuel Type: Wood, Charcoal and Gas; Portable: Yes; Max pizza size: 12in All commercial gas appliances must be installed by a qualified Gas Safe Registered engineer. Failure to do so will void the products warranty. Key specs – Dimensions: 55 x 79 x 68cm (HDW); Weight: 58kg; Fuel Type: Wood/Wood and gas; Portable: No; Max pizza size: 16inverifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Any sort of food that fares well in intense heat. Other bread-based dishes are a great choice, such as focaccia and flatbreads, but you can also experiment with dishes like steaks, salmon, traybakes, frittatas and baked eggs. Avoid poultry: unless it’s expertly cooked, it will most probably end up incinerated on the outside and raw on the inside. Where should it go? The ovens’ ceramic pizza stones, when heated, can hold very high temperatures, giving your pie a nice char on the bottom. The main differentiator in our tests was the heat source and how it affected the cooking on top of the pie; without a high temperature, you won’t get the dotted char known in the industry as “leoparding” (because it looks like a leopard, get it?). We found that the gas ovens with an exposed flame — the Ooni Koda 16 and the Gozney Roccbox —were best for getting a nice char. If you're planning to make your own dough, you'll need a kitchen scale to properly weigh out the ingredients. Measuring cups aren't as accurate, which could throw off the proportions.