As big as the Ooni Pro and cooks like the Ooni Koda!
The Koda is one of the best pizza ovens in the world! How could it get any better? Make it bigger, add more style, and bring on the heat! I mean, the new Ooni Koda 16 is like the Koda and Pro had a baby! A great, big, beautiful baby! A baby that spits out delicious pizzas instead of…well, you get the point. Are you fired up?
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Best of Both Worlds
I have been cooking pizza with both the Ooni Pro and the Koda for over 2 years now as a self-trained pizzaiolo in my home, and I love them both.
Here’s my own pizza oven review of my favorite features of each outdoor oven:
Koda Favorite Features
Super Portable
Great accessories to use anywhere
Wall of Flame gas burner
Cooks great pizza!
Ooni Pro Favorite Features
Portable
Big, comfortable cooking space
Make a variety of foods
Cooks great pizza!
So, what do you get when you put them together?
- You get something more portable than the Ooni Pro, but with a big, comfortable cooking area.
- You get the best gas burner of any portable outdoor pizza oven.
- Easily fits my 12 inch cast iron skillet so I can bake my garlic shrimp appetizer or pies such as peach cobbler or apple crisp. That’s the best!
- And you still produce the best pizzas!
If you haven’t seen the new Ooni Koda 16 oven introductory video, you can check it out here.
The original Koda is my go to oven when away from home. In my opinion, there is no better oven for camping, tailgating, picnics, or outdoor birthday parties away from home. Whether it’s outdoor in June or November, AM or PM, in the heat or cool, Neopolitan or dessert pizza…I’ve tried it at all in this oven!
But for everyday backyard cooking, using propane, pellet or hardwood, the Ooni Pro is king! Or WAS the king!
Until now!
It’s Not All About Size
With a 17 inch wide stone, the Ooni Pro can handle up to a 16 inch pizza, but I still prefer cooking 12-14 inch pizzas.
Don’t get me wrong – I also think big pizzas are awesome!
After all, my son and I (with a friend of his) “Conquered the Big One” and made the Wall of Fame at the Fox’s Pizza Den in Myrtle Beach, SC for eating a 30 inch pizza in less than 45 minutes! Now that’s taking the heat in style!
I still have the t-shirt!
I’ve also introduced many people to the giant pizzas at Big Pie in the Sky, although I haven’t found the right partner for the Carnivore Challenge. I’m ready to go back to the heat of the challenge. Who’s with me?!
If you look at reviews for the Koda 12 on Amazon, there are a number of reviews that say they love the Koda, but its cooking surface is too small.
More specifically, the complaint is that the pizza cooks too close to the flames and it causes the crust to burn.
It’s especially hard for someone that is new to cooking on a pizza oven to get used to. Most will definitely burn their first pizza (maybe more).
For me, the extra cooking space and using a good peel makes the entire outdoor pizza cooking experience more comfortable. That’s the best word I can use to describe it.
It also means less burning on the crust and overall better cooked pizzas.
Review of My First Time With the Ooni Koda 16
My daughters helped me record our maiden voyage with the Ooni Koda 16 outdoor pizza oven.
I was blown away! See what I mean in this video.
Pretty amazing, right?
I didn’t think I would find a portable pizza oven that would make me forget all about the Ooni Pro, but I may have been wrong.
The good news is that I will practice over and over again with the Ooni Pro 16 just to make sure it is my favorite.
What is So Special About the Ooni Koda 16?
It’s big! It’s roomy inside! Yet, still feels portable!
How big is this oven? Look at this photo.
They are actually being conservative with their 16.5 inch cooking surface.
I measure it at 16.75 at the smallest (before it rounds the corner), and the rest of it is just shy of 17 inches.
This oven is actually surprisingly tall.
They must have received feedback that the Ooni Pro and Koda were too low to the table surface.
The Ooni Koda 16 is 14.7 inches tall with half of that being legs.
It towers over the Ooni Pro, which is only 12.5 inches tall without the chimney.
Of course I’m not factoring in the gas terminal where the propane source hose connects to the oven.
The legs fold up, so it stores pretty compact for its imposing size when fully setup.
New Ooni Koda 16 Feature 1: The L-shaped Gas Burner
Seriously? An oven that cooks pizza, is portable, and has a burner that covers two full sides of the oven?
Now, that’s an oven!
“Ooni Koda 16’s large stone floor and L-shaped burner provide ultimate cooking versatility.
Ooni Koda 16 Essentials Guide
The stone floor surface will gradually increase in temperature the closer it gets to the flame, allowing you to maneuver food around the oven depending on how you want it to cook.”
When I cook on the Ooni Koda 16, I like to keep my pizza just outside the hottest red circle area; which I can do if my pizza is no larger than 14 inches.
That would mean that my pizza stays inside of the two middle rings where it cooks perfectly even and just my style.
It’s kind of like Goldilocks. You don’t want to cook on the area that is too hot or too cold. You want to cook where it’s just right.
You want to find that sweet spot where the stone is hot enough for the bottom of the pizza to cook properly without burning the crust.
In the below images I’ve scaled the pizzas down to the size of the pizza stone in the image. It shows my recommended pizza positioning for a 12 inch pizza and for a 14 inch pizza.
12 inch pizzas fit perfectly in the center of the pizza stone
14 inch pizzas should hug the right wall and come back a bit
I used the Ooni Koda 16 before seeing this heat map diagram. As I cooked one pizza after the other, both of the 12 inch and 14 inch sizes, I found myself honing in on these sweet spots of the pizza stone just through my experience.
Then when I saw these diagrams it all came together. Try it and you’ll see.
This 16 inch pizza diagram shows you why you should not cook a 16 inch pizza in the Ooni Koda 16.
