All the pizza cooks out there will know that having your own pizza oven is a worthwhile investment. However, not everybody will be aware of just how important charcoal is when it comes to cooking the perfect pizza.
Cooking with charcoal is a great way to add some extra flavor to your pizza. It can also help you to cook the pizza at just the right temperature, which will avoid overcooking or undercooking. Charcoal will bring the pizza oven to temperature, cooking the pizza all the way through.
Different kinds of charcoal have different effects, so it’s great that there are so many to choose from!
Decide what you prioritize most when cooking pizza to help you settle on the best charcoal for pizza ovens. These ovens come in different shapes and sizes and also serve different purposes. You should compare plenty of ovens that take charcoal to find the best pizza oven for you.
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Why Choose Charcoal?
With so many other fuel types out there, why should you choose charcoal to fire up your pizza oven? Well, there are many benefits to choosing charcoal, and some say that it’s the best fuel type.
Charcoal is the best material to use if you want your oven to reach high temperatures. The average charcoal-fired pizza oven can reach from 800-1000 degrees Fahrenheit, making them perfect for cooking a cheesy pizza. By comparison, the typical wood-fired pizza oven can only reach 650-850 degrees Fahrenheit.
As for a gas grill, your pizza won’t get the authentic smoked taste that charcoal can provide. Charcoal can also provide enough heat to cook your pizza however you prefer it. If you enjoy New York-style pizza, for instance, you can easily achieve that signature crispy crust.
Best Charcoal By Oven Type
Now that you know why charcoal is the best fuel for a pizza oven, it’s time to decide which kind. Charcoal is a form of carbon created from wood, so it is a great alternative or companion to wood pellets. There are several different kinds of charcoal to choose between.
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Lump Charcoal
Lump charcoal is a popular option, particularly for Ooni pizza ovens. The heat generated by lump charcoal is long-lasting and will help you to cook several pizzas in your oven. Using charcoal combines the heat of a gas oven and the traditional taste of a wood-fired oven.
Lump charcoal is a great choice for a charcoal grill because it maintains higher temperatures. It is also perfect for wood-fired pizza ovens.
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Charcoal Briquettes
Charcoal briquettes look similar to wood pellets, but they are black. They burn slowly and can be bought in bulk, so they’re a very cost-effective option. You’ll be able to let the briquettes simmer for hours until they reach the optimal temperature for cooking.
Charcoal briquettes are also a great option for use in a charcoal grill. They are smaller and can be easier to work with than lump charcoal.
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Coconut Shell Charcoal
Coconut shell charcoal is a type of charcoal briquettes that you can use for cooking in a pizza oven. This kind of charcoal is a lot more sustainable than timber-based charcoals because no trees are cut down for it. Coconut shell charcoal performs well and maintains higher temperatures for a prolonged period of time.
You should be able to use coconut shell charcoal in any type of oven, including brick, ceramic and grills. It burns hotter than charcoal briquettes, so could help you to cook your food faster.
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Anthracite Coal
And though it is not technically a kind of charcoal, anthracite coal is also used to heat up coal ovens. It has fewer impurities, burns for a long time and has a higher carbon content than other types of coal. Its high carbon content makes it a fuel on the same level as charcoal, so it is a great option.
Anthracite coal works well for pizza ovens made of brick or ceramic. It is perfect for any coal-fired pizza oven.
Tips For Cooking With Charcoal
Once you’ve chosen the best kind of charcoal for your oven, you’ll be ready to get started. Here are some handy tips to help you get the best results with your charcoal-fired pizza oven.
Don’t Use Too Much Charcoal
Burning charcoal will help your oven to reach high heat fast, so you don’t need excessive amounts of charcoal. Using too much will be wasteful and could make the oven hotter than you want it. Remember, the higher the temperature you desire, the more charcoal you use, so use less to help regulate the temperature.
