Is the 12-inch Ooni worth it?

The Ooni 12-inch pizza oven is one of the most popular outdoor pizza ovens on the market. With its large cooking surface and ability to reach temperatures up to 950°F, the 12-inch Ooni can cook authentic wood-fired pizza in just 60 seconds. But with a price tag of $499, is the 12-inch Ooni really worth the investment? Here is a comprehensive look at the key factors to consider when deciding if the 12-inch Ooni pizza oven is worth the cost.

Ooni 12-Inch Pizza Oven Overview

The Ooni 12-inch pizza oven is a portable, outdoor pizza oven fueled by wood pellets or charcoal. Key features include:

• 12-inch ceramic stone baking board
• Reaches temperatures up to 950°F
• Cooks pizza in 60 seconds
• Dual fuel – powered by wood pellets or charcoal
• Portable – weighs just 22 lbs
• Made of powder-coated steel
• Door drops down for easy access
• Wood pellet hopper holds enough pellets for 1 hour of cooking

With its 12-inch baking stone and ability to reach professional-level temperatures, the Ooni 12 can recreate the effects of a wood-fired pizza oven to bake crisp artisan-style pizzas in just one minute. The oven is compact and portable so you can cook pizza anywhere outdoors.

Ease of Use

One of the main advantages of the Ooni 12 is how easy it is to use. Setup takes just 15 minutes – you simply have to assemble the legs, attach the chimney, and slide in the baking stone. The oven reaches 950°F in just 15 minutes when using wood pellets.

Here are some key ease-of-use features:

• Intuitive manual dials to control air flow and fuel feed for precise temperature control
• Drop down door for safely adding/turning pizzas
• Detachable chimney to keep exterior cool
• Pellet hopper cleanout hatch to easily discard ashes

You don’t need any special skills or previous bread/pizza-making experience to start cooking incredible wood-fired pizzas at home. Ooni has a great series of recipes and cooking guides online that provide beginner-friendly instructions.

Cooking Performance

The 12-inch Ooni oven excels when it comes to cooking performance:

• Temperature range: The Ooni 12 reaches temperatures between 400°F on the low end up to 900+°F on the high end. This wide range allows you to cook authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas in 60 seconds, but also cook slower at lower temps for dishes like veggies, flatbreads, and meats.
• Heating efficiency: Ooni’s signature flamekeeper system allows the oven to reach over 900°F rapidly when fueled by wood pellets. You can start cooking pizzas within 15 minutes of lighting.
• Fuel flexibility: You can use either wood pellets for 900+°F temps or charcoal for 700+°F temps. Pellets are great for quick, hot fires while charcoal offers a more customizable, slow-burning fire.
• Cooking surface: The thick 12-inch cordierite stone evenly conducts and retains heat. The texture helps create an authentic charred crust.

This performance allows the Ooni 12 to cook pizza as fast and good as a full-size brick oven. The 12-inch baking surface can comfortably fit 10-12 inch pizzas.

Build Quality

The Ooni 12 is made from quality, durable materials designed to withstand high heat. Here are the key build features:

• Powder coated stainless steel shell – resists rust and discoloration
• Cordierite baking stone – hard-wearing, thermal shock resistant
• 430 stainless steel interior – minimizes corrosion
• Cast iron door – retains heat when opened
• Vitreous enamel chimney – prevents discoloration

Owners mention the oven arriving in perfect condition and not warping or corroding even after years of use and storage. The oven feels sturdy and balanced thanks to the wide legs and low center of gravity.

One minor downside is the pizza peel feels a bit thin and flimsy. But the Ooni baking stone, core oven, and accessories are built to last.

Temperature Control

The Ooni 12 offers excellent temperature control for a wood/charcoal-fired oven:

• Manual air collar regulates airflow
• Fuel door adjusts oxygen flow
• Pellet hopper controls rate of fuel fed to fire

These manual controls allow you to keep temps steady between 700-950°F once you get the hang of operating them. The Ooni mobile app has instructions for calibrating air flow based on factors like outside temperature and wind levels.

It takes a bit of practice learning how to regulate the air and fuel to maintain your target temp. But the ability to manually control oven conditions makes it possible to cook at precise temps for perfect results.

Fuel Efficiency

The Ooni 12 is designed for efficiency when it comes to fuel consumption:

• 12-inch size requires less fuel than larger ovens
• Enclosed flamekeeper chamber maximizes heat use
• Pellet hopper has up to 1 hour of burn time before refilling
• Tight seal retains heat when door is closed

This fuel efficiency allows the oven to reach 600°F+ temps using around 2 lbs of pellets or charcoal. Some users mention getting over 1 hour of cooking time per pellet refill. The Ooni 12 does not waste fuel maintaining high temps like a larger oven would.

However, pellets do burn faster at the max 900+°F temperatures. You’ll go through around 1 lb of pellets for every 10-15 minutes of cooking time at peak temp. But an 8 lb bag of pellets lasts for hours of total cooking for under $10.

