Pizza is known as one of the world’s most popular takeaway foods. But who says you can’t make one?
Making your pizza is a fantastic way to prepare an easy and healthy meal. Some may choose electric pizza ovens. However, the quality you can expect from outdoor wood-fired pizza ovens can be much more excellent.
If you have sufficient space, then an outdoor pizza oven would be fantastic. Seek out the best landscape for an excellent dining experience.
It’s great to have when hosting an outdoor party or social al-fresco dining with family and friends. Relax and take it easy while making food for everybody to enjoy.
Wood-fired ovens cook by trapping heat. These ovens are mostly made up of heat-conducting materials such as bricks or stones. A dome covers the top of the oven, where a fire is built to heat the space.
It usually takes up to one hour to fully heat a wood-fired pizza oven. However, it varies depending on the size and the design of your oven and the type of wood used. Weather can also be a factor.
Wood is usually used to start the fire. Make sure that the wood you will use is fully dry and well-seasoned. Never use gasoline or other flammable substances when lighting a pizza oven.
Start with three or four logs and arrange them in a teepee shape. Allow it to catch fire fully. Add another three or four medium-sized logs to increase the fire size slowly. When it reaches the desired temperature, you can place a slice or an entire round of dough in the oven.
The use of wood-fired ovens is known to be the authentic way of cooking pizza. Wood-fired pizza creates perfectly crusted bread and a smokey, savory taste that can never be achieved in any other way.
What Can you Cook in a Wood-Fired Pizza Oven?
Want to know what food to cook in your pizza oven? Anything you can cook in the regular oven or grill, you can make it even better using a wood-fired pizza oven.
This versatile oven can handle different foods, from simple snacks to delectable meals; you name it! Make any dish savory and delicious by finding suitable recipes and ingredients. Add fun and experiment with different herbs and oils to create mouthwatering dishes.
Here are some ideas:
Cooking Steak in a Pizza Oven
Cooler evenings are perfect for grilling! Cooking steak using a wood-fired oven is an excellent choice if you are cooking a large cut. Extreme heat from a wood-fired oven will also boost the flavor of your steak.
You can use a skillet or find a grill to hold your steak. It is also important to keep an eye on your roast and continue to check as often as desired cooking.
Here’s a tip: Take the steak from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for about an hour. Rub your seasonings into the meat for at least an hour to achieve the best flavor and texture.
Roasted Vegetables in a Pizza Oven
Roasted vegetables add depth and flavor to your meal. Prepare your vegetables, drizzle some oil, and season with garlic and pepper. You can try countless roasting variations like using the pan or covering the vegetables in aluminum foil.
Roast the vegetables to your liking but don’t forget to toss once or twice through baking. This is perfect for trying if you are taking a break from all the meat or craving healthy food, of which you won’t be able to get enough.
You can roast any type of vegetable but remember; cooking time varies for different kinds of vegetables.
Here’s a tip: Cut the vegetables to approximately the same size so that they roast in about the same amount of time. Spread even and avoid overcrowding.
Bake Bread in your Pizza Oven
If you want to experiment on what to cook inside a pizza oven besides pizza, try baking homemade bread. Make your next gathering extra unique by bringing a fresh loaf of homemade bread.
Bread has been a staple food for thousands of years. Master the basics and explore many more delicious bread recipes.
When cooking bread in the oven, ensure the needed temperature and retain heat while baking. It is important to note that baking bread requires delicate temperature management to avoid undercooking or burns.
Here’s a tip: To know when your bread is completely baked, flip it over and knock on it. If it feels soft and hollow, then you did a great job. If it doesn’t, put it back in the oven for a few more minutes.
Side Dishes you can Cook in a Pizza Oven
When the pizza or the steak is cooked, you still have ample heat to cook side dishes. Here are some of our favorite side dish ideas you can cook, e.g., seasoned potato chips, roasted corn on the cob, and honey-glazed carrots.
Give your cooking fun and exciting twist. Try a roasted seafood-filled platter with lemon and herbs.
Place the seafood in a large pan in a single layer. Mix some butter, garlic, zest, and some salt and pepper in a separate bowl, then brush over seafood and season.
Bake for ten minutes until seafood is cooked. Scatter some parsley over and serve for an explosion of flavor.
There’s a lot you can do with an open flame and some creativity. Try various methods you can utilize to cook your food, such as roasting, grilling, and baking.
Indeed having an outdoor pizza oven at home is a great deal. A wood-fired oven gives even heat distribution which cooks the food faster and boosts the flavor of your meals. It’s a healthier option, too.
Because wood-fired ovens get so hot and cook food quickly, it preserves the nutritional properties of the food. Longer cooking processes lessen the antioxidants and nutrients of the food.
Another benefit of using wood-fired pizza is that it’s environmentally friendly. Anyone who is after maintaining a greener lifestyle is always on the lookout for ways to save energy. You can save a considerable amount of money and trim your energy consumption by simply utilizing fire as the energy source of cooking.
Make sure to check and follow the regulations governing emissions into the atmosphere and follow good management practices.
Maintenance on wood-fired ovens is minimal. When the oven is cooled, remove, and dispose of the remaining ash. Clean the oven floor and remove residues of flour, food, and ashes from previous cooking.
Wood-fired ovens also gradually create a build-up of soot in the walls and within the chimney. Periodically clean the chimney with a brush to avoid this and improve the airflow through the oven.
To get the best result in using an outdoor oven, it is crucial to clean before each use thoroughly.
Closing the hatch of your outdoor pizza oven when not in use keep pests from nesting in it or causing any problems.
Feel free to experiment and practice when cooking with fire. Now you’re ready to make your day’s cooking creative and worthwhile. Fire up your outdoor pizza oven and crack open a cold beer and get creative and explore these ideas!
