There’s nothing quite like homemade pizza.
And we’re not talking about frozen pizza or some supermarket crust that you throw into your oven at 425 degrees and wait 15 minutes to eat.
We’re talking about real, fresh pizza made in your backyard pizza oven.
The Popularity of Outdoor Pizza Ovens
The global pizza oven market is booming. According to ResearchAndMarkets, the market size is expected to reach $2.64 billion by 2030. (That’s a 5.3% compound annual growth rate from 2023 through 2030 if you’re wondering.)
The question is, why? Why is everyone going crazy for outdoor pizza ovens? And should you own one, too? We’re going to explore those questions and more in this article. Let’s dive in!
The Benefits of Owning a Pizza Oven
While outdoor pizza ovens have surged in popularity over the past three years, they’re one of the oldest, original outdoor cooking appliances. They’ve been around for thousands of years.
Here are some of the benefits that people are still enjoying today.
1. Lots of Options
One of the major appeals to outdoor pizza ovens is the versatility of options. From gas to wood-burning, there are plenty of options. The same goes for the size and construction of pizza ovens.
“If the classic, brick oven style appeals, consider a built-in pizza oven. For a more contemporary design, freestanding, countertop pizza ovens are more readily available and cost-effective,” RTA Outdoor Living explains. “Or, if you’re looking to take your pizza party tailgating or on a camping trip, you may prefer a portable outdoor pizza oven.”
2. Authentic Flavor
There’s a certain magic that happens when pizza dough, fresh toppings, and wood-fired heat converge. You can’t replicate it inside of a gas oven. There’s an unmistakable smokiness and charred edges that characterize the hallmark flavour of a wood-fired pizza. The outdoor pizza oven, with its ability to reach high temperatures and utilize wood as a fuel source, offers an unparalleled taste.
Up until recently, the average person could only get good wood-fired pizza by going to a restaurant or spending thousands of dollars on a custom-built pizza oven. But now, with so many different options – including small, portable wood-burning pizza ovens – anyone can get this flavour from home.
3. Memorable Gatherings
Have you ever noticed how the best conversations happen around campfires? Well, the same can be said for outdoor pizza ovens. There’s something powerful about having a group of people – family or friends – huddled around a pizza oven as the flames flicker and the cheese and dough meld together. It has a feeling of creating something together.
4. Speed and Efficiency
You’ll be shocked by just how fast and efficient an outdoor pizza oven is. If you’re used to cooking pizzas in a traditional oven for 10 or 15 minutes, wait until you try this.
Depending on the oven, pizza can cook in as little as 80 or 90 seconds. That’s because these ovens are designed to get up to 800 or 850 degrees. If that sounds super hot, you’d be right – it’s about as hot as you’ll find any type of grill (pizza or otherwise).
5. Versatility beyond Pizza
An outdoor pizza oven is designed for, well pizza. But don’t assume that’s the only thing you can cook in them. The best-kept secret of pizza ovens is their versatility.
Popular alternative dishes include roasted veggies, slow-cooked meats (like pork), baked or grilled fish, flamed ribeye steak, jacket potatoes, flatbreads, bread loaves, and smoked meats.
“Simply put, anything that you can make in your standard oven or on the grill, can also be made in a pizza oven,” Alfresco Chef mentions. “In fact, one might even argue that these foods will taste even better once they have been cooked in the pizza oven. The style of wood-fired cooking brings out a unique, smoky flavor that enhances the overall taste of the food.”
You’ll have to be mindful of the temperature and placement of foods, but it’s possible to cook all of these items (and more) inside an outdoor pizza oven.
Ready, Set, Cook!
Whether you’re looking to buy your first grill, or you want something to complement the other outdoor grills you already own, a pizza oven is a great option. Get one sooner rather than later – you won’t regret it.
