Ooni Pizza Oven Review

What is the Ooni Koda Gas Outdoor Pizza Oven?

The Koda is Ooni’s gas-powered pizza oven—the most straightforward of all models since it’s ready to use right out of the box, just hook up to your fuel source and fire it up.

All Ooni ovens are made with high-quality materials and backed by a one-year warranty—plus, if you register your Ooni pizza oven online, the company will upgrade you to a three-year warranty for free.

Ooni Koda Pizza Oven Models

The Ooni Koda comes in two different size options: The Ooni Koda 12 and the Ooni Koda 16. We’ll discuss the similarities and differences between these two options next.

Ooni Koda 12 Gas Powered Pizza Oven

This is the portable, streamlined version of the Koda. Here are some of its main features:

• Makes up to 12-inch pizzas
• Lightweight and portable
• Foldable legs for fast setup right out of the box
• Instant gas ignition
• Heat control knob to dial in the perfect temperature
• 13-inch cordierite stone baking board, gas regulator and hose included
• Preheats in 15 minutes

Ooni Koda 16 Gas Powered Pizza Oven

This version of the Koda is larger and has a few unique features over the Koda 12:

• Makes up to 16-inch pizzas
• Choose between propane or natural gas fuel
• L-shaped burner for more heat distribution
• Foldable legs for fast setup right out of the box
• Instant gas ignition 
• Heat control knob to dial in the perfect temperature
• 16-inch cordierite stone baking board, gas regulator and hose included
• Preheats in 20 minutes

Design & Build

The outer shell of the Ooni Koda is made of powder-coated, weather-resistant carbon steel, with ceramic fiber insulation for excellent heat retention.

Ooni Koda Pizza Oven Specifications

• Fuel type: Propane (Koda 12); Propane or natural gas (Koda 16)
• Dimensions: 24.4” x 15.5” x 11.7″ (Koda 12); 25” x 23.2” x 14.7″ (Koda 16)
• Weight: 20.2 pounds (Koda 12); 39.2 pounds (Koda 16)
• Oven temperature: up to 950 degrees
• Pizza size: up to 12-inch (Koda 12) or 16-inch (Koda 16)
• Indoor/outdoor use: Outdoor
• Color options: Stainless steel
• What’s in the box: Ooni pizza oven body, cordierite stone baking board, gas regulator and hose

Ooni Koda Pizza Oven Pros & Cons

Now that we’ve taken a look at the specs of the Ooni Koda, let’s talk about the pros and cons of this model:

Ooni Koda Pizza Oven Performance & Functionality

The Ooni Koda pizza oven is engineered for convenience, speed and ease of use. The 12-inch model has the advantage of being lightweight and portable, while the 16-inch comes with the option to choose between propane or natural gas for fuel.

Koda ovens are extremely easy to set up and get cooking. They’re designed to heat up to temp in about 15 minutes and once preheated, will cook pizzeria-perfect pies in just 60 seconds.

Plus, Ooni’s build quality and comprehensive warranty ensures your oven will produce delicious pizzas for years to come.

Where to Buy Ooni Pizza Oven

Ooni pizza ovens are available to purchase online or in select retailers in the U.S. To find a dealer that carries Ooni products near you, simply use the store locator feature on the company’s website and enter your zip code.

Ooni Pizza Oven Price

At the time of this review, the Ooni Koda 12 is priced at $399, and the Ooni Koda 16 comes in at $599. Both are ready to use right out of the box, with pizza baking stone, gas hose and gas regulator included.

Warranty

All Ooni pizza ovens come standard with a one-year warranty—but if you register your product online, the company will upgrade you to a three-year warranty free of charge.

Heads up: Your Ooni pizza oven must be registered within 60 days of receipt in order to claim the three-year warranty.

Refund Policy

Ooni backs their pizza ovens with a 60-day return policy. If you change your mind and the item is unused and in original packaging, you have 60 days from the day you received your pizza oven to return it for a full refund. Returns within the U.S. are free.

How to Use Ooni Pizza Oven

Right out of the box, the Ooni Koda is very easy to set up and cook with. The folding legs make it easy to transport, and to get set up, all you need to do is fold the legs out, insert the baking stone and hook up the gas line to your fuel source, just as you would with a gas grill.

We recommend purchasing the optional cover for your Koda pizza oven. The Koda 12 cover comes with sturdy, reinforced handles for carrying, and both covers are waterproof to protect your oven from the elements.

