Best Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven for Backyard Cooking

May 18, 2023
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Pizza is as universal as its toppings, and the world is welcoming to it because it is versatility. Not only we are talking about the variety of toppings you can put into it, but also it being flexible to accommodate different dietary needs and even cultures.

Aside from flexibility, what makes pizza appealing to people, including kids, is that is easy to prepare. As long as you have your bread toaster, pan, or oven with you, melting the cheese and cooking your toppings on a soft and chewy dough will not be a problem. But the most discriminating food enthusiasts can definitely know the difference between good and great pizza. And one of the keys to achieving the real deal is in using the right equipment.

While not all of us have access to brick or pizza ovens, gladly we now have a portable outdoor pizza oven. This cooking equipment allows us to elevate the homemade pizza experience with the artisanal way of cooking it.

A portable pizza oven makes use of wood or gas as a fuel source. This makes it portable and usable for outdoor use. The downside of ovens is that they are dependent on the power source. But let say you are going camping or spending a day in the backyard, using kitchen equipment like an outdoor pizza oven allows you to cook your favorite dishes, particularly pizza, in a different environment and enjoy it fresh and hot.

We reviewed some of the most popular portable outdoor pizza oven products in the market and narrowed them down to three. This is Top Best Reviewss Best Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven list for 2021.

NameKey Feature 
Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven– Editor’s ChoiceMade of high-grade stainless steel and extra-thick stone cooking baseCheck Price
ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza OvenThe outer metal body is clad in silicone for safetyCheck Price
Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Black + Pizza Peel ComboComes with a pizza peelCheck Price

Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven – Editor’s Choice

This outdoor pizza oven is revolutionary in a way by cramming all the best features of a pizza oven into one portable cooking equipment. It can be used with a variety of fuel or heat sources for flexibility, making it great to use outdoors – your backyard included.

What makes it a portable outdoor pizza oven is that it can be used without electricity, unlike most kitchen ovens we use for baking. You can use wood or charcoal for that smoky and authentic taste, or gas for that quick-cook pizza you can devour and enjoy easily.

Surprisingly, this rather portable equipment (weighing only 26.4 pounds) is a powerhouse outdoor pizza oven, capable of reaching up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit. That enables it to deliver freshly cooked, hot from the oven pizza in mere 60 seconds. It only takes about 15 minutes for this pizza oven to reach the correct temperature – blazing and scorching hot for that coveted crusted dough you want for your pizza.

The Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven can regulate the temperature inside with its custom-designed fuel tray. This wood oven can deliver consistently high and searing temperatures with enough wood or charcoal. In the same way, the tray also ensures proper airflow to help with ensuring heat consistency. Just make batches of your favorite pizza and load it up on your outdoor pizza oven on the go.

This outdoor pizza oven’s performance lies in its construction. It is made of stainless steel for that sleek, modern, and high-quality finish. Stainless steel is also resistant to weathering and corrosion, making it a good choice for outdoor equipment.

For maximum heat retention, this outdoor pizza oven utilizes insulation made of ceramic fiber. The baking board base is made of an extra-thick stone slab that helps you achieve that stone-baked pizza crust. The Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven also uses a Flame Keeper technology for even heat distribution and efficiency.

ProsCons
Can reach up to 950 degrees FahrenheitIf you are a beginner in cooking pizzas in an oven like this, it needs you to abide by its learning curve for best results
Multi-fuel source – charcoal, wood, and gas (burner attachment sold separately)
Portable and only weighs roughly 12 kilos
Made of high-grade stainless steel and extra-thick stone cooking base

Conclusion

The Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven allows you to enjoy homemade pizza but cooked professionally. By being portable, it adds fun to the experience since you can have pizza nights in the backyard while enjoying it hot and fresh from the oven. It is also versatile since you can either use wood, charcoal, or gas.

ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven

This outdoor pizza oven looks beautiful with its steel and black finish. But aside from the good looks, it can also bring a lot of awesomely cooked fresh wood oven pizza you would normally get from a restaurant.