Allow Time to Heat Up
Charcoal will burn at hot temperatures, but it won’t instantly reach your desired level of heat. You need to give the charcoal time to burn, especially if you are using a lot to increase the temperature. Check the packaging to determine exactly how long it needs to burn before cooking can begin.
Pair It
Using charcoal alone will generate heat, but pairing it with another fuel source, like wood, can help maintain hot temperatures. This combination of charcoal and wood will ensure that you spend less time cooking and more time enjoying homemade pizza. The best wood to use with charcoal is usually wood pellets.
Things to Consider When Buying a Pizza Oven
Location
Pizza ovens are typically placed outside, so consider how much outdoor space you have before buying one. Pizza ovens also vary in size, so you should be able to find one that fits your home well. If you do have a large outdoor space, you’ll be able to situate an oven wherever you’d prefer to cook.
But even if you have absolutely no space to install a pizza oven, there are still other options available. Portable pizza ovens are a good choice for those who only have space to cook on surfaces. Just make sure that the smaller ovens have no chance of falling off or becoming damaged in a busy space.
Cooking Surface and Internal Space
Different pizza ovens have different cooking surfaces, so this is something to consider when you’re making your choice. You want an oven that has a large enough cooking surface to cook the pizza all the way through. The bigger the pizzas you want to cook, the broader the cooking surface needs to be.
You also want a wide enough cooking surface to ensure that a pizza peel fits into your oven. Using a pizza peel will stop any cheese, tomato sauce, or other ingredients from falling off the pizza dough base. You can buy a pizza peel to fit the internal size of your oven, which will make cooking easier.
Heat
Pizza ovens can get very hot, especially if you use charcoal to cook the food. Combining heat with the excellent temperature control of a pizza oven allows you to cook all sorts of pizzas. For example, the ideal internal temperature for cooking a Neapolitan-style pizza is between 700 and 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.
With a fiercer heat, you’ll be able to cook a pizza in approximately 60 to 90 seconds. A charcoal-fired oven provides as much heat as you need and also has brilliant heat retention. No matter the type pizza oven you choose, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of high heat when cooking.
Material
Pizza ovens also come in several different materials, which affects where you can keep them. A brick oven, for example, should be placed on a patio to support its heavy weight. A ceramic oven is also best suited to a wide outdoor space.
Stainless steel ovens, on the other hand, can be a good option for both inside and outside the home. This is because they can endure both the wear and tear of a kitchen and bad weather outdoors. They are also easier to clean out after cooking.
Think about where you’ll be keeping your oven to decide which material would be the better choice. And if you will be placing it outside, keep it in a dry place if possible.
The 6 Best Pizza Ovens For Charcoal
With all of that in mind, it’s time to move onto the perfect pizza ovens for charcoal! Below, you’ll find full reviews of six of the best pizza ovens for charcoal users.
With a range of different price points, features and purposes available, you’ll be able to find the perfect oven. Whatever your personal preferences, there is a pizza oven out there to match them. Use this list to discover the best options on the market for home use.
The Ultimate Oven: Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel
Ooni has a reputation for making excellent pizza ovens, but in recent years, they’ve stepped up their game even further! The Ooni Karu 16 is their latest and most luxurious oven to date, making it our top choice. After all, the best way to cook good pizza is with an oven that will never let you down.
This oven can reach 950 degrees Fahrenheit in 15 minutes and has two pizza stones to make cooking more efficient. It is one of the best outdoor pizza ovens because you can easily transfer it onto different surfaces. As well as being portable, you’ll be able to enjoy your pizzas after just 60 seconds of cooking.
The Ooni Karu 16 takes the traditional Ooni technology and makes it even better. With optimized regulation of hot air within the oven, you can precisely control temperatures and make the best pizzas. It works perfectly with charcoal, unlike the gas-fueled Ooni Koda model, to make great tasting pizza in any outdoor space.
