If you recently invested in an outdoor pizza oven, you’re probably wondering how to make the best wood fired pizza. Imagine biting into a piping hot pizza that has just been cooked in a wood-fired oven. YUM!
Making a wood fired pizza at home is an experience like no other, and if you’re a cooking enthusiast, chances are you’ve had the pleasure of making one of these delicious pies yourself.
Making pizza with a wood fired oven is not only fun and delicious, it’s also surprisingly easy.
With the right ingredients and a few simple steps, you can be making homemade, wood-fired pies in no time!
Let’s break down how to make wood fired pizza at home that tastes like you’re in Italy!
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What Do You Need To Make Perfect Wood Fired Pizza?
The Oven: The Most Important Tool
The most important tool for making a wood-fired pizza is, of course, the oven itself. There are plenty of options available on the market from portable models to permanent installations. Make sure to do your research and find an oven that will fit your needs.
Dough: The Foundation of Your Pie
Once you have secured your oven, it’s time to move on to the dough. Pizza dough can be made from scratch or purchased pre-made at most grocery stores. Try out a few different kinds…the dough can make all the difference!
Sauce
Having a great sauce for your wood-fired pizza is essential to creating a truly delicious pie. The right sauce will add the perfect balance of flavor and texture to your pizza, allowing you to enjoy all of its amazing tastes. And the wrong sauce…well, game over.
A good sauce should be made with quality ingredients that are carefully selected so that they complement the flavors in your pizza. You can opt for a classic tomato sauce or get creative and try something out of the ordinary like pesto or garlic cream sauce.
Toppings
The toppings that you choose to put on your pizza will depend on your personal tastes. But whatever your toppings are, quality counts when it comes to topping your pie.
When selecting toppings, be sure to look for fresh ingredients. Popular topping choices include cheese, vegetables, meats, and herbs. Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect balance of flavors for your pizza. That’s the fun part!
Long Handled Tongs and a Pizza Peel
In order to get your pizza in and out of your oven safely and efficiently, you’ll need a good set of long handled tongs as well as a pizza peel (a large paddle used for transferring pizzas in and out of the oven). Plus, you’ll look cool 😊
The tongs should have insulated handles so that they don’t get too hot while handling hot pizzas straight from the fire.
Wood
Oak wood is often the preferred fuel for “wood-fired” pizza ovens. Oak is dense, burns slowly and evenly, and produces long-lasting heat that’s ideal for cooking pizzas. Furthermore, oak has a low moisture content, making it less likely to smoke or spark. It also has a high BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating, meaning it produces more heat per unit of fuel than other varieties. In addition, oak wood is incredibly durable and has a pleasant smell when burned. All these qualities combined make it the perfect choice for creating delicious wood-fired pizzas!
Infrared Thermometer
Using an infrared thermometer when cooking wood-fired pizza is a good idea. An infrared thermometer allows you to accurately measure the temperature of the oven floor, stone, and dome. By measuring the oven’s temperature, you can determine how hot your fire is and adjust it accordingly in order to achieve the desired results. With an infrared thermometer, you can be sure that all of your wood-fired pizzas come out perfectly cooked and delicious every time!
Heat Resistant Gloves
That oven is HOT! Like 900 degrees hot! Having heat resistant gloves when cooking in a wood-fired pizza oven just makes sense. Heat resistant gloves are designed to protect your hands and forearms from this intense heat, allowing you to safely transfer pizzas in and out of the oven.
Good Air Flow
Good air flow helps proper ventilation in a wood-fired pizza oven. Without good air flow, smoke and ash can quickly build up inside the oven and affect the taste of the food. Additionally, poor airflow can lead to uneven heating, which can cause pizzas to cook too quickly on the outside while leaving them raw in the middle. Good air flow helps to ensure that heat is spread evenly throughout the oven, resulting in perfectly cooked pizzas every time.
Good Brush
Having a good brush is essential for keeping your wood-fired pizza oven clean. As the fire burns, ash and debris can accumulate on the oven floor. If left unchecked, this can impede heat circulation and cause uneven cooking of pizzas. A good brush will help you to quickly and easily sweep away any ash and debris, allowing for proper heat circulation and a better cooking experience.
How to Make Wood Fired Pizza at Home: Step by Step Instructions
Now that you have everything ready, it’s time to bake your pizza! So throw on that apron and let’s get to work!
