Wood Fire Pizza Ovens
Wood Fired Pizza Oven
What is a Wood Fired Oven?
A wood-fired oven, often a centerpiece in an outdoor kitchen, is a traditional and highly efficient way to bake pizzas and other dishes. This type of oven, also known as a wood-burning pizza oven, uses wood as its primary fuel source. This not only imparts a unique, smoky flavor to the food but also achieves high temperatures, ideal for the perfect crisp pizza crust. An outdoor pizza oven not only adds a rustic charm to your outdoor space but also enhances your cooking experience, allowing you to explore a variety of recipes with that authentic wood-fired taste. Whether you’re a pizza enthusiast or a culinary adventurer, incorporating a wood-fired pizza oven into your outdoor kitchen opens up a world of flavorful possibilities.
The Benefits of a
Wood Fired Pizza Oven
Incorporating the rustic allure and culinary prowess of a wood-fired pizza oven into your outdoor cooking space, especially for DIY enthusiasts and BBQ lovers, can significantly enhance your pizza-making experience. These ovens, cherished for their traditional and artisanal attributes, provide numerous advantages. They not only elevate the taste and quality of pizzas but also add an authentic touch to your DIY outdoor kitchen or BBQ area, making them an ideal choice for those passionate about pizza.
Superior Taste
The hallmark of a wood-fired pizza oven is its ability to impart a unique, crispy texture and rich, smoky flavor to pizzas, reminiscent of authentic Neapolitan-style pies. Unlike gas pizza ovens that use propane gas or natural gas, wood ovens rely on the natural flavors of the burning wood, contributing to a superior taste profile.
Speedy Cooking Time
Thanks to their high heat capabilities, wood-fired ovens can cook the perfect pizza at an impressively quick pace. This rapid cooking time not only ensures a deliciously crispy crust but also helps retain the nutrients and flavor of the toppings, something that slower cooking methods may not achieve.
Versatile Cooking Options
While often associated with pizza, these ovens are not limited to just that. Whether it's a portable pizza oven, a countertop pizza oven, or a larger model from brands like Cru Ovens, the versatility is unmatched. You can explore a variety of dishes, from bread and meats to veggies, all benefiting from the unique cooking environment. The use of fire bricks in these ovens ensures even heat distribution, allowing for a range of cooking techniques.
Best Wood Fired Pizza Oven: Recommendations
When selecting the ideal wood-fired pizza oven, Cru Oven stands out with its exceptional range of models, each tailored to meet various culinary needs and preferences. Renowned for delivering authentic wood-fired flavor, Cru Ovens are often favored over gas grills and gas-fired ovens. Importantly, all Cru products are backed by a one-year warranty against parts and manufacturing defects from the date of purchase, applicable to properly maintained items. Additionally, all Cru Oven models come with a three-year warranty specifically covering the dome portion of the oven, ensuring peace of mind and reliability in your cooking endeavors.
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Cru Oven Model 32 G2: The Cru Oven Model 32 G2 is the best seller, a highly versatile and efficient wood-fired oven making it an excellent choice for those seeking a portable outdoor pizza oven. It features enhancements from its original design, such as a heat deflector atop the dome and a more durable stand, ensuring improved thermo efficiency. The oven offers a large cooking surface (20” x 16”) within a compact overall size (22” x 20” x 17”), and its high oven opening (11.8”) allows for various cooking techniques. Made in Portugal, this oven is crafted from dual-walled, insulated 1.5mm thick 304 stainless steel. It's capable of reaching 900°F, heating up in 20 minutes, and accommodates various fuel types, including wood and charcoal. The Cru 32 G2 comes with two oven door styles: a half door for baking pizza and a full door for roasting and baking with coals, and features cordite baking stones. This flexibility allows for cooking directly on the stone or coals, or using oven-safe cookware, making it ideal for a range of dishes beyond pizza.
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Cru Oven Model 30: The Cru Oven Model 30 is an epitome of portable wood-fired cooking, blending performance, efficiency, and simplicity. Weighing only 33 pounds, it is ideal for various outdoor settings like camping and gatherings. The oven can utilize wood or charcoal, adding versatility. Handcrafted in Portugal from premium 304 stainless steel, it includes a pizza peel and ember rake for immediate use. Key features include a 19.4” x 16.3” x 17” dimension, a cooking surface of 17.5” x 13” x 8", a removable refractory brick cooking base, and a 13” high removable chimney. It heats up in 15 minutes, reaches a maximum temperature of 900°F, and can cook a 12” pizza, bread, meats, fish, and vegetables.
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Cru Pro 60 Wood Fired Oven: The Cru Pro 60 Wood Fired Oven is a premium, large, and elegantly designed oven that offers an exceptional wood-fired cooking experience. Handmade in Portugal, it features a unique oven chamber design that prevents heat loss, ensuring superior heat retention. This oven is sizable with dimensions of 33” x 33” x 21.5” and offers a large cooking surface of 24” x 24”. It includes a removable refractory brick cooking base, a 22” high chimney, and is constructed from 1.5mm thick 304 stainless steel and lacquered aluminum, insulated with 3” of ceramic fiber. The Cru Pro 60 can use wood or charcoal as fuel, heats up in 25 minutes, and reaches a maximum temperature of 950°F. It's capable of cooking two 10" or one 12-18" pizzas, baking multiple loaves of bread, or accommodating larger or multiple pieces of oven-safe cookware. The oven comes with a built-in thermometer, an adjustable oven door, rubber feet, a wood burning rack, a chimney cap, and four plus one extra 1" thick cordite baking stones for maximum heat retention and weighs 225 pounds.