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The Runner Up: Gozney Roccbox
The Roccbox pizza oven by Gozney comes in at a close second, offering plenty of exciting features of its own. It is a dual fuel oven, so you can either cook with a gas burner or with charcoal and wood. It has three strong and retractable legs to keep it stable wherever you choose to place it.
It also comes with a detachable Velcro strap for portability, which makes it great to take on a camping trip. The Roccbox will fire up to 842 degrees Fahrenheit in just half an hour. You can cook the perfect Neapolitan pizza in just 60 seconds, with expert control over its heat levels.
A built-in thermometer will keep track of the temperature and let you know when the oven is ready for food. And you don’t need to worry about burning yourself, thanks to the safe-touch silicone jacket around the oven body! Gozney has designed this high-quality oven to make cooking convenient and enjoyable!
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Perfect for Gatherings: Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven
This incredible pizza oven shot to fame on Shark Tank in 2020, and for good reason! Like the Gozney Roccbox, it’s dual fuel, so you can easily use charcoal and wood as fuel. This oven looks stylish and will turn your gatherings into an authentic outdoor cooking experience with great pizza for everyone!
Its heat source also makes it ideal for gatherings because it can reach over 930 degrees Fahrenheit. As soon as it has finished cooking, you can remove the first pizza and immediately start cooking a second. The cordierite pizza stone makes for easy cleaning inside the oven when you’re done.
The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven has a 13.5″ deep cooking surface, so you can comfortably cook up to thirteen-inch pizzas. The mix of charcoal and wood will infuse your pizzas with the staple smoky taste of outdoor cooking. It can be a little tricky to set up, but it works wonders as soon as it is!
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Most Innovative: Gozney Dome
This oven by Gozney is innovative in every sense of the word. It is cited by the brand as a “professional grade outdoor oven” and it guarantees an unrivaled cooking experience. The learning curve for using this oven might be a bit steep for beginners, but it’s ideal for seasoned cooks.
The dome shape looks slick and houses a live fire that can cook pizza after pizza to perfection. The oven sits atop a bed of wood and charcoal, retaining temperatures as high as 932 degrees Fahrenheit. You can keep track of this using the digital thermometer and the air ventilation system.
The GozneyShield outer coating acts as the perfect ceramic fiber insulation for the oven. When paired with the double-layer stone floor, the Dome will cook your food hot and fast. Another innovative feature is the quick-connect accessory port that allows you to attach a range of accessories to the dock.
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Best for Beginners: Ooni Fyra 12
This oven weighs just 22lbs and is also Ooni’s cheapest pizza oven. However, don’t judge it by its size because it can reach up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit in just 15 minutes! As far as wood ovens go, this is a great option that you can easily add charcoal to.
The model is relatively simple and compact, so maintenance is easy. Its portability is also a huge benefit because you can set this oven up wherever you like. Although, one thing to keep in mind is that you’ll probably need to reheat the oven between pizzas.
But aside from that, this is the better option for beginner pizza chefs and makes a difference from larger models. Pizza ovens rarely come that cheaply, but this oven has a pretty affordable price that still promises quality pizza. Sometimes, ease of use is the best way to cook and enjoy your food!
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Best Value for a Low Price: PIZZELLO 4 in 1 Outdoor Pizza Oven
This final pizza oven is well worth checking out because of how much it has to offer. It is a two-tier oven: the top tier is reserved for pizza baking, which makes it even easier to slide your pizzas into the oven and the bottom tier is reserved for your fuel. Bonus: it has a tray at the bottom to easily remove ash!
What’s really surprising about this oven is its versatility. Not only is it multi-fuel (charcoal, wood, and natural gas) but it’s multi-purpose too! With the included accessories, it works as a grill, fire pit, and pizza oven!
This oven is great for outdoor gatherings, including camping, due to its size and versatility. Its brushed, black finish is simple, yet sleek. If you’re looking for a convenient pizza cooking process, look no further.
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