There is a reason Why pizza is the go-to choice for preschoolers, hungry teens, and discerning foodies. Homemade pizzas are a complete meal. They’re irresistible, easy to make, and customizable to a wide range of dietary preferences. Until recently, an aspiring pizzaiolo had no choice but to heat up his kitchen oven to the standard 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Now there are a wide variety of home pizza ovens that can heat up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit—the perfect temperature for making a crispy Neapolitan pizza in minutes.
I test pizza ovens over a few weeks, using homemade dough (I like Ooni’s Classic Pizza Dough Recipe), store-bought fresh dough, and frozen pizzas. I also use an infrared thermometer to make sure the cooking surface temperature is consistent (and it’s what the built-in thermometer indicates). Pizza ovens are also quite a bit more versatile than you might think — I also use them to sear steaks, quickly cook salmon, and pan-fry broccoli. These are my favorites. For those with limited access to outdoor space, I’ve included indoor options and an oven that will fit on a small deck, balcony, or patio.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the best portable grills, best barbecue grills, and best camping stoves.
Updated August 2024: We added the Solo Stove Pi Prime, Breeo Live Fire Pizza Oven, Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven, Ooni Koda 2 Max, and piezano.
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