Best Overall Indoor Pizza Oven

Ooni Volt

Ooni has earned a top spot on the list of best outdoor pizza ovens. The brand has multiple oven designs for outside use, including models that use gas, wood and charcoal. The Ooni Volt is both an outdoor and indoor pizza oven with its all-electric, plug-and-play option.

The Volt is constructed with stainless steel and coated carbon steel for a durable, modern design. It can sit on any heat-safe surface but does need quite a bit of space with its dimensions of 24×21 inches. It has a large window on the front of the folding door so it’s easy to keep an eye on your pizzas while they cook. The oven takes 20 minutes to preheat to reach 850 degrees, but the temperature dial is flexible enough to turn it down to 150 degrees for ultimate customization.

Plus, the indoor pizza oven includes a cordierite pizza stone which warms by a bottom heating element, along with another heating element at the top of the oven. Both of those heating elements are adjustable once the oven comes up to the preheated temperature to allow you to choose the perfect cook for your pizza. If you love a thin Neapolitan-style pizza, this definitely comes in handy.

I use the Ooni at home at least once a week and love how simple it is to operate. It’s easy to turn on and preheat, and there isn’t much need to watch the pizza closely as there is with an outdoor pizza oven with a live flame. I’ve found that I can cook pizzas between 90 seconds to three minutes, depending on the toppings. I definitely still keep an eye on my pizzas to check on how much browning I’m getting, but there isn’t as much of a need to constantly turn them. Helpful pizza oven accessories such as Ooni’s perforated pizza peel are sold separately for this oven.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Reaches 850 degrees
• Indoor and outdoor use
• Balance dial to customize the cook on the pizza

Cons

• High price point
• Takes several hours to cool

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The post 3 Best Indoor Pizza Ovens for Restaurant-Quality Pies All Year Long appeared first on Taste of Home.

As a pizza enthusiast, I make pies once a week in my backyard. I’ve also tested numerous pizza ovens, including the best-selling Ooni Koda 16 and the all-electric Ooni Volt. To see just how Blackstone’s pizza oven compares, I put it to the test.

What is the Blackstone Pizza Oven?

The Blackstone Pizza Oven is a gas-powered oven that hooks up to a propane tank. It utilizes a hose and connectorthe same setup as with a regular barbecue. The pizza oven is almost all black with a stainless steel interior and looks very similar to a gas grill.

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Blackstone Pizza Oven

Two-stone technology with a rotating bottom stone generates even cooking.

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It has a front ignition switch and heat regulation dial along with a power button. Inside there is a large rotating pizza stone, as well as a pizza stone on the top of the oven. It has a wide opening at the front and space to cook 16-inch pizzas. And, in the right cookware, you can prep other items such as steak, salmon or wings.

The Blackstone Pizza Oven is sold with a stand and includes a pizza peel, but all other pizza-making tools and accessories are sold separately.

Blackstone Pizza Oven Features

The Blackstone Pizza Oven is sold either with a stand or a mobile cart. These units are crucial because of the design of the powerful, heavy pizza oven. While this means that the pizza oven takes up more space, the wheeled cart is helpful for moving the pizza oven around your backyard and patio. The oven can also sit on a heat-safe countertop or table, but because of its weight, it’s likely that two people will need to move it together.

The burner is very powerful, putting out a lot of heat. This makes it so the pizza oven’s exterior gets quite hot as well. Even standing two feet away from the front of the oven, you can feet the heat. This burner makes a significant difference in cooking pizzas because the small live flame is housed underneath and to the side of the pizza stone. It eliminates the need to worry about whether the crust of your pizza will touch a live flame.

The rotating stone is operated by a small motor which can be powered by either plugging it in or using batteries. For those who are new to making pizzas in an outdoor oven, it could be a useful tool, eliminating the need to think about turning as often. However, it sill is necessary to stand and watch pizzas cook because the high heat cooks them very fast.

How We Tested It

Set-Up and Assembly

The Blackstone Pizza Oven is incredibly heavy, weighing 140 pounds once assembled with the stand. The assembly is definitely best with two people, especially once it’s time to position the pizza oven onto the stand. To get the pizza oven ready for use, you have to attach the feet, screw in the handles, attach pieces for the rotisserie to rotate the pizza stone and attach the motor. Building the stand requires quite a bit of assembly to build the walls and attach the wheels. Once the stand is built, simply lift the oven component on top. Overall, the assembly wasn’t too tricky, but it did take over an hour to put together and ready for use.

Lighting the Burner

For my first few uses, it took several tries to ignite and light the burner. Once I turned the ignition switch, I had to hold the dial in a specific spot to keep it lit long enough to maintain a flame. After a few tries, I got the hang of it, and this was no longer an issue. Once lit, I turned the heat regulator up to high to preheat the oven. The high-pressure burner is incredibly strong and puts out a lot of heat. It’s also surprisingly loud on high. Preheating the oven took only 15 minutes to reach 900 degrees.

Cooking

Looking at the built-in thermometer, the pizza oven was at 700 degrees. However, when I checked the temperature with an infrared thermometer to see what the stone was at, it was over 800 degrees. With the rotating pizza stone powered on, I launched my pizzas into the oven with no issues. The wide opening makes it simple, especially for 12-inch pizzas. The pizza stone rotates throughout the cooking process, which only takes 60 to 90 seconds depending on the toppings used for each pizza tested. This rotation eliminates the need for a pizza turner, making for even browning. The fact that the pizza won’t come in contact with a live flame makes a difference as well.

While the pizzas I tested cooked beautifully on the crust and top, I did have an issue with the amount of char on the base of the crust. For all of the pizzas I make, in any pizza oven, I use coarse organic wheat flour, which helps to prevent the dough from sticking to the pizza. I used the same amount as I would for any other pizza oven. However, because of the incredibly high heat, I ended up with far more charring on the base of my crust than usual. For some, this isn’t an issue, but it does point to just how hot this pizza oven gets.

The high-pressure burner pumps out an incredible amount of heat, even while cooking with it on low. Once I let the pizza oven cool down for a bit, I had better luck cooking pizzas with less charring. The pizza peel included with the pizza oven also played a role in how much flour was transferred into the pizza oven while cooking. Blackstone sells a perforated pizza peel that would help with this issue significantly. It’s one of our favorite Blackstone accessories!

Pros

• Cooks 16-inch pizzas very quickly
• Unique rotating stoneno need for a turner!
• No live flame within the cooking space
• Comes with pizza peel, but may want to supplement it with a perforated peel

Cons

• Very heavy so it’s not conveniently portable
• Learning curve to maintain temperature

FAQ

How long does it take to cook a pizza in a Blackstone Pizza Oven?

The time it takes to cook a pie in a Blackstone Pizza Oven depends on the crust thickness and topping choices. For most pizzas, it will take 60 to 90 seconds to cook. You’ll be able to use your pizza cutter and grab a slice in no time.

Can you put a pizza oven on a Blackstone Griddle?

Blackstone sells another type of pizza oven that can be used with a Blackstone Griddle. The conversion kit sits on top of a griddle to transfer and retain heat, allowing you to cook pizzas on a stone within the chamber. The stand-alone Blackstone Pizza Oven cannot sit on top of a griddle.

What else can you cook in a Blackstone Pizza Oven?

While the Blackstone Pizza Oven is designed for cooking pizzas at high temperatures, you can use this addition to the backyard to cook just about anything. You can put a cast iron pan in the pizza oven and cook steaks, burgers, chicken wings and salmon.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

Blackstone lovers are shouting praises for this pizza oven. Reviewer Ray says there was a bit of a learning curve at first, but now the oven is cooking amazing pizzas. “Installation of the pizza oven was simple but give yourself time to not rush through this process as it will save you time having to go back and rebuild your oven. Directions were easy to understand. Have now cooked 10 to 12 pizzas and while there is a learning curve to get to that perfect pizza. Once you get you will experience amazing pizza. I have really enjoyed using my pizza oven. I know it is an investment but well worth it. Can’t wait to try other cooks!”

Reviewer Rick noted that this pizza oven is as close to plug-and-play as you can get. “With so many pizza ovens on the market right now I debated long and hard as to which one to purchase. Which fuel, what size, etc… Ultimately I decided that pizza night should be fun and not work so I chose this one. After a few Friday night pizza gatherings, I am confident that I made the right choice. This unit comes to temperature ready to cook in approx. 10 minutes and stays there with no tinkering needed. The rotating stone is fantastic as it allows you to be prepping the next pizza while the one in the oven is cooking evenly (without the constant turning).”

Product Comparison

The Blackstone Pizza Oven certainly heats up to high enough temperatures to cook delicious pizzas at home in just 60 seconds. However, in comparison to other popular pizza oven options on the market, it is a significantly different design. Ooni pizza ovens, Solo Stove and the Gozney Roccbox all use gas burners to produce a live flame on their pizza ovens. The heat from this flame radiates throughout the oven to heat up the stone and cook the top of a pizza.

The key difference with the Blackstone Pizza Oven is that it’s heated by a burner, which is located out of the way of the pizza stone, eliminating any worry about contact with a live flame. The rotation of the pizza stone is also unique to the Blackstone Pizza Oven design. This pizza oven produces similar results as others on the market, including Ooni pizza ovens. It has a no-fuss design so you don’t have to think as much about watching or turning your pizza while cooking.

Final Verdict

The Blackstone Pizza Oven is very different from the other pizza oven models I’ve tested. While Ooni, Gozney and Solo Stove are individually unique, each brand’s pizza oven is relatively similar in design with a live flame and a base pizza stone. Blackstone did something entirely different with its pizza oven design. For those looking for portability, this is not the best option out there. However, for those looking for a no-fuss pizza oven experience where you can rely on a rotating pizza stone to do much of the work for you, this is definitely a good fit. It’s also helpful for those who already love Blackstone griddles and want to complete their outdoor kitchen set-up.

Where to Buy the Blackstone Pizza Oven

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Blackstone Pizza Oven

Temperatures reach over 900 degrees and cook a pizza in as little as 90 seconds.

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The Blackstone Pizza Oven with a stand retails for $799 and can be found at Blackstone, Walmart, Lowe’s and BBQ Guys. Once it’s assembled, you’ll take a bite out of homemade pizza in no time!

The post Blackstone Pizza Oven Review: A Rotating Pizza Stone Churns Out Fuss-Free Pies in Minutes appeared first on Taste of Home.

This viral Trader Joe’s pizza uses all kinds of clever Trader Joe’s-specific toppings, which means you can pick up all the ingredients in one place. And if you frequent Trader Joe’s already, then some of them are probably in your refrigerator!

Is Trader Joe’s spicy pizza good for you?

Here’s the good news, pizza lovers: You could definitely consider this meal healthy. The fluffy bed of arugula on top gives you that fix of green. (It’s practically a salad, right?) Plus, a registered dietitian created the pizza.

@blaircooleydietitian Spend date night at home with us 🤍 if you like spicy, this ones for you! we love a Trader Joes recipe – this one is SO easy. If you dont like spice, omit the bamba sauce, use regular cured meats/prosciutto, and omit red pepper flakes – still delish 🤌 #traderjoesfoodreviews #traderjoesrecipe #traderjoesdatenight #traderjoesdatenightchallenge #traderjoeseasyrecipe #datenightathome original sound – Blair | Dietitian

The viral Trader Joe’s Pizza was the vision of Blair Cooley, a dietitian based in Houston. The recipe was part of her “date night in” and is a recipe she makes regularlyand her followers love it.

