Pizza is one of the most profitable dishes, and one of the most popular ones, so many places are serving it. However, those that know how to make a good pizza, whether it’s a pizzeria, a restaurant, or a food truck, always keep the customers coming back. And what do you need for cooking a delicious pizza? A great commercial pizza oven, of course!
What is a pizza oven?
A commercial pizza oven is a kitchen appliance designed specifically for cooking pizzas in the best way possible. They may be powered by natural gas, propane, wood, or electricity. Pizza ovens come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small countertop units to large brick ovens.
Commercial pizza oven vs home pizza oven
The main difference between commercial pizza ovens and home pizza ovens is the size. Commercial ovens are much larger to accommodate the high volume of pizzas that restaurants need to cook. They also have higher-powered heating elements to cook pizzas quickly and evenly.
Another difference is that best commercial pizza ovens often have a stone or brick cooking surface, which helps to create a crispier crust. Some home ovens have a pizza stone, but it is not as common.
Top 10 Commercial Pizza Ovens Reviews
There are many different types of pizza ovens, for cooking different types of pizza, designed for different kitchens, so it is impossible to choose the absolute best. Here is a round-up of the best pizza ovens of different types, to help inform your purchasing journey and help you pick the right one.
Wisco Pizza Oven
This commercial pizza oven is very simple in design and operation. It has a quick one-touch setting of 10 minutes at 450°F. It also features a rotary dial that allows you to easily set the temperature between 150°F and 500°F, and an LED display that shows the temperature. The interior of the oven is made of ceramic, which conducts heat very well and helps to create a crispy crust. The cooking chamber is large, measuring 16″ x 18.5″ x 8″, so it can accommodate pizzas up to 16″ in diameter.
It has a top and bottom heating element, each with 1500W of power. The top element is adjustable, so you can control how much heat comes from the top. The door is double-glazed and has a cool-touch handle. The crumb tray is removable for easy cleaning.
Pros:
- Large cooking chamber
- Adjustable temperature settings
Cons:
- Baking stone not included
Big Horn OUTDOORS Pizza Oven
There is no electric heating element here: this commercial pizza oven is powered by wood pellets. The cooking floor is made of cordierite stone, for even heat transfer and to help create a crispy crust. The stone is square, measuring 12″ x 11.9″, so it can accommodate pizzas up to 12″ in diameter. The whole unit is very well built, with a stainless steel body and double-wall construction.
It reaches temperatures up to 860°F, cooking pizza in just a couple of minutes. With wood pellets as a fuel source, and an open flame above the pizza, you have to know how to control the fire and temperature. The chimney has an adjustable flue damper to better control the temperature inside the oven. If you want to see this pizza oven in action, take look at our full review of Big Horn.
Pros:
- Stainless steel body
- Stone cooking surface
- Double-wall construction
- Fire-cooked pizza in a compact portable oven.
Cons:
- Takes some practice to use
Oster convection oven with pizza drawer
The Oster oven is a versatile unit. Not only can it be used for pizzas, but also for baking, toasting and broiling. The upper chamber is a convection oven, so it has a fan that circulates the hot air inside, ensuring even cooking. The specially-designed pizza drawer is on the lower level and can accommodate pizzas up to 12″. Both levels have their own separate control knobs. The oven has a 60-minute timer and can reach temperatures up to 450 degrees. The important thing to note is that the two chambers cannot be used simultaneously.
The oven has a stainless steel body and tempered glass doors. The interior light allows you to check on the progress of your cooking without opening the door and letting heat out. The Oster 2-in-1 oven is quite compact, measuring about 15.5 x 18.3 x 10 inches.
Pros:
- Features a convection oven in addition to the pizza cooking chamber
- Stainless steel body
- Easy to use, easy to clean
Cons:
- The chambers cannot be used at the same time
Bakers Pride Deck Pizza Oven model GP51
Bakers Pride ovens are the golden standard when it comes to the best commercial pizza ovens. Bakers Pride Oven Company carries a full line of gas-fired ovens, electric ovens, and wood-burning ovens to meet the needs of various types of restaurants and other foodservice operations.
The Bakers Pride GP51 Deck Pizza Oven is a great choice for any pizzeria looking for an efficient and reliable countertop pizza oven, that can fit up to 5 pizzas at once. This model is also available in a larger size, the GP61, which can fit up to 6 pizzas.
Both the GP51 and GP61 are natural gas heated and feature stone hearth decks for that perfect crispy crust, as well as top and bottom heat controls so you can customize your cooking to get the results you want. The GP51 commercial pizza oven features two stone hearth decks, each measuring 18″ x 26″, for a total cooking area of 456 square inches.
