A DIY outdoor pizza oven completes an outdoor kitchen.
With the right wood-fired pizza oven it’s easy to cook tons of your favorite dishes. Unlike conventional ovens, pizza ovens reach high temperatures and function as wood-burning ovens. For these reasons, they’re superior for cooking foods like pizza and large meats like brisket.
The good news is that it’s easy to get a DIY outdoor pizza oven kit. Plus, you don’t need a professional contractor to build it. In fact, all you need are the right supplies to build an outdoor pizza oven in your backyard.
Read on to learn more below.
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Key Features to Consider When Buying a Outdoor Pizza Oven Kits
It’s important to consider several features before you choose a modular pizza oven kit. We’ll take you through these features below.
Type of Outdoor Pizza Oven Kits
There are several types of pizza oven kits. Modular pizza ovens have high domes, low domes, or barrel vaults.
High domes are better for general use, so it’s easy to cook things other than pizza. On the other hand, low domes are better for Neapolitan-style pizza.
There are also barrel vault pizza oven kits. Barrel vault pizza ovens either have an open or enclosed design. Open designs don’t include a front door, while closed designs include the door.
Doors are great for pizza but the open design is better for general cooking.
Size
The size of a modular pizza oven is also worth considering. On average, pizza has a diameter of 12 inches. Therefore, modular pizza ovens need enough cooking space to accommodate this size.
For this reason, brick pizza ovens need to have a cooking surface of about 3.3 square feet. 3.3 square feet gives you ample cooking space.
Pizza ovens with this cooking surface size typically have a 40-inch diameter.
Accessories
Accessories are also important to consider. The best part of many DIY pizza ovens is the additional accessories they come with.
Some great accessories to look for include:
- Steel plates
- High-end refractory materials
- Good customer service for assistance with construction
- Durable fire bricks
- Cleaning brush
- Pizza peel
- Insulating board
It’s also a good idea to look for DIY ovens that fit your visual needs. For example, some ovens come with a gorgeous black door. Visual accessories help your outdoor kitchen stand out.
Basic Instructions on How to Assemble a Pizza Oven Kit
Building a DIY oven is easier said than done. Luckily, there are some easy steps you can follow to help. We take you through the supplies you need and the steps you need to follow below.
Supplies
You’ll need a few supplies to help you with your oven construction.
Some supplies to seek out include:
- Fire bricks
- Stainless steel
- Combination of stone
- Patio motif
- Lumber
- Mortar
- Circular saw
- Landscape adhesive
- Speed square
- Retaining wall block
- Sand
- Cement
- Dome pieces
- Front bricks
- Insulation board
- Refractory material
- Concrete board
Typically, modular pizza oven kits come with many of the supplies you need to build a brick pizza oven.
How to Assemble a DIY Pizza Oven Kit
Assembling a wood-fired DIY pizza oven is easy when you follow the steps we list below.
Step 1: Foundation and Base
The first step is to create the foundation. Foundations are a combination of Insulating materials, sand, and fire bricks.
To begin, create an outline with bricks and fill the region with sand. Make sure the sand is leveled across the base before installing the rest of the bricks. Then, fill any spaces with leftover sand.
Step 2: Dome Construction
Different types of DIY ovens have unique domes. Therefore, expect some variation with these instructions depending on your DIY oven kit. However, these general instructions are sufficient for most pizza ovens.
Begin with the rear corner dome pieces. Stand these pieces up and support them with wood to prevent them from falling. Once both corner pieces are standing, lean the front dome pieces against them.
Most DIY oven kits have free-standing dome pieces. So, the pieces stand on their own (mostly).
Step 3: Pointing the Dome
Next, it’s time to point the dome. The biggest part of this step is to use the mortar to set the dome. Mix the mortar with water in a plastic container to get the pieces ready.
Once the mortar is ready, use a towel or flue to seal the cracks. Mortar for pizza ovens sets fast, so make sure you move at a decent pace.
Step 4: Add the Ceramic Blanket and Chicken Wire Mesh
Ceramic blankets and chicken wire mesh are essential for pizza oven performance. First, wrap the dome of the oven with a ceramic blanket and then add the chicken wire mesh. These components will help the oven hold more heat.
To secure the ceramic blanket and chicken wire, use a STUCCO mixture. Cement is also useful here and you have some freedom with how you get it done.
Step 5: Front Arch
Most DIY pizza oven kits provide you with supplies for an arch. Pizza oven arches can be made from many materials but make sure you leave an opening for a door. In fact, we recommend getting creative with the front arch.
Firing Your Oven for the First Time
When using your pizza oven for the first time it needs to be fired correctly. The first use needs to be monitored or you may damage the pizza oven. This is because most types of refractory materials don’t set until heat is applied.
So, on your oven’s first use, control the fire and ensure it doesn’t burn too hot or too cold. Try to keep the temperature just below pizza-cooking temperatures of 400° to 600° degrees Fahrenheit.
Reviews of the 3 Best DIY Pizza Ovens
Many great DIY pizza oven kits are available. However, some are better than others. Below we take you through the three best DIY pizza ovens.
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1. Chicago Brick Oven Wood-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven
The Chicago Brick Oven (CBO) Wood-Fired Outdoor Pizza Oven is a great outdoor oven. What makes this oven unique are the accessories it comes with and the size options. It features insulating boards, insulation blankets, pizza peels, and even door and plate hardware.
Chicago brick oven owners also rave about these ovens because of their high-quality design. For example, this CBO kit comes with a few overall dimensions and customization options. These customization options include 500, 750, and 1,000-degree Fahrenheit temperature ratings.
Thanks to Signature Flameroll technology it also generates great thermal mass and cooks pizza, vegetables, and more. This is what helps the oven create the perfect flakey pizza crust. Overall, these features make it a bestseller.
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2. Cuore Ovens New Model 1000 Plus Gourmet Wood-Fired Oven Kit
The Cuore Ovens New Model 1000 Plus Gourmet Wood-Fired Oven Kit is exceptional. It comes with everything necessary to cook pizza at high temperatures. The cooking surface is also large and flexible for endless menu items.
Due to its size and design, it’s also one of the few outdoor ovens that’s good for reliable year-round cooking. The kit also includes everything you need, which includes combustible and non-combustible materials. Overall, this precut kit gives you a pro pizza oven once you finish it.
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3. Mattone Barile Foam Form DIY Pizza Oven
The Mattone Barile Foam Form DIY Pizza Oven is compact and easy to build. Despite its compact size, it gives you 700 square inches of cooking space with the foam form. That said, you need to source other materials like fire bricks elsewhere.
While this DIY oven kit doesn’t come with everything you need, it’s great for savings. It’s one of the most affordable DIY kits and has good overall dimensions.
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Check Price on Amazon.com
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Need more help building your pizza oven or getting started using it? Check out some of our other articles:
- Best Bricks for Building a Pizza Oven
- How Do Pizza Ovens Work? Complete Guide
- Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Using a Pizza Oven
Courtney Rosero is a seasoned author at GoodLifePizzaOvens.com, where her passion for cooking blends seamlessly with her love for writing. With a sharp eye for detail and a palate tuned to culinary delights, Courtney plays a vital role in crafting captivating and informative content that resonates with pizza enthusiasts across the spectrum.