It’s important to note that “healthy” tends to be subjective; what’s healthy for one person may not be healthy for another. Keeping your meal balancedlike pairing a slice or two of pizza with a side saladwill help keep this meal nutritious.

How to Make the Viral Trader Joe’s Pizza

The original recipe creator didn’t set specific measurements for her Trader Joe’s pizza, so we’ve made some guesstimates on measurements for the ingredients. As always, feel free to make it your own by adding more or less of the toppings!

Ingredients

• Trader Joe’s Garlic and Herb Pizza Dough
• Cooking spray (olive oil or avocado oil)
• 1/2 cup Trader Joe’s Garlic Spread Dip
• 1/3 cup Trader Joe’s Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce
• 1 piece burrata, torn into pieces
• 4-6 Trader Joe’s Marinated Fresh Mozzarella balls, sliced in half
• 8-10 slices Trader Joe’s Spicy Uncured Charcuterie Selection
• 1/3 cup sliced roasted red bell peppers
• 1-2 handfuls fresh arugula
• 1-2 Tablespoons Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glaze
• Dash red pepper flakes

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Prep your oven to 450F. While the oven is preheating, find a 13×9-inch casserole dish. Cooley used a glass dish, but a ceramic or stainless steel one would also work.

Step 2: Prepare the dough

Spray the pan with cooking spray, then place your pizza dough on the pan. Using your fingers, dimple the dough until it spreads wide enough to cover the bottom of the pan, making room for those delicious toppings.

Editor’s Tip: It’s easier to work with dough that’s at room temperature. So before you even start, let your dough sit out for 30 minutes either in the packaging or in a clean bowl so it relaxes and warms up, making it easier to shape.

Step 3: Add your ingredients

Top your Trader Joe’s spicy pizza with all the toppings that will bake on the pizza (yes, there are more toppings after you bake to add as well). Start by spreading the Trader Joe’s Garlic Spread Dip so it covers the surface (leaving some room for a crust), followed by the Bomba sauce. Evenly spread out the torn burrata, sliced mozzarella, charcuterie meats (feel free to get creative with your selection!) and roasted bell peppers.

Step 4: Bake for 20 minutes

Place the pizza in the pan and bake it for 20 minutes. For a crispier crust, place your pan on the bottom rack of your oven.

Step 5: Top with fresh ingredients

Once the pizza is out of the oven, top it with handfuls of fresh arugula. Feel free to get generous! Then drizzle the top using Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glaze and a little bit of that marinated oil from the container of mozzarella balls. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes (the more you add, the spicier it gets!) then slice it up.

How to Make the Trader Joe’s Pizza Your Own

Try making your own dough

While Trader Joe’s does make weeknight pizza easier thanks to premade dough, you can try your hand at making your own crust with our pizza dough recipe.

Play around with the toppings

Cooley does use a lot of Trader Joe’s specific foods, but if you’re nowhere near a Trader Joe’s, that doesn’t mean you can’t try to make your own version of this viral pizza at home. Feel free to get creative with your toppingslike using ricotta cheese or a homemade pizza sauce. You could even skip the balsamic blaze and replace it with a spicy hot honey.

Use different meat combinations

This pizza uses an assortment of charcuterie fixings, but that doesn’t mean you have to use the same kinds. Cooley says prosciutto also works well with this recipe, a sweet soppressata or a spicy salami. Or simply keep the pizza vegetarian and skip the meat altogether.

Make it thin

Using a casserole dish makes a thicker pan pizza, but you could also attempt a thin crust pizza if that’s more your style. A pizza stone helps to cook a thin crust pizza easily. Prep the pizza on a large piece of parchment paper and slide it onto a preheated pizza stone for a crispy and evenly cooked pie.

TikTok Recipes You Need to Try

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Tortilla Wrap

Don't fuss around with folding a wrap ever again. Just use this clever wrap hack! Portion out four toppings and place each one in a corner of your tortilla. Then, fold clockwise and cook. When ready to serve, slice in half for a nice and tidy wrap. For more inspiration, check out our sandwich wrap recipes to make this trend your own.Go to Recipe

TikTok Spaghetti

Similar to million-dollar spaghetti, this TikTok recipe uses a blend of Alfredo and pasta sauce and a generous amount of mozzarella cheese for a ooey-gooey dish. Ground beef is added to the mix with dashes of pepper and chili flakes and bits of garlic and onions, making for the perfect pasta.Go to Recipe

Feta Fried Eggs

You'll only need a few ingredientsavocado, eggs, feta, seasoning, a tortilla and limeto make this TikTok egg breakfast. Start by heating a pan on the stove, then sprinkle feta cheese around the edges and crack an egg in the middle. Cook the egg as you typically would for a fried egg, then serve it over a tortilla with smashed avocado. It's so quick and easy to make, you'll definitely want to add it to your breakfast rotation.Go to Recipe

Chamoy Pickles

If you haven't tried this TikTok recipe for flavored pickles, you're missing out! Fill a jar halfway with pickle juice, add in pickles and pour in chamoy sauce. Then add a few sprinkles of Tajin seasoning, mango powder and Tapatio hot sauce before closing the jar and giving it a good shake. These pickles will need to marinate for at least seven days, but when they're ready, you'll be in for a sweet, sour and spicy treat!Go to Recipe

French Onion Soup Potatoes

If your favorite way to warm up in the winter is with a big bowl of French onion soup, then you'll rave over these potatoes. This recipe takes roasted potato slices and tops them with Gruyere cheese and onions caramelized with red wine. It's a starchy replica of the traditional soup you'll be seriously impressed with.Take noteyou'll need an hour to caramelize the onions, but it's very worth it.Go to Recipe

Butter Board

If you find yourself making plenty of charcuterie boards, you're sure to love butter boards, too. Instead of filling up a board with cured meats, cheeses and crackers, you spread softened butter as your base, sprinkle on fresh herbs, salt and other seasonings, and serve with warm bread or crostini for scooping. Just make sure you start with one of our Test Kitchen's picks for the best butter brands.Go to Recipe

Whipped Coffee

While everyone was hunkering down early in the pandemic, many turned to TikTok to cure their boredom. Dalgona coffee, also known as whipped coffee, became an overnight sensation because it takes only three simple ingredients to make and it's creamy and delicious.Whipped coffee became so popular, in fact, that there are many riffs on it, like whipped nutella, whipped matcha, whipped hot chocolate and whipped strawberry milk. Once you've mastered the original, try one of these whipped coffee variations.Go to Recipe

Kit-Kat Cheesecake

One bite into this Kit-Kat cheesecake and you'll see what all the hype is about. Surrounded by a Kit-Kat "crust" ring and topped with crumbled candies, it's every Kit-Kat lover's dream. The cream cheese filling complements the decadent, chocolatey goodness of the sweets. Here are more easy cheesecake recipes to keep in mind once you've eaten up every slice.Go to Recipe

Parmesan-Crusted Potatoes

If you love the little cheese skirt you'll sometimes find around foods such as burgers, burritos and even dumplings, you'll love Parmesan-crusted potatoes.Begin by "crusting" your cookie sheet: Sprinkle a full layer of grated Parmesan cheese on a baking sheet. Then, put halved potatoes right on top and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. The potatoes will come out crispy, cheesy and with the thin crunch of that cheese skirt we all know and love.Go to Recipe

Pancake Cereal

Pancake cereal proves that anything bite-sized is worth the hype. The Naughty Fork combined two breakfast favorites to create this unique breakfast dish that wowed. No need for milk with this cereal, thoughjust pour a little maple syrup over it to enjoy. And if you don't feel like making your own pancake cereal, you can pick up a boy of Belgian Boys pancake cereal at Target.Go to Recipe

Grinder Sandwich

The best kinds of sandwiches are loaded ones, and this grinder sandwich is definitely one of them. Start with Italian bread topped with plenty of cheese and several kinds of meat, and toast to perfection. Next, add a chopped salad mixture tossed in a homemade mayo-based dressing. Then, sandwich and enjoy! The combination and contrast of the hot, crusty bread and the cold crunch of the salad makes every bite of this sandwich truly top-tier.Go to Recipe

Salmon and Rice Bowl

Dress up leftover salmon with this easy salmon and rice bowl recipe from Emily Mariko, a lifestyle blogger and TikTok creator. Microwave shredded salmon and leftover rice, then top with soy sauce, Sriracha, Kewpie mayo, avocado slices, kimchi and seaweed snacks to make it a full meal.Go to Recipe

Cloud Bread

I'm sure you've seen this TikTok trend floating around the internet, or maybe you've even whipped it up in your own kitchen. Not to be confused with keto cloud bread, TikTok's viral cloud bread recipe is a heavenly creation of its own. By using only three ingredients, you can make this colorful bread in 25 minutes flat.Go to Recipe

Baked Salad

If you're a salad lover, baked salad is right up your alley. The invention by Justine Snacks is just like it sounds: Veggies like kale and cabbage are baked and tossed with a warm, homemade dressing and something to give it some crunch, like quinoa. When you make your own, consider adding any of these roasted veggies to your mixture.Go to Recipe

Cheese-Wrapped Pickles

Cheese-wrapped pickles are the perfect late night snack for pickle lovers. Plus, they only take a few minutes to make: Heat up a slice of cheese in a frying pan until it gets melty, place a dill pickle spear in the center, and wrap the cheese around the pickle. Voila! A hot, cheesy and quick snack with a little tang. This might be one of our new favorite ways to eat pickles.Go to Recipe

Twisted Bacon

Think you've already found the crispest bacon recipe yet? Think again! While there are many ways to cook bacon, ultra-crispy twisted bacon is one of our favorites. It's the perfect on-the-go snack, or way to make bacon seem a little bit more elegant at your next brunch get-together.Go to Recipe

Kool-Aid Pickles

"Koolickles," or Kool-Aid pickles, change the pickle-eating game. Kool-Aid powder transforms tangy dill pickles (either spears or chips) into a sweet and sour treat that's absolutely crave-worthy. It'll be hard to eat just one.Go to Recipe

Oreo Sushi

If Oreo sushi is the wrong way to eat an Oreo, we don't want to be right. This sweet treat mimics rolled ice cream and only uses two ingredients. Dunk into a "soy sauce" (chocolate sauce or milk) before taking a bite.Go to Recipe

Sugo

Did you know "sugo" is the word for sauce in Italian? Thissugo recipe is sure to make your pasta extra flavorfulespecially if you doctor it up to your liking with fresh basil, quality olive oil and the perfect amount of red pepper flakes. Pair it with homemade pasta for a fully from-scratch dish.Go to Recipe

Healthy Coke

We're not convinced this drink dubbed "healthy Coke" actually tastes like Coke, but it sure looks like it. Check out these recipes with Coca-Cola if you have actual soda that needs using up.Go to Recipe

Garden Focaccia

This viral TikTok trend was another born during the early days of the pandemic when everyone was trying out new all-day baking projects to pass the time. Beautiful breads, like this garden focaccia from Diane Morrisey, were taking over For You Pages everywhere during the spring of 2020. Not only are their designs inspiring, but they're made of edible ingredients, so nothing goes to waste.Go to Recipe

Corn Ribs

Hearing the name corn ribs may make you raise your eyebrows at first, but we promise you that they're to die for. To make corn into "ribs,"cut each ear into four piecesthat's what gives them their rib shape. Then, you can serve them the traditional way, with a smoky elote-inspired sauce, or on their own.Go to Recipe

