Getting Started with Your Outdoor Pizza Oven

Before you fire up your outdoor pizza oven, there are some essential steps to ensure you have a successful cooking experience.

Assemble Your Tools:

• Pizza peel
• Infrared thermometer
• Brushes for cleaning
• Long-handled tongs

Seasoning Your Oven: Before the first use, you need to cure or season your oven. This involves lighting small fires, gradually increasing in size over the course of 5 days. This process helps to drive out any moisture from the oven’s construction material and avoids cracking.

Steps for Seasoning:

1. Build a small fire that reaches about 140°F (60°C) and maintain it for a couple of hours.
2. Increase the temperature by 54°F (30°C) each day, reaching up to 500°F (260°C) by the fifth day.

Lighting Your First Fire:

1. Place kindling and small pieces of wood in the center of the oven.
2. Light the kindling with a long-stemmed lighter or match.
3. Once the kindling is burning well, slowly add larger pieces of wood until a strong fire is established.

Remember, the ideal temperature for cooking pizza ranges between 650-750°F (343-399°C), which can be measured using an infrared thermometer.

Ventilation:

Ensure proper airflow by keeping the chimney damper or flue open when starting your fire. This helps draw air in, fueling the flames and improving heat distribution throughout the oven.

Clean the Cooking Surface:

Before placing your pizza in the oven, brush the cooking surface to remove ash or debris. Preheat the oven floor by maintaining the flame until it reaches the desired temperature.

Setting Up the Pizza Oven

Proper setup of your outdoor pizza oven is crucial for its performance and longevity. Follow the specific guidelines below to ensure your oven is correctly installed and ready for cooking.

Choosing a Location

• Stability: Select a level surface that can support the weight of the oven without risk of settling or shifting.
• Ventilation: Ensure the location is well-ventilated, away from enclosed areas where smoke could accumulate.
• Accessibility: Choose a spot that is easily accessible for cooking and entertaining but also close enough to the house for convenience.

Assembling the Oven

1. Base Assembly: Start by constructing the base of the oven. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
2. Oven Placement: Safely lift the oven onto the base, ensuring it's positioned centrally and securely.
3. Chimney Installation: Attach the chimney flue, verifying that it's straight and has a cap to prevent downdrafts.

Safety Considerations

• Clearance: Maintain a safe distance from combustible materials—typically a minimum of 3 feet around the oven's circumference.
• Protective Gear: Always wear heat-resistant gloves and sturdy footwear during oven operation.
• Supervision: Never leave the oven unattended while it is lit or still hot after use.

Preparing to Cook

Before you begin, it's essential to properly set up your outdoor pizza oven. This process includes curing the oven, creating the fire, and adequately heating the oven. Each of these steps is vital to achieving the perfect cooking environment for your pizza.

Curing the Oven

Curing your new pizza oven is a crucial first step that will ensure its longevity and performance. Start by building a small fire, maintaining it at a low temperature around 300°F for about 2-3 hours. Gradually increase the temperature over the next few fires to avoid any thermal shock to your oven.

Creating the Fire

When you're ready to cook, select dry, seasoned hardwood for your firewood; this will provide a long-lasting burn and optimal heat. Kindling should be placed in the center of the oven floor, followed by hardwood in a tipi shape to encourage airflow. Use a match or a long lighter to ignite the kindling.

Heating the Oven

Preheat your oven by maintaining a medium fire, which should reach around 750°F for a traditional Neapolitan pizza. Use an infrared thermometer to accurately gauge the oven's temperature. Once the desired temperature is achieved, evenly spread the coals across the oven floor or push them to one side, creating a hot zone for cooking and a cooler zone for resting the pizza if necessary.

Making Pizza

In this section, you'll learn the practical details of crafting a mouthwatering pizza using an outdoor oven, from dough preparation to the final slide off the peel.

Preparing the Dough

Ingredients:

• 500g bread flour
• 325ml water
• 10g salt
• 2g active dry yeast

1. Mix Ingredients: Combine flour, water, salt, and yeast in a large bowl.
2. Knead Dough: Knead the mixture on a floured surface until it's soft and elastic, about 10 minutes.
3. Proof Dough: Place the dough in a bowl and let it rise for 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.

