There are very few portable wood-fired pizza ovens that offer artisan-level pizza for enthusiasts to enjoy freshly cooked pizza nearly anywhere they like. If you’re up for a challenge and a lesson in wood-fired pizza training, the Ooni Karu 12 Multi Fuel Pizza Oven is the perfect solution for you. Come and learn what separates this nifty innovation from other portable pizza ovens.
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Why Listen To Me?
My name is Joanne Drake, my dad used to own a pizza shop when I was a young girl, so pizza is in my blood. I know what it takes to make great pizza since I’ve been around it more then the average pizza lover.
For this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Ooni Karu 12 Pizza Oven and weigh in on its features.
Ooni Karu 12 Multi Fuel Pizza Oven
Once you take a look at this portable pizza oven, you might think that it’s a matter of 1-2-3 and presto- instant pizza right? First of all, if you can change a tire on your vehicle, then you are capable of mastering this pizza oven. Now before you get frustrated, there is a reason that the Ooni Karu 12 portable pizza oven is a bit trickier than others you’ve seen before.
To be honest, the chamber where you put your wood, wood pellets, charcoal, etc., is no bigger than the packaging box that your smartphone comes in. So what does that mean exactly? Well, you’ll need to keep a steady flow of burning fuel on hand to keep the temperature burning at a constant temperature.
Yes, as you might have guessed, this pizza oven does require some skill and will be excellent training for those who are already familiar with artisan pizza making. If you are just starting out with wood-fired pizza ovens, you can find plenty of tutorial videos that are already showing how to use the Ooni Karu 12, and reveal several secrets that make it easier to use.
Chances are, this pizza oven is very simple once you learn the essential basics.
After that, you’ll be able to master making pizza rain or shine! The best part is that it’s totally portable to take anywhere you feel like making real wood-fired pizza.
Rating Summary
Easy To Use:
This pizza oven has a steep learning curve that will be much easier to handle once you’ve learned how to use it correctly. 4-Stars
Build Quality:
It’s built very well for its overall size and was meant for taking anywhere. Assembles together in a couple of minutes and then is ready to go. 5-Stars
Price:
Not at all a price that you would consider too expensive for a portable wood-fired pizza oven. It’s an excellent addition for any BBQ or backyard chef. 5-Stars
· Easy to use
There are some basic steps you need to learn to keep this wood-burning oven rolling at adequate temperatures for your pizza. It’s no more difficult than starting a charcoal grill and using some common sense when it comes to getting your starter wood fired up. The experts make it seem easy, so the learning curve is keeping the fire going for the duration of anything you intend to cook in this pizza oven.
· Build quality
It’s well built for such a small wood-fired oven and features double insulation around the hood for this oven so you don’t get burned so easily. The heating insulation is made from the same stuff that is used for ceramic kilns, and can support heat upwards of 950 degrees Fahrenheit! It will cool off just as easily as it became hot since the stainless steel won’t retain heat for very long.
· Price
When it comes to professional standards, you can expect bargain basement pricing here for a top-quality product. You’ll find pricier BBQ accessories than this pizza oven for your money’s worth. What makes it worthwhile is that it’s priced to be competitive for any professional pizza oven and can become an expert tool in the hands of seasoned pizza artisans who like working on a budget.
Features
· Fast pizza cooking
With higher temperatures that can be achieved in less than 15 minutes, it’s possible to cook a pizza in this oven within 2 minutes! This is ideal for cooking many other dishes inside a skillet including steaks, omelets, and other outdoor favorites.
· Portable for outdoors
This oven is assembled in less than 1 minute and has folding legs that allow it to sit on a tabletop or flat surface. It comes with a removable oven door to help keep the heat inside without substantial loss of temperature.
· Uses a variety of burning fuels
It’s perfectly fine to use small chunks of wood no bigger than your fist and lumps of charcoal to keep your temperature constant. While pellets are fine as well, the real flavors of hardwood like hickory or oak will add selective real flavor to any artisan pizza.
· Great heat retention and airflow
This oven has a lined upper hood which helps to deflect heat and keeps it from escaping easily. There is an air vent chimney that is controlled using a spring-bound smoke valve. This will further allow you to keep your fire going by adjusting this vent. It also features a pizza stone that is made from Cordierlite which is lightweight and doesn’t crack from thermal shock at all.
· Easily converts for gas burner
This model will allow for an additional add-on from Ooni that allows a gas burner attachment to fit inside the wood-burning chamber. It’s a nice option just in case the weather conditions aren’t so great for burning wood or charcoal.
· Comes with storage case
This portable oven comes with a travel case that covers the oven for transporting. You have to wait until the oven cools off after using it to put the cover back on.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. An excellent price for a sound quality build that is also perfectly portable
2. This pizza oven is ideal for cooking a variety of foods once you get used to using it often
3. It’s outstanding for making artisan pizza with real wood-rider taste and crunch
Cons:
1. This is not meant for total novice pizza makers, so you do need some practice
2. Don’t leave this outside for the elements to ruin, it’s stainless steel and will rust if you allow it to get rusty!
3. You will need to feed the wood burner more often due to its size and adjust the air vent to keep the temperature constant.
Our Final Verdict
It’s too bad that some folks have had bad experiences using the Ooni Karu 12 Multi Fuel Pizza Oven. It comes from a lack of experience using wood-burning fuel and understanding BBQ ventilation. If you have either of these skills, this pizza oven will be a mighty addition to your pizza-making skills and will impress your friends and family. Because it’s so portable, it can be taken on picnics, to the beach, on vacation, or just relaxing in your backyard.
We encourage everyone who is adventurous and has some moderate BBQ skills to check out what this miracle pizza oven can do for you.
Other Outdoor Pizza Oven Reviews
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- Ooni Karu 16 Outdoor Pizza Oven
- Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven
- ROCCBOX by Gozney Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven
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- Ooni Karu 12 Outdoor Pizza Oven
- Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven
- Ooni Pro 16 Outdoor Pizza Oven
- Ooni Frya 12 Wood Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven