A Beginners Guide to Cooking with Ooni Pizza Ovens – Tips, Recipes & More!

Cooking with a pizza oven can be a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you’re a novice chef or an experienced cook, Ooni pizza ovens provide an array of options for creating delicious and unique pizzas, flatbreads, and other mouth-watering dishes. Ooni pizza ovens are designed to provide an easy and efficient way to cook high-quality food with minimal effort. This beginner’s guide to cooking with Ooni pizza ovens will provide you with all the tips, recipes, and advice you need to get started. From learning about the different types of pizza ovens available to exploring the best cooking methods and recipes, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to create amazing meals with ease. So, let’s get started!

Different Types of Ooni Pizza Ovens

There are two main types of Ooni pizza ovens available – the Classic and the Pro. The Classic pizza oven is the most basic model and is designed for home use. The Pro pizza oven, on the other hand, is designed for commercial use. The Classic pizza oven is made from stainless steel and has a built-in ceramic stone while the Pro pizza oven is made of carbon steel and has a removable ceramic stone. This means that the Pro pizza oven can be used to cook much more than just pizza and can be used to create a variety of dishes, not just pizzas.

In addition to these two main types of Ooni pizza ovens, there are also a few other variations of the pizza ovens available. The Mini pizza oven is designed to be lightweight and portable, making it great for camping or barbecues. It is also much smaller than the Classic and Pro pizza ovens, allowing you to cook smaller pizzas. The Large pizza oven is similar to the Pro pizza oven and is designed for commercial use.

How to Use an Ooni Pizza Oven

Before you get started with cooking, it’s a good idea to preheat your pizza oven for at least 15 minutes. This will allow the stone inside the pizza oven to heat up, making it ideal for cooking. However, the stone inside your pizza oven might take a few uses to reach its maximum heat capacity. This is normal and will allow your pizza oven to reach its ideal temperature much quicker once it has been used a few times. One of the best ways to preheat an Ooni pizza oven is to place it on an outdoor grill. This will allow the pizza oven to reach its ideal temperature more quickly. For best results, we recommend preheating your pizza oven to around 800–1000 °F.

Tips for Cooking with an Ooni Pizza Oven

• Use a pizza peel while placing pizzas in your pizza oven. While it might seem unusual, it is a common practice among experienced pizza chefs. A pizza peel is a long, flat paddle that allows you to place pizzas in and remove them from the oven with ease. This is especially useful if you are using a commercial oven. While it is not necessary for home pizza ovens, it is still a good idea to use a pizza peel. This will help prevent you from burning your hands when placing the pizzas in and out of your pizza oven.
• Let your pizza dough rise. This is an important aspect of making pizza that many people ignore. While you can use pizza dough or pizza crust in a pinch, allowing your dough to rise will result in a much tastier pizza. So, allow your dough to rise before you start cooking.
• Use both hands when removing pizzas from the oven. Again, it might seem unnecessary, but it is a good safety precaution. Particularly if you are using a commercial oven, you are at risk of burning your hands when removing the pizzas. Using two hands will help you to be more careful and avoid burning your hands.
• Let your pizza cool before slicing. While you might be hungry and want to dig right in, it is better to let it cool down and slice it once it is no longer piping hot. Slice it while it is still warm, and it will be easier and more delicious to eat.

Pizza Recipes for Ooni Pizza Ovens

Pizza is one of the most popular dishes that can be cooked in a pizza oven. With a wide range of toppings and styles, pizza is a great dish to cook in your pizza oven. However, not all pizza recipes will work in a pizza oven, so here are a few pizza recipes that are perfect for Ooni pizza ovens.

Pepperoni and Mushroom Pizza – This is a classic pizza recipe that will satisfy any pizza lover. To make this pizza, mix together flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Now add water, olive oil, and pepperoni. Mix the ingredients together until they form a dough. Once the dough has been formed, knead it until it is soft and smooth. Now, let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. This will take about 30 minutes. Once the dough has risen, roll it out and top it with mushrooms and pepperoni. Now place the pizza in your pizza oven and bake it for 10–15 minutes, or until the crust has turned brown and the cheese on top has melted.

Vegetable Pizza – If you prefer a healthier pizza option, vegetable pizza is a great choice. To make this pizza, mix together flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl. Now add water, olive oil, and pepperoni. Mix the ingredients together until they form a dough. Once the dough has been formed, knead it until it is soft and smooth. Now, let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. This will take about 30 minutes. Once the dough has risen, roll it out and top it with vegetables of your choice. Now place the pizza in your pizza oven and bake it for 10–15 minutes, or until the crust has turned brown and the vegetables have softened.

Flatbread Recipes for Ooni Pizza Ovens

Beyond pizza, there are a wide range of dishes that can be cooked in an Ooni pizza oven and flatbreads are one of the best examples. Here are a few flatbread recipes that are perfect for pizza ovens.

Herb and Cheese Naan – Naan is a delicious Indian flatbread that is perfect for topping with all kinds of foods. To make herb and cheese naan, mix together flour, salt, yeast, and oil in a large bowl. Now add water, and herbs. Mix the ingredients until they form a dough. Once the dough has been formed, knead it until it is soft and smooth. Now, let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. This will take about 30 minutes. Once the dough has risen, roll it out and top it with cheese and herbs. Now place the naan in your pizza oven and bake it for 10–15 minutes until the crust is brown and the cheese has melted.

Garlic Bread – This classic dish is simple to make and perfect for dipping in a range of sauces. To make garlic bread, mix together flour, salt, yeast, and oil in a large bowl. Now add water, garlic, and butter. Mix the ingredients until they form a dough. Once the dough has been formed, knead it until it is soft and smooth. Now, let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. This will take about 30 minutes. Once the dough has risen, roll it out and top it with garlic and butter. Now place the garlic bread in your pizza oven and bake it for 10–15 minutes, or until the crust has turned brown.

Other Recipes for Ooni Pizza Ovens

As well as pizza and flatbread, there are a wide range of other dishes that can be cooked in a pizza oven. Here are a few examples.

Pasta – Cooking pasta in a pizza oven is a great way to reduce the amount of effort required to cook pasta. Simply boil your pasta and then transfer it to an oven dish and cook in your pizza oven until it has softened, usually around 10–20 minutes.

Stews – Stews are a hearty and delicious meal and are perfect for cooking in a pizza oven. Simply place your stew ingredients into a tray and cook in your pizza oven until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are soft.

Quiches – A quiche is another great dish for cooking in a pizza oven. Simply layer your ingredients and eggs in a tray and cook in your pizza oven until the eggs have set.

 This article is provided by https://www.hanleysofcork.com/outdoor-living/ooni-pizza-ovens