There’s a reason why pizza is the menu choice of picky preschoolers, hungry teenagers, and discerning foodies alike. Homemade pizzas are a complete meal. They’re irresistible, easy to make, and customizable for a wide range of dietary preferences. Until recently, an aspiring pizzaiolo had no choice but to crank up their kitchen oven to the standard 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Now there’s a wide variety of home pizza ovens that can heat up as high as 900 degrees Fahrenheit—the perfect temperature for making a crisp Neapolitan pizza in minutes.
I test pizza ovens over the course of 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 temperature of the cooking surface is consistent (and is what the built-in thermometer says it is). Pizza ovens are also quite a bit more versatile than you might think—I also use them to sear steaks, quick-cook salmon, and pan-fry broccoli. These are my favorites. For those with limited access to outdoor spaces, I’ve included indoor options and an oven that fits on a small deck, balcony, or patio.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the Best Portable Grills, Best Grills, and Best Camping Stoves.
Updated August 2024: We added the Solo Stove Pi Prime, the Breeo Live Fire Pizza Oven, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven, the Ooni Koda 2 Max, and the Piezano.
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