Tell me about your Ooni...

[Frozen Canuck]

The Ooni pizza oven is currently on sale and my husband and I have been back and forth about getting one. I think we have decided that IF we were to make this purchase, we would get the 16-inch model; however, as with most things, the oven itself is only the tip of the iceberg for expense. Our research has lead us down various rabbit holes for seeking out an appropriate table (leaning towards stainless steel with casters), the need for a protective cover, and multiple pizza paddles, so you can be assembling one pizza while the first one goes out to bake, etc. Of course then we started looking at various products that could act as a pizza-making "station," where you have all of the little buckets to hold the variety of toppings (yeah...cheap plastic containers would do the same thing!). And then don't even get me started on the Biscotto baking stone upgrade!

So tell me...if you have an Ooni, what items have you found to be the most useful? Are there any foods, perhaps besides pizza, that you particularly enjoy from your Ooni? Have any great recipes that you would like to share? And most of all, if you were given the chance to purchase an Ooni again, would you take it, or would you pass? My biggest concern is that making our own pizza will become just a fad, and I would like to avoid that stumbling block if I could. It is a big investment to only get used for a season and then left covered in cobwebs.

 

[GAN]

I'd be curious about seeing some replies -not that I'm looking at one, but $400+ seems like a lot for a pizza oven. I can see the advantage of using it outside if someone lives in a moderate climate ...but in the heat of summer(???) not so much. Do you make a lot of pizza in your kitchen oven now?

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I can see the advantage of using it outside if someone lives in a moderate climate ...but in the heat of summer(???) not so much. Do you make a lot of pizza in your kitchen oven now?

I do make pizza from scratch in my oven now. My issue is that my oven, even using a pizza stone, never gives me the kind of pizza flavour that I want, because ovens can just never get hot enough. This past summer, my husband dabbled in smoking meats, which we have enjoyed a LOT. He has smoked something nearly every weekend and he has turned out some great meals. He has also managed to perfect his technique for the smash burger, so we have been eating quite well courtesy of his new hobbies. I guess we are thinking that an Ooni would just help us expand our "restaurant at home," so to speak. I'm not looking to break even money-wise by making hundreds of pizzas, but just looking to introduce other food options and maybe eventually, once the pandemic starts to wind down, have another method of entertaining when friends come over.

We cook outside all of the time, 3+ seasons of the year. The heat/humidity of summer has never really been something we worry about. We tend to dial it back a bit in the winter if the snow builds up on our deck too much, but we have been known to grill steaks for Christmas dinner or whatever.

 

[GAN]

Oh nice ...it definitely seems like a cool little outdoor kitchen "toy". I've seen the pictures shared of the finished product and I've got to say they look great! You wouldn't need to sell me on the idea ..I could eat pizza every day of the week! Kind of tempted myself to be honest....

 

[AgentMama]

We've been looking into these as well. Interested in the feedback you get.

 

[jdb in AZ]

DH just ordered one for DD and family. They really enjoy thin-crust pizza. The ovens were on sale for 25% off. Family motto: If it's on sale, we HAVE to buy it.

Our neighbors go camping with friends who take their Ooni. They really like the portability. DH asked the neighbors if they plan to get one for their own home but the neighbors figure they have enough cooking toys.

 

[monsterkitty]

We don't have the pizza oven, but we smoke our homemade pizza. Sometimes we do it on pizza stones and other times I use a cast iron skillet. OP, have you tried smoking your pizza?

 

[Frozen Canuck]

We don't have the pizza oven, but we smoke our homemade pizza. Sometimes we do it on pizza stones and other times I use a cast iron skillet. OP, have you tried smoking your pizza?

We have not tried smoking pizza. We have smoked lots of steaks and ribs and chicken, made our own bacon, and made the best turkey we have ever tasted using the smoker. I have even considered doing macaroni and cheese on the smoker, but pizza is something we hadn't considered. We have barbecued pizza in the past, but the toppings never get browned that way. What process do you use? I would think that a smoker would cook things too low and slow to get good results??? I am intrigued and off to Google that whole idea! Thanks for the tip!

 

[DisneyHardin]

I have even considered doing macaroni and cheese on the smoker,

My cousin did mac and cheese in the smoker one year for our family Thanksgiving. It was seriously the best stuff ever. He just used a pre-made mac and cheese from GFS, but it tasted like none I've ever had before.

 

[lulu2]

We have 1, it was my birthday present. I don’t know the size. We have 2 paddles. This summer we used it every week. Not so much since it got cold in WI but we will use it over Christmas break. We really love it! I love pizza in general. We bought a stainless steel cart. We took it camping with us and to my in-laws for an air show, it was a big hit. Like I said, we love it.

