How to use an outdoor pizza oven

Set up in a safe spot

Put the oven on a sturdy, level and non-flammable surface such as a stone worktop, a metal table or a purpose-made stand. Keep it well clear of fences, sheds, overhanging branches and anything plastic. Leave space around the chimney or vent so heat can escape. Fuel-burning ovens are for outdoor use only and should sit in open air, away from doors and windows, so fumes do not drift indoors.

Have everything ready before you light: dough balls, sauce, toppings, a floured launching peel, a turning peel, heat-proof gloves and an infrared thermometer. Once the oven is hot, things move fast.

Note:Gas ovens: outdoor use only, never indoors, in a tent, awning, caravan or garage. Check the hose and regulator before each use and do a soapy-water leak test on the connections. Keep the bottle upright, outdoors and away from the heat, and turn off at the bottle when you finish. Follow the manual. If you suspect a gas leak, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. All fuel-burning ovens produce carbon monoxide, so never use them in an enclosed or partly enclosed space. Never leave a lit oven unattended and keep children and pets away.

See our best outdoor pizza ovens →

Preheat and check the stone

The most common mistake is launching too soon. The air inside the oven heats quickly, but the stone takes longer. Most portable ovens need around 20 to 30 minutes on full heat, and larger or wood-fired ovens can take longer. Our heat-up times guide gives typical ranges.

Point an infrared thermometer at the centre of the stone, then at the front and back. For a Neapolitan-style pizza, around 400 to 450°C in the middle is a common target. If the front is much cooler than the back, give it a few more minutes. The pizza oven temperature guide explains which stone temperatures suit which styles.

Build and launch the pizza

Stretch the dough by hand on a floured surface, then lay it on a peel dusted with semolina or flour. Top it quickly and lightly: too much sauce or cheese weighs the centre down and makes launching harder. Give the peel a small shake. If the pizza slides freely, it is ready. If a patch sticks, lift that edge and throw a pinch of flour underneath.

Before launching on a gas oven, many people turn the flame down a little so the top does not scorch before the base cooks. Then slide the peel in, rest its tip near the back of the stone and pull it back in one smooth, quick movement. The pizza should stay put. If it tends to stick, see pizza sticking to the peel.

Turn, finish and remove

A pizza in a hot portable oven usually takes 60 to 120 seconds in total. Our guide on how to use a turning peel covers the technique in more detail. If the base burns before the top cooks, the stone is too hot relative to the flame, and burnt bottom, raw top explains how to rebalance it.

1. 1

   After about 20 to 30 seconds, the side nearest the flame will start to puff and colour.

2. 2

   Slide a turning peel under the pizza, lift slightly and rotate a quarter turn.

3. 3

   Repeat every 20 to 30 seconds until the crust is evenly coloured all round.

4. 4

   Lift the pizza briefly towards the dome for a few seconds if the top needs more colour.

5. 5

   Slide the peel fully under and remove the pizza to a board.

Let the oven recover between pizzas

Each pizza pulls heat out of the stone. If you launch the next one straight away, the base will be paler and softer. Turn the flame back up to full and wait one to two minutes, or longer on a smaller oven, then check the stone with the thermometer again. On a wood oven, add a small log a minute or two before the next pizza so the flame is rolling well when you launch.

Brush off any spilled flour or burnt bits with a long-handled brush between pizzas. Loose flour scorches and can give the base a bitter taste.

Shutting down and aftercare

When you finish on a gas oven, turn the control off, then close the valve at the bottle. Leave a wood or pellet oven to burn out completely and never pour water on it to speed things up, as the shock can crack the stone. Let the oven cool fully before covering or moving it.

Burnt spots on the stone usually burn off at the next session. For stubborn marks, see how to clean a pizza oven stone. Store the oven dry and covered, and read storing a pizza oven in winter before the cold months. If you are still choosing an oven, the best gas pizza ovens guide is a good starting point.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I preheat an outdoor pizza oven? Most portable ovens need around 20 to 30 minutes on full heat for the stone to reach cooking temperature. Check it with an infrared thermometer rather than relying on the clock alone.

Do I need an infrared thermometer? It is not essential, but it removes the guesswork. The air temperature inside the oven is not a reliable guide to how hot the stone is, and the stone is what cooks the base.

Can I cook with the oven door or opening covered? Follow the manual. Some ovens have a door for baking at lower temperatures, but gas and wood ovens need air to burn safely, so never block vents.

Why is my second pizza paler than the first? The stone has not recovered. Turn the heat back up and wait a minute or two before launching the next pizza.