Since the weather is getting warmer I am sure we are all looking forward to summer barbecues. They are a shared tradition that we all have.
Whenever you host a barbecue or attend one, you can expect to see the same foods: burgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, corn, and by mid-July you're probably jaded by the traditional barbecue foods.
Lately, in outdoor kitchen designs, outdoor pizza ovens have been a huge trend. Imagine being able to offer pizzas in addition to all of your traditional outdoor barbecue favorites.
Built-in pizza ovens designed for the residential market offer similar results to the wood-fired pizza ovens found in commercial settings, but for a fraction of the cost.
Residential pizza ovens can either be built into your outdoor kitchen hardscape, freestanding on a cart, or portable. Yes, think tailgating or grilling on the beach.
Below we rated our top 4 favorite outdoor pizza ovens you should consider to spice up your summer.
Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens
1. Kalamazoo Artisan
Our Upgrade Pick
Kalamazoo manufacturers premium quality outdoor kitchen appliances. They are most famous for their hybrid or combined gas, wood and charcoal grill design. For customers designing outdoor kitchens, the Kalamazoo pizza oven is a favorite.
All Kalamazoo appliances are hand-crafted in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Every person that works on your appliance will sign the inside of the door to attest to the fact that each product is made by hand.
AFPRO-C - $7,495
Features:
- Available in countertop (pictured), cart, and built-in.
- Low-maintenance stainless steel construction
- Easy-clean debris tray
- 24" x 18" cooking deck
- Fuel type: Wood, Natural Gas, or Liquid Propane
- BTU Output: 52,000 BTUs NG or 35,000 BTU's LP
As a side note, you do not need to hook it up to an electricity source. This grill is battery operated so it's somewhat portable.
Great artisan pizzas aren't about the wood. They're about the flame. The large open flame in the Kalamazoo Artisan Fire Pizza Oven mimics the heat of a wood-fired pizza oven, but it also gives you the control and responsiveness that a wood-fired pizza oven is missing.
The Artisan Fire Pizza Oven from Kalamazoo can cook a pizza in less than 3 minutes with after a 45 minute preheat.
2. Lynx Napoli
Lynx manufactures high-end outdoor kitchen appliances. Their line has several outdoor grills, refrigeration, and storage to best fit your needs. Their pizza oven is another great product and a way to “spice up” your outdoor kitchen design.
HN-LNX149 - $3,999
Features:
- Available in countertop, cart (pictured) and built-in.
- 400-square-inch cooking surface
- Preheats quickly to 700°F for a quick pizza cook
- Variable infrared heating system
- Reversible top chimney vents toward front or rear
- Interior light, blue LED control knob illumination
- Includes a 12.25" x 20" Pizza Peel
- Fuel Type: Liquid Propane or Natural Gas
BTU Output:
This 30-inch Napoli Pizza Oven is perfect for grill lovers and pizza lovers alike. With an infrared heating system, this oven can preheat to 700°F quickly to cook a pizza in 20-minutes.
When the pizza is done, the 400 sq. Ft. cooking surface pulls forward for easy access to remove your pizza from the oven. The top chimney can be customized to vent to the front or to the rear of the oven.
3. UUNI Outdoor Pizza Oven
Our Pick for Affordability and Versatility
Uuni began in 2011 by Kristian Tapaninaho. He loved making pizza for his family, however, he felt his pizza's, although good, lacked that wood-fired flavor.
After several prototypes and testing his oven in his backyard, Kristian developed the first affordable and portable pellet- fired oven. This is how Unni, meaning "oven" in Finnish, was born.
UUNI 3 - $299.99
Features:
- Large cooking surface
- Insulated body and made of brushed stainless steel – excellent for maintaining heat efficiency
- Wood Pellet Burner – enables better temperature control and consistent cooking
- Up to 932°F heat – great for any food with short cooking time
- Uuni Impact Fund - For every Uuni 3 and bag of Uuni pellets sold, a tree is planted through Uuni's Sustainability project and partnership with the National Forest Foundation
- Fuel Type: Pellets, Charcoal, Wood, or Gas
From our live demonstrations, we learned the Uuni 3 Pizza Oven can reach 500-600 degrees in 20 minutes. At this temperature, it only takes 3 –4 minutes to cook a pizza. It's a great addition to any outdoor kitchen, especially for $299.
This pizza oven has extreme versatility, you can cook a variety of foods including steaks, chicken, seafood, vegetables, and of course pizza. In addition, it is best to use the recommended pellets from UUNI to get the optimal heat and flavor results.
Lastly, having the ability to transport this oven for tailgating, beach parties or to a friend's house makes this the most portable and affordable pizza oven available today.
The Uuni 3 Portable Pizza Oven
4. Alfresco Pizza Oven Plus
Alfresco has 30 years of experience designing and building professional restaurant equipment. They set out to create a complete line of products to create an outdoor kitchen that runs seamlessly and hotter than ever.
AXE-PZA - $6,449
Features:
- Available in countertop, cart, and built-in (pictured).
- Large 456 sq. in. cooking surface
- Interior Oven Light
- Infrared heating system
- Fuel Type: Natural Gas or Liquid Propane
- BTU Output: 40,000 BTUs
Alfresco debuts the first ever wood-burning & gas-fired Pizza Oven that is ready to cook 20-minute pizzas in just 4 minutes. This oven can sit right on the counter (outdoors) or can be built into a beautiful masonry surround.
The cooking surface is 456 sq. inches and an opening width of 20". The infrared heating system is combined with a ceramic gas log rear burner for 40,000 BTU's of pizza baking heat. The lighted cooking surface can be easily cleaned due to the removable arch and doors.
Which Should You Buy?
They are all intriguing, deliver great BTU output, and are all excellent outdoor BBQ grill brands. However, it’s a toss-up.
For an introductory pizza oven, you can achieve great results with the $299 UUNI. It offers a great value due to its versatility, however, the price point makes this even better.
The Lynx and Alfresco pizza ovens are quite comparable. Both are good for anyone who is interested in an intermediate-level pizza oven.
As for Kalamazoo, it's an expert-level pizza oven. The Kalamazoo has the best BTU output power, speed, and they have been building outdoor pizza ovens for a while without issue. The construction of their products adds a certain level of accountability as well.
In the end, choosing the best outdoor pizza oven depends on how you cook and your budget. If you have further questions or interested in a live demo to learn how to best use these pizza ovens, feel free to check out one of our living cooking demos featuring Kalamazoo, UUNI, or Lynx by clicking here.
Additional Resources
Get The Yale BBQ Buying Guide with features, specs and inside tips to all the brands like Lynx, Kalamazoo, Alfresco, DCS, Viking and Weber. Well over 330,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
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