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Cru Pro 90 Wood Fired Oven: The Cru Pro 90 Wood Fired Oven is a testament to advanced engineering in wood-fired cooking, part of the Cru Pro Series. This oven is distinguished by its unique design, particularly the oven chamber, which prevents heat loss through the stack when the door is sealed, ensuring exceptional heat retention. It's constructed with 3 inches of ceramic fiber insulation between a 1.5mm thick 304 stainless steel inner shell and a 1.5mm lacquered aluminum outer shell. Handmade in Portugal, the Cru Pro 90 has a large cooking surface (24” x 36”), removable refractory brick cooking base, and a 22” high chimney. It heats up in 25 minutes, reaches a maximum temperature of 900°F, and can accommodate three 10", two 12", or one 18" pizzas. The oven includes a built-in thermometer, oven door, adjustable rubber feet, wood burning rack, chimney cap, and six plus one extra 1" thick cordite baking stones for heat retention and weighs 288 pounds.
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Cru Champion: The Cru Champion Oven stands out for its exceptional performance, size, quality, and value among wood-fired ovens. Handmade in Portugal, it features an oven chamber insulated with a 1-inch ceramic blanket between two sheets of 1mm 304 stainless steel, encased in a 1.5mm lacquered aluminum outer shell. This design ensures superior heat retention, reaching 900°F in about 20 minutes. The oven is versatile, perfect for cooking pizzas, steaks, bread, seafood, and more. It has a cooking surface of 24” x 24”, a main dome height of 12", and can cook two 10" or one 12-18" pizzas. Other features include a built-in thermometer, adjustable rubber feet, a wood burning rack, and five 1" thick cordite baking stones. The Cru Champion, weighing 146 pounds.
How to Use a Wood Fired Pizza Oven
Using a wood-fired pizza oven, like those from Cru Ovens, can transform your pizza-making experience into an artisanal, Italian-style pizzeria adventure. These ovens, renowned for crafting great pizza, offer a unique outdoor cooking experience that a typical gas burner or multi-fuel oven can't match.
Temperature Control
In a wood-fired pizza oven, temperature control is a critical skill for any pizza maker. Unlike conventional ovens, these ovens require manual heat management, aiming to maintain a consistent high temperature, typically around 700 degrees. This optimal heat, crucial for perfecting pizza dough, is best achieved with a pizza stone. The ability to sustain such high temperatures distinguishes wood-fired ovens, ensuring each pizza is cooked with authentic, artisan precision.
Wood Fired Pizza Oven Mistakes to Avoid
When using a wood-fired pizza oven, there are key mistakes to sidestep for the best results. First, selecting the right type of wood is vital; go for hardwoods that burn hot and long, enhancing the oven's performance. Secondly, positioning your oven correctly is equally important. Ensure it's in a safe, well-ventilated area to maximize efficiency and safety. Keeping these points in mind will help you get the most out of your wood-fired pizza oven experience, leading to perfectly cooked pizzas every time.
How to Choose the Best Wood
Selecting the appropriate wood, including hardwoods or wood pellets, is crucial for a wood-fired pizza oven. Opt for hardwoods such as ash, beech, birch, maple, oak, and sycamore for their ability to burn hotter and longer, which is vital for reaching the high temperatures needed for a perfect pizza crust. It's important to avoid softwoods and high sap content woods, as they can adversely affect the flavor and have a shorter burn time compared to hardwoods.
Positioning Your Oven
The positioning of your wood-fired pizza oven is another critical factor. It should be placed in a well-ventilated area, away from flammable materials. Proper placement not only ensures safety but also enhances the efficiency of your oven, making it a centerpiece for your outdoor cooking space.
Conclusion
Hosting a pizza party with a touch of Italy in your own backyard is now effortlessly achievable with a Cru Oven. These outdoor pizza ovens, whether it's a classic brick oven or a portable outdoor pizza oven, are designed to bring the authentic taste of Italian pizza right to your doorstep. The Cru Oven stands out as the best pizza oven, offering flexibility and convenience, especially for those who love the idea of a pizza oven kit. Embrace the joy of cooking with a Cru Oven and turn every outdoor gathering into an unforgettable culinary experience, featuring pizzas that boast a truly authentic, wood-fired flavor.
FAQs
Are wood fired pizza ovens better?
Yes, wood-fired pizza ovens are indeed better for several reasons. They reach higher temperatures faster than traditional ovens, ensuring a perfectly crispy crust and well-cooked toppings. The wood fire also imparts a unique, smoky flavor that can't be replicated in conventional ovens. Additionally, wood-fired ovens add an authentic, rustic charm to the cooking process, making them a favorite for both pizza enthusiasts and professional chefs alike.
What wood should you not use in a pizza oven?
In a pizza oven, you should avoid using softwoods like pine or spruce, as well as any wood that is treated, painted, or contains high sap content. It's also important to steer clear of any wood that is moldy or wet, as it won't burn efficiently and can affect the oven's performance and the taste of your pizza.
What temperature do you cook pizza in a wood fired pizza oven?
Typically, pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven at temperatures ranging from 700 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long does it take to cook a pizza in a wood fired pizza oven?
In a wood-fired pizza oven, a pizza can usually be cooked in just 2 to 5 minutes, thanks to the high temperatures.
What is the temperature in a wood fired pizza oven?
The temperature in a wood-fired pizza oven can reach up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal for quick, high-heat cooking.
What is the difference between a brick oven and a wood fired pizza oven?
A brick oven is a type of wood-fired oven typically made of brick or clay, known for its heat retention and even cooking. However, all brick ovens are wood-fired, but not all wood-fired ovens are made of brick.
What are some benefits of cooking pizzas in a wood fired pizza oven?
A brick oven is a type of wood-fired oven typically made of brick or clay, known for its heat retention and even cooking. However, all brick ovens are wood-fired, but not all wood-fired ovens are made of brick.
