Summer is here, and it’s time again to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. What better way to entertain guests than by turning your backyard into a pizzeria? Portable pizza ovens let you cook fresh, restaurant quality pizzas from the comfort of your own home. With a wide array of options available on the market, it can be tough to decide which is the best portable pizza oven, and which is right for your household. Fuel types, sizes, temperatures, portability, durability, and other features should be considered when selecting an portable pizza oven. Let’s take a look at two flagship options: the Bertello 12″ SimulFIRE Outdoor Pizza Oven, and the Gozney Roccbox.
Fuel
Cooking pizza requires high temperatures, and high temperatures require the right fuel. Gas-powered cooking is undeniably convenient, but you might prefer the taste of wood-fired pizza. On the other hand, charcoal can burn even hotter than wood, creating a charred crust that some pizza lovers find irresistible.
The Bertello 12″ Outdoor Pizza Oven comes with a fuel tray that supports wood, pellets, and charcoal. With 3 options for fuel, you can experiment and find which one you prefer — or switch it up each time!
On the other hand, the Gozney Roccbox includes a propane gas burner. Enjoy the convenience and clean-air burning of a gas fired oven.
It’s important to keep in mind that each portable pizza oven offers accessories to support other fuel types: Bertello offers a gas burner, and Gozney offers a detachable wood burner (each sold separately). So no matter which choice you make, you’ll always have the option to try gas or wood-fired pizza later on!
When you add the optional Gas Burner add-on to the Bertello oven, you can take advantage of SimulFIRE: using gas and wood simultaneously, for the ultimate in convenience and flavor!
Capacity
If you’ve got hungry guests waiting for pizza, you’ll want to make sure you can cook fast enough to serve them! A larger oven will naturally allow you to cook larger pizzas, or even multiple pizzas at once.
The Gozney Roccbox uses a Cordierite stone cooking floor, measuring 12.4 x 13.4 inches (31.5 x 34 cm). Those dimensions would let you comfortably cook a 12″ pizza.
The Bertello SimulFIRE also offers a Cordierite pizza stone, measuring 13.39 x 12.36 inches (34 x 31.4 cm): allowing you to cook one (1) 12″ pizza at a time.
These portable pizza ovens are nearly the same in terms of pizza capacity, so you can rest assured that either choice will allow you to crank out 12 inch pizzas like a pro!
Temperature
To cook an authentic and ultra-tasty pizza, you’ll want your oven to reach the optimal temperature. 700 degrees Fahrenheit is the absolute minimum, but for the best pizza, a temperature over 800 degrees is desirable.
The Bertello SimulFIRE boasts a maximum temperate of over 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot enough to cook a truly authentic restaurant quality pizza.
The Gozney Roccbox, with its unique “rolling flame”, can reach a temperature of 950 degrees Fahrenheit. Nearing 1000 degrees, the Roccbox temperature is undoubtedly hot enough to cook unforgettable pizza.
Accessories
Pizza preparation is a fine art. It requires care and skill, and you can benefit greatly from the right tools and accessories.
The Gozney Roccbox comes with a professional-grade pizza peel (worth $85), perfect for sliding your pizzas in- and out of the oven effortlessly. It also has a built-in thermometer, for easy temperature reading.
The Bertello SimulFIRE bundle includes a 12” perforated Pizza Peel, a non-contact infrared thermometer, and a weatherproof cover.
Price
A portable pizza oven is an investment in your home, to create artisanal pizzas with full control over the quality of the ingredients and perfectly suit your own tastes.
The Gozney Roccbox is available for $499.00, with free shipping.
The Bertello 12″ SimulFIRE Bundle is available at the time of writing for $399.00 (free shipping).
Bottom Line
Both the Gozney Roccbox and the Bertello SimulFIRE offer a rich pizza making experience in a compact package. A portable pizza oven can transform your patio, deck, or outdoor party into an alfresco pizza dining experience! Maybe you’ll take your outdoor pizza oven on your next camping trip, baking pizza under the stars.
No matter which choice you make, you’ll be able to cook a 12 inch pizza at incredible temperatures for an authentic crust and bubbling cheese. You will want to decide whether you prefer gas or wood/pellet/charcoal fuel for your pizzas. But remember you can always add the optional accessory, available for either oven, to cook with different fuel. With the Bertello SimulFIRE, you could even cook with gas and wood at the same time!
We hope you have a blast cooking pizzas with friends and family! Paradise awaits on your patio!