My family’s favorite pizza oven is perfect for backyard gatherings this summer
Ask any teenager anywhere what they want for dinner (or lunch, and sometimes even breakfast) and they’ll say, “Pizza sounds good.” When I purchased the Ooni Karu 12-inch Pizza Oven a year and a half ago, I saw it as an investment in future food planning with a teenage son.
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Not only has this oven proven to be an efficient way to make pizza, it has also provided us with hours of fun pizza nights with our son and his friends: you can get a perfectly crispy pizza in under 3 minutes, and even faster once the oven is heated up. Normally $299, Amazon currently has 20% discountmaking it only $239.20.
Why I chose the Ooni Karu 12-inch over other sizes and models
I chose this pizza oven over the other Ooni ovens for three main reasons. The first was portability; I love that it doesn’t take up much space and that it can be taken apart and placed in a carrying bag. I had visions of camping trips and lake excursions — but mostly we just use it at home.
The second reason was price: Ooni outdoor ovens can be pricey, and since I wasn’t sure how often we’d use them, I didn’t want to spend $500 on one. I got mine for around $300. Even our CNET editors noted that the Ooni Karu is the best pizza oven for those on a budget.
The third selling point of this model was the fuel options. I didn’t want to be stuck with a pellet stove model where you have to buy and stock up on pellets. I wanted a wood fire and I bought a box of Ooni wood the first time, but you can chop your own as long as you keep the pieces small enough to fit in your stove — 6 inches is the max. The other great thing about the Karu is that you can get an adapter to convert it to gas. I haven’t done this yet, but it’s nice to have options.
The Ooni works in (almost) all seasons
I live in Minnesota, so we’ve used the Ooni in all four seasons: We use it constantly in the spring, summer, and fall. When winter comes, the temperatures can usually drop below zero, but last year we had a very mild December, with temperatures in the 40s (Fahrenheit) by the end of December. So we fired up our Ooni on Christmas Day. We’ve used it in the low 90s, but it’s hard to keep it warm — it’s not as efficient in cold temperatures — and honestly, it’s just not that much fun standing in 75 degree weather tending to your pizza.
Ooni recommends removing the pizza stone when storing your oven in freezing temperatures to prevent potential cracking, but we left it out for most of January and February. March can be hit and miss here, but it becomes a rite of passage when the weather is nice enough to fire up the Ooni again. We’ve left ours out in the rain a lot and it hasn’t affected the look at all.
Don’t skip these accessories
You definitely need a pizza peel so you can use your oven right away. I use the Ooni 12-inch Stainless Steel Pizza Peelbut with this smaller oven it can be tricky to flip your pizza, so a smaller wide spatula is also a handy tool, like a classic long handled grill spatula. I also opted for the custom made cover for the Karumaking it portable. During the off season I store it in this case to keep it in good condition.
If you’re looking for patio accessories for your summer pizza parties, Amazon has tons of great accessories for outdoor living and summer fun during its Prime Day sale.