Matcha Martini

If you love matcha, you're sure to love matcha martinis. Typically made with prepared matcha, vodka, white chocolate liqueur and simple syrup, the drink has a striking color and a sweet taste that's sure to get you hookedespecially if you need a little boost of caffeine for the evening.Go to Recipe

Crispy Rice Sushi Waffles

Crispy rice sushi waffles use leftover sushi rice and turn it into crispy "waffles" topped with spicy salmon avocado and other sushi-esque toppings. If you crave sushi or apoke bowl every now and then, this recipe is for you.Go to Recipe

Bacon-Wrapped Pickles

Here's another bacon-wrapped recipe to add to your recipe book. Bacon-wrapped pickles will be a sure-fire hit at your next party or get-together. And thankfully, TikTokers have not only created a recipe for your smoker, but for your air fryer, too.Go to Recipe

Ramen Lasagna

Give pasta night a new twist and replace those lasagna noodles with a handful of ramen. The kids will love this one, and you'll love how easy it is to put together. Next, think outside the packet with this ramen slider recipe.Go to Recipe

Hot Cocoa Bombs

Hot cocoa bombs work similarly to bath bombs: Just pour hot water (or milk) over the hot cocoa bomb to make it melt. Most hot cocoa bombs release all sorts of goodies once melted, like mini marshmallows and sprinkles. They're a perfect addition to a hot chocolate board.Go to Recipe

Mac and Cheese

Sure, it may look like your usual Kraft Mac and Cheese, but this viral mac and cheese hack has changed the way we prep our mac and cheese forever. The key step? No straining. Add all your fix-ins directly with the noodles as they cook to give it an extra-creamy consistency.Go to Recipe

Adult Capri Suns

These super-sized adult Capri Sun drinks are about to be your drink of the summer. Using a bag of frozen fruit and a splash of summery wine, this summer cocktail couldn't be any easier to make. Don't forget to poke a hole through the bag for some extra nostalgia. Try out these Capri Sun popsicles next.Go to Recipe

Taco Pickles

Taco seasoning and a jar of dill pickles are a match made in heaven, and you'll see why if you make this recipe yourself. Taco pickles are a great afternoon snack or spicy side for your sandwich lunch.Go to Recipe

Chicken Tacos

Cheap, easy and oh-so-delicious, this chicken taco recipe was made for the college student in your life (or any beginner chef, for that matter). These tacos only need one pan and a handful of ingredients to make. You prep and assemble everything in the same pan that you cooked the meat inwhich is why the shell gets crunchy and delicious.Go to Recipe

Vegan Bacon

If you follow a vegan diet, you know it's hard to find the right meat substitute for bacon. It's difficult to get that crunchy texture and smoky flavor. That's where vegan bacon steps in to satisfy any bacon hankerings. The surprise ingredient, you ask? Carrots!Go to Recipe

Malibu Pineapples

Boozy pineapples? Count us in. Soak a jar of pineapples in Malibu rum overnight for a tropical snack that will take you straight to the tropics. Enjoy the Malibu pineapples as is, coated in toasted coconut or in a rum cocktail.Go to Recipe

Air-Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Move over, skillet cookies. There's a new cookie in town (and it takes less than half the time and effort). This giant air-fryer cookie recipe takes a mere 10 minutes to achieve that crispy, gooey texture you get from most skillet cookie recipes. Plop a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top when you're ready to serve.Go to Recipe

Creamy Lemonade

Pour yourself a tall glass whipped lemonade to beat the heat. This stuff is a level up from what you get at the lemonade stand. Whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk give it that frothy, mouthwatering taste and texture.Go to Recipe

3-Ingredient Fettuccine Alfredo

You'll never make fettuccine Alfredo any other way after you try this simple Alfredo recipe that uses salted butter and Parmigiano Reggiano. Simply toss the fettuccine in this 2-ingredient sauce for a restaurant-worthy dish.Go to Recipe

Flamin' Hot Cheeto Salad

Salad is a term I'll use loosely here, but nonetheless, this Flamin' Hot Cheeto salad has gotten rave reviews online. Made up of hot Cheetos, cilantro, cucumber, hot sauce and lemon juice, this salad is for those who like a little kick. And since it's so simple, there's plenty of room to customize with other toppings and mix-ins.Go to Recipe

Smoked Cream Cheese

Fire up the grill for a show-stopping cheesy appetizer that'll please the whole family. Smoked cream cheesecoated in pecans and a BBQ rubpractically melts in your mouth after it's done cooking in your smoker. Haul out the Ritz crackers and dive right in.Go to Recipe

Cowboy Butter

Once you make cowboy butter, you'll want to pair it with everything (it goes particularly well with steak). In addition to butter, the recipe calls for lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard and plenty of spices like chile flakes, paprika, parsley and chives.Go to Recipe

White Claw Slushies

Raise a toast to this chilly, refreshing cocktail. This adults-only White Claw slushie is basically begging to be at your next pool party or outdoor barbecue. Put a pack of black cherry White Claws to good use by blending up this recipeor, swap in any of your favorite White Claw flavors.Go to Recipe

Air-Fryer Oreos

This is a hack that you wish you would've run into sooner. Create this state fair food right in your own kitchen with a TikTok air-fryer Oreos recipe. Since they use an air fryer, they're a bit on the healthier side than the deep-fried ones you find at your local fair.Go to Recipe

Breakfast Sandwich

Make your mornings even breezier with this TikTok breakfast sandwich. The trick here is to pour two whisked eggs onto your skillet, then dip two slices of bread into that mixture. Once cooked, flip them over and onto each other to make your sammy. We recommend adding a few slices of bacon and some melted cheese. Easy-peasy!Go to Recipe

Whipped Brown Butter

Browned butter is something that gives your blondies and chocolate chip cookies a little extra depth of flavor. But when you make whipped browned butter, you get that extra flavor and an irresistible texture. Spread it on crostini, toast and anything that's made better with butter. If you're feeling adventurous, try whipping one of these homemade butter recipes.Go to Recipe

Ranch Pickles

Ranch lovers, rejoice! We've got a new concoction you have to try for yourself: ranch pickles. This snack is seriously addicting. If you've got some leftover ranch seasoning, use it up with one of these recipes that start with a packet of ranch dressing mix.Go to Recipe

Watermelon Pizza

Take a bite into summery flavor with this watermelon pizza recipe. Chamoy (a pickled fruit sauce) is the "tomato sauce," and lemon slices and tajin seasoning make for some tasty "pizza toppings." Cut into slices for the full pizza dining experience. If you love this recipe, give this fruit pizza with mandarin oranges, blueberries and strawberries a try.Go to Recipe

Negroni Sbagliato

This drink became popular when an interview with actors from HBO's House of the Dragon were asked about their favorite cocktails. Afterward, everyone wanted to try the negroni sbagliato for themselves. It's even better with prosecco in it (IYKYK). Stunning!Go to Recipe

Pickled Garlic

Pickled garlic is your new go-to if you don't have any kimchi at home. TikTok creator @Lalaleluu made this recipe after she moved away from her Korean neighbor who frequently gave her a supply of homemade kimchi. She swears this is the next best thing.Go to Recipe

Oreo Mug Cake

Oh, mug cakeswe love you. The convenience, the simplicity, the ooey-gooey middle. With this Oreo mug cake recipe it takes just a minute to turn a handful of crushed Oreos and a splash of milk into a decadent treat.Go to Recipe

Frozen Grapes

Here's a riff on the fan-favorite cotton candy grapes. Using your favorite powdered Jell-O mix and a bag of green grapes, you can make this snackable sweet. And if you're a WW member, this guy can be a 0-point treat if you use sugar-free Jell-O mix. For another delicious TikTok grapes recipe, try out air-fryer grapes.Go to Recipe

Crunchy Bread

Crunchy bread...the best thing since sliced bread. Just pick up a loaf of classic white bread (or experiment with sourdough, wheat or pumpernickel), douse in whisked egg and fry on your stovetop. Perfect for French toast or monkey bread!Go to Recipe

"Snickles"

TikTokers swear that you shouldn't knock this recipe until you try it. "Snickles" are exactly what they sound like. Slice a big dill pickle down the middle and place a candy bar inside for a tangy, yet sweet, snack.Go to Recipe

Turkey-Shaped Sourdough Bread

Here's a festive turkey-shaped bread perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner. You can easily customize this TikTok recipe for other holidays and celebrations as well. Shape the bread as a pumpkin for fall or a wreath for Christmas.Go to Recipe

Vodka Butter

Who would have thought to put vodka and butter together? The inventive condiment is a fun twist on regular butter for spreading on crostini, baguette or even a butter board. We recommend pairing a swipe of vodka butter on a slice of rye bread with pickles or capers.Go to Recipe

Fondant Potatoes

Also known as melting potatoes, fondant potatoes simply melt in your mouth. Cut then into 1-inch slices, sear and then bake for about 30 minutes to get a potato that has a crunch on the outside and a tender, flavorful inside.Go to Recipe

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Cakes

Looking for a healthy alternative to your favorite candy bar? Grab rice cakes, peanut butter, bananas and melted chocolate for a healthier (and bigger!) take on Reese's peanut butter cups. Once your peanut butter cup rice cakes are gone, here are more peanut butter and chocolate desserts to sate that sweet tooth.Go to Recipe

Air-Fryer Bagel Chips

Instead of slicing a bagel like usual, cut it vertically into little bites to make air-fryer bagel chips. Spritz each one with cooking spray, season with a little salt, air-fry and that's it! TikToker Gigi Madanipour suggests serving them with a sour cream and yogurt dip made with Everything But the Bagel seasoning from Trader Joe's. Yum!Go to Recipe

Green Goddess Salad

Yes, green goddess salad dressing has been around for quite some time, but creator Baked by Melissa made her own take that went viraland for good reason. The key is chopping up the veggies small enough that you can eat it like a dip. Scoop it up with tortilla chips.Go to Recipe

One-Pot French Onion Pasta

Another food trend you'll spot in TikTok recipes is cooking pasta in liquids other than water. It can make the noodles more flavorful and saves you a dirty dish to clean! This one-pot French onion pasta recipe cooks the noodles in the same pot as the caramelized onions, in a combination of stock and water so all of the flavors meld together nicely.Go to Recipe

Pizza Soup

TikTok's @brunchwithbabs makes your favorite comfort food in soup form. Many of the same pizza toppingsyou'd put on a homemade pizza are ingredients in this pizza soup, such as pizza sauce, Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese and more. This is just one of the pizza-inspired recipes we love.Go to Recipe

Air-Fryer Pizza Sticks

Although string cheese is already great on its own, level it up by turning it into air-fryer pizza sticks. Roll halved tortillas around string cheese, sprinkle with Trader Joe's pizza seasoning, and air-fry until crispy and golden.Go to Recipe

Meringue Animals

Who needs marshmallows when you can have cutesy animal-shaped meringues in your hot cocoa? TikToker Amy's Kitchen creates little piggies to float in a drink, along with dinosaurs, dogs and whatever else her followers request. Follow our meringue tips to make your own and use food coloring to create your critters.Go to Recipe

Crispy Potatoes

This tasty TikTok potato recipe relies on a little bit of food science, a few pinches of salt and a couple of Yukon Gold potatoes to get an ultra-crispy texture. Season with Old Bay, paprika, black pepper, Maldon salt and a few sprigs of rosemary for the perfect potato side for garlic-butter steak or a bowl of soup.Go to Recipe

