Do you love pizza?
We all do! Pizza is one of the most popular foods in America. It’s also a great way to bring family and friends together for fun, food, and conversation. That’s why we created Firewalker Ovens – so everyone can enjoy delicious pizzas at home with their loved ones. But now that you want to get a pizza oven, what kind should you get?
Wood-fired pizza ovens are a great option for those who want to create an authentic Italian restaurant experience, or make wood fired pizzas at home. They require more time and effort than gas ovens which can be a downside if you don't have the patience or time. Wood-fired ovens also need to be used with caution because of the risk of fire hazard, so it's important that they are placed in well ventilated areas and not near other flammable material.
Wood-fired Ovens
Wood-fired ovens are popular because they are the most traditional pizza oven you can buy. They are also less expensive than gas, but require a lot of time to heat up.
Wood-fried pizzas have been around since before recorded history - probably even longer than bread itself!
Main Pros
- High Heat
- Traditional Method and Look
- Less Expensive than Gas
Cons
- Long Time to Heat
- Requires Wood and Setup
Some models are portable so you can take them with you if necessary or even move it indoors during cold months (although this may not be advisable). Also, some models are modular and can be built around so you can customize the exterior look.
Gas Ovens
The main benefit of gas ovens over wood-fired is that they can be used immediately after you turn them on whereas a wood fired pizza oven needs about 30 minutes to fully preheat before it's ready for use.
Pros
- Quick Heat-up time
- Less setup and clean up needed
Cons
- Generally more expensive than wood-burning ovens
- Don't get as hot as wood-burning ovens
Why Does the Type of Oven Matter?
The type of oven you use to make your pizza is a big decision. Whether it's gas or wood, there are some significant differences that will impact how much effort and time goes into making the perfect pie - for example; frequency required in order to maintain the warmth and heat distribution throughout each cooking session.
Cleaning Your Oven
When you get to cleaning your oven, gas is going to be easier to clean than wood-burning. With wood-burning ovens, you should buy a brush (either natural or brass bristles) to clean the inside of the oven after burning your wood.
Heat
Wood-fired ovens work because they give off more heat than other cooking methods by using the fuel to get very hot before you even put your pizzas in it. The high temperature cooks the food quickly so that you can enjoy delicious homemade dough within minutes with fresh ingredients on top of them without spending hours baking or waiting for your meal to be ready like some slow cookers require sometimes.
A downside to this type of oven is that people worry about the smoke coming from their home when they use a wood-burning oven. Although, if you have good ventilation, you shouldn't worry. You can also select the type of wood to burn, which will give your pizza a different flavor. See our article 'Pick Your Wood' for more tips on wood.
Picking an Oven
After learning about the four different types of pizza ovens, you may be wondering if wood-fired or gas is better. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages as well as a specific job it does best. There are many factors involved in choosing which kind of oven to invest in for your backyard or restaurant including space, budget and efficiency needs.
As with most things in life there isn't one perfect option but going forward we can help ensure that whatever decision you make will serve you well while still allowing room for growth later on down the road!
So which one should you get? Well, that's up to you. But if you can't decide, some ovens are both wood-burning and gas, like the Earthstone Model 60 PAGW, so you can have the best of both worlds!