You're here because you're thinking of building a pizza oven. You can buy them, but they cost thousands of dollars. THOUSANDS. You can build a pizza oven for around $150 in a few weekends.
Table of Contents
If you missed the tutorials on how to build your own pizza oven, click through the links below.
How to Build and Use a Pizza Oven
How to Build a Cob Pizza Oven Part 1. (the base and the basic form)
How to Build a Cob Pizza Oven Part 2. (making cob & forming it)
How to Build a Cob Pizza Oven Part 3. (the insulation layer and lime plaster)
After a bit of money a lot of work and a little bit of time, the pizza oven is complete. I've been using it for 4 years now and it's held up perfectly. I haven't had a single problem with it. Since building the oven I've also built a custom insulated pizza oven door that can withstand heat so I can keep the oven closed while baking things like bread or whole chickens.
But what do I use this pizza oven for mainly? Pizza of course.
As you can see, the fire goes right inside the oven. And it keeps going for 3 hours.
The great thing is when it isn't being used to make pizza, bread, roasts or pie it still looks really great and inviting.
If you aren't prepared to spend a few weekends building your own pizza oven but still want pizza that's as good as wood oven pizza (at least nearly as good) just go and read this post of mine. It's is an insanely detailed post on how to make the BEST pizza in your oven.
But yeah. It does look its best with a crackling fire.
I have potted herbs all around the backyard to use when making pizza or chicken or whatever else I might throw in the oven. You haven't lived until you've had a wood fired pizza with fresh basil on it straight out of your backyard oven. Unless you're an astronaut. If you're an astronaut that trumps eating pizza. No it doesn't. I was just kidding. Pizza rules.
As does bread. This shot I must admit has been set up. I actually baked the bread in the oven the day before and just rolled it out for this photoshoot. But it was cooked in the oven and it did turn out as perfect as it looks.
3 loaves fit in the oven and they took about 2o minutes.
So every night when I have to do horrible tasks like turn the compost pile or wash the green bin that smells like the death of a thousand rotting monkeys, I still smile. Because I get to see this.
If you stumbled upon here by chance, I made that pizza oven. And you can to. I have a 4 post tutorial on how to do it.
For everyone else, I TOLD you it was easy. Once you get past the sore feet, massive ass you build up and straw covered feet you won't be able to imagine how you even lived without a pizza oven. Even if you don't like pizza. I mean look at the thing. AND unlike most cottages or swimming pools, it's 4 season friendly.
Now I suppose you want to see it in action and I can't blame you for that. I had my mother and Fish Pedicure over the other night and made them pizza. It was their first time eating pizza from my wood burning oven.
Just the three of us lounging by the oven, talking, laughing and having, really, what can only be described as a picture perfect day. The kind of picture perfect day you're only likely to find on the Instagram or Twitter account of someone who constantly needs you to know how perfect their husband/wife/children/life is. You know the type.
Well now I'm one of them 'cause take a gander at this.
Pizza Oven
After the bleeding knuckles, the sand in your underwear and the straw covered feet you too can have your own pizza oven. It takes about a month at a leisurely pace working weekends. And THIS is why ...
So there you have it. The perfect life of this little blogger.
If you noticed the crack in the oven (and chances are yours might develop a crack too) don't worry about it. It's a small crack in the lime plaster which expands when the oven heats and closes again when it cools down. It's just cosmetic. You can fix it if you want but you don't have to.
I hope you liked my little tutorial that lasted for an entire week on how to build a pizza oven. As I've mentioned if it seems like the sort of thing you want to do you need to read my tutorials, buy this book
and watch these videos from architect Sigi Koko who specializes in building naturally and specifically cob. Once you do all those things I think you'll be fully prepared to build your own oven.
I'm not at all sure how you can become an astronaut.
I love you. That is all.
I love you too. That is all. ~ karen! it's more of a fondness, really.
DWL! *dead*
This is just begging for that little Skype emoticon that rolls around on the ground cracking up with laughter... Did the pizza get wet on the return trip?
Hi Ruth. NO! Luckily the pizza didn't get wet. The entire toppings including cheese, pepperoni, etc., instead got stuck to the towel on top, lol. All of them. ~ karen!