Pancake Spaghetti

You've heard of pancake cerealhow about pancake spaghetti? Drizzle thin strips of batter from your favorite brand of pancake mix on a hot griddle and let them cook until you've got pancake spaghetti! Top with powdered sugar and maple syrup or your choice of jam and chopped fruit.Go to Recipe

Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream

As if cinnamon rolls weren't delicious enough! Pour heavy whipping cream on store-bought cinnamon rolls before baking to make them even moister, since the cream is absorbed by the cinnamon roll dough. Try making cinnamon rolls with heavy cream next time you've got an impromptu brunch to host or attend.Go to Recipe

Creamy Ramen Noodles

Watery ramen is a thing of the past thanks to this ramen TikTok hack. Combine mayo and eggs to create a creamy sauce for this classic noodle dish. Our suggestion? Add sauteed veggies and a protein (like chicken or tofu) for additional flavor.Go to Recipe

Whiskey Pickles

Joining the lineup with ranch pickles, taco pickles and Kool-Aid pickles...whiskey pickles. The TikTok recipe uses Jameson and zesty dill pickles, but you could experiment with different types of whiskey and different kinds of pickles to make your own whiskey pickles overnight.Go to Recipe

Clear Potato Chips

Next time you boil a pot of potatoes for your favorite mashed potato recipe, save the potato water to makeclear potato chips. While these definitely take a little extra work, this science experiment of a recipe will be worth the impressed looks on your friends' faces. It may be one of the most unique potato recipes you'll try.Go to Recipe

Prosecco Vodka Grapes

You've heard of soaking gummy bears in champagne or vodka, but have you heard of soaking grapes? These prosecco vodka grapes soak overnight in a mixture of the two. Once you roll them in sugar, you can eat them as garnishes or as a sweet treat. We could see these as a super fun bridal shower recipe.Go to Recipe

Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups

Next time you make tomato soup, serve these grilled cheese roll-upsinstead of a regular grilled cheese sandwich. Flatten out a piece of bread, load it up with cheese and roll it up, sealing the edge with melted butter. Toast it in a skillet and voila!Go to Recipe

3-Ingredient Ice Cream

Sometimes an ice cream hankering hits faster than you can get to the store. If you've got sweetened condensed milk, cream and some sort of flavor add-in at home, then you can make this 3-ingredient ice cream recipe when the moment strikes. Mix in whatever you're cravingfrom traditional vanilla to chocolate caramel cheesecaketo make your customizable ice cream.Go to Recipe

Crunchy Croissant

If you're lucky enough to have leftover croissants, this TikTok recipe flattens and caramelizes them, making them crunchy and perfect for an ice cream sandwich. Be sure you're using day-old croissantsyou don't want to waste a buttery, fresh pastry by flattening it! If you still have some left over when you're done, put the rest of the pastries to use in these recipes using croissants.Go to Recipe

Parmesan-Crusted Carrots

These Parmesan-crusted carrots will quickly become your new go-to carrot recipe. Make them with the recommended honey mustard dip and, all of a sudden, carrots will be your favorite vegetable.Go to Recipe

Miso Pasta

If you're a fan of miso in dishes like miso soup and miso ramen, you'll love miso pasta. The miso-butter sauce brings an unexpected level of umami to pasta. Top it with roasted seaweed or sesame seeds.Go to Recipe

Marry Me Chicken

This TikTok recipe is delicious enough that it'd be worth marrying the cook for! Make this "marry me" chicken recipe if you're looking to snag a last-minute Valentine, or simply to impress your honey with a mouthwatering meal.Go to Recipe

Pizza French Toast

Put extra hot dog buns or long rolls to use by making pizza French toast. Cut the buns into slices and put pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni between two. Coat the mini sandwiches in the egg mixture like you would for regular French toast, pan fry and serve with pizza sauce. Talk about a savory breakfast!Go to Recipe

The post How to Make the Trader Joe’s Pizza That’s Taking Over TikTok appeared first on Taste of Home.

An outdoor pizza oven is not only the ideal tool for making delicious homemade pizza, but it’s also fun to use. Nothing beats a pizza night on the deck or in the backyard with friends and family. And I’ve hosted them countless times with my Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven.

As a professional baker and pizza oven enthusiast, I’ve tested six different pizza oven options on the market including Solo Stove, the Ooni Volt and the Ooni Karu 12G. I’ve owned the Ooni Koda for over a year now. This is definitely one of the top ovens I go back to every time I’m cooking pizzas.

What is the Oona Koda 16?

The Ooni Koda 16 is a gas-powered pizza oven. It has a connecting gas hose that hooks up to a small propane tank like your regular home barbecue. The exterior of the pizza oven is covered with a powder coating. This gives it a sleek design while also making it weather-resistant. The oven reaches incredibly high temperatures and has plenty of space to cook homemade pizzas. You can also use this versatile oven for cooking with cast iron for a variety of other meals.

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Ooni Koda 16

This gas-powered outdoor pizza oven reaches up to 950 degrees and is designed for large pizzas, meats, fish and vegetables.

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Ooni Koda 16 Features

The Koda 16 is constructed from carbon steel, which makes it incredibly durable. My oven actually accidentally fell out of a truck during a move and it was perfectly fine. The thick steel creates great insulation to keep heat in, and the wide opening at the front makes it easy to turn pizzas.

This is one of the largest pizza ovens in the Ooni line-up, so it’s not ideal for someone hoping to save on space. However, that extra space inside always comes in handy for me, and at just under 40 pounds, it’s still movable to be able to store or even take out for tailgating.

The cordierite stone provides a beautiful cooking surface, and it heats up quickly to allow for that fast 30-second cook on the base of the pizza. From there, I turn it a few times to cook the toppings and finish the crustit only takes about 90 seconds to fully cook a pizza from launch to finish. Once cooked, I like to pull the pizza out of the oven and let it rest for a minute or two before grabbing my pizza cutter and digging in.

How We Tested It

Set-Up

The Ooni Koda 16 is one of the easiest pizza ovens to set up. It shipped in a large cardboard box with plenty of padding. Once it arrives, all you have to do is open the box and pull the entire unit out. Extend the three folding legs, unwrap and gently place the cordierite stone inside. Attach the gas hose and you’re ready to fire it up! Set up the oven on a heat-safe surface for cooking. Ooni recommends a seasoning process for the first use of your oven. I lit my oven and let it sit on high heat for 30 minutes before using it.

Lighting the Pizza Oven

The Ooni Koda 16 has an ignition and temperature dial on the side of the oven. Once the gas tank is flowing, it’s quick and simple to turn the knob to ignite the burner. However, it’s important to stand to the side of the oven rather than in frontyou’ll keep clear of the rush of heat that comes out. Once the oven is lit, I keep it on high to allow it to preheat for 20 minutes. I like to cook my pizzas right around 750 degrees, so I always let the stone heat up accordingly and check the temperature with an infrared thermometer to make sure it’s hot enough before the first launch.

Cooking Pizzas

The Ooni Koda 16 was the first pizza oven I ever used, and there was a bit of a learning curve at the beginning. It’s crucial to prep the dough with plenty of semolina or flour to keep it from sticking to the pizza peel. However, you don’t want too much of that flour going into the pizza oven and burning the bottom of your pie. To avoid that, I always use a perforated pizza peel, which lets the excess flour slide out before launching the pizza.

Once a pizza is in the oven, it takes about 30 seconds for the bottom of the crust to set, thanks to the heat of the pizza stone. I always cook with my flame on medium for better flexibility. The Ooni Koda 16 has an L-shaped burner, so the live flame is only on the left and back of the oven. I have found this design makes it much simpler to cook and turn your pizza without having to worry too much about burning it. The extra cooking surface area definitely helps out with that, allowing you to keep the pizza in the heat while avoiding the live flame.

Cooking Other Items

While pizza is the number one food I cook in my Ooni Koda 16, I’ve also used this oven for a variety of other things. I’ve cooked apple crisps in this oven in a cast iron skillet, as well as used it to make incredibly juicy burgers and flavorful chicken. This can also be achieved in the Koda 12, but I’ve found that the extra surface area of the Koda 16 makes it that much easier.

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Gas-powered for ease of use
• Reaches 950 degrees
• 16-inch cooking area provides plenty of space
• Durable carbon steel construction with folding legs

Cons

• Pizza tools and Ooni accessories sold separately
• Learning curve at first with the live flame

FAQ

Is the Ooni 16 better than the 12?

While I haven’t tested the Ooni Koda 12 on my own, I have tested other 12-inch Ooni models. I love the functionality of the electric Ooni Volt, or choosing between gas and wood in the Ooni Karu 12G. However, the extra cooking space in the Koda 16 makes all the difference to me. You can certainly still make smaller pizzas, but the extra room makes for easy turning or for placing a cast iron skillet or griddle in the oven.

Can I use the Ooni 16 indoors?

Use the Ooni Koda 16 for outdoor use only. It is fueled by gas from a propane tank, which should not be utilized indoors. The Ooni Volt is the only model from Ooni that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Using the Ooni pizza steel is another great option for indoor cooking.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

Curious what others have to say about the Ooni Koda 16? Verified Amazon purchaser Stewart Fox said it’s a great pizza oven. “This is a terrific product. First, it came very well packaged. There is virtually no setup. It’s easy to use, cooks pizzas very fast and they come out great. The first pizza I made came out good, by the fourth, they were coming out perfect. Really happy with this product. Highly recommended.”

Another five-star reviewer, Chris, noted that it has become part of a pizza tradition at his house. “My kids and I regularly make mini pizzas on this thing. It’s easy to operate and works great. There’s a bit of a learning curve when making pizza, but the oven part of it was easy and reliable and fun.”

Product Comparison

The Ooni pizza oven line-up includes two options with a 16-inch cooking area. The Ooni Karu 16 allows for cooking with wood, charcoal and gas, while the Ooni Koda 16 allows for cooking with gas only. There’s a bit more of a learning curve with the other models, especially due to the flame placement and if you plan to cook with other fuel sources. If you’re hoping for ease of use, gas is the simplest. You get temperature and flame regulation for perfectly cooked pies.

The Ooni Koda 12 and Ooni Koda 16 are virtually the same. The main differences are portability and the cooking area. The Koda 16 offers better versatility to move food around in the oven without being confined, ultimately making it simpler to use. Other brands such as the Solo Stove Pi Prime and Cuisinart pizza oven are highly rated by our team of reviewers, but they still have a smaller cooking surface area.

Final Verdict

If you’re searching for a pizza oven to add to your backyard or patio setup, the Ooni Koda 16 is a great option. Because of its 16-inch cooking area, it is easier to use than many other models, whether you’re cooking pizzas or using it for other foods. Cooking with gas allows for great heat regulation, overall resulting in the best pizza-making experience for beginners looking to hone their craft.

Where to Buy the Ooni Koda 16

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Ooni Koda 16

This gas-powered outdoor pizza oven reaches up to 950 degrees and is designed for large pizzas, meats, fish and vegetables.

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Ready to launch? While you may find a great pizza oven sale, the Ooni Koda 16 typically retails for $599 and can be purchased on Ooni’s website among other retailers. Once it arrives, all that’s left to do is gather your favorite pizza toppings!

The post Ooni Koda 16 Review: Our Expert Recommends This Beginner-Friendly and Versatile Pizza Oven appeared first on Taste of Home.

There are a number of brands on the market with high-quality outdoor pizza ovens including Solo Stoveand Cuisinart. But Ooni pizza ovens consistently top the list of bestsellers. Ooni makes several different pizza ovens to suit a variety of needs. While some people may be looking for true wood-fired flavor, others love the ease of using gas. If you’re shopping for an Ooni pizza oven, here are the best models to consider.

