Depending on the type of pizza oven you’re using, heat is generated via firewood, charcoal, or electricity. The ovens are designed to trap this heat inside their walls and floors, which is how the pizza bakes. When flames are low or non-existent, pizzas will still cook at high temperatures. This is why it is essential that you allow your pizza oven plenty of time to heat thoroughly before you begin the cooking process. The larger your oven, the more time it needs to reach optimal temperatures.

Whether you’re designing your own or investing in a top-tier model, there are a few things you should look for when selecting a pizza oven:

• Type: Pizza ovens can be made of different materials, including metal, stone, and brick. Each type has its benefits and is designed to hold the maximum level of heat possible for baking pizzas to perfection. You should also carefully consider the brand you choose to work with. Do they have warranties or guarantees against damage or wear and tear? How is their customer service?
• Size: For home cooks, miniature and residential-sized outdoor pizza ovens are usually enough to handle the occasional pizza night or weekday meal. For larger homes or pizza restaurants, you need larger ovens that can accommodate more than one pie at a time. Some home and business owners build an entire outdoor setup with an integrated oven, sink, and seating area.
• Condition: When you use a pizza oven, it is critical that there are no cracks, chips, or gaps in the walls, floor, or door. These vulnerable areas will allow heat to escape, which will make it more challenging to bake your pizza evenly. The heat loss also means a longer wait until your pizza is finished.

Once you have your pizza oven, firewood, and favorite recipe, it’s time to cook! When you have the right supplies and set-up, baking a delicious pizza is easy every time:

1. Gather what you need: Ever heard the expression “mise en place”? It’s popular in professional and home kitchens and means “everything in its place.” By taking the time to gather all the ingredients and supplies you need before you create and bake your pizza, you know you have everything you need, right where you need it, instead of realizing halfway through the recipe that you’re out of your favorite sauce or don’t have enough wood. For oven-baked pizza, this means you need your ingredients, a pizza peel, some matches, fire starters, and plenty of pizza cut firewood.
2. Heat the oven: Before you prepare your pizza, start heating the oven. Using a match and fire starter, build a fire in the firewood section of your pizza oven. Remember to keep the fire fed and stirred while the oven is heating.
3. Prepare your pie: Depending on your recipe, preparing your pie could mean hand-making your dough and sauce or picking up your favorites from the local grocery store. Roll out your pizza dough into the desired shape and top accordingly. Use a long, heat-safe pizza peel to place the pie carefully in the oven.
4. Wait for the magic: Now, it’s time to wait while the firewood and oven work their magic on your pie. Though it depends on your recipe and toppings, a wood-burning pizza oven works quickly, so you won’t have to wait too long. If necessary, use the pizza peel to move and rotate your pizza throughout the cooking process to ensure it does not stick and bakes evenly.
5. Slice and serve: Now that all your hard work has paid off, it’s time to slice and serve your pizza. While the oven is hot, consider tossing in some homemade garlic bread or a fun dessert pizza to accompany your meal.

Though some amount of smoke is typical when cooking with wood-generated flames, excessive smoke is a sign that something isn’t right. It can also be irritating to the eyes and hazardous when breathed in. If your pizza oven is generating more smoke than normal, ask yourself the following:

• Are you burning cooking-grade firewood, rather than yard debris, pine straw, or leaves?
• Is your wood thoroughly dry and free of mold and fungus?
• Are you using a dense hardwood instead of softwood?
• Is your pizza oven constructed correctly, free of gaps and cracks?
• Is there enough room in the fire area of your oven for the flames to breathe and thrive?
• Does your oven need to be cleaned?

If all of these things check out, consider consulting the oven manufacturer.

Top-quality pizza calls for top-quality cooking wood. Wood burning pizza ovens require more than your standard cut of firewood. They need specialty-sized wood — typically oak — that has been extensively dried and cut to promote even cooking.

The best firewood for pizza ovens is wood that has been:

• Carefully selected: You cannot harvest quality wood from weak, sick, or decaying trees. Cutting Edge Firewood sources every piece of wood from strong, healthy trees, so you know you’re getting quality from the start.
• Expertly processed: Though a healthy tree is necessary, it’s only the start. Once the wood is harvested, it must be processed by experts who understand what makes quality cooking wood. This means drying the wood in a high-heat kiln, eliminating the risk for mold, fungus, or bugs.
• Uniformly cut: Uniformity is a sign of high standards, and is essential when you need a steady, even burn. Wood cut to the same dimensions is also easier to stack and looks visually pleasing when on display.