Types of Pizza Ovens: Buying Guide
Whether it's from a large chain or mom-and-pop shop, pizza is a staple in communities around the globe. A standard range can cook a lot of things, but pizza requires something different. It needs a commercial oven with the right design and heat settings to brown cheese, toppings and crust to perfection. So what equipment can handle the task? If you're looking to whip up delicious pizza pies in no time, below are five types of pizza ovens that any pizzeria or commercial kitchen should explore.
Brick Pizza Ovens
A brick oven uses a traditional method to cook pizza. A fire is light inside the oven using wood or gas, and heat builds up inside the cooking cavity. The oven is constructed in a way that not only retains heat but also reflects it over the cooking area, creating a nice browning effect and crispy crust. While it takes up to 45 minutes to preheat, a brick oven eventually can reach temperatures high enough to cook a pizza in less than three minutes. It also is available either with one cooking cavity or multiple decks.
- Available power sources: Wood, gas
- Standard temperature range: 600-1,000 degrees Fahrenheit
- Standard cook time: 2-3 minutes
- Standard footprint: Large
- Excels at cooking: Fresh flatbread, thin crust and deep dish pizzas
- Best for: Fine-dining restaurants, outdoor dining, rustic establishments, traditional pizzerias
Convection Pizza Ovens
A convection pizza oven works a lot like a standard convection unit. The oven circulates hot air throughout cooking using fans, which helps evenly cook the entire pizza and crisp the crust from the bottom. Most convection models can take around 15 minutes to preheat and can cook both fresh and frozen, pre-made pizzas quickly.
- Available power sources: Gas, electric
- Standard temperature range: 425-500 degrees Fahrenheit
- Standard cook time: 5-7 minutes
- Standard footprint: Small
- Excels at cooking: Fresh or frozen flatbread and thin crust pizzas
- Best for: Bars, casual-dining restaurants, cafeterias, schools
Conveyor Pizza Ovens
A conveyor oven uses a convection cooking system on a conveyor belt. Fresh or frozen pizza is placed on the belt, and it moves through the oven. Once the cooking process is complete, the finished pizza is moved to a cooling area on the other side of the conveyor belt. This rapid-cooking technique is ideal for places looking to make large quantities of pizza quickly.
- Available power sources: Gas, electric
- Standard temperature range: 400-600 degrees Fahrenheit
- Standard cook time: 3-5 minutes
- Standard footprint: Large
- Excels at cooking: Fresh or frozen flatbread and thin crust pizzas
- Best for: Bars, cafeterias, casual-dining restaurants, chain restaurants, quick-service restaurants, schools
Deck Pizza Ovens
A deck oven is very similar to a traditional brick oven because it also uses a form of conduction heat. Each deck is flat surface made out of stone or stainless-steel material. Stone absorbs the humidity, creating crispy and browned crust and heating evenly across the pizza. Stainless steel also provides ample crispiness and browning at a more affordable price.
- Available power sources: Gas, electric
- Standard temperature range: 400-700 degrees Fahrenheit
- Standard cook time: 5-10 minutes
- Standard footprint: Medium
- Excels at cooking: Fresh or frozen flatbread, thin crust and deep dish pizzas
- Best for: Casual-dining restaurants, fine-dining restaurants, traditional pizzerias
Impinger Pizza Ovens
An impinger oven is a conveyor oven that uses specialized radiant cooking. Impingement technology distributes hot air from the top and bottom, directly penetrating the pizza quickly. This process helps improve the bake quality and evenness of the pizza.
- Available power sources: Gas, electric
- Standard temperature range: 300-575 degrees Fahrenheit
- Standard cook time: 3-5 minutes
- Standard footprint: Large
- Excels at cooking: Fresh or frozen flatbread and thin crust pizzas
- Best for: Bars, cafeterias, casual-dining restaurants, chain restaurants, quick-service restaurants, schools