Ooni Pizza ovens

[Chippy_Tea]

Probably nobody will agree with me on this, but I think cooking with gas outside is a bit of a swizz - you may as well cook inside if you're using gas. Takes all the fun out of BBQing for me.

I agree, I don't own a BBQ but have always thought the same when i see those big gas BBQ's i thought it was all about the taste of the food when cooked on an open fire.

 

[Oneflewover]

I agree, I don't own a BBQ but have always thought the same when i see those big gas BBQ's i thought it was all about the taste of the food when cooked on an open fire.

I'm with you both in respect of BBQ, but for ooni pizza oven - nah, it's loads more hassle for no benefit. And you really can't cook comparable pizza in a domestic oven.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

I'm with you both in respect of BBQ, but for ooni pizza oven - nah, it's loads more hassle for no benefit. And you really can't cook comparable pizza in a domestic oven.

I respect your opinion - I still think the same though regarding pizza ovens as I have experience of them.

My husband would go mental if I cooked anything with gas outside! And quite rightly so!

Hassle = more fun for some of us lol

 

[will4009]

Probably nobody will agree with me on this, but I think cooking with gas outside is a bit of a swizz - you may as well cook inside if you're using gas. Takes all the fun out of BBQing for me.

My son has a pellet Ooni and it makes amazing food, and to us it's no extra effort. Each to their own though, and I'm glad you've got what you were after.

I completely agree when it comes to barbecuing, I really can't see the appeal of a gas barbecue. That's not saying they don't have an upside, because for some their ease of use is appealing. But, you can't beat the taste of cooking over charcoal.

But with a pizza oven, you don't get that same benefit. The taste isn't improved, it's just a bit more faff with a non gas option.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

As I mentioned above, some people like to faff! This is why I love brewing, because I'm willing to push it a lot further than a lot of people could be bothered with.

We all get these contraptions for different reasons, and there's not one right way, it's down to individual preference. People should be allowed to state their preference without being 'convinced' to do it a different way. People who know me would never try that

 

[Alastair70]

despite already owning 5 bbqs!.

Only 5

 

[Alastair70]

Spot on Clint. A whole carcass would be cooked in a pit by the Pitmaster (one of the enslaved African Americans would be spared field duties and left to look after the cooking). The term BBQ has since expanded to also cover direct cooking of smaller cuts from bigger beasts.

Gas BBQ grilling is no different from charcoal grilling, but it’s a world away from an indoor cooker with an overhead grill. With both gas and charcoal, the bar temperature is much hotter so more Maillard reaction occurs on the surface of the meat and fat dripping onto the heat source underneath combusts to add a smoke character to the cook. The only addition that charcoal can add is the additional flavours the burning fuel can add. So, cheap B&Q briquettes make your burgers taste like petrol while single variety lump woods add their own aromas and flavour notes to complement the cook. If your doing low ‘n slow then that effect is amplified.

Charcoal is a bit like yeast; gas BBQ’ing or a basic hardwood blend lumpwood is like brewing with a neutral ale yeast and you get to appreciate your ingredients to their full. Aromatic single variety lumpwoods offer a similar diversity in end flavours and should be treated like any other ingredient.

My thoughts on gas v charcoal have already been aired.

I agree, I don't own a BBQ but have always thought the same when i see those big gas BBQ's i thought it was all about the taste of the food when cooke

No BBQ

Gas does great BBQ, just like US-05 does great fermentation. If you’re not going to enjoy the fruity notes that either an ester forward yeast or a single verital fruit wood charcoal can bring to the table, then stick with gas/US-05 all day long.

 

[Horners]

Only 5

Well I know your a fan of cooking with fire @Alastair70 - each serves its purpose. A 4 grill outback full drum thing that I bought cheap ex display from a garden centre with the bonus that it was already assembled; a Pro Q bullet smoker (the middle size one); a Weber Go Anywhere which is brill; a Cadac gas camping thing and an Aldi Kamado. The big Weber gas thing that my my parents bought us as a wedding present has gone to the grill shack in the sky/ landfill but I used to use that in all weathers - very convenient for a midweek steak. Now I barely bother for quick steak - got one of those cast iron after burner things that sits straight on top of the starter chimney.

I'm a sucker for buying stuff - more so in lock down.

 

[phildo79]

So is the ooni any good? My mate has one, the gas powered one. Says the za's are amazing. I just wonder how much use I'll get out of it, living in Ireland...where it rains, on average every other day. I'm wondering if this is just going to be something else to bung up my shed that I've had the privilege of spending hundreds of pounds on and will have a big smile on my face for ever more xxx

 

[will4009]

So is the ooni any good? My mate has one, the gas powered one. Says the za's are amazing. I just wonder how much use I'll get out of it, living in Ireland...where it rains, on average every other day. I'm wondering if this is just going to be something else to bung up my shed that I've had the privilege of spending hundreds of pounds on and will have a big smile on my face for ever more xxx

Yeah, it's great.