With a 16 inch pizza, half of the outside crust would be too close to the flame and about a quarter of the pizza would be on a cooler part of the stone.
You will find that the extra space, giving just the right heat, will make cooking pizzas more comfortable and the pizzas will turn out better.
Cooking Experience
Ooni claims that the Koda 16 can cook a pizza in 60 seconds. Although it can cook the pizza in 60 seconds, we find that we get the best results in our pizza if we cook it closer to 90 seconds. Follow these instructions and you’ll end up with a great Koda pizza.
Trust us, the flavor of your favorite pizza, whether it’s a Neapolitan pizza, dessert pizza, or any flavor in between, will never taste better than when cooked in pizza ovens. You pick which one you want to try. I’ve tried them all. In comparison to Ooni’s other products, the taste of the pizza is relatively the same-crispy yet chewy with all the flavors of the pizza locked in-as long as you cook it the right way.
The best results come by turning the pizza a quarter of a turn every 15 to 20 seconds ensuring an even cook. This will prevent the crust from burning under uneven heat. This is especially nice if you’re using pizza recipes that call for seasoning the pizza crust and want to retain that flavor.
You will also have a nice well and even result overall. The pizza won’t be burned or undercooked and you’ll have that great leopard spotting on the bottom of your pizza. Using a peel to maneuver the pizza adds to the ease of the experience.
If you’re new to using an oven for cooking pizza, be patient. The Koda works well, but you may need to try it out a few times before you figure out how to use it comfortably. I tried a couple times, too, before I got the hang of it. You will get the best results in your pizza if you follow the instructions and don’t rush anything.
If you plan on using it to cook for a party, my advice is to use it at home in advance of the party so you work out the kinks before guests come over. There’s nothing worse than having a bunch of messed up pizza with a home full of hungry people.
One thing to note is that if you plan on cooking a lot of pizzas, for best results you will want to take a break after cooking 5 or so. The reason for this is that the pizza stone gets its heat from the upper flame. Putting cold pizzas on the stone continuously will lower the temperature of the stone without allowing the flame to heat it back up.
Ooni Support
Our experience with Ooni customer service has been fantastic. We have received ovens that came with a broken stone. Stuff happens. If you happen to receive an oven where the stone has broken during shipping, do not panic. Just contact Ooni and they will ship a replacement out immediately. They’ve got your back!
Every Ooni product comes with a 1 year warranty. When you register your Ooni Koda 16 with Ooni they will extend the 1 year warranty to a 3 year warranty. Based on the exceptional customer support and their longevity in the market, we believe they will honor this warranty.
Ooni also has a 60 day buy back guarantee. There are conditions that you sincerely try to use their products, but if after you try it and you don’t like it, Ooni will buy it back from you.
FAQ’s
Can the Koda Pizza Oven be used inside?
No. Only use the oven outdoors. This oven is comparable to a gas-fired grill and should never be used indoors.
Is the Ooni Koda 16 portable?
The size of the Ooni Koda 16 allows it to be portable and is big enough to cook a 16″ pizza. If you prefer having more portability but still make a decently sized pizza, the Koda 12 may be a better fit for you. See our article comparing the Ooni Koda 12 vs Ooni Koda 16 .
Are Ooni Portable Pizza Ovens worth the investment?
The answer to this question all depends on what you value. If you use the oven to cook with friends and family and create good, happy memories, it’s definitely worth the investment. You can’t beat the price for the quality and durability.
Can the Koda be left outside?
The Koda should not be left outside as it is not weatherproof. The cover that is sold separately would certainly help, but I personally still wouldn’t leave it outside. It’s small enough to carry and store that I would suggest keeping it inside.
How long does the Koda take to heat up?
It only takes 15 minutes to heat up. You should check the temperature inside with an infrared thermometer to make sure it’s at the correct temperature.
Can you use an Ooni pizza oven in the rain?
Technically, yes. Ooni pizza ovens that are fueled by gas, like the Koda, will remain hot inside even in cold, rainy weather. Is it a good idea? Probably not. The Koda isn’t weather proof and you could end up with a damaged product and soggy pizza.
Can you use natural gas with the Ooni Koda 16?
Yes. You can use natural gas on the Ooni Koda 16, but only with the natural gas converter kit sold separately.
Do you recommend an optional peel?
We highly recommend using a pizza peel. They make it easy to serve the pizza right on your countertop.
Can you use a small propane tank for a Koda?
Yes, you can use a 1lb. propane tank. All you need is the proper propane gas tank adapter. If you plan on cooking a lot, you may need multiple gas tanks.
Can the Koda be used as a wood-fired pizza oven?
No. The Koda is not a multi-fuel pizza oven so it cannot use wood or wood pellets in it. You can only use gas as fuel for the Koda.
What other things can you cook with this portable pizza oven?
Yes. You can cook a full menu beyond just pizza including steak, bread or even cookies. Of course you will need a griddle or cooking pan depending on what you are cooking.
Want to Live the Good Life?
Well, making restaurant quality (or better) pizza at home is a great start!
Review some of our other posts on other outdoor products we’ve tested including pizza gear and outdoor ovens and tips on how to use them!
- The Best Koda 16 Pizza Oven Cover
- Ooni Karu 12
- Essential Pizza Oven Accessories
- Bertello vs Ooni’s Koda 12
- Get to Know the Ooni Fyra Wood-Fired Pizza Oven: A Complete Review
- How to Cook Pizza for a BIG Group
- Top 7 Portable Charcoal Grills for Camping
Tim is a self proclaimed social eater – so it’s not surprise that he’s obsessed making pizzas with his kids, friends, his kids friends, close family, extended family, people with the same last name but aren’t actually family, neighbors, random people in the neighborhood, and complete strangers!
There’s nothing quite like helping other people embrace their creative side as they make their own pizza masterpieces!