Place the pie directly on the oven floor for an even cook and make sure to keep a close eye on it as it cooks. Different ovens will have different cook times, so you may need to adjust accordingly. Remember, this oven is super hot, way hotter than the oven in your home, so keep an eye on it!
The end result should be a crispy crust and delicious toppings, all cooked in your very own wood-fired oven!
1. Pre Heat
Preheating a wood-fired oven for the perfect pizza is the first step. Many recipes suggest preheating your oven for at least an hour before you begin cooking, but this can vary depending on the size and type of oven. Generally speaking, it’s important to get it very hot and maintain a consistent temperature throughout the entire cooking process. When preheating your oven, be sure to use dry hardwoods and keep an eye on your thermometer.
2. Dough Prep
Before cooking you need to prepare the dough. Start by punching down the dough and kneading it until it is smooth and elastic. Then, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface and stretch it into your desired shape – round is traditional for wood-fired pizzas. Once you’re satisfied with the size and thickness of your pizza, place it onto a peel dusted with cornmeal to help prevent sticking.
3. Topping Time
Once the oven is at the right temperature, place your pre-prepared dough onto a lightly floured pizza peel. THEN add toppings. Trust me, way easier.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different ingredients – have fun and be creative! We also love this topping station!
Add sauce and toppings of your choice, distributing them evenly across the surface of the dough. Make sure not to overload it with too many toppings or else it will be difficult to transfer into the oven.
4. Bake
Slide the pizza onto the floor of your oven using quick, smooth movements. If you’re not confident in your ability to do this, make sure to use a pizza peel or long handled tongs for assistance.
The cooking time of your wood-fired pizza will depend on the temperature of your oven, the thickness of your dough, and the types of toppings used. Generally speaking, you should expect to cook a pizza for about 1-3 minutes in a very hot wood burning pizza oven. Thats it! So keep an eye on it. Once the crust bubbles up with a slight char and the cheese is golden brown melted, you know it’s done!
5. Remove
Carefully remove the pizza from the oven using long handled tongs and a pizza peel.
6. Patience
Yes, I gave this its own step. I know you’re excited to try it but allow it to cool before cutting. It really helps keep it all together and nice and yummy. Maybe get the wine ready or something to distract you for a couple minutes 🙂 We also suggest the Ooni Rocker Blade for cutting.
7. Enjoy
Enjoy that pizza! And try again right? You can never have enough pizza!
Additional Tips:
1. Make sure to thoroughly clean the oven floor and walls before every use. This will help to maintain the temperature of your oven for consistent cooking results.
2. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new topping combinations. Try out different ingredients and play around with different combinations to find the perfect balance of flavors for your pizza.
3. Assemble the pizza right on the pizza peel. This will save you a lot of hassle! Ask me how i know!
4. Let the pizza cool down a few minutes before serving. This will help to ensure the toppings don’t slide off when slicing and serving.
5. Enjoy the experience and have fun! Wood-fired pizza is a great way to get together with friends and family, so take advantage of it and make some wonderful memories in the process.
Make Pizza and Have Fun!
Making wood-fired pizzas can be a great way to entertain friends and family, and get everyone involved in the cooking process. After preheating your oven, invite your guests to gather around and help out with topping and shaping the pies. This will make for some fun family time while also teaching everyone new skills.
To make it an even more interactive experience, you can have your guests create their own custom pizzas and you can use this awesome toppings station. This will allow them to get creative and explore different topping options that they may not have tried before! And don’t forget about serving up fun sides like garlic knots or homemade sauces.
Creating wood-fired pizzas is a great way to bring people together and make lasting memories. Whether it’s an intimate gathering with friends or a family get-together, pizza is sure to be a hit. With the right equipment and these simple steps, you can create delicious wood-fired pizzas in your own backyard!
Conclusion
Making pizza in an outdoor wood burning pizza oven is far easier than one might think—all you need is an outdoor wood burning pizza oven and some quality ingredients to get started! With a little practice anyone can make perfect pizzas with their own outdoor wood burning pizza oven in no time at all!
Fire up your oven and let the pizza-making begin.
Not only will you save money by making your own pizza, but you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing that it was made with the freshest ingredients and cooked in an oven that delivers unbeatable flavor.
Finally, make sure to follow all safety precautions when using your wood-fired oven. Be aware of any hot surfaces or flames that could cause injury, and make sure to keep any children or pets away from the oven while it is in use.
So what are you waiting for? Start enjoying wood-fired pies today!
Cheers! Enjoy the perfect pizza! 🍕🔥👩🍳😋👨