 

[AgentMama]

We have 1, it was my birthday present. I don’t know the size. We have 2 paddles. This summer we used it every week. Not so much since it got cold in WI but we will use it over Christmas break. We really love it! I love pizza in general. We bought a stainless steel cart. We took it camping with us and to my in-laws for an air show, it was a big hit. Like I said, we love it.

This makes me want to get one. This seems to match with our lifestyle.

 

[happily single]

I was seriously eyeing these last year,but they were all on back order. I remember watching a video that cooked a steak in the oven. Ohh my. It looked sooo good.

just an FYI, some small local hardware stores carry them in store.

 

[allison443]

Thanks for this thread OP! Just ordered the 16 inch Koda model. Hey it was on sale!

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Thanks for this thread OP! Just ordered the 16 inch Koda model. Hey it was on sale!

We just ordered ours as well!!! They were out of the carrying bags when we ordered, but we got the slotted pizza peel. I had done some reading online, and we decided to order a metal table from Amazon to keep it on, as well as one of the special turning pizza peels, which were less on Amazon than on the Ooni site.

Next on my list of items to pick up is the Oxo food mill, as I have seen a number of recipes for pizza sauce that are basically San Marzano tomatoes (we get ours at Costco) that have been put through the food mill, and then have had salt added. Every site I have seen says to go light on the sauce and toppings so you don't make things to wet, and that you should have perfect pizza. I'm super excited to try it.

 

[GAN]

Hopefully, all of you who have recently made the purchase will come back and give us some feedback -and pictures!

 

[monsterkitty]

We have not tried smoking pizza. We have smoked lots of steaks and ribs and chicken, made our own bacon, and made the best turkey we have ever tasted using the smoker. I have even considered doing macaroni and cheese on the smoker, but pizza is something we hadn't considered. We have barbecued pizza in the past, but the toppings never get browned that way. What process do you use? I would think that a smoker would cook things too low and slow to get good results??? I am intrigued and off to Google that whole idea! Thanks for the tip!

I have the most incredible smoked mac and cheese recipe if you're interested. Easiest thing ever to make and the best mac and cheese you will ever eat/

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I have the most incredible smoked mac and cheese recipe if you're interested. Easiest thing ever to make and the best mac and cheese you will ever eat/

Absolutely!!! I won't say "no" to that!!!

 

[monsterkitty]

Here it is:

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (I have0 used other pastas due to pasta supply issues here with no problems)
1/2 stick butter
3 cups mile
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 package shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups) the thin shreds work better
1 package combination of colby jack and monterey jack cheese cut into around 1 inch cubes (8 oz pack)
salt and pepper (optional)
smoked paprika

put the dry macaroni elbows in a pan (about 9x13 or similar) Do not pre-cook the macaroni!

Melt the butter and then pour it over the dry macaroni and mix a bit

add the cheddar cheese

add the cubed colby/monterey jack cheese

add milk

add heavy whipping cream

salt and pepper to taste (i never add this)

Give it a stir

Sprinkle on Smoked paprika I don't measure this, but just sprinkle on top to lightly cover.

put in the smoker at 250 degrees for 1:50-2 hours. I stir it every 20-30 minutes but you don't have to stir at all

at 1:50 - 2 hours you can add more shredded cheddar cheese to the top and place under the broiler to melt. (I have never done this)



This is a great dish to take to parties or potlucks. I have a friend who asks me to bring her some when I make it.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Here it is:

Thanks so much! This sounds incredible. If it is warm enough, I may try to make it this weekend.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We don’t have an Ooni (first I’ve heard of it), but we’ve had our Pizzacraft Pizza Pronto oven since 2016, and we really like it. (Link at bottom of post.) It heats up to 700 degrees, so pizza comes out really great. It took a little bit of time to figure out how best to use it and make the best pizzas, though. First, you have to roll out your crust very thin, or your pizzas will come out puffy and dough-y. Fortunately DH is good at that. We learned to make our own no-cook pizza sauce and it’s delish. You have to bring your sauce and ingredients right up to the edge on the thin crust and that will come out perfectly.

We mainly pull it out of storage when we have a party. Figured out it’s kind of a lot of work, and takes up the whole kitchen island to make a bunch of pizzas, and doesn’t always feel worth the work to make just one or two. (For those looking for reviews.) I was hoping we wouldn’t buy pizza anymore but that hasn’t been the case. Still no regrets in buying it as the party pizzas are fantastic, and work well for a crowd. We set ours up on a sawhorse table and we use a large glass table next to it to put things on. Originally we bought it for a HS graduation open house in July because foods didn’t require heating or cooling, we just made more as people came in. We did buy some pizza boards and a bunch of trays from Amazon.

Hope everyone enjoys theirs!

https://www.amazon.com/Pizzacraft-P...t=&hvlocphy=9001958&hvtargid=pla-385230172699