Any cooking outside is always going to be slightly weather dependent, but I have been using mine over the winter. Good thing about the gas one is it heats up quickly, and depending how you set the temp, cooks a pizza is 90 seconds-ish. Its quick to set up and use. If it rains, I just rig up a cover over it.

I have found to get a great pizza, the right flour/cheese make a huge difference. Caputo flour, and Fior De Latte mozzarella are fantastic.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

No BBQ

No room and I couldn't be bothered with all the messing about, KFC for me

 

[-Bezza-]

I agree, I don't own a BBQ but have always thought the same when i see those big gas BBQ's i thought it was all about the taste of the food when cooked on an open fire.

You'd be surprised how much flavour a gas BBQ provides. There are flat metal plates in the gaps between the burners on my gas BBQ which catch the drips from the cooking food, which then heats up creating smoke that way. It's also really easy to add smoking chips in a little metal box. Add in the temperature control and I would say I'm able to get a better cook overall. Plus there's the convenience of being able to cook 15 mins after lighting rather than trying to get the right balance with coal or wood.

If I had my time again, I'd go for a Traeger Ironwood pellet smoker since it has the benefit of solid fuel but with thermostatic control.

My grand plan is to build an outdoor kitchen area, taking the gas BBQ off its base and installing it onto a solid worktop, buying a pellet smoker and building a cob pizza oven, all under a wooden gazebo contraption. There might even be scope to have some kegged beer out there too.

 

[Alastair70]

Well I know your a fan of cooking with fire @Alastair70 - each serves its purpose. A 4 grill outback full drum thing that I bought cheap ex display from a garden centre with the bonus that it was already assembled; a Pro Q bullet smoker (the middle size one); a Weber Go Anywhere which is brill; a Cadac gas camping thing and an Aldi Kamado. The big Weber gas thing that my my parents bought us as a wedding present has gone to the grill shack in the sky/ landfill but I used to use that in all weathers - very convenient for a midweek steak. Now I barely bother for quick steak - got one of those cast iron after burner things that sits straight on top of the starter chimney.

I'm a sucker for buying stuff - more so in lock down.

I’m on 5 too actually. I could easily swap the Weber kettle for a gas model as it mainly gets used for quick cooks like steak, burgers and kebabs. The little gas camping BBQ is rubbish, it only gets used for keeping food warm after it’s cooked on the Smokey Joe.

 

[starseeker]

Here is my baby ,
It takes approx a hour to get to 500 deg C, i then can do pizza ,maybe then bread ,cook the evening meal and then using the residue heat the next day ,a slow cooked tagine etc ,

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Beautiful! We've been meaning to build similar, but time is a massive issue.

And skill!

 

[Nashbrew]

I have an Ooni 3 pellet, never ever thought of a gas alternative.
If I was to upgrade I would go for Fyra pelllet.
I have updated my 3 with a rotating stone.

 

[Harbey]

I have an Ooni 3 pellet, never ever thought of a gas alternative.
If I was to upgrade I would go for Fyra pelllet.
I have updated my 3 with a rotating stone.
View attachment 72214

That's weird timing. I have been looking at getting a gas burner for my Ooni 3 for months but they've been out of stock everywhere and fetching over £100 on eBay. Then... In stock at Amazon last week. Arrived yesterday and works great. If you're thinking of getting one I'd buy now as I can see them disappearing again before long.

PS. What's a rotating stone?

Edit: just seen the vid. Wow! Is that home made?

 

[Druncan]

I had a pellet but gifted to my bro' and he loves it. It was a bit of a pain getting pellets up here. Now got ooni Karu than I run on chopped driftwood. Perfect for me. Love doing fresh mackerel an prawns in it. Once done pizzaring we put a tray of tatties in and seal it up. Perfect jackets! Got my BT inkbird ss probe under the stone for accurate temps and use a usb fan from my phone to get more oomph if it needs it. Brilliant bit of kit - but don't leave it out in rain - it becomes a steamer,,,,,,, :hat:

 

[Nashbrew]

That's weird timing. I have been looking at getting a gas burner for my Ooni 3 for months but they've been out of stock everywhere and fetching over £100 on eBay. Then... In stock at Amazon last week. Arrived yesterday and works great. If you're thinking of getting one I'd buy now as I can see them disappearing again before long.

PS. What's a rotating stone?

Edit: just seen the vid. Wow! Is that home made?

The parts for a rotating conversion are available here OONi Pizza Oven Turn Table or Rotating Plate Fyra Koda Karu UUNi 3
I bought the VV-12 for mine.

 

[Harbey]

Ooh thanks. I'll have a look into that although I doubt my engineering skills will survive.

Regarding pellets, I now use cat litter. Make sure you get unscented (mine are slightly piney but they don't alter the flavour of the pizza). Was about £6 for a massive bag from pets at home