How to use an infrared thermometer on a pizza oven

What an infrared thermometer measures

An infrared thermometer reads the heat radiating from a surface, not the air. It measures a spot that grows wider the further away you stand. The ratio between distance and spot size is printed on most guns, for example 12:1, which means a 1 cm spot at 12 cm or a 4 cm spot at 48 cm.

In a pizza oven, that means you are reading one patch of the stone. Take readings at the centre and near the front and back to see how even the floor is.

Where to aim

Aim at the middle of the stone where your pizza will sit. Hold the gun 30 to 50 cm from the opening so the spot falls on the stone, not on the oven lip. If your gun has a laser dot, check it lands on the floor. Pull the trigger, hold for a second and read.

Avoid pointing at the flame, the burner or the inside of the dome. Flames are hot gas, not a solid surface, and the reading can be wildly wrong. The dome often reads hotter than the stone early on, which tempts people to launch too soon.

1. 1

   Light the oven and wait 15 to 20 minutes.

2. 2

   Stand 30 to 50 cm from the opening.

3. 3

   Aim at the centre of the stone and read.

4. 4

   Take a second reading near the back.

5. 5

   Launch when the stone is in your target range.

6. 6

   Read again before each pizza.

Target temperatures by style

These are general targets for the stone. Adjust to your dough, oven and taste. Our pizza oven temperature guide has more detail.

Why readings jump about

Readings vary for a few reasons. Different parts of the stone really are at different temperatures, especially near the burner. Ash, flour or dark patches can read slightly differently from clean stone. And infrared guns assume a certain emissivity, a measure of how well a surface gives off heat. Most are set around 0.95, which suits dull stone well. Shiny metal reads low, so do not use the gun on a steel tray or the oven's metal lip.

If your thermometer seems stuck or reads nonsense, check the battery first, clean the lens with a soft cloth and make sure you are within its rated range. Many budget guns top out below 400°C and show an error above that; a pizza oven needs one that reads to at least 500°C.

Using the readings well

After each pizza, the stone loses heat. Read it again before the next launch and give it a minute or two to recover if needed. If the stone is too hot and bases are burning, turn the burner down or let the fire settle for a few minutes. If the stone is cool but the dome is hot, wait: the stone needs time to soak. See pizza burnt underneath but raw on top and pizza oven not getting hot enough.

Some ovens, like the DeliVita Diavolo bundle in our best gas pizza ovens guide, come with an infrared gun. Check the box contents when comparing models.

Note:Never point a laser-equipped thermometer at anyone's eyes. Keep the gun away from the oven when not in use; heat can damage its electronics.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a thermometer for a pizza oven? It is not essential, but it takes the guesswork out of when to launch and is the quickest way to fix burnt or pale bases.

Is the built-in thermometer on my oven accurate? It usually reads the air or the dome, not the stone. Use an infrared gun for the stone.

What range does a pizza oven thermometer need? At least 500°C. Many cheap guns stop around 380°C.

Can I use an infrared thermometer for oil or meat? It reads surfaces only. For the inside of meat, use a probe thermometer.