How to Cook Pizza in a Wood Fired Oven | Full 2023 Updated Guide
Welcome to our scrumptious world of wood-fired pizza ovens! There's simply nothing that compares to the mouthwatering aroma and tantalizing taste of a freshly baked pizza cooked to perfection in an outdoor pizza oven. For those in pursuit of the ultimate pizza experience, a wood-fired pizza oven is the secret ingredient to crafting the best pizza you've ever tasted.
Unlocking the magic of the perfect pizza begins with understanding the art of achieving a crispy, golden crust, and beautifully charred toppings. It's all about finding that sweet spot in temperature, which typically ranges between a blazing 400 to 450°C. By harnessing the power of this extreme heat, your pizza will be cooked from the bottom up by the oven floor and from the top down by the oven's internal temperature. This dual action ensures that your dough transforms into a crispy masterpiece while your toppings reach peak deliciousness.
So, whether you're a pizza aficionado or just starting your journey into the realm of wood-fired pizza ovens, we're here to guide you every step of the way. From selecting the perfect outdoor pizza oven to mastering the techniques that lead to delectable, crispy pies, our friendly and informative blog will provide all the tips and tricks you need to make your backyard the go-to spot for the best pizza in town!
Choosing the Right Wood Fired Pizza Oven
Factors to consider when purchasing an outdoor pizza oven
If you're looking to embark on the exciting journey of making delicious pizzas at home, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the perfect outdoor pizza oven. The traditional brick pizza oven has been a popular choice for many enthusiasts, offering a rustic charm and exceptional heat retention. However, modern home pizza ovens have expanded in variety, and it's essential to find the right fit for your needs.
Consider factors such as your budget, available outdoor space, desired cooking capacity, and preferred fuel source. While a high-quality pizza oven may require a larger initial investment, it can significantly enhance your cooking experience and last for years to come.
Popular wood-fired pizza oven models and brands
With a variety of home pizza ovens on the market, it's essential to research the best options available. One standout model is the Cru Wood Fired Pizza Oven, designed for optimal performance and ease of use. This sleek oven reaches the high heat necessary for the perfect pizza, rivaling even the most sought-after brick pizza oven.
Although wood-fired ovens are a popular choice, other fuel sources, such as gas or charcoal, can also produce excellent results. Each of these options offers unique features, allowing you to find the perfect match for your outdoor cooking space and personal preferences.
Setting up your outdoor pizza oven
Once you've chosen the ideal home pizza oven, it's time to set up your new culinary centerpiece. Start by selecting a safe, level location with proper ventilation and clearance from flammable materials. Some larger brick pizza ovens may require a dedicated base or foundation, while smaller, portable models can be set up on a sturdy table or outdoor kitchen counter.
Before diving into pizza making, take the time to learn how to properly heat and maintain your oven's temperature. While wood-fired ovens like the Cru Wood Fired Pizza Oven can reach the high heat needed for a crispy crust, they may take longer to heat up than a conventional oven or cast iron pan. Familiarize yourself with your oven's unique heating process, and you'll be one step closer to pizza perfection!
Making The Best Wood Fired Oven Pizza in 4 Easy Steps
Mastering the art of cooking your own pizza in a wood-fired oven is easier than you might think! The most challenging part of crafting the perfect wood oven baked pizza is simply waiting for your dough to rise and the oven to reach the desired temperature. Personally, I've whipped up countless wood-fired oven pizzas, and my all-time favorite has been using the Cru ovens, thanks to its simplicity and speed.
Making wood oven baked pizza will be different compared to your usual frozen pizza you toss in the conventional oven.
Once you taste your first homemade wood fired pizza you will realize how you can’t go back to regular pizza.
But before running off to get your pizza ingredients, here are four steps you should follow to make sure your homemade wood fired pizza is done right.
Creating a wood oven baked pizza offers a unique and mouthwatering experience that's a cut above the average frozen pizza you'd pop into a conventional oven.
Once you savor your first homemade wood-fired pizza, you'll find it hard to go back to ordinary pizza.
Before you dash off to gather your pizza ingredients, follow these four steps to ensure your homemade wood-fired pizza turns out just right:
1. Prep the Wood Fired Oven Pizza Unit
Before you start preparing your homemade pizza and learninghow to cook pizza in a wood fired oven, you should fire up the oven first.