The bottom heat control on the GP51 allows you to bake pizzas at temperatures ranging from 300°F to 700°F, while the top heat control can be set to low, medium, or high. This gives you plenty of options when it comes to cooking your pizzas, whether you like them thin and crispy or thick and chewy.
Pros:
- Can fit up to 5 pizzas
- Durable stone hearth decks for a crispy crust
- Bottom heat control for custom cooking
- Top heat control can be set to low, medium, or high
Cons:
- This model is only available in natural gas
- Its price makes it a large initial investment, though the quality and efficiency make it worthwhile in the long run.
Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven
This model is the latest design on the market from Ooni, who boast a range of wood-, coal- and gas-powered pizza ovens. You can take a look at our OOni pizza ovens reviews and comparison here. This new version of Ooni Koda is larger than the original, and can cook a 16-inch pizza.
The Ooni Koda is gas-powered but thanks to the L-shaped burner, it can cook a pizza just like a brick oven. It reaches the right temperature (up to 950°F), has a stone with the right conduciveness, and can bake pizza in less than 60 seconds. The oven comes with a dial to adjust the flame of the burners. This gives you full control over the temperature of the oven. So you can both bake Neapolitan-style pizza at really hot temperatures and New York-style at lower temperatures.
Pros:
- Can cook 16-inch pizzas
- Nice design
- L-shaped burner for an authentic brick oven taste
- Dial for adjusting the flame
Cons:
- It is a bit expensive, yet doesn’t come with any accessories.
Professional Series PS75891
This oven is not as large as some other commercial ovens, 12 inches is the largest pizza this oven can accommodate. However, its strength is that it can cook a pizza very fast. It takes only 6 minutes to cook a 9″ pizza, and about 8-10 to cook a 12″ one. It is also fairly compact, measuring roughly 21″ x 9″ x 18″. The design of this oven allows stacking one on top of the other to be able to cook multiple pizzas quickly.
It features top and bottom heating elements, with a combined power of 1450W, heating the oven between 430 and 460 degrees. There is no thermostat, nor a built-in thermometer. The body is made of stainless steel, and the food is placed on the removable wire rack with a cool-touch handle. The oven also has a 30-minute timer and an automatic shutoff feature. The removable crumb tray makes clean-up easier.
Pros:
- Compact size
- Stainless steel body
- Cooks fast
Cons:
- No pizza stone
- Might be too small for some operations
Ooni Fyra 12 Wood-Fried Oven
The Ooni Fyra is a very stylish commercial pizza oven, with a sleek design in black powder-coated steel. It weighs only 22 pounds, so it is very portable. The oven can accommodate pizzas up to 12″ in diameter, and can reach cooking temperatures up to 950°F.
The Fyra 12 is very easy to set up. Simply take it out of the box, fold the legs out and slot the pizza stone, chimney, pellet hopper, flame keeper, and fuel tray into place. Using it, on the other hand, takes some practice. You have to be able to control the temperature and manage the wood pellets, so that the flame does not get too hot and burn the pizza. This can be a bit problematic since the oven is not equipped with a digital thermometer.
The oven is fueled by wood pellets, which are fed into the burn chamber through a hopper on the side of the oven. There is an ashtray underneath the burn chamber, which makes it easy to clean out the ashes after cooking. The Ooni Fyra has a double-wall construction, with insulation in the walls and roof to help retain heat.
Pros:
- Very stylish design.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Double-wall construction for even cooking.
Cons:
- Takes some practice to use.
- No thermometer to check the temperature inside the oven.
VEVOR Electric Commercial Pizza Oven
VEVOR commercial pizza oven is a great choice for those who are looking for a durable and reliable oven. It is made from stainless steel large and has a double-deck design that accommodates at least two pizzas (each up to 14″).
This electric pizza oven is equipped with 3 thermostat dials to individually control the top and bottom temperature, ranging from 122-662℉. It also has an interior light, so you can check on the progress of your pizzas without opening the door and letting out heat. The tempered glass door is double-glazed and features a heat-resistant handle.
The VEVOR pizza oven has a double-layer tempered glass door and an insulation cotton layer to prevent heat loss. It comes with a 15.6 x 15.6″ pizza stone and two 15.5 x 15.5 x 2.8″ shelves, so you can bake a 14-inch pizza or any other food, like pastries, chicken wings, fish, and so on.
Pros:
- Commercial-grade capacity.
- Double-deck design.
- Separate top and bottom temperature control.
Cons:
- The temperature dial is in °C only, there is no Fahrenheit dial option.
- The stone bottom is porous and hard to clean.
