How do you cook in a pizza oven?

What are pizza ovens?

A pizza oven is a special type of oven designed specifically for baking pizza. Pizza ovens can reach extremely high temperatures, usually around 500-900°F. This allows the pizza to bake quickly and evenly, resulting in a crispy crust and nicely melted cheese.

There are a few different types of pizza ovens:

• Wood-fired pizza oven – Fueled by wood, these ovens use wood as the main heat source. Wood-fired ovens can reach temperatures over 900°F.
• Gas pizza oven – Powered by gas (propane or natural gas), gas ovens heat up quickly and are easier to control the temperature.
• Electric pizza oven – Electric ovens use heating elements to generate heat. They don’t get as hot as wood or gas ovens but are convenient.

Preparing the Pizza Oven

Properly preparing your pizza oven is key for optimal cooking results. Here are some tips:

• Preheat the oven – You want to preheat your oven for at least 30 minutes prior to baking. This allows the oven to reach the desired cooking temperature.
• Check the temperature – Use an oven thermometer to verify the oven has reached the target temperature, usually around 500-600°F for pizza.
• Sweep out ashes – For wood-fired ovens, remove any ashes from previous fires before preheating.
• Let flames die down – If using a wood-fired oven, let the flames burn down a bit so pizzas cook from residual heat rather than direct flames.

A properly preheated oven will cook pizzas fast and evenly. Don’t rush the preheating process.

Pizza Oven Cooking Tips

Cooking pizza in a blazing hot oven takes some getting used to. Here are some tips:

• Use a pizza peel – A long handled pizza peel makes it easy to slide pizzas in and out of the oven.
• Work quickly – Have toppings ready before sliding pizza into the oven, as it will cook fast.
• Rotate frequently – Rotate the pizza every 30 seconds or so for even cooking.
• Watch temperature – If oven is too hot, pizzas may burn. If not hot enough, it will cook slowly.
• Use right toppings – Pick toppings that don’t contain too much moisture to prevent a soggy pizza.
• Finish with cheese – Add cheese like mozzarella as one of the final toppings so it melts nicely.

It takes practice to get the perfect pizza from a wood or gas fired oven. Be prepared to adjust oven placement, temperature, and cooking times as you go.

Making Pizza Dough for the Oven

The foundation of great pizza is the dough. Here are some tips for making pizza dough suited for a pizza oven:

• High gluten flour – Use flour with a higher protein content like bread flour or “00” pizza flour.
• Minimal ingredients – Basic dough contains flour, water, yeast, salt, and olive oil.
• Knead thoroughly – Knead the dough for at least 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Let rise – Allow dough to proof/rise for at least a few hours for flavor development.
• Divide into balls – Form dough balls between 8-10 oz for a 12″ pizza.
• Quick rise – Let dough balls sit at room temp for 1-2 hours for a final fermentation.

The higher gluten content allows the dough to stretch thin without tearing and also gives a nice chewy texture. The long kneading and rising times develop gluten and flavor.

Example Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredient	Amount
Bread Flour	500g
Water	325g
Sea Salt	10g
Instant Yeast	5g
Olive Oil	20g

1. Combine flour, salt, yeast in a mixing bowl.
2. Add water and olive oil and mix until shaggy dough forms.
3. Knead dough on floured surface for 10+ minutes until smooth.
4. Place dough in oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 2-4 hours.
5. Divide into 230g balls and let rise for 1-2 hours before baking.

This makes enough dough for 4 x 12″ pizzas. Adjust ingredients as needed to make more or less dough.

Choosing Toppings for Pizza Oven Pies

The toppings you choose will impact how well your pizza bakes up. Here are some tips:

• Cured meats – Pepperoni, salami, prosciutto work great and won’t burn.
• Vegetables – onions, peppers, tomatoes require shorter bake time.
• Fresh basil – Brightens up pizzas but add at the end.
• Lean proteins – Sausage, chicken cook quickly so don’t overdo it.
• Aged cheese – Mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan have great flavor for pizza.
• Olives, chili flakes, garlic – Pre-cooked toppings add complementary flavors.

Avoid wet toppings like raw mushrooms or chunks of tomato which make the crust soggy. For even cooking, slice up vegetables thinly. The high heat cooks most toppings quickly.

Popular Pizza Oven Pizza Topping Combinations

Pizza Name	Toppings
Margherita	Fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, basil
Pepperoni	Pepperoni, mozzarella, parmesan
Hawaiian	Ham, pineapple, mozzarella
Supreme	Pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, peppers
BBQ Chicken	Chicken, red onion, BBQ sauce, cheddar

Feel free to mix and match your favorite toppings to create custom pizzas. The pizza oven heat will bring out the flavors.

Cleaning and Maintaining your Pizza Oven

To keep your pizza oven in top shape:

• Brush oven floor – Brush out crumbs and food debris after each use.
• Remove ash – For wood ovens, scoop out ash after oven cools completely.
• Fresh firewood – Use properly cured/stored wood for best results.
• Check for cracks – Inspect oven for any cracks or damage after each season.
• Re-seal – Re-apply oven sealer as needed to protect oven interior.
• Cover oven – Use a waterproof cover to protect outdoor ovens when not in use.

Avoid using chemical cleaners inside the oven chamber. Proper maintenance will extend the life of your pizza oven and keep it running optimally.

Tips for Cooking Other Foods in a Pizza Oven

Pizza ovens can be used for cooking much more than just pizza. Here are some tips:

• Meat – Steaks, chops and chicken cook quickly over the open flame.
• Seafood – Fish fillets, scallops and shrimp cook in 2-3 minutes.
• Vegetables – Everything from eggplant to zucchini roast beautifully.
• Breads – Focaccia, flatbreads and naan puff up with oven heat.
• Desserts – Bake piping hot cookies, brownies, even muffins.
• Grilling – Use the oven opening to cook burgers, hot dogs, kebabs.

For most items, cook times will be very quick – check food frequently and rotate for even cooking. Lower oven temperature slightly for food that requires more time. Get creative with what you can whip up using pizza oven heat!

Common Problems and Solutions for Pizza Ovens

When issues come up with your pizza oven, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Problem	Solution
Not reaching desired temperature	Check fuel level, prepare adequate fire, give more preheat time
Uneven cooking	Rotate food frequently, ensure oven is fully preheated
Excess smoke	Open vents to increase air flow, use properly cured dry firewood
Pizza sticking	Allow oven to reheat if needed, use enough flour on peel, don’t overload toppings
Cracked oven floor	Cool oven fully before cleaning, re-seal cracks with oven sealant

Troubleshoot issues starting with the simple solutions first. Maintain proper care and operation of your oven to minimize problems. If issues persist, contact the oven manufacturer for additional support.

Conclusion

Cooking in a pizza oven takes practice but rewards you with incredible pizza and cuisine with unmatched flavor and textures. Follow these tips on preparing both your oven and ingredients for the ideal baking experience. Mastering use of a pizza oven opens up unlimited possibilities for making your favorite foods taste even better.