When you first got started on your pizza-making journey, you probably started by learning how to make homemade pizza dough. Then, you probably progressed to making your own sauce. You might have started to buy pizza accessories like a pizza peel, pizza stone, and quality pizza cutter.
You may have planted a pizza garden or dabbled in making your own mozzarella and milling your own flour. All of these have helped you along your way to becoming a pizzaiolo. But if you are definitely serious about making amazing pizza, then do you really need a pizza oven for homemade pizza?
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Many home chefs put off getting a pizza oven because they think it will be too expensive or take up too much space, but the reality is there are all types of pizza ovens, and there is surely a pizza oven for homemade pizza that fits your lifestyle.
What is a Pizza Oven?
A pizza oven is an oven designed to get to extreme temperatures to make a delicious pizza. Most pizza ovens reach temperatures between 700° F to 950° F.
While they are called pizza ovens, you can use pizza ovens to make all kinds of other foods like roasts, breads, calzones, focaccia, vegetables, the list goes on and on. So if the idea of getting a pizza oven just for pizza is oft putting, just remember you can make all kinds of things, so it’s an excellent investment.
Pizza ovens range in size, fuel, price, and portability. Some pizza ovens use wood or pellets some run on gas, and others are electric. You can find small counter pizza ovens, medium-sized portable ovens to large stationary ovens.
You can find affordable pizza ovens, mid-range pizza ovens, and high-end brick pizza ovens, so whatever your situation is, you can find a pizza oven to fit your needs.
So now the million-dollar question: Do you really need a pizza oven for homemade pizza? And the answer is yes, if you are serious about making excellent pizza.
For anyone on the fence about getting a pizza oven, we have put together our top eight reasons that you indeed really do need a pizza oven.
8 Reasons You Need a Pizza Oven For Homemade Pizza
The Heat
Pizza ovens can reach temperatures that your home oven just can’t reach. The high temperature is important for creating the perfect crust and elevates the pizza to a higher standard.
The Crust
Again the heat is the reason for the distinct crust that only a super hot oven can create. A pizza oven will give your pizza that billowy airy crust with a crispy crunch texture while keeping it chewy inside.
A home oven just doesn’t get hot enough. If you love that distinct crust of a Neopolitan pizza, then your best choice is a wood-fired oven to recreate the texture and mouthfeel of this classic pizza.
Better Flavor
A hot pizza oven is going to give your pizza a better flavor. It’s not only about texture but flavor too, and trust us, pizza made in a pizza oven just tastes better, and that is science, we promise.
We have made and tasted many homemade pizzas, some made in conventional ovens and others in a pizza oven, and the difference is real.
Save Time
A pizza cooked in a conventional oven takes about 10-12 minutes to bake, and a pizza baked in a pizza oven is ready in 60 to 90 seconds, depending on how hot your pizza oven gets.
So having a pizza oven for homemade pizza saves you time. Think of all the things you can do with the extra time you have just given yourself.
Versatile
Don’t let the name fool you; a pizza oven can make all kinds of yummy foods besides pizza. You can make pulled pork, ribs, roast turkey, corn on the cob, sourdough, and salmon; we think you get the idea. Pizza ovens aren’t just for pizza.
Your Health
Pizza doesn’t have to be greasy fast food, you can make a healthy, nutritious pizza at home with a pizza oven. Making pizza at home is a great way to minimize the grease and fat that gives pizza a bad reputation. If you focus on using high-quality ingredients, you can make a nutritious pizza every time.
Level Up Your Pizza Skills
The first step to mastering a skill is having the right tools for the job. If you want to take your pizza-making skills to the next level, then you have to practice, and having a pizza oven at home lets you get in your time.
You can learn different pizza styles like Detroit-style, Chicago-style, and St. Louis-style, all without ever leaving your home. Malcolm Gladwell says to master any skill, you must put in 10,000 hours, and having your own pizza oven gives you a jump start on getting your time in and mastering the art of pizza-making.
Impress Your Friends and Family
Your friends and family will love taste-testing your pizzas. You can have pizza nights and impress them with your pizzaiolo skills. Or better yet, you can learn the art of pizza making together. It’s a great family activity that everyone can get excited about.
Pro Tips
So, now that we have convinced you that you must have a pizza oven for homemade pizza let’s look at the next steps. First, evaluate your situation before you decide which pizza oven is for you. There are so many options when choosing a pizza oven, so before you start shopping, you should ask yourself:
- How often do I make pizza?
- How much space do I have available for a pizza oven?
- What is my price range for a pizza oven?
- How will I protect my oven from the elements? Consider a pizza oven cover.
- Do I like using wood, or is gas easier?
- Do I want to be able to make Neopolitan pizza? If yes, then a wood oven.
- How sharp is my pizza cutter?
Now you can make an informed decision about which pizza oven is right for you.
When did you know your family needed a pizza oven for homemade pizza? What’s your favorite style of pizza oven?