Should you opt for hassle-free pizza cooking (that is, minus the wood-feeding), you can use the gas burner attachment that serves as the standard fuel source. However, you can also turn it into a wood burning pizza oven by buying the wood fire burner (detachable and sold separately) to provide you with the convenience of a fuel source independent of electricity.

Because of these dual power source options, you can use this outdoor pizza oven outside your home, say, in your backyard or while on a camping trip. You can also achieve that authentic smoky taste on your cheese and crust out of your portable gas pizza oven.

The ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven can achieve up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing you to cook that perfect crust – puffed up and crusty, just like how stone-baked pizzas from restaurants offer. You can also enjoy your freshly-cooked pizza in as fast as 60 seconds – less waiting time and more bonding time with families and friends in your pizza party at home.

To make it safe to use around people, including your kids, this outdoor pizza oven is clad with silicone (the black part). This keeps you away from the scorching hot temperature of the pizza and lessens the risk of accidents and injuries.

When it comes to performance, heat retention is the key. The ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven provides heat retention of up to 86% as well as utilizes the fuel source efficiently. This gas pizza oven comes with a built-in thermometer to help you regulate the temperature and ensure it remains consistent throughout each cooking session.

This portable pizza oven propane comes with retractable legs for easy transport and storage when not in use.

ProsCons
Dual fuel source – standard gas burner with an option to attach a wood burner (sold separately)Expensive
Heat retention at 86%
Can reach up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit
The outer metal body is clad in silicone for safety
With built-in thermometer

Conclusion

What we love most about the ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven is its built-in thermometer. This allows you to monitor the temperature to make sure it is consistent and cooks your pizza properly.

Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Black + Pizza Peel Combo

This is the least expensive outdoor pizza oven on the list but nevertheless short on performance.

Make your own oven pizza creations fast and easy with this wood pizza oven. You can experiment with different flavor profiles and choose the fuel source that best complements the taste you want to achieve. You can use the built-in wood burner for that smoky taste, or wood chips from different wood types for extra flavor. You can also purchase the propane gas burner attachment wherein you can easily regulate the temperature just like how you do with ovens.

This outdoor pizza oven can reach up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit – hotter than what home ovens can achieve. This elevates your pizzas – with that chewy puffed crust and perfectly melted cheese. In the same way, you can also cook a variety of other foods like steak, vegetables, and other dishes on it.

The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Black + Pizza Peel Combo comes with a pizza peel that helps you get your pizza into the hot outdoor oven, as well as get it off when it’s cooked.

This outdoor pizza oven is true to its commitment to being the best portable pizza oven – it is lightweight and can fit tabletops. This home pizza oven can be easily transported whether to your backyard or with you on trips out of town.

ProsCons
Utilizes multi-fuel source – wood, charcoal, wood pellets, and propane gasoes not come with detailed instructions on how to use it so you have to do your research
Can heat up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit
Comes with a pizza peel
Can be installed with a gas burner attachment (sold separately)

Conclusion

The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven Black + Pizza Peel Combo is just the right size for family-sized pizzas – 12.5 inches in width and 13.5 inches in depth. The pizza peel is a generous inclusion.

Final Verdict

Everyone may have their best pizza recipe to boot, but sometimes, the make or break aspect is the cooking equipment. If you fancy artisanal, authentic, and great pizzas, go ahead and invest in an outdoor pizza oven and create restaurant-quality pizzas minus the hefty price tag with a backyard pizza oven.

Checking the best features and output quality of the outdoor pizza ovens on this list, our best outdoor pizza oven is the Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven.

The Ooni Karu 12 – Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven is engineered for excellent heat retention and fuel efficiency. This outdoor pizza oven also utilizes technology for flavor preservation and fast output. For additional value to your investment, you can also use the best pizza oven to cook other dishes like steaks and roasted veggies – just place them on a cast-iron plate and you are good to go.