The ideal wood fired oven pizza temperature is 700 degrees. Some ovens need an hour or more to reach that high level of heat, which is what makes firing it up ahead of pizza preparation a good idea.
By the time the last pepperoni's in place, your pizza woodfired oven will be ready to go.
Cru Ovens makes a model that can reach the desired heat level within 15 minutes, which is great news for those with hordes of hungry family and friends.
2. Craft and Shape the Pizza Dough
The tastiest wood fired oven pizzas generally have the same solid foundation: well-crafted dough. Hand-tossed is considered among the best. While kneading the dough can be a bit tricky, you can get the hang of it with enough practice. Here are a few pointers:
- Shape a ball of pizza crust dough into a disk on a floured surface
- Flatten the disk using your fingers
- Shape and flatten until the diameter is 12 inches
The more you handle pizza dough, the easier it'll be for you to know when the dough's just right. Ideally, pizza dough should feel strong yet stretchy. Avoid using a roller to roll it out — this may result in the dough becoming too thin in spots.
3. Add the Toppings
Now that the pizza wood-fired oven is fired up and the pizza dough is ready, you can add all the yummy toppings, starting with a rich sauce that's made up of tomatoes, garlic, peppers, olive oil, and spices.
Modern chefs have started putting their own delicious spin on pizza sauces, so don’t be afraid to mix it up creatively and use a garlic-based or cream one instead.
Once you've got the sauce down, you can move on to the other toppings, from the type or types of cheese you'll use to other classic options, like Canadian bacon, pepperoni, Italian sausages, tomatoes, pineapple slices, and peppers.
You can also color outside of the culinary lines by piling on smoked seafood, barbecued chicken, shredded pieces of steak, or even bacon and eggs for a breakfast pizza.
Those who don’t consume meat can still get their fill of pizza goodness by creating a vegetarian pizza with roasted vegetables, herbs, tofu, and specialty cheeses.
4. Place in The Pizza Wood fired Oven
So now the pizza's prepped and the pizza woodfired oven likely reached 700 degrees. If it hasn't, wait till it does. Tasty homemade wood fired pizza needs to be baked at this temperature or it may not reach its full potential.
If the temperature has reached 700 degrees, let's start making some wood oven baked pizza. Grab a pizza peel and lightly sprinkle flour or cornmeal on it before placing your pizza on it. Then, use it to slide your pizza into the oven.
Rotate the pizza several times to ensure that it bakes evenly. You'll know it's ready when the surface is a bubbly, golden brown. When that happens, take the pizza out of the wood fired oven and let it sit for about five minutes so it cools a bit — otherwise, it'll be too hot to handle let alone taste.
Boom, you're done and finally knowhow to cook pizza in a wood fired oven for all your future parties.
Choosing the Right Wood Fired Pizza Oven Temperature
Just like learninghow to cook pizza in a wood fired oven. Knowing the perfect wood fired pizza oven temperature is just as important.
Depending on the wood fired pizza oven recipes you use the temperature will be adjusted.
You can use wood fired pizza ovens to bake or cook anything you want much like a conventional oven, and you can use the same temperatures that you’d use in a regular one — except really good pizza, that's still 700 degrees.
You can use a Cru wood-fired oven to bake bread, cakes, and pies. Yeasted bread and pie crusts actually benefit from a sudden blast of even heat at the start of the baking process to establish a crisp crust. If you're looking to roast chicken, keep the wood-fired oven's heat at 350 degrees to prevent it from drying out. When roasting red meat or pork, brown the meat first at a temperature of around 400 degrees in an oven-safe pan then turn the heat down to 375 degrees for the remaining cooking time.
Final Thoughts on Wood Oven Baked Pizza
Wood-fired ovens are a fantastic addition to both home and commercial kitchens, unlocking a world of culinary possibilities. Many talented chefs and home cooks alike find themselves developing their own wood-fired pizza oven recipes, as well as experimenting with delectable desserts, artisan breads, and a variety of inventive dishes.
Curious about exploring the diverse world of wood-fired oven pizzas and the countless culinary delights you can create or bake in one? At Cru Ovens, we've got you covered. Visit our website and don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to provide you with all the wood-fired pizza oven recipes, techniques, and equipment you need to succeed. From mastering the art of cooking pizza in a wood-fired oven to discovering the essentials for a well-equipped outdoor kitchen, we're your one-stop-shop for all things wood-fired!