Ooni Pizza Oven Accessories

Ooni knows that the right accessories can make or break your pizza prowess, and they have aspiring pizza chefs covered in this department. Their online store is packed with goodies to pump up your pizza-making experience:

• Pizza peels
• Infrared thermometers
• Utensils, cleaning brushes, pizza pans, topping stations and other pizza prep accessories
• Carrying cases and covers 
• Solid fuel—wood, charcoal and wood pellets
• Gas burners and accessories
• And lots more

Ooni Pizza Oven Tips

Here are some pro tips for using the Ooni Koda pizza oven:

• Always heat the oven up fully before cooking in it
• Use a digital thermometer to ensure the center of the stone is at the proper temp before cooking 
• For a crispy crust, keep the flame lower and cook the pizza longer
• If cooking in inclement weather, cook under a gazebo or umbrella to protect the oven’s exterior
• As a beginner, keep the flame lower while cooking at first to hone your skills
• Start off with a smaller pizza size in the beginning as you adjust to using the oven
• Use a pizza peel to rotate and cook the pizza evenly
• Turn stone over after cooling down—this ensures it evenly bakes off any stuck-on bits
• Use a soft brush for cleaning debris out after the oven cools down
• Store your oven (especially the baking stone) in a dry place when not in use

Compare Ooni Pizza Ovens: How Does Ooni Stack Up to Other Top Brands?

Now that you know all about the Ooni Koda, let’s compare it to other top pizza oven brands to see how its features stack up:

Bertello Pizza Oven vs Ooni

Like Ooni, Bertello is another well-known outdoor pizza oven brand. Here are some key differences to consider when shopping around:

• Bertello only has one model of pizza oven, while Ooni has three models and five variations to choose from
• Bertello is cheaper for the 16-inch oven, but the gas burner attachment is sold separately and will run you an extra $130
• Bertello does not offer a fuel choice of propane or natural gas like Ooni does
• Since Bertello does not make a 12-inch oven, and the 16-inch weighs in at about 40 pounds, it’s not as portable as the Ooni Koda
• It’s also worth noting that Ooni has a much more robust website experience with clear, upfront information about warranty, shipping, returns and product specs, plus tons of resources for their customers; Bertello is lacking in this area

Ooni Pizza Oven vs Roccbox

Roccbox is made by Gozney and is the company’s portable restaurant-grade model. Like Ooni, Roccbox is an outdoor pizza oven with a similar rolling flame style and the ease of cooking with gas. Here’s where the two brands differ:

• Roccbox does not have the option to use natural gas instead of propane like Ooni does
• Roccbox is heavy at 44 pounds; they do not offer a smaller, more portable option like the Ooni Koda 12
• Roccbox only has one model—a dual-fuel option that cooks with wood or gas; Ooni has five options to choose from
• Roccbox is priced slightly lower than the Ooni Koda 16, although to make use of its multi-fuel feature, you’ll need to purchase a wood burning attachment ($100)
• Roccbox has a five-year warranty; Ooni’s tops out at three years

Our Verdict

We can sum up the Ooni Koda in two simple words: Mama mia! This outdoor pizza oven is durable, user-friendly, requires very little clean up and maintenance and makes pizzeria-quality pies in a minute flat. The gas fuel source is perfect for home chefs who want the easiest, most convenient heating method—without the mess that wood ovens leave behind. Free shipping, an extended three-year warranty and a 60-day return policy are really just the pepperoni on top of this already-perfect pie.

Ooni Pizza Oven FAQ

How to clean the Ooni pizza stone?

To clean any spots or debris off your cordierite baking stone, Ooni recommends running your pizza oven at top temperature for 30 minutes. Most of the debris will burn off, and anything that’s left can be brushed away using your Ooni cleaning brush.

Where to buy Ooni pizza oven?

All Ooni pizza oven models can be purchased directly on the company’s website with free shipping to your home. 

Select Ooni models are also available in retail stores. To find a dealer near you, check out the store locator page on the Ooni website.

Which Ooni pizza oven to buy?

When deciding which Ooni pizza oven is right for you, you’ll need to consider a few important factors, such as:

• Fuel type—Ooni Koda is a gas-powered pizza oven that can connect to propane or natural gas, Ooni Fyra cooks with wood pellets, and Ooni Karu is a multi-fuel model that can cook with wood, charcoal or gas.
• Portability—If you want to travel with your Ooni, you’ll want to consider one of their lightweight options, such as the Koda 12, Karu 12 or the Fyra 12.
• Pizza size—Will you be cooking for large groups or parties? If so, an Ooni 16-inch oven may be the right choice. Check out the Koda 16 or the Karu 16.
• Budget—Ooni’s 12-inch ovens (Koda, Karu or Fyra) are considerably cheaper than their 16-inch models.

What else can you cook in an Ooni pizza oven?

While an Ooni will cook a pizza to perfection in just 60 seconds, the fire-roasted fun doesn’t stop there. You can cook steaks and other proteins, vegetables and even bread in your Ooni oven, too.

Where are Ooni pizza ovens made?

Ooni is an outdoor pizza oven company based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The ovens are designed in Scotland and manufactured in China. Ooni has product warehouses across the United States, so U.S.-based orders will ship from the location closest to you.

How to use Ooni pizza oven?

The Ooni Koda is a great pizza oven for beginners. There’s no assembly needed out of the box; simply unfold the legs and connect the gas hose to your fuel source. The built-in gas ignition makes it easy to fire up, and the temperature control dial allows you to set the flame to the right level no matter what you’re cooking in your Ooni.