What are the differences between the Ooni pizza ovens?

While you could use a pizza steel in your kitchen’s oven, nothing compares to the texture and flavor of a homemade pie made in a pizza oven. Ooni sells a variety of models, each using different fuel sources.

It all boils down to finding the best fit for you. Consider your cooking needs and the space where you plan to set up and use your pizza oven. Some models use wood or hardwood pellets as a fuel source, some use gas and some allow you to switch back and forth between fuel sources depending on your desired taste and texture. The brand also makes an all-electric pizza oven to make pizza night even easier.

• Shop Ooni Koda Pizza Ovens
• Explore Ooni Karu Pizza Ovens
• Get the Ooni Fyra Pizza Oven
• Try the Ooni Volt Pizza Oven

All About Ooni Koda

• Gas fuel source
• Reaches 950 Degrees

The Ooni Koda is the brand’s highest-reviewed pizza oven with more than 6,000 reviews and four-plus stars. The Koda model is all gas-powered, so you can hook it up to a propane tank as the fuel source, just like a barbecue. Ooni sells both the Koda 16 for up to 16-inch pizzas, along with a smaller version, the Koda 12, for up to 12-inch pizzas.

The oven has a sleek design with a powder coating for weather resistance. Inside, there’s an L-shaped burner which is powered by connecting the gas hose to a tank and turning on the oven. A gas-powered oven eliminates the need to consistently feed the fire. Plus, it reduces the learning curve for beginners cooking pizza at home. Instead, you’ll have a constant flame that maintains high temperatures very well.

I use this oven at least once a week at home, and it has been thoroughly reviewed by the Taste of Home team with rave reviews. While the Koda 16 is more expensive due to its larger size, the Koda 12 is one of the most affordable options in the Ooni lineup.

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All About Ooni Karu

• Multi-fuel source (gas, wood, charcoal)
• Reaches 950 Degrees

The Ooni Karu is the most versatile model for cooking pizza in your backyard. It allows you to choose between cooking with gas, or you can power it with wood or charcoal. Ooni’s Karu 12 (which is on sale!) is a multi-fuel oven and is similar in design to the brand’s first pizza oven, but the Karu 12G is an improved version that is more fuel efficient and uses far less gas, while still reaching 950 degrees.

It has a built-in folding door to retain heat, along with an exterior thermometer to easily check the temperature. The flame in this oven is located in the back, which heats the stone and rolls up to the top of the oven. With the door closed, it creates the ideal environment for crisp crust. The Karu 16 is similar in design, but the Karu 12G allows for easier portability. There is a bit of a learning curve to cooking pizza with wood or charcoal as your fuel source, but luckily this model has the option to choose which works best for you.

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All About Ooni Fyra

• Wood-pellet fuel source
• Reaches 950 Degrees

The Ooni Fyra is one of the highest-rated pizza ovens on Amazon. It only comes in one sizethe Fyra 12 meant for making 12-inch pizzas. It utilizes hardwood pellets as the fuel source, which are consistently fed into a hopper to fuel the rolling flame in the back of the oven. Because of this design, it eliminates the need to constantly feed the flame with wood. It still reaches 950 degrees for optimal cooking, but the design makes it simpler to maintain heat, while still infusing wood-fired flavor.

The Fyra is modeled after Ooni’s first wood pellet-fueled portable pizza oven. It’s the brand’s smallest model and one of the most budget-friendly. And because it has three folding legs and only weighs 22 pounds, it’s ideal for transporting on-the-go so you can make pizza just about anywhere.

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All About Ooni Volt

• All-electric
• Reaches 850 Degrees

If you’re hoping for a pizza oven that allows you to make homemade pies both indoors and outdoors, the Ooni Volt is the right model for you. It has the highest price tag amongst Ooni’s line-up of pizza ovens, but after testing the Ooni Volt thoroughly, it’s worth the investment for those looking for ultimate versatility.

The oven is all-electric with a weather-resistant powder coating. You can plug it in on your deck or patio or use it inside your home kitchen. It has room inside for making 12-inch pizzas and heats up to 850 degrees incredibly fast thanks to great heat retention.

The front dial makes it simple to choose from a temperature range of 350 degrees to 850 degrees. And the heating controls let you adjust how much heat you want to reach your pie. It’s the brand’s easiest, most intuitive model to use and has an automatic shutoff feature after 45 minutes.

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FAQ

How good is an Ooni pizza oven?

Ooni pizza ovens are built for all-weather use and can be a great investment for pizza lovers or those interested in learning how to make pizza at home. Oonis have a one-year warranty, which extends to five years once you register the pizza oven. The brand also has an upgrade program that allows pizza oven owners to upgrade to a new oven for 20% off without trading in their old one.

Does Ooni really cook pizza in 60 seconds?

Ooni pizza ovens reach incredibly high temperatures after 15 to 20 minutes of preheating time. Depending on the model, they get as hot as 850 degrees to 950 degrees. With that high temperature, it is possible to cook a pizza in as little as 60 seconds. Depending on the pizza oven, your pizza dough and your chosen pizza toppings, it can take anywhere from 60 seconds to two minutes to fully cook a pie.

Can I leave my Ooni pizza oven outside?

All Ooni pizza ovens are meant for outdoor use on a regular basis. They feature a sleek, weather-resistant powder coating. Your pizza oven can certainly be left outside, but it is recommended to put a cover on it to keep it in tip-top shape. In harsh weather conditions, it’s best to store your oven indoors to prevent damage. Find more essential pizza-making tools and Ooni accessories.

The Bottom Line

Finding the best Ooni pizza oven model for you will be based on the amount of space you have to use your pizza oven, along with the preferred fuel source. If you want a wood-fired flavor, the Fyra or Karu models will be best. If you want to use gas-only, which is one of the simplest ways to cook pizza with great heat control, the Ooni Koda is the ideal fit. For the versatility of indoor and outdoor use, along with no need to control a live flame, the Ooni Volt is best.

Where to Buy Ooni Pizza Ovens

Ready to grab your pizza cutter and dig in? Ooni pizza ovens can be found on Amazon, Williams Sonoma, Walmart and Ooni’s website. Once your oven fires up, you’ll have fresh pizza on the table in no time!

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The post The Best Ooni Pizza Ovens: Which Model Is Right for You? appeared first on Taste of Home.

Funny enough, my qualifications for a great pizza oven are the exact same. It should be high in quality yet simple to use. Ninja products have certainly followed through on these criteria in the past (looking at you, Ninja Creami), so I was curious to see if the brand’s pizza oven would do the same. A couple weeks ago, I put the Ninja pizza oven to the test.

What is the Ninja Pizza Oven?

The Ninja pizza oven is more than just that. Technically called the Ninja Woodfire 8-in-1 Outdoor Oven, the workhorse can cook pizza, roast, smoke, broil, bake and even dehydrate. The electric oven is straightforward to use due to its heat source and reaches temperatures between 105 degrees and 700 degrees. Note: There’s the option to add pellets while cooking to infuse food with wood-fired flavor.

With the purchase, you receive the oven, as well as a pan, pizza stone, roast rack, pellet scoop, accessory frame and all-purpose blend starter pack.

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Ninja Pizza Oven Features

Pizza ovens are all the rage (peep these favorites from Amazon), so we were most interested in this appliance’s pizza-baking capabilities.

Conveniently, there are various preset options for pizza, including thin crust, New York style, deep dish, Neapolitan and even frozen. Each of these functions automates the oven temperature and cook time. For example, when cooking a pizza at 700 degrees, Ninja claims you can have an artisan-quality pie ready in just three minutes.

As stated above, the oven comes with a pizza stone, but Ninja has tons of other pizza accessories available to purchase separately. We jumped at the pizza peel, but the brand also offers an oven cover, cast-iron pizza pan, oven stand and branded wood pellets.

How We Tested It

The Ninja pizza oven is ready to use virtually straight from the box, so I got started ASAP. To remain true to the promised Ninja pizza oven experience, I made the Universal Pizza Dough from the included recipe booklet and prepared three Neapolitan pizzas, which baked at 700 degrees for three minutes.

Setup & Use

Because it’s electric, the pizza oven needs to be plugged in, so keep the fact that you need outdoor power in mind when purchasing. I did have success plugging it into an extension cord, however. The oven took about 20 minutes to preheat fully, which was easy to gauge because the digital screen had markers to track the heating progress. I kept the included pizza stone in the oven as it heated so the surface was nice and hot by the time I launched my ‘za.

To place the pizzas into and pull them from the oven, I used the Ninja pizza peel. The peel is made of thin nonstick metal and is perforated. Full disclosure: I found the perforations a little confusing because a significant amount of the semolina flour that I use to help slide the pizzas in and out of the oven fell through the holes. I would’ve preferred the peel to be solid.

That being said, my pizzas still successfully launched off the peel and cooked beautifully in the guaranteed three minutes. I cooked them back to back to back, proving that the electric oven stays hot and that there’s minimal sticking.

My recommendation when cooking Neapolitan pizza is to go easy on toppings. If the toppings are too heavy, they can slide off the crust and cause a greasy mess (which is also a fire hazard!). My simply dressed mozzarella-basil pizza and onion-pepperoni pizzas worked super well.

Cleaning

To clean the appliance, I let it cool for a few hours. Then I removed the pizza stone and cleaned it with hot water and a pan scraper. While the oven was empty, I brushed away the gunk and burnt-on bits with a work brush. After replacing the pizza stone, it was ready to go for round two.

Pros

• Electric-powered
• Compact and sturdy
• Cooked pizza well and within the promised time
• Maintained high temperatures
• Intuitive presets

Cons

• Requires cleaning after every use (per instructions)
• Somewhat messy launching process
• Can only handle small pizzas one at a time

FAQ

Which Ninja is best for pizza?

Ninja sells multiple products that can feasibly cook pizza, including the Smart Double Oven, Pro Air Oven and the All-in-One Multicooker, to name a few. That said, the Ninja outdoor oven is the only one intended for outdoor cooking, and it’s the only item that comes with a pizza stone and multiple pizza-centric presets.

What is the temperature range of the Ninja Woodfire?

The Ninja Woodfire temperature ranges from 105 degrees to 700 degrees. According to our test, the oven was able to successfully reach 700 degrees within about 20 minutes and stay there for the length of time it took to bake three pizzas.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

This Ninja pizza oven is newer to the scene, but its sleek appearance and impressive performance have already scored some great reviews.

Pizza Guy, unsurprisingly based on his username, has tried out several pizza oven models, and this one stands out. “New York-style pizza is my favorite, and this oven does not disappoint,” he says. “I have propane pizza ovens and can’t believe the bake on this oven is as good if not better. My new favorite pizza oven.”

Another five-star reviewer named Suzy21 loves the outdoor aspect of it all. “It’s been so nice to take our cooking outdoors, especially when we don’t want to heat up the house,” she says. “It’s been so fun to play with recipes and have friends over to see this new backyard centerpiece.”

And mrsbride fills in the blanks about the other functionalities of the Ninja Woodfire 8-in-1 Outdoor Oven, which we have yet to try. “I have made chicken, steak, ribs and all the veggies. It browns and sears beautifully,” she says. “As with all of my Ninja products, it delivers on its promises.”