- No master switch, to turn the oven off you have to turn both dials to zero.
ROCCBOX Gozney
The ROCCBOX is a commercial pizza oven that is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. It’s coated in silicone skin that is heat resistant up, making it safe to touch even when the oven is in use. The skin also helps to insulate the oven, so that less heat escapes.
The cooking chamber is large enough to accommodate pizzas up to 16″ in diameter, and can reach temperatures up to 932°F. The floor of the chamber is made from a thick cordierite stone, which helps to absorb and evenly distribute the heat. The built-in thermometer allows you to monitor the temperature inside the oven.
The ROCCBOX comes with a pizza peel, so that you can easily slide your pizzas in and out of the oven. This ROCCBOX model is fueled by gas, and the patented Gozney technology recreates traditional yellow rolling flames seen in wood-fired cooking.
Pros:
- Can be used indoors or outdoors.
- Safe to touch, due to the silicone skin.
- Built-in thermometer.
Cons:
- The pizza needs to be turned while cooking.
- It is more expensive than similar ovens.
Turbochef Fire Countertop Pizza Oven
The TurboChef Fire is a series of pizza-making ovens launched by TurboChef technologies in order to meet the latest needs of making pizzas in the least possible time. With the ventless cooking and small footprint, this oven can be placed anywhere. The Turbochef Fire features top and bottom convection motors, and independent top and bottom electronic temperature control.
This oven is designed to replicate the artisanal Neapolitan pizza way of cooking, with a cooking chamber that can reach up to 900°F. It takes no more than 90 seconds to cook a Margherita, and no more than 180 seconds to bake a traditional Pepperoni pizza. It is on the expensive side of the price range, but with the amazing performance, advanced features, and beautiful look, it would be a worthwhile addition to any commercial kitchen.
Pros:
- Unique beautiful design
- Ventless and portable
Cons:
- You have to rotate the pizza halfway for even cooking
- Expensive
Types of commercial pizza ovens
There are several types of commercial pizza ovens, each with its own set of features and benefits. Ovens offer different performances based on how they generate heat: wood and wood pellet, gas or electric heating element.
Wood-fired pizza ovens
The most traditional type of commercial pizza oven is a wood-fired oven. Wood-fired ovens use wood to generate heat. They cook pizzas quickly and evenly and they give the pizza a smoky flavor. The fuel can be logs or wood pellets.
Gas pizza ovens
Gas-fired commercial pizza ovens use either natural gas or propane to generate heat. They are less expensive to operate than electric ovens and they heat up quickly. They are also relatively easy to set up and use, and can be used indoors or outdoors.
Electric ovens
Electric pizza ovens feature electrical heating elements. They are not as powerful as gas ovens but they are more energy-efficient. Electric pizza ovens sometimes have a built-in fan that circulates hot air, resulting in evenly cooked pizzas.
Based on the design, there are several types of pizza ovens: brick ovens, deck, portable countertop models and conveyor ovens.
Brick pizza ovens
Brick pizza ovens are the most traditional type of commercial pizza oven. They are also the most expensive and require the most work to set up and maintain. Brick ovens, also called masonry ovens, consist of a baking chamber made of brick, stone, or clay. The chamber is typically round or oval in shape. A wood-fired brick oven has a domed ceiling, which allows the heat to circulate evenly around the pizza. They are usually permanent structures, so they are not portable. They can be built into the counter or floor, or they can be freestanding units.
Brick ovens are usually wood-fired, although there are some gas and electric models available. They get their heat from a stone cooking surface, which gets extremely hot – upwards of 800 degrees. This is what gives brick oven pizzas their characteristic crispy, chewy crust.
Convection pizza oven
Convection ovens are a piece of many commercial kitchens because they cook food faster and more evenly than traditional ovens. If you do not see the need for getting a dedicated pizza oven for your foodservice operation, you can use a convection oven to bake delicious crispy-crust pizzas.
Foods like pizzas, pies, cookies, and bread all cook very well with convection settings. Preheat the convection oven to the highest setting, typically 450 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, place a pizza stone or baking tray inside while preheating, to crisp the crust from beneath.
Deck Ovens
Most pizzas are made in deck ovens, and these are likely the ovens you’ll find in most independent restaurants or pizza shops. These ovens have the option of being stackable so you can have multiple decks working at the same time, and each one can be set to a different temperature. You can purchase a single deck oven with legs, but they’re also sold as double or multiple deck ovens, and many have the option of adding decks later on with stacking kits.
Deck pizza ovens also use a stone deck cooking surface like a woodfired pizza oven, ensuring even heat distribution and producing a product with an artisanal feel because it’s also cooked on stone, but these are powered with gas or electricity.
