Introducing the Best Pizza Oven on the Planet - The Ooni Karu 16
By John Williams. Published March 10, 2022
When it comes to comfort food, most people will think of a slice of pizza! Imagine the delectable gooey cheese atop an irresistible bed of tomato sauce adorned on warm crust. Absolutely delicious right?!
Except, it can be expensive and a chore to order-in pizza every time from your favorite restaurant, and store-bought pizza just doesn’t compare!
In a bid to recreate the perfect pizza experience at home, we went on a hunt to find the best pizza oven known to man! Our aim was simple, to find a pizza oven that was simple to use, made exquisite pizza, and wouldn’t break the bank.
Lo’ and behold, after much research, we landed on the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven.
So does this pizza oven from famed pizza oven makers Ooni tick all the boxes? Let’s take a closer look!
What’s so great about it?
The Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven stands out in its category mainly due to its ability to reach exorbitantly high temperatures. The result? A perfect stone-baked pizza pie in just 60 seconds.
Is that something your home-based oven can achieve? We think not!
But that’s just the icing on the cake. The Ooni Karu has indeed a lot more going for it. For instance, it is dual compatible. In other words, you can use multiple fuel sources such as real wood and charcoal, or you can buy the Ooni Gas Burner add-on to extend your fuel options.
When should you use Real Wood/Charcoal and Gas?
Great question! One of the great things about the Ooni Karu is the fact that it promises truly authentic taste. How authentic you ask? You’ll be transported to the streets of Naples from the comfort of your home. The pizza oven is the first to be ‘Recommended for Domestic Use’ by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, an acclaimed authority on Neapolitan pizza.
Using real wood/charcoal certainly accentuates the smoky flavor severalfold and adds to the traditional aromatic pizza experience.
If you’re someone who values low-maintenance cooking slightly over flavor, then using propane gas is a better option for you. It certainly gives you better temperature control!
But don’t worry too much, you’ll still get a super delicious pie either way.
What about the build quality?
If we had to describe the build quality on the Ooni Karu in one word, it would have to be top-notch! We guess that’s what you get from one of the best pizza oven brands on the market, but we were still pleasantly surprised.
The oven features optimized airflow engineering, a carbon steel shell with a high temperature-resistant powder-coated finish, and many more innovations that make it the creme de la creme of pizza ovens.
These features also allow it to get hot, and we mean really hot, reaching temperatures of 950°F (500°C) in just 15 minutes. However, the fully insulated oven body and mounted digital thermometer do provide enough control and precision.
Another praise-worthy aspect of the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven is its ViewFlame™ technology. The new full glass oven door design not only lets you keep a watchful eye on the state of your pizza while it cooks, but also maintains oven temperatures thanks to the improved insulation.
What to keep in mind?
It’s important to note that the Ooni Karu 16 was always meant to be an outdoor beast, and the chimney that releases heat from the oven doesn’t make it suitable for indoor use.
However, the 16 inch-pies that it produces are perfect for pizza parties in your backyard, and are sure to make your entire social circle turn green with envy!
Another aspect to keep in mind is the fact that there is a learning curve to operating the device, and you might need some additional accessories like a pizza peel to rotate and remove your pizza from the oven.
Conclusion - Final Thoughts
So is the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven worth the hype? If you’ve been reading along so far, you probably already know that the answer is a resounding YES!
From the build quality to the final product; it’s hard to find a fault with this all-rounder.
After significant personal use, we love the sturdy design, the option for multiple fuel sources, and most of all the heavenly pie of pizza that it delivers. We can wholeheartedly recommend the Ooni Karu 16 as a must-buy for every foodie out there who wants to enjoy restaurant-quality pizza at home.
Priced at $799, Ooni also offers free returns, shipping, and perhaps best of all, a 3 year extended warranty.
Feel the price is a bit steep? You can always opt for the Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven priced at $399. It’s portable and delivers excellent results, despite certain limitations!