Product Comparison

Most pizza ovens, such as the 3-in-1 Cuisinart Pizza Oven, Solo Stove Pi and Ooni Koda, are powered by gas. Others yet run on wood or charcoal. So, immediately the Ninja pizza oven stands out for its easy-to-use fuel source: electricity. Our Test Kitchen pros agree that, though outdoor power is needed, these types of pizza ovens are less finicky and more predictable. The gas ovens we’ve tested as a team have a hard time staying lit if the weather conditions aren’t just right.

A comparable outdoor pizza oven that does run on electricity is the Ooni Volt. That being said, the Volt is more single-use than the Ninja pizza oven. The former does get hotterup to 850 degrees, in factbut it’s also $1000, as opposed to the Ninja model which costs $400. Moreover, the Ninja pizza oven can cook up other delicacies beyond pizzas, perhaps making it a better investment for some. Psst! Keep an eye out for pizza oven sales.

Final Verdict

By and large, the Ninja pizza oven worked great. I would confidently say it’s more user-friendly and manageable than its gas-powered counterparts. And considering it’s an electric oven, the pizzas came out looking and tasting authentictotally up to par with what you’d expect from a wood-fired pizza. Plus, they really did cook in three minutes!

The preset pizza functions were helpful and took out any guesswork. And I love the idea of cooking with it outdoors during the summer to keep from turning on your indoor oven and, as a result, heating your home. Moreover, for its myriad functions, it’s quite affordable.

Where to Buy the Ninja Pizza Oven

The Ninja pizza oven is available for $400 from the Ninja website, as well as from Amazon and Target. The Ninja Creami might have just met its warm-weather match with this amazing new product from the brand. Crispy crust, here we come!

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The post Ninja Pizza Oven Review: The Electric Powerhouse Cooks Perfect Pies in Just 3 Minutes appeared first on Taste of Home.

I was never big on cooking pizza at home. Homemade pasta? Yes. Homemade pie crust? Absolutely. That is, until a few years back when I took a virtual class with Scott Wiener, the unofficial king of New York pizza. His workshop inspired and reinvigorated me in the kitchen, forever changing the way I view homemade pizza.

Preparing homemade pizza can be simple. You just need the right recipes and the right tools. Heck, my homemade pizza sauce is nothing more than crushed tomatoes mixed with salt, pepper and olive oil.And when it comes to the latter category, tools, I rely on my 3-in-1 Cuisinart pizza oven.

What is the 3-in-1 Cuisinart pizza oven?

The 3-in-1 Cuisinart pizza oven is an outdoor pizza ovenand then some. As the name suggests, this one-of-a-kind propane-fueled appliance has three functions. It includes a cast-iron griddle, cast-iron grill grate and 13-inch cordierite pizza stone that fits snugly between built-in pegs on the grill grate. Whichever surfaces aren’t in use can be neatly stowed underneath.

The griddle is perfect for delicacies like eggs, paninis and pancakes. And the grill grate has you covered for favorites such as steaks, sausages, vegetables and burgers. And the pizza oven function is pretty self-explanatory. In sum, it’s your one-stop pizza-making tool for outdoor cooking.

The squat appliance is 20 inches deep, 25 inches wide and a little more than 17 inches tall; it weighs 45 pounds. And on Amazon (where tons of pizza ovens are available), there’s the option to include a pizza peel and oven cover on your order.

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3-in-1 Cuisinart Pizza Oven Features

Pizza Stone

The pizza stone, made of cordierite, measures 13 inches in diameter. So, for reference, it can hold the standard small-size pie from a pizzeria or the typical frozen supermarket pizza. The stone’s natural material can withstand high temperatures without the threat of thermal shock, so it’s ideal for retaining and distributing heat.

Grill Grate

Grill grates are often made of stainless or porcelain-coated steel or cast iron. These grates, in particular, are made of cast iron, meaning they’re durable, produce impressive sear marks and distribute heat evenly. The 3-in-1 Cuisinart pizza oven boasts 260 square inches of grilling spaceyou’ll just want to make sure you season the surface before using it.

Griddle

Unless you have a Blackstone, it’s not often that you get to griddle outside! This cast-iron griddle offers 223 square inches of cooking space for any of your remaining culinary adventures. Think burgers, grilled cheese and omelets.

Lid

This clever lid/door does double duty. For grilling, the lid lifts from the bottom like normal. Or, when you’re cooking a pizza, keep the lid closed and use the flap door on the front to check the pie’s progress.

How We Tested It

To set up the pizza oven, I followed the manual’s instructions. There wasn’t so much “assembly” as there was fitting together pre-built parts. It was so easy and took only a few minutes. Then, I placed it on a safe, sturdy surfacea metal table in my backyardand connected it to a propane tank (not included) like I would any other gas grill.

I didn’t season the grill grates because I knew the pizza would go directly on the nonstick stone; I just went straight at it with the pizza. First, I preheated the oven, with the stone inside, while I prepared my pie directly on a pizza peel.

Then, I formed the homemade dough onto the peel. (I quickly found that this pizza oven was too hot for cornmeal, so skip sprinkling it underneath the dough.) Then, I added my aforementioned four-ingredient sauce (store-bought works too!), a handful of part-skim shredded mozzarella and my desired toppings of olives, red onions and pepperoni.

This oven got so hot so fast that I actually needed to turn the dial down to get the temperature gauge within the conveniently labeled “pizza” range. I then used a pair of tongs to shimmy the uncooked pizza off the peel and onto the already-sizzling stone. (You want the stone to be hot, hot, hot to immediately char the bottom crust.)

I ended up cooking my pie at about 600, and unlike a few super-speedy ovens, it took a few minutes to bake all the way through. No complaints hereI was able to grab a beer and sit down for a sec.

After enjoying some char-kissed slices, I waited for the oven to cool down. This took less than an hour. Once it was safe to the touch, I removed the pizza stone, rinsed it under hot water, removed any of the stuck-on bits with a nylon pan scraper and let it air-dry.

Of course, it didn’t go back onto the grates looking pristine, but that’s the sign of a well-loved pizza stone. Plus, much like a cast-iron skillet, it becomes increasingly nonstick with each use.

During the off-season or rainy weather, I store the pizza oven, covered and unhooked from the propane tank, in my garage. Otherwise, I leave it outdoors, out of reach from pets and children.

Pros

• Easily maneuverable door and temperature dial
• Modest price point
• Heats quickly and consistently
• Simple assembly
• Multi-functional grill, griddle and pizza oven

Cons

• Slightly longer cook time
• On the heavier and bigger side

FAQ

How long does it take to cook pizza in a Cuisinart pizza oven?

When cooking my pizzas at 600, they took about 3 minutes to bake. The cook time will vary depending on the temperature of the pizza oven and your preferred bake. (I like my crust extra browned and crispy!)

What temperature is the Cuisinart pizza oven?

The Cuisinart pizza oven gauge reads temperatures between 200 and 700. The ideal range for pizza, which is between about 525 and 650, is clearly marked. Furthermore, I was able to max out the temperature gauge and heat the oven to about 800, but I like to stay in the designated pizza zone.

Can you cook a frozen pizza in a Cuisinart pizza oven?

Yes, you can cook a frozen pizza in a Cuisinart pizza oven, though I’d recommend following the guidelines provided on the pizza’s packaging. If the directions say to bake the pizza at 425 for 12 minutes, then do that, rather than toying with the temperature and cook time. This is your safest bet for a yummy bite to eat.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

There are so many reasons to love the 3-in-1 Cuisinart pizza oven. Here’s a slice of what satisfied customers are saying.

Verified Amazon purchaser Chris McManus has ditched dining out thanks to this product. “I wasn’t sure if I was really going to like or use this,” he comments. “We’ve used it four out of five weeks. No more Blaze, Mod or Pieology. We’ve got it better at home.”

Another five-star reviewer has tried various types of pizza ovens, and this propane-fueled one is among his favorites. “So far, this is an awesome pizza oven,” Markie writes. “I’ve tried the pellet ones, and there is no comparison.”

And one pizza-lover with seven mouths to feed has gotten super creative with her use of the oven. “I don’t use the stone because we often make deep dish,” Kayla says. “We can fit two 9-inch rounds in the oven at a time, and the bottoms come out crispy every time. It was worth every penny.”

Product Comparison

I’ve tested three pizza ovens at this point. One ran on wood pellets, and the other two (i.e., this Cuisinart pizza oven and the Ooni Koda) ran on propane. The Cuisinart was my favorite for a few reasons.

Although setup of the two gas ovens was comparable, I felt the Cuisinart was a bit sturdier than the Ooni, which had collapsible legs that made me a little nervous. Moreover, the Ooni has open flames that feel a little intimidating to a novice pizza maker like me. I preferred the Cuisinart heating system, as it felt safer.

And let’s not forget the versatility! This pizza oven isn’t just a pizza oven like so many others on the market. It comes with a grill and griddle to fulfill all your outdoor cooking fantasies. Plus, it’s such a fair price, especially when you consider its multi-functionality. (Keep up with more pizza oven deals!)

Final Verdict

I have nothing but good things to say about the 3-in-1 Cuisinart pizza oven. In fact, I was hard-pressed to come up with a single con. The pizza it produced was incredible.

Although it takes up a bit of space (unavoidable!), it’s absolutely worth the couple hundred bucks if you’re big on entertaining, pizza or dining al fresco. Its multi-functionality softens the blow of its decent-sized footprint because, really, it’s the only cooker you need in your backyard. I’m hooked!

Where to Buy the 3-in-1 Cuisinart Pizza Oven

The Cuisinart pizza oven, which costs between $225 and $300, is available from multiple retailers: Amazon, Williams Sonoma, Walmart and Home Depot. When it comes to pizza ovens, trust this is the upper crust!

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The post We Tried the 3-in-1 Cuisinart Pizza Oven, and It Really Does Do It All appeared first on Taste of Home.

“With a history of bringing craveable food to consumers, our culinary team is always thinking of new and creative ways to expand our innovation pipeline,” said Lindsay Morgan, Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut, in a release. History and Pizza Hut go hand in hand. Did you know Pizza Hut is one of the oldest chain restaurants in the country?

What Are Pizza Hut’s New Cheesesteak Items?

Cheesesteak Pizza (starting at $13.99), with ingredients like sirloin steak strips, alfredo sauce, green bell peppers, and onion will be available as a medium or large-sized pizza with your choice of crust. Meanwhile, the Cheesesteak Melt (starting at $6.99) is a new crispy handheld Melt filled with melted cheese, sirloin steak strips, and loaded with savory toppings, baked in a crispy crust and served with ranch sauce for dipping.

“Using top-quality ingredients, these new Cheesesteak offerings deliver a unique taste profile with great value. Whether in our classic pizza form or the crispy handheld Melts, our new grilled sirloin steak is a must try,” said Morgan.

What Else Has Pizza Hut Rolled Out Recently?

News of the new Pizza Hut Cheesesteak follows the return of Pizza Hut’s Big New Yorker earlier this year. To promote that menu item, Pizza Hut teamed up with YouTuber Airrack to create the world’s largest pizza. That 14,000-square-foot pie was made with 13,653 pounds of dough, 4,948 pounds of pizza sauce, 8,800 pounds of cheese and 630,496 pieces of pepperoni.