The greatest benefit of a deck pizza maker is that it maintains an even cooking temperature throughout the whole oven (no hot spots). The end product is much more consistent than the woodfired pizza ovens but productivity may be lower than a conveyor oven.
Conveyor pizza ovens
Conveyor pizza ovens are one of the most popular types of industrial pizza ovens. They are typically used in high-volume pizzerias and restaurants. As the name suggests, these ovens have a conveyor belt that moves the pizzas through the cooking chamber. This allows for continuous baking and prevents pizzas from getting overcooked or burnt.
Best conveyor pizza ovens are available in gas and electric models. Electric conveyor ovens are more energy-efficient and easier to operate than gas models. However, gas conveyor ovens can reach higher temperatures, which is necessary for some types of pizzas.
A special type of conveyor pizza oven is the impinger oven. Impinger ovens have a gas burner or electric element in the back of the oven that heats the air. Then a fan blows the hot air above and below the food so that the hot air strikes the food product at a high velocity.
Countertop pizza ovens
Countertop pizza ovens with a smaller footprint are a great option for restaurants and food trucks that want to serve fresh, hot pizzas without taking up a lot of space. These ovens can be placed on any countertop or table and are lightweight and portable.
Why use a commercial oven for cooking pizza?
Commercial pizza ovens are designed to cook pizzas quickly and evenly. This is important for restaurants because it helps to ensure that each pizza is cooked perfectly before it is served to customers.
Commercial Pizza Ovens: Key Considerations
When choosing the best commercial pizza oven, there are several factors you should consider. These are the deciding factors on a journey to purchasing the best possible pizza oven for your needs.
Size
The size of the oven will determine the maximum size of a pizza and how many pizzas you can cook at one time. You need to look for an oven that is large enough to accommodate the pizzas you will be cooking. If you are only going to be cooking small pizzas, then a smaller oven will suffice. However, if you plan on cooking larger pizzas, you will need a larger oven.
You must also be aware of the space you have. Some commercial pizza ovens are large and bulky, so you need to make sure you have enough room to store it. If you have a small kitchen or a food truck, you need to look for a more compact model.
Oven output per hour
You need to be aware of how many pizzas you can realistically cook in an hour. This will help you determine the size of the oven you need. If you only plan on cooking a few pizzas an hour, then a smaller oven will suffice.
However, if you plan on cooking dozens of pizzas an hour, then you need to look for an oven that can handle that volume. The last thing you want is to be waiting around for pizzas to cook while customers are getting impatient.
Countertop pizza ovens' number of pizzas per hour varies widely by oven type, but they all produce fewer pizzas than their bigger counterparts. Convection and deck pizza ovens can produce roughly 40-50 pizzas per hour, while brick ovens can output about 80 pizzas per hour, and even more with a good rotating system. Naturally, the conveyor ovens have the biggest production capacity, producing from 75 to 100+ pizzas per hour per deck.
Pizza baking surface
All commercial pizza ovens have a baking surface where the pizza is placed. This can be made of stone, metal or brick.
Pizza stone is the most common type of baking surface as it absorbs and evenly distributes heat, resulting in a perfect crust. Metal baking surfaces, like wire racks, are also often as they conduct heat well. They are more practical and they can be found in many deck ovens. However, they can cause the crust to be uneven. Brick baking surfaces are essentially a part of brick ovens and they provide even heat distribution and cook the pizza evenly.
Features and functionality
Pizza ovens usually do not have many settings, if any. Some models have a built-in timer to help you keep track of the cooking time. This can be helpful, especially if you are new to using a commercial pizza oven. Some ovens have a built-in thermostat, which helps to regulate the temperature and ensure consistent results. It is up to you to decide whether your kitchen would benefit from any of the extra functions, and whether you need to look for that in a pizza oven.
Ease of use and maintenance
The best commercial pizza ovens are easy to use and require minimal maintenance. Look for an oven with clear instructions on how to operate it. You should also consider the size of the oven and whether you will be able to easily move it around in your kitchen.
You should also consider how easy to clean is your oven. Some commercial pizza ovens have a self-cleaning function, which is very convenient.
Price
The price of commercial pizza ovens can vary widely. You should consider how much you are willing to spend on an oven before making your decision. However, keep in mind that the most expensive model is not always the best one for your needs.
Indoor vs Outdoor Pizza oven
Pizza ovens can be installed outdoor or inside the kitchen. Outdoor pizza ovens tend to be larger, wood-burning, made from bricks, while indoor ovens can be either countertop or built-in models.
