The Ultimate Gear Guide

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Q: What is the best pizza oven for home use under $500?

The Ooni Koda 12 ($399) is the best entry-level pizza oven. It reaches 950°F in 15 minutes, cooks pizzas in 60 seconds, and requires no wood management. For $499, the Gozney Roccbox offers premium build quality with a safe-touch exterior. Both produce authentic Neapolitan results impossible in a home oven.

Q: Do I need a pizza steel or stone?

For home oven pizza, a baking steel is the single best upgrade. Steel conducts heat 18x faster than ceramic stones, giving you crispy bottoms and better char even at 500°F. Expect 5-6 minute cook times versus 8-10 with a stone. The Original Baking Steel ($119) is the gold standard.

Q: Why do I need a precision scale for pizza dough?

Pizza recipes often call for 0.3-0.5g of yeast. A regular kitchen scale shows '0g' for anything under 1-2g. A precision scale (0.01g accuracy, ~$14) lets you measure yeast exactly, eliminating the #1 cause of inconsistent dough. Professional pizzaiolos consider it essential.

Q: What flour should I use for Neapolitan pizza?

Caputo Pizzeria 00 flour ($25/bag) is the gold standard - it's what Naples uses. The fine grind and 12.5% protein create the perfect chewy-yet-tender texture. For long ferments (48-72h), use Caputo Nuvola Super (13% protein). Avoid bread flour for authentic Neapolitan style.

We've tested thousands of dollars of equipment so you don't have to. This is the curated path from novice to pizzaiolo.

KitchenCo

Ooni

Gozney

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1Stage 1: The Foundation

Stop Guessing, Start Measuring

90% of pizza failures come from imprecise measurements. You can't eyeball 0.3g of yeast or "about 2 cups" of flour. These tools eliminate the guesswork and give you consistent results every single time.

Quick Start

Get the The Foundation Kit

~$44est. total

Best Seller

AWS Precision Scale (0.01g)

$14

Measures to 0.01g accuracy—essential for yeast

Why we love itYour recipe calls for 0.3g of yeast. Your kitchen scale shows "0g". This is why your dough is inconsistent. A precision scale removes the guesswork.

Accuracy0.01g

Capacity500g

PowerAAA batteries

TareYes

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Best Value

Dexter-Russell Bench Scraper

$12

Professional stainless steel with comfortable grip

Why we love itThe single most useful tool in a pizzaiolo's arsenal. Divides dough cleanly, scrapes sticky bits off your counter, and helps with shaping. Buy two.

Blade6" stainless steel

HandlePolypropylene

DishwasherSafe

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Cambro 6qt Container with Lid

$18

Restaurant-grade container for bulk fermentation

Why we love itClear sides let you watch fermentation progress. Straight walls make folding easy. The airtight lid keeps your dough perfectly hydrated. This is what every pizzeria uses.

Capacity6 quarts

MaterialBPA-free polycarbonate

MeasurementsEmbossed on side

LidAirtight seal

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2Stage 2: The Heat

Hack Your Home Oven

Your oven's dial is lying to you. Real pizza needs 700°F+ floor temperatures. A baking steel and IR thermometer let you achieve pizzeria results in a standard home oven—crispy bottoms, leopard-spotted crusts, done in under 6 minutes.

Quick Start

Get the The Heat Kit

~$160est. total

Our Pick

Original Baking Steel (1/4" thick)

$119

Conducts heat 18x better than ceramic stone

Why we love itYour home oven maxes out at 500-550°F. A steel transfers that heat so efficiently, your pizza cooks in 5-6 minutes with real char on the bottom. This is the #1 upgrade for home oven pizza.

Dimensions16" x 14" x 1/4"

Weight16 lbs

MaterialLow-carbon steel

SeasonedYes (pre-seasoned)

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Etekcity Infrared Thermometer

$20

Instant surface temperature readings from a distance

Why we love itYour oven dial lies. The actual temperature can be off by 50°F or more. An IR thermometer tells you exactly when your steel or stone is ready—no more guessing.

Range-58°F to 1022°F

Accuracy±2%

ResponseInstant (<1 sec)

LaserSingle-point targeting

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New Star Aluminum Pizza Peel (14")

$22

Ultra-thin edge slides under any pizza

Why we love itAluminum is lightweight and the thin edge slides under pizza effortlessly. Wood peels are for launching; aluminum is for retrieving. Get both, or start here.

Blade14" x 16"

Handle12" wood

MaterialAluminum

EdgeBeveled for easy sliding

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3Stage 3: The Temple

60-Second Neapolitan at Home

This is the endgame. A dedicated pizza oven reaches 950°F—the temperature needed for true 60-90 second Neapolitan pizza with pillowy cornicione and blistered leopard spots. Once you go here, there's no going back.

