The Ooni Karu 12 Pizza Oven Is Lightweight and Versatile

Outdoor pizza ovens can heat up to over 700ºF on the stone and 900ºF in the dome—the temperatures you need for a perfect Neapolitan char on your crust. While there are a variety of options out there, Ooni has put together a solid lineup of pizza ovens, with the Ooni Karu 12 being one of our favorites.

To buy: Ooni Karu 12 Outdoor Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven. $300 amazon.com and ooni.com

Why It Won Our Review

It heated up to more than 850ºF in just 15 minutes and the heat deflector aimed flames directly over pizzas, cooking the tops quickly and getting a nice char on the bottom. The Karu 12 is also very lightweight—only 26 pounds—and the all-weather cover doubles as a carrying case. Our only gripe with it was learning how to manage the fire for consistent heating, but that’s easily solvable with the gas burner addition. It’s an extremely versatile outdoor oven that's also fairly reasonably priced.

Good to Know

• Fuel type: Wood or charcoal, with a propane tank conversion kit available
• Max floor temp: Over 750°F (400°C)
• Max air temp: Over 900°F (480°C)
• Fastest cook time: 75 seconds
• Preheat time: 15 to 20 minutes
• Recovery time between pizzas: Four to five minutes, if you keep the hopper full
• Largest pizza size: 12 inches
• Good for other foods: Yes, provided they fit in the oven with the door closed
• Portable: Yes
• Weight: 26.4 pounds

FAQs

Is the Ooni Karu 12 worth it? 

The Ooni Karu 12 is a lightweight, versatile multi-fuel outdoor pizza oven that hits 850ºF in just 15 minutes. It can cook a 12-inch pizza in 75 seconds, and it’s portable, too. We think it’s a reasonably priced outdoor pizza oven, and now that it’s on sale, it offers even more value.

Is the Ooni Karu 12 better at cooking pizza with wood or gas?

While a gas burner is more consistent and can deliver the same flame for hours on end, it’s easier to use wood as a fuel source when traveling with the oven since you don’t have to also lug a heavy propane tank.