The main advantage of an outdoor pizza oven is that it frees up space inside the kitchen. This is especially important for small restaurants that have limited space. Outdoor pizza ovens also create a unique atmosphere, which can be good for attracting customers.
The indoor pizza oven, on the other hand, is more convenient because it is in the kitchen. It is also often easier to clean and can feature tons of advanced settings.
Which pizza oven is the best for food trucks?
Food trucks have the disadvantage of being limited in space. That s why a pizza oven for a food truck needs to be compact, while still being able to handle a high volume of orders.
If you want to start your pizza food truck, and you need a pizza oven, look for the one that is either wood-fired or gas-powered, because an electric one might be too power-demanding. A wood-fired pizza oven will give your pizzas a unique flavor, while a gas one is more versatile and can be used for other dishes as well.
When it comes to the size of the oven, choose one that is large enough to fit at least two 12-inch pizzas side by side. This way you will be able to bake more pizzas at once and save time. Some of the recommended models for food trucks are the ROCCBOX Gozney and the Turbochef Fire.
Another option for the mobile pizza business is a mobile pizza oven trailer. This is a great solution if you have the space to tow it and if you want to be able to bake pizzas at events and festivals. A pizza oven trailer will usually have a built-in wood-fired or gas pizza oven, as well as all the necessary equipment for making pizzas, such as a prep table, dough mixer, and fridge.
The advantage of a pizza oven trailer is that it is a self-contained unit, so you don t need to worry about towing a separate oven and refrigerated equipment. The downside is that pizza oven trailers can be quite expensive, starting at around $10,000.
Commercial ovens for different types of pizza
Not all pizzas are created equal, and therefore, not all commercial pizza ovens are suitable for every type of pizza.
Thin-crust pizzas cook quickly and evenly on a conveyor belt oven or a deck oven. These types of ovens have radiant heat sources that cook from the top and the bottom.
Thick-crust pizzas, on the other hand, require a longer cooking time. A brick oven is a good choice for this type of pizza because it retains heat well and cooks evenly. Gas-fired ovens are also a good choice for thick-crust pizzas because they can reach high temperatures quickly.
Wood-fired ovens add a unique flavor to the pizza, making them a good choice for gourmet pizzas.
Chicago deep-dish pizza can't be cooked on a stone, so it is best cooked in a pan pizza oven, which is designed specifically for this type of pizza. Both brick ovens and deck ovens can accommodate this type of pan.
Neapolitan pizza should be cooked in a wood-fired oven because this is the traditional way to make this type of pizza. Alternatively, they can be made in a gas-fired oven, as they also use an open flame for heating up the chamber.
How do pizza ovens work?
Pizza ovens work by using either gas, wood, or electricity to heat the cooking chamber. The heat is then radiated from the chamber walls to cook the pizza evenly.
Some commercial pizza ovens have a conveyor belt that moves the pizzas through the chamber, while others have decks where the pizzas are placed directly on the cooking surface. Some ovens feature a pizza stone that helps to achieve the perfect temperature, cook evenly and create a crispy crust.
How is a pizza oven different from a regular oven?
A regular oven is not designed to cook pizza and will not produce the same results. Pizza ovens are designed with a few key features that make them ideal for cooking pizza.
First, pizza ovens reach higher temperatures than regular ovens. This is necessary to cook the pizza evenly and create a crispy crust.
Second, commercial pizza ovens often have a pizza stone. This helps to create the perfect cooking environment by evenly distributing the heat and absorbing moisture from the dough.
Finally, some commercial pizza ovens have a conveyor belt or deck, which helps to cook the pizza evenly by moving it through the hot chamber.
What can you cook in a pizza oven?
Pizza ovens can be used to cook more than just pizza. In fact, they are great for cooking a variety of foods, including bread, chicken, vegetables, and steak.
- Bread: Pizza ovens reach high temperatures that are perfect for baking bread. The heat helps to create a crispy crust and evenly bake the bread.
- Chicken: Pizza ovens can cook chicken quickly and evenly. The high heat helps to crisp the skin and lock in the juices.
- Vegetables: Pizza ovens are great for roasting vegetables. The high heat helps to caramelize the natural sugars, resulting in a sweet and flavorful dish.
- Steak: Pizza ovens can also be used to cook steak. The high heat sears the meat, locking in the juices and flavor.
Can a pizza oven reheat food?
Pizza ovens are designed specifically for cooking pizzas. They can reach higher temperatures than regular ovens, and they often have a stone that helps to create a crispy crust.
Pizza ovens can reheat food, but they are not as effective as microwaves. Microwaves heat food from the inside out, while pizza ovens heat food from the outside in, and it reaches very high temperatures, which might not be suitable for all foods.