Copycat Pizza Hut Recipes to Try

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Meatball PizzaI always keep meatballs and pizza crusts in the freezer to make this specialty on the spur of the moment. Add a tossed salad and you have a delicious dinner. Mary Humeniuk-Smith, Perry Hall, Maryland

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Savory Biscuit-BreadsticksI love to experiment in the kitchen with simple ingredients like refrigerated biscuits. The results are usually a big hitthese super fast breadsticks are an example. Billy Hensley, Mount Carmel, Tennessee

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Big Kahuna PizzaA prebaked pizza crust and refrigerated barbecued pork make this tasty supper idea super fast and super easy. Cut into bite-sized pieces, and it can double as a great last-minute appetizer, too! Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California

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Chicken-Pepper AlfredoWhen I want a lighter dinner, I use lean turkey bacon in this recipe. It gives the pasta that richness you want without all the extra fat. Courtney Harris, Denton, Texas

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Pepperoni Pan PizzaI've spent years trying to come up with the perfect pizza crust and sauce, and they're paired up in this recipe. I fix this crispy, savory pizza for my family often, and it really satisfies my husband and sons. Susan Lindahl, Alford, Florida

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Chicken PizzaMy fun twist on typical pizza is an excellent way to use up leftover pesto. And since its loaded with protein-rich chicken and black beans, its hearty enough to satisfy everyone! Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Glazed Chicken WingsI received this easy wing recipe from a cousin on Vancouver Island during a visit there a few years ago. They're an appealing appetizer, but also a favorite for Sunday lunch with rice and a salad. Joan Airey, Rivers, Manitoba

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Cinnamon TwistsThese delightful golden twists are perfect for a spring brunch or lunch. The brown sugar and cinnamon give them a delicate spicy flavor. People can rarely eat just one. Janet Mooberry, Peoria, Illinois

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Buffalo Chicken PizzaFans of spicy chicken wings will love this rendition that turns it into pizza. Serve it up with blue cheese dressing and crisp celery, just like the tasty original. Shari DiGirolamo, Newton, Pennsylvania

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Four-Cheese PizzaAlthough this pizza doesn't have sauce, it gets unforgettable flavor from a blend of cheeses, vegetables and garlic. Using frozen bread dough appeals to folks who don't care to bake. Davis Johns, Hurst, Texas

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Triple Fudge BrowniesWhen you're in a hurry to make dessert, here's a "mix of mixes" that's so convenient and quick. The result is a big pan of very rich, fudgy brownies. Friends who ask me for the recipe are amazed that it's so easy. Denise Nebel, Wayland, Iowa

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Dad's Favorite PizzaOur daughter, Stephanie, makes this pizza for her dad whenever he has a craving for it. Meat eaters will definitely get their fill with a slice of this deep-dish delight.Nancy Jo Leffler, DePauw, Indiana

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Hearty Vegetable Beef RaguThis recipe is healthy yet satisfying, quick yet delicious. It's on the table in less than 30 minutes, and it's something that my children will gobble up! If you are not fond of kale, stir in baby spinach or chopped broccoli instead. Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey

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The post Pizza Hut Just Added—Wait for It—Cheesesteak to Its Menu appeared first on Taste of Home.

Baking a pizza in your kitchen oven works in a pinch (Psst! Crust is best when baked on a pizza steel). However, outdoor pizza ovens that reach higher temperatures, such as the Ooni pizza oven or Solo Stove pizza oven, ultimately provide a better bake. But what if it’s too cold to head outside or you don’t have the backyard space for a pizza oven? This Breville pizza oven is the indoor solution.

What is a Pizzaiolo, the Breville pizza oven?

Breville’s Pizzaiolo pizza oven is the ultimate tool for pizza fans. With the ability to reach 750 degrees Fahrenheit, this smart oven mimics the brick variety and can bake pizzas just like you’d find at your favorite Italian restaurant. At such high temps, it’s a worthy match to an outdoor pizza oven.

The oven comes in both stainless steel and black steel. At 18 inches wide, it doesn’t take up much counter space, but its 1,800 watts of power certainly pack a punch. Inside the oven is a cordierite pizza stone and heating elements below that bring the stone to a consistent temperature. The oven is designed with additional heating elements at the top to radiate heat evenly, which eliminates the need to turn pizzas, as is required with a wood-fired oven.

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How to Use the Breville Pizza Oven

The Breville pizza oven comes with helpful pizza-making tools, including a pizza pan and pizza peel for easy prepping. You can choose to make homemade dough or buy dough from your local grocery store. You can even use a frozen pre-made pizzajust let it thaw ahead of time to avoid cracking the pizza stone.

Prep your dough, add sauce and your favorite toppings, then fire away! The pizza peel lets you slide pizzas in and out of the oven. Oh, and the best part: They’ll take less than two minutes to cook.

Love crispy pepperoni cups? Hoping for less char? This oven allows you to prep pizzas with seven different programmed modes for styles such as thin and crispy pizza and New York-style pizza. You can also use the manual mode to adjust the top and bottom heating elements for your favorite type of bake. The oven holds pizzas 12 inches or less, and you can use it with a deep-dish pan for those who love a thick crust.

The Best User Reviews

This clever Breville pizza oven has hundreds of rave reviews with users noting just how beautifully it bakes a pizza at home.

Buyer, Elissa S., shares, “I have had this for over a year now. The pizzas that it makes easily compare with those at any wood-fired pizza establishment. This oven is so worth the price and is exceptionally well made. If you are on the fence, take the plunge. You will not regret it.”

Lynn, another reviewer, loves being able to make pizzas inside, especially during winter. “After moving to the Midwest, we lamented the inability to use our outdoor pizza oven in winter. The Pizzaiolo solves this problem and delivers on the promise of a true pizza oven experience,” she writes. “Honestly, I was not sold on this when my husband purchased it. I was happily proven wrong by the first beautiful margherita that came out!”

Where to Buy the Breville Pizza Oven

This pizza oven is available for purchase at a variety of retailers, including Breville’s website and Williams Sonoma. It’s definitely a splurge with a retail price of nearly $1,000, however, if you’re someone who eats out at pizzerias or orders delivery often, then it’s worth making the swap for a homemade experience.

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The post This Countertop Breville Pizza Oven Makes Restaurant-Worthy Pies Indoors appeared first on Taste of Home.

Guinness World Records was on hand to officially declare the pie the world’s largest. It beat the previous Guinness record, set in 2012 by a group of chefs in Italy.

Why Did They Make This Colossal Pizza?

Decker, who goes by the handle Airrack, explains that he promised to attempt the stunt for two reasons. First, he celebrated hitting 10 million followers (he did!). Secondly, it was to erase the childhood trauma of his eighth birthday.

True story: When I was 8 yrs old I threw a pizza party at a bowling alley and no one showed up. To get revenge, I spent the past 18 years scheming how to make the worlds largest pizza and today it happened. No one out-pizzas the hut. @pizzahut pic.twitter.com/P3GzlmwdcX

Airrack (@airrack) January 21, 2023

Once Pizza Hut learned of the challenge, the pizza chain pitched in with the sponsorship to make it happen. Airrack sold tickets to attend the pizza party and merchandise boasting Everybody gets a slice.

How Did They Make The World’s Largest Pizza?

The team, made up of Pizza Hut workers and friends of the YouTuber, worked around the clock for 48 hours in the Los Angeles Convention Center. They used rectangular slices of dough, with sauce, cheese and pepperoni added on top. A cooking device hovered over the pizza to cook it. In all, there were 68,000 slices, and all the pizza was donated to Los Angeles charities.

Meanwhile, Pizza Hut’s Big New Yorker pizza will be available at restaurants nationwide for a limited time only starting Feb. 1.

The post Pizza Hut Just Made the World’s Largest Pizza appeared first on Taste of Home.

Pizza nights at home in a conventional oven make for a relatively easy dinner. The problem? Typically, baking on a simple cookie sheet produces a crust that’s just so-so. Sometimes, it might even be a bit soggy thanks to all of those delicious toppings weighing it down. Not to mention, it takes 20 to 30 minutes to cook.

While Ooni is known for its outdoor pizza oven options, the brand also has a clever kitchen item for pizza lovers who want a crispy crustthe Ooni pizza steel. I’ve tested multiple pizza ovens, but at a much lower price point than the investment of a pizza oven, we decided to put the Ooni pizza steel to the test to see just how it stacked up.

What is the Ooni Pizza Steel?

The Ooni pizza steel is a great alternative to a pizza stone and can be used in your conventional kitchen oven. Its shape and size are similar to a regular baking sheet, but it conducts and retains heat more efficiently, thanks to its sand-blasted stainless steel. It’s perfect for home pizza cooks who love a great, evenly-cooked crust.

VIA MERCHANT

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We Tried It

Ooni Pizza Steel

The Ooni Pizza Steel 13 lets you make pizzas at home without a traditional pizza oven. The stainless steel is an ideal cooking surface for evenly cooked crusts on all pizza varieties and styles.

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Ooni Pizza Steel Features

The pizza steel is a light gray color with an exterior texture of sandpaper. At 11.5 pounds, it has a great weight to it, making it incredibly durable. It is easy to use and can be quickly placed on the middle rack of your kitchen oven. Because it’s constructed of stainless steel, it harnesses the heat from a conventional oven and retains it well, allowing you to evenly cook a pizza with a crispy crust.

How We Tested It

Set-Up

To get started on using the Ooni pizza steel, all I had to do was remove it from the box. The steel is an all-in-one accessory, so no assembly is needed. The packaging advised giving the steel a quick wash with light soap and water before cooking with it.

Preheating the Steel

The Ooni pizza steel requires heat from your oven to create a hot surface. Once heated, it mimics a pizza stone in a true pizza oven. Before putting any pizzas in the oven, the first step is to turn the oven on to its highest temperature and allow it to preheat. I let my oven preheat to 500 degrees, placed the pizza steel on the center rack and waited for it to preheat for 30 minutes before cooking. After 30 minutes, I used an infrared thermometer which told me the temperature of the steel was at a surprising 504 degrees.

Cooking

Cooking with the Ooni pizza steel is very similar to using an outdoor pizza oven. Because the steel needs to be left in the oven to properly heat up, it’s important to use a pizza peel to build your pizza and transfer it into the oven. I tested the pizza steel by making numerous pizzas, sliding each onto the pizza steel with a perforated pizza peel.

I found that it took between 8 to 10 minutes to cook each pizza, depending on the toppings used. You could tell the pizza steel helped to set and cook the crust quickly while creating a crispy base. The heat radiating in the oven cooked the toppings and melted the cheese.

Once each pizza was cooked, I used the pizza peel to retrieve it from the oven and allowed it to set and rest for a few minutes before grabbing a pizza cutter and digging in!

Cleanup

Ooni advises that once your pizza cooking session is done, you leave the pizza steel in the oven to cool for two hours. I followed that guidance, switched off my oven and waited until it cooled. Thankfully, I didn’t need to use my oven for anything else during that time, but I could foresee this wait time being an issue if you’re making multiple things throughout the day. Once it cooled, I used light soap and water to clean the pizza steel. There was a bit of a grease stain on it, even after cleaning, but it didn’t seem to affect flavor or performance the next time I used it.

Pros

• Affordable price point
• Durable, stainless steel
• Easy set-up
• Easy to clean
• Cooks pizza with crispy crust in under 10 minutes

Cons

• Requires pre-heating of oven (~30 minutes) to heat steel
• Takes a very long time to cool down

FAQ

Is a pizza steel better than a stone?

If you’re choosing between using a pizza steel or a pizza stone in your conventional home oven, it all comes down to heat retention. Because of its material, a pizza steel conducts and retains heat more efficiently than a stone does. The other benefit of a pizza steel is that it’s incredibly durable and not as easy to crack or break.