Portability

Weighing just 22 pounds, the Ooni 12 is designed for portability:

• Assembles/disassembles in minutes
• Carry case with shoulder strap included
• Compact size fits in most car trunks
• Short chimney detaches for transport
• Legs lock in place for secure carrying

The oven was clearly designed with transport in mind. Detachable chimney, folding legs, and light materials make the Ooni 12 one of the most portable outdoor pizza ovens available.

You can easily pack it up and take it camping or to a friend’s backyard. The carry case even has room to store a pizza peel and small bag of pellets.

Versatility

While designed for pizza, the Ooni 12 has versatility to cook much more than just dough and sauce:

• Meats – steak, chicken, burgers, fish
• Vegetables – peppers, eggplant, potatoes, onions
• Breads – flatbread, naan, pita
• Desserts – banana boats, s’mores

Anything you can cook on a grill or in a skillet will taste amazing with the wood-fired flavors produced by the Ooni oven. You can fire it up to 900°F for crispy pizzas then let it cool to 400°F for slow roast vegetables.

The 12-inch size makes it easy to continuously cook different items since you’re not wasting fuel heating a large surface area.

Ooni 12-Inch vs Other Sizes

Ooni makes the 12-inch oven along with two other sizes:

• Ooni Koda 12 – 12 inches wide, same as model reviewed
• Ooni Koda 16 – 16 inches wide
• Ooni Karu 16 – 16 inches wide

The Koda 16 and Karu 16 can cook larger 15+ inch pizzas and more food at once. But they require more fuel, space, and have longer preheat times.

The Koda 12 gives you authentic wood-fired results with quicker preheat and lower fuel demands. The compact size is perfect for 1-4 people.

Unless you plan to constantly feed large groups, the 12-inch model has the right balance of cooking performance and efficiency.

Customer Reviews

The Ooni 12 earns outstanding reviews from owners:

• 4.8 out of 5 stars on Ooni website (300+ reviews)
• 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon (1,300+ reviews)
• 92% recommendation rate on Ooni

Owners mention how easy it is for beginners to make amazing pizza within the first cooks. The oven delivers on convenience and portability as advertised.

Some complaints about durability issues seem to have been addressed in newer models. Ooni’s customer service also receives high praise for quickly resolving any defects.

For its balance of value, performance, and ease of use, it’s no surprise the 12-inch Ooni is one of the highest rated outdoor pizza ovens.

Ooni 12 Review Summary

Pros	Cons
Cooks authentic pizza in 60 secs Reaches 900°F+ temps Easy to use for beginners Durable, quality construction Fuel efficient Portable Great for cooking more than just pizza	Pellet hopper could be bigger Pizza peel feels flimsy Takes practice to master temp control

Final Verdict

The Ooni 12 absolutely lives up to its reputation for delivering an affordable, convenient wood-fired pizza oven for your backyard. Once you taste the 900°F wood-fired pizza this oven can churn out in just a minute, there’s no going back to pizza any other way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook more than just pizza in the Ooni 12?

Yes, the Ooni 12 reaches temperatures between 400-950°F so it can cook anything you would normally make on a grill or stovetop. Meats like steak and chicken come out delicious with a touch of wood-fired flavor. You can also cook breads, vegetables, fish, and various snacks and appetizers.

How long will a full hopper of pellets last in the Ooni 12?

The pellet hopper holds enough wood pellets to sustain around 1 hour of continuous cooking time at high temperatures around 900°F before needing a refill. You can extend this to 90-120 minutes of cooking if staying below 700°F.

Can you use charcoal instead of wood pellets in the Ooni 12?

Yes, the Ooni 12 is designed to work with either wood pellets or charcoal as fuel. Charcoal will provide temperatures between 700-800°F which is still hot enough for authentic pizza in around 90 seconds. The burn time is a bit shorter than pellets.

How durable is the Ooni 12 oven?

The Ooni 12 is built from quality materials like powder coated steel, cordierite stone, and stainless steel that can withstand high heat. Owners mention the oven holding up nicely for years with proper care and storage. Ooni also offers excellent customer service in case any defects occur.

How difficult is the Ooni 12 for a beginner to use?

The Ooni 12 is designed to be very easy to use right out of the box. You don’t need any previous experience with pizza making or fire ovens. Assembly takes 15 minutes and the manual dials provide simple but precise temperature control. Ooni offers great cooking resources online for beginner recipes and tips too.

Can you travel with the Ooni 12 pizza oven?

Absolutely. The Ooni 12 weighs just 22 pounds and comes with a convenient carry case. The detachable chimney and folding legs make it very easy to transport in your car for camping trips, tailgating, or taking to a friend’s house to cook.

Conclusion

The 12-inch Ooni pizza oven delivers an exceptional wood-fired cooking experience whether you’re a complete beginner or pizza pro. Easy assembly, quick 60 second preheat, precise temperature control, and compact portability make it the perfect backyard pizza oven. While not cheap at $499, it’s capabilities and durable construction justify the investment if you’re serious about cooking pizza and more. The Ooni 12 earns its reputation as one of the best outdoor pizza ovens you can buy.