Best Value

Ooni Koda 12

$399

Gas-powered simplicity—pizza in 60 seconds

Why we love itTurn it on, wait 15 minutes, make pizza. No wood to manage, no learning curve. The Koda 12 is the easiest path to restaurant-quality Neapolitan pizza at home.

size12" pizzas

fuelGas (propane)

heatTime15 minutes

maxTemp950°F / 500°C

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Our Pick

Ooni Koda 16

$599

Larger 16" cooking surface for family-sized pizzas

Why we love itThe 16" opening means you can make full-sized New York-style pizzas, not just personal ones. The L-shaped burner provides more even heat distribution than the Koda 12.

size16" pizzas

fuelGas (propane)

heatTime20 minutes

maxTemp950°F / 500°C

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Premium

Ooni Karu 16

$799

Multi-fuel: wood, charcoal, or gas (adapter sold separately)

Why we love itThis is the endgame. Cook with wood for authentic flavor, or switch to gas for convenience. The insulated steel shell retains heat better than any other Ooni.

size16" pizzas

fuelWood, Charcoal, Gas

heatTime15 minutes

maxTemp950°F / 500°C

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Choosing your first real pizza oven is a big investment. Here is how the top contenders stack up.

Compare Models	Best Value Ooni Koda 12 $399	Our Pick Ooni Koda 16 $599	Premium Ooni Karu 16 $799	Gozney Roccbox $499
Pizza Size	12" pizzas	16" pizzas	16" pizzas	12" pizzas
Fuel Type	Gas (propane)	Gas (propane)	Wood, Charcoal, Gas	Gas (wood burner optional)
Heat-Up Time	15 minutes	20 minutes	15 minutes	15 minutes
Max Temperature	950°F / 500°C	950°F / 500°C	950°F / 500°C	950°F / 500°C
Best For	Beginners who want instant results with zero fuss	Families and serious home pizzaiolos	Enthusiasts who want wood-fired flavor and versatility	Those who want premium quality and safety features
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

Pizza Equipment FAQ

Common questions about pizza ovens, steels, and essential tools.

What is the best pizza oven for home use under $500?

The Ooni Koda 12 ($399) is the best entry-level pizza oven. It reaches 950°F in 15 minutes, cooks pizzas in 60 seconds, and requires no wood management. For $499, the Gozney Roccbox offers premium build quality with a safe-touch exterior. Both produce authentic Neapolitan results impossible in a home oven.

Do I need a pizza steel or stone?

For home oven pizza, a baking steel is the single best upgrade. Steel conducts heat 18x faster than ceramic stones, giving you crispy bottoms and better char even at 500°F. Expect 5-6 minute cook times versus 8-10 with a stone. The Original Baking Steel ($119) is the gold standard.

Why do I need a precision scale for pizza dough?

Pizza recipes often call for 0.3-0.5g of yeast. A regular kitchen scale shows '0g' for anything under 1-2g. A precision scale (0.01g accuracy, ~$14) lets you measure yeast exactly, eliminating the #1 cause of inconsistent dough. Professional pizzaiolos consider it essential.

What flour should I use for Neapolitan pizza?

Caputo Pizzeria 00 flour ($25/bag) is the gold standard - it's what Naples uses. The fine grind and 12.5% protein create the perfect chewy-yet-tender texture. For long ferments (48-72h), use Caputo Nuvola Super (13% protein). Avoid bread flour for authentic Neapolitan style.

Get Equipment Alerts

Be first to know about deals on pizza gear

Don't Just Buy Stuff.

Stop Guessing, Start Measuring

Get the The Foundation Kit

AWS Precision Scale (0.01g)

Dexter-Russell Bench Scraper

Cambro 6qt Container with Lid

Hack Your Home Oven

Get the The Heat Kit

Original Baking Steel (1/4" thick)

Etekcity Infrared Thermometer

New Star Aluminum Pizza Peel (14")

60-Second Neapolitan at Home

Ooni Koda 12

Ooni Koda 16

Ooni Karu 16

Head-to-Head Comparison

Ooni Koda 12

Ooni Koda 16

Ooni Karu 16

Gozney Roccbox

Pizza Equipment FAQ

What is the best pizza oven for home use under $500?

Do I need a pizza steel or stone?

Why do I need a precision scale for pizza dough?

What flour should I use for Neapolitan pizza?

Get Equipment Alerts

Don't Just
Buy Stuff.