Can you cook frozen pizza on an Ooni pizza steel?

If you don’t plan to make your own pizza dough and gather all the toppings, the pizza steel can still be used for cooking pizza. You can grab a thawed, store-bought pizza and cook it on the pizza steel, or even use it for cooking frozen pizzas.

Can you use a pizza steel in an Ooni?

Noif you have an Ooni pizza oven then you don’t need a pizza steel. It should only be used in a conventional home oven.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

Don’t just take it from us on the benefits of the pizza steel. Verified Ooni buyer Bethany says she loves this option as an alternative. “It cooks our pizza perfectly every time in the oven! This is a great alternative in the super cold winter months when we don’t want to go outside and use the wood-burning Ooni. Definitely recommend!”

Verified buyer Janet noted that this was a great swap from her pizza stone. “Previously used a pizza stone in my indoor oven, but this retains the heat even better for a nice crispy crust. In the winter, this is now my go-to way to make pizza,” she says.

Another reviewer, John, noted he uses it for pizzas and more. “My Ooni pizza steel is awesomemy pizza crusts are MUCH more authentic. I also use my pizza steel for cooking other dishes; overall, the extra heat makes cooking all my dishes easier.”

Product Comparison

Made and sold by Ooni, the pizza steel is a significantly different product than an outdoor pizza oven like the Ooni Koda 16 or Ooni Volt. Pizza ovens are all electric or utilize gas, wood or charcoal fuel to heat up a cordierite pizza stone and radiate heat within the pizza oven, reaching temperatures of 950 degrees. The Ooni pizza steel, on the other hand, is for use in conventional ovens up to 527 degrees.

While the pizza steel helps to create an even bake with a crispy crust, it does not mimic the exact same texture and flavor of a pizza baked in an outdoor pizza oven, like a Solo Stove. However, the pizza steel is significantly more affordable than the purchase of a pizza oven (even if you happen to find a great pizza oven sale!).

Final Verdict

The Ooni pizza steel is a relatively affordable pizza-making tool for leveling up your pizza nights. Say goodbye to soggy crusts! The main key to note is that the flavor will not be the same as it is in an outdoor pizza oven, simply because conventional home ovens cannot reach high enough temperatures to create the reaction needed with the dough.

Because of its heat retention, it eliminates a lot of the baking time a regular baking sheet requires for pizza. Cooking a pizza in a regular home oven in under 10 minutes is pretty impressive. For those who do have a pizza oven, it’s still a great choice for when a craving strikes while it’s raining or snowing outside. If you’re a fan of pizzas with great texture and a crisp crust, this is a worthy addition to your regular pizza nights.

Where to Buy the Ooni Pizza Steel

VIA MERCHANT

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We Tried It

Ooni Pizza Steel

The Ooni Pizza Steel 13 lets you make pizzas at home without a traditional pizza oven. The stainless steel is an ideal cooking surface for evenly cooked crusts on all pizza varieties and styles.

Shop on Ooni

Shop on Williams Sonoma

Shop on Ace Hardware

The Ooni Pizza Steel 13 retails for $100 and is available on Ooni’s website, Williams Sonoma and Ace Hardware. Snag one now to start making delicious pies for a little dough.

The post Ooni Pizza Steel Review: Make Homemade Pizzas in Your Kitchen Oven in Half the Time appeared first on Taste of Home.

When the next day arrives, the pizza is soggy, dry or altogether inedible at times, which is a huge bummer if the leftovers are from a beloved pizza brand. But thanks to Pizza Pack’s brilliant pizza storage containerwhich was featured on Shark Tank and is rapidly making the rounds on social mediaour pizza woes can finally come to an end.

What is a pizza storage container?

Simply put? It’s an expandable storage container that’s specially designed to stack slices so that pesky pizza box won’t take up room in your refrigerator. (I don’t have any experience with that, *wink*).

Completely adjustable with five convenient microwavable serving trays, this super-handy reusable pizza storage container features an airtight lid with a vacuum seal, perfect for keeping your slices freshsomething that tin foil or a pizza box can’t achieve. Stash up to five slices in a condensation-free environment, thanks to an optional air vent. And those divider trays are oh-so helpful if you can’t stand facing those stuck-together slices the next day.

Also, it accommodates pizza sizes up to 18 inchesso, as the brand recommends, if your slices come in larger than that, simply trim them down a bit for a perfect fit. Plus, if color choices are your thing, you should know that this pizza storage container comes in six different hues, and you can purchase a pack of up to five.

The only downside? Well, if you buy just one pizza storage container and you have more than five slices, you may have to resort to your old ways of storing pizza for the additional pieces. And, as mentioned, if you’re big on XL, New York style-slices, trimming them down can be a hassle.

Pizza Pack specs:

• Saves fridge space
• Adjustable and fits up to five slices
• Microwave- and dishwasher-safe
• BPA-free, food-grade silicone
• Airtight lid with vacuum seal for maximum freshness
• Optional air vent to prevent soggy slices
• Includes five pizza plates

How to Use a Pizza Storage Container

Using the reusable pizza storage container is as easy as using any other food storage container. Simply remove the lid, extend the container and start stacking! If desired, layer a pizza plate in between each slice to prevent the toppings from sticking together.

If you’re more of a visual learner, head over to TikTok. In a video with millions of views, HeatherCoxzzz demonstrates how she packs up leftover slices using the pizza storage container. She adds that each divider can be used as a plate, since they’re microwaveable, and that packing up a pizza lunch for her husband is so much easier.

@heathercoxzzz Husbands Lunch Pizza: @Pizza Hut #theperfectpizzapack #worklunch #lunchtime #lunchformyhusband #lunch #leftoverpizza #husbandlunch #husbandlunche Pizza – Mention Taylor Jackson

The Best Amazon User Reviews

Now that this surprisingly ingenious pizza storage container has started to go viral on social media, it’s no wonder that it currently has nearly 1,000 ratings on Amazon. At 4.4 stars, people are loving it, and the reviews prove it.

Amazon reviewer Rebecca Collins loves it for its eco-friendly qualities and prefers it over tin foil. “I’ve been on a mission to reduce single-use products in my kitchen,” she says. “We eat pizza a couple times a month, and previously stored the leftovers wrapped in foil. I know that aluminum foil is recyclable, so it’s not the biggest win in that regard. But I like everyday reminders of reducing waste, and I think the best product swaps are the ones that feel like upgrades.”

S.D. Bower describes this product as “a lot of storage in a small space,” saying, “I like this a lot, it takes up less room (whether in the refrigerator or in cabinet) and works nicely. Those old containers will go out with recycling next week!”

And danielle r. sums it up perfectly: “If you eat a lot of pizza in your house, like we do, it’s a necessity.”

Where to Buy a Pizza Storage Container

Ordering a reusable pizza storage container is just as easy as dialing in for your favorite ‘za. Pick one up on Amazon or Walmart.

So, what’s on my pizza to-do list these days? First: Learn how to properly reheat it. Second: Bite the bullet on the fancy pizza ovens I’ve been eyeing, like the fan favorite Ooni pizza oven. And third: Immediately buy a reusable pizza storage container. Leftovers have never looked so good!

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The post This Genius Pizza Storage Container Expands to Stack Leftover Slices appeared first on Taste of Home.

If your homemade pizza night is anything like ours, your kitchen is a mess all the way up until the pie goes into the oven, with toppings and pizza-making tools strewn about the kitchen. Make pizza nightor a pizza partya little more organized with a pizza charcuterie board.

Our pizza charcuterie board includes a mix of meats and cheeses, but instead of following the rules for a classic charcuterie board, we turned this pizza charcuterie board into a build-your-own pizza platter so you can put together your perfect pie. Customize your pizza board with your favorite toppings, then bake and enjoy!

What You Need for a Pizza Charcuterie Board

Any pizza topping can work on a pizza boardjust be sure to put anything extra sticky or juicy in its own bowl. We chose toppings that work well for two varieties: supreme pizzaand Hawaiian pizza.

Foods to include

Crust & sauce: A chewy crust and zesty pizza sauce are the most important parts of a pizza. That’s why we made homemade pizza sauce with plenty of herbs and spices and a homemade pizza crust sprinkled with cornmeal to make sure that your pizzaat its baseknocks your socks off.

Cheeses: Shredded mozzarella and freshly grated Parmesan are crowd pleasers that most people like to have on pizza, no matter what other toppings they decide to put on their pie.

Meats:Ham, pepperoni, sausage crumbles and bacon bits are all popular pizza add-ons. If you’re a fan of meat lover’s pizza, sprinkle on all of the above.

Vegetables: Mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes and red onions are classics, but you can get creative. Chop up your favorite vegetables to top your pizza.

Other toppings: If you want to go above and beyond, a handful of fresh basil or pepperoncinis will impress your guests. Olives are another staple, especially if you’re making a supreme pizza. Some may scoff at pineapple as a pizza topping, but it’s the key ingredient in a Hawaiian pie!

How to Build a Pizza Charcuterie Board

We put toppings that complement each other close together on our board to help guide pizza-making guestsso the Hawaiian pizza toppings and the supreme pizza toppings each take up about half of the board.

Step 1: Place bowls, pitchers and jars on the board

Make space for the bulkiest items by placing them on the board first.

Put the pizza sauce in a pitcher so you can pour it on the crust, which will be faster than spreading it in spoonfuls. The shredded mozzarella, sliced olives and pineapple chunks can go in bowls of different shapes and sizes to keep the board visually interesting.

Put the mozzarella in the biggest bowl, since that’s one everyone will reach for. Make sure you have extra on hand!

Step 2: Arrange the supreme pizza toppings

On one end of the board, surround your mozzarella bowl with piles of sliced mushrooms, pepperoni and green bell peppers.

Step 3: Add the Hawaiian pizza toppings

Sandwich the ham between the pitcher of tomato sauce and the bowl of pineapple. On the other sides of the bowl, put the bacon bits and tomato slices. The tomato will be the juiciest item, so add it to the board last.

Step 4: Assemble everything else you need for homemade pizza

Once the toppings are on the pizza charcuterie board, it’s time to set out everything else you’ll need. Grab a small wooden board, a block of Parmesan cheese, and your cheese grater. Get the block started by grating a little cheese and leaving it on the board, which lets your guests know they can grate cheese right onto their pizzas.

Add spoons to the olive and pineapple bowls, preheat the oven, and tell everyone to start assembling their pizzas! Don’t forget to set out a pizza cutter or two. To make it feel like you’re eating at your favorite pizza joint, put paper plates and a shaker of red pepper flakes on the table, too.

Oh, and if you have any leftovers, this genius pizza storage container is all you need.

Tips for Making a Pizza Charcuterie Board

What other toppings can you put on a pizza charcuterie board?

The sky is the limit when it comes to what you put on your pizza charcuterie board. If the sauce is your favorite part of pizza, other options besides tomato sauce include pesto, alfredo, barbecue sauce, hot sauce and even ranch for dipping. If you’re a Margherita pizza lover, serve fresh mozzarella slices in a bowl (they’d get watery on the board itself). Mix up the meats with salami, rotisserie chicken, ‘nduja sausage or prosciuttothat last one goes well with a pile of arugula.

Can you use premade crust for pizza night?

Of course! You don’t have to make crust from scratch, especially if you’re prepping pizza for a lot of people. Make your pizza charcuterie board even easier with store-bought pizza sauce.

Next Up: Get dessert ready with a chocolate charcuterie board.

The post How to Make a Pizza Charcuterie Board appeared first on Taste of Home.