Pro Tip: For a crispier crust, let the dough cold ferment in your refrigerator for 24 hours.

Assembling the Pizza

Sauce and Toppings:

• Tomato sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
• Fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil
• Your favorite toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, etc.)

1. Stretch Dough: Press and stretch the dough into a round shape, leaving a thicker edge for the crust.
2. Apply Sauce: Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce, leaving the border clear for the crust.
3. Add Toppings: Sprinkle cheese and arrange your chosen toppings evenly on the sauce.

Reminder: Overloading the pizza with toppings can make it soggy.

Using Pizza Peels

Preparing the Peel:

• Liberally dust the peel with flour or cornmeal to prevent sticking.

1. Transfer Pizza: Gently place the stretched and topped pizza onto the peel.
2. Oven Insertion: Slide the pizza from the peel to the preheated oven floor.
3. Rotate: Use the peel to rotate the pizza midway through cooking for an even bake.

Checkpoint: The pizza should easily slide off the peel if adequately floured.

Baking Time: Cook for about 90 seconds to 2 minutes, or until the crust is golden and charred spots appear.

Cooking Techniques

Mastering these cooking techniques will ensure your pizzas have a delicious, crispy crust with perfectly melted toppings every time.

Managing the Flame

Lighting the Fire: Begin by stacking your wood in a teepee shape at the center of the oven. Ignite the kindling and gradually add larger pieces of wood once the fire is established. Your goal is to build a fire that will blanket the dome with flames for an even cooking environment.

Adjusting the Fire: Use a metal poker to adjust the logs and maintain a strong, steady flame. Keep smaller pieces of wood on hand to add to the fire as needed, ensuring the temperature remains consistent.

Rotating the Pizza

Turning the Pizza: After placing your pizza in the oven, use a long-handled pizza peel to rotate it every 20-30 seconds. This helps to cook the crust evenly on all sides.

Checking for Doneness: Regularly lift the edge of the pizza with the peel to check the bottom for a golden brown crust. The top should have bubbling cheese and charred spots on the crust when it's ready.

Controlling the Temperature

Measuring Heat: Use an infrared thermometer to check the oven's temperature before cooking. The ideal range is between 650°F and 750°F for cooking pizza.

Adjusting Heat Levels: If the oven is too hot, allow the fire to die down slightly by not adding more wood. If it's not hot enough, add more fuel and increase airflow to help raise the temperature.

After Cooking Care

Proper post-cooking procedures will extend the life of your outdoor pizza oven and ensure it's ready for your next culinary adventure.

Extinguishing the Fire

1. Let the fire die down naturally, avoiding water to prevent thermal shock to the bricks.
2. Once embers are cool, carefully remove them and dispose of them in a metal container.

Cleaning the Oven

1. Use a brass-bristled brush to remove any food residue from the oven floor.
2. Wipe the interior surfaces with a damp cloth, avoiding harsh chemicals to preserve the oven's integrity.

Covering and Storing

1. Once the oven is cool and clean, cover it with a weatherproof cover to shield it from the elements.
2. Ensure the cover fits snugly to prevent moisture, debris, and pests from entering.

Additional Tips

Optimizing your outdoor pizza oven experience can elevate your cooking to a new level. These tips focus on refining your techniques and expanding your culinary repertoire.

Experimenting with Recipes

• Ingredients: Start with a classic pizza dough and sauce. Once you are comfortable, introduce various cheeses, toppings, and spices to find your signature pizza.

• Temperatures: Each recipe will cook best at different temperatures; thin crusts require hot, quick bakes, while deep-dish pizzas need a lower, slower heat.

Using Cooking Accessories

• Peels: Use a wooden peel for preparing and placing your pizza, and a metal peel for turning and retrieving, as it slides easily under the crust.

• Thermometer: An infrared thermometer is essential for measuring surface temperatures, ensuring you cook at the optimal heat.

• Cleaning tools: After cooking, use a brass bristle brush to clean the cooking surface, and periodically, a deeper clean with an oven-safe cleaner may be necessary.