Oh dear... I hope you got your sister of the fish pedicure fame to take on the fish role and nibble her pizza off the towel. At least the towel wouldn't scream. :D
What amazes me most is that you made that oven at a time when I would have been lying in bed eating chocolate for weeks. Well done!
Hah! Well I can tell you there are a few tears in that cob. ~ karen!
I have to say that corner in your backyard was just perfect for the pizza oven. I can't imagine you having anything else there now, but that perfect pizza oven!
I just want to come over to your house and eat pizza that you made in the cob oven of your dreams.
Really.
What a sweet video! karen, I love your yard. It's enchanting and looks so private. It will be so wonderful to entertain and cook out there this summer. Can I ask a question? All those beautiful ferns and plants that are growing in urns and containers. under the tree.Do you over-winter them inside or do you just buy new each year? Your back garden is perfection. And I do love a summer shower!
Hi JeannieB! Thanks. The yard is very private and relaxing. Nothing overwinters in this climate in pots sadly. :( ~ karen
Karen, you are Awesome. You do projects that I wouldn't even think of doing - And you do them well. I love that your family came over & helped out. Too bad it rained on your parade. I love your blog. Thanks for taking the time to do this for us.
Absolutely beautiful! And that video was pretty great.
You, Ma'am, are a goddess! I may just try this when we get our house! Rock on, mighty stuff doer!
This is so inspiring! We are looking to buy our first house and this is very high on my list of new house projects now. I have ben waiting a whole week for the money shot of some pizza though.. come on!
Bravo!
Does it vent through the door when the fire is burning? So you have to leave it open while it's heating up?
Sorry another question - you just put the pizza directly on the fire bricks? Or do you keep it on the metal slider thing (The giant spatula.... ) while it's cooking?
I have a vision of myself trying to slide a cookie sheet in there, LOL. Speaking of which - have you made cookies in there?
Hi Lisa! The oven is built to specific dimensions so that it does indeed vent through the top of the door. Food goes directly on the bricks. Haven't made cookies, but have made other desserts. I have video clips of me making bread in the oven somewhere. I'll edit those together and get it up in the next week or so so you can see the process. ~ karen!
Spec.tac.u.lar! First the chickens, now the cob oven. I want them both. Someday could you give us a video tour of your yard. It looks so lush and peaceful. PLEEEEEEEEEEASE
I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT RAINED!!!!!!
Surely you can do another video on a perfect day, right? I mean, the rain was totally entertaining and all, and it sounded really really nice, but I would love to see a somewhat less frantic presentation. If your mom and/or sister aren't available, I'm happy to do a stand-in performance.... just putting that out there.....
Your patio area is gorgeous.
Now we/I just need your bread recipe. That stuff looks great!
I, too am trying to talk my honey into building a cob oven. I think I have to start talking faster. He's got kind of a doubtful look in his eye - HA!
I don't eat grains or dairy, but I *still* want a cob pizza oven. Sadly, it looks like a lot of work for something that would be purely decorative :(
Wonderful. Wish the vid would work. Glad you had a perfect day. Wish I were an Astronaut. Your oven looks great and prob really enhances your beautiful outdoor area.
maggie..i will not be making one..just saying..lol brother mark is the pizza king..let him make one and he lives even closer to karen..maybe he can just borrow hers lol
Fab video!
I never knew a pizza oven got so hot, that would explain why our pizzas don't turn out so well at 250c!
Can't see that building project happening here, but enjoyed living vicariously through yours. You rock, Karen!
Thanks Mimi! I made pizza last night and paid more attention to keeping the fire hot and the oven was at least 650c! ~ karen
My book is on order and should arrive this week. My husband and I are trying to find the best place to put it. I would love to have it on the deck, but he is concerned about the weight and also being so close to the house (we have a log home). We have a little time to decide. You are an inspiration Karen! :) I too wonder what kind of brush to get so that the bristles won't melt.....and if you WANTED to fix the crack, would you use more lime mixture or could ou calk it somehow? Would LOVE to see another pizza party when the weather doesn't interfere. You ROCK!
Hi Suanne - Don't build your oven too close to your house. The one reason being is the smoke. When your fires are low or just starting they smoke a LOT. So all that smoke would get in your house. The brush I use is a metal pizza brush with metal bristles. And then I push away the remaining ashes with a damp cloth (tea towel). ~ karen!