WIRED, Wirecutter, and the AVPN Love Our Ovens

Our ears are burning. Ooni pizza ovens have caught the attention of the good folks over at WIRED, the New York Times’ Wirecutter, and the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, institutions known for their selectivity, honesty and thoroughness when it comes to product reviews. We happily submitted ourselves to their scrutinising standards, and now we couldn’t be more delighted to have received their top marks. 

The reasons for this are clear. With advanced technology, the latest in insulation and impressive temperature control, our ovens appeal to new chefs just starting their outdoor cooking journeys, as well as the most seasoned pizzaioli looking to continually improve their mastery of the craft. 

But don’t just take our word for it. 

"A 9/10 from WIRED reviewers is no joke."  — WIRED

If a product is showing up in WIRED, it’s because it’s one of the latest, most innovative things on the market. Getting a rave review from an in-the-know WIRED reporter, who is constantly inundated with new gadgets to test, is an indicator that we really have something special in Karu 16.  

According to WIRED, the recently released Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven induces a sort of pizza-fueled euphoria in users that will have you cooking every meal outdoors for the sheer convenience and ease of use. 

The reviewer took many of the factors we keep top of mind during our design process into her consideration: “Not only are the Ooni ovens attractive, easy to use, and simple to assemble, they’re also portable and easy to clean,” she said.

Safety and stability were also big wow factors for the reviewer, who mentioned that the sturdy legs and remarkably effective insulation gave her peace of mind that any curious kids or pets would be safe around the oven. 

“This practically perfect oven inspires summer pizza madness in anyone who sees it.”

After a straightforward experience lighting the oven and cooking wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, WIRED said they couldn’t imagine recommending any other pizza oven. 

We couldn’t have said it better. 

“Recommended for domestic use.”  — AVPN

This one is A. Big. Deal.

Karu 16 became the first and only pizza oven recommended for domestic use by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the acclaimed international authority on true Neapolitan pizza.

As the protectors of pizza culture, the AVPN must review and then approve all pizza bearing the Neapolitan name. They regulate pizzerias and pizza makers all around the world, designating exactly who is and who isn’t making authentic Neapolitan pizza. 

For years, professional pizzaioli have been in agreement: you just can’t make real Neapolitan pizza at home. Now, the new Karu 16 designation completely turns that argument on its head. With the AVPN’s recommendation, now we can officially tell you that you can enjoy true Neapolitan pizza without ever leaving your back garden.

The Ooni Karu 16, signed off by the people who invented pizza. 

Dreams do come true.

“The best pizza oven.” — Wirecutter

After an in-depth analysis, Wirecutter deemed our Ooni Koda 16 Gas-Powered Pizza Oven the best overall home pizza oven; the Ooni Fyra 12 Wood Pellet Pizza Oven came away with their best budget pizza oven honors. 

And when we say in-depth analysis, we mean meticulous, rigorous testing and documentation.  Wirecutter is trusted as a review site because the journalists there explore every last component of the products they review, then only recommend the very best of each category. Reading their reviews is like talking to your most thorough and in-the-know friend, one who has tried every pizza oven there is and thought ours were the standouts.  

After baking 70 pizzas in various pizza ovens, the New York Times preferred the Ooni Koda 16 over all others, due to its outsized baking area and superior heat distribution. The size of the baking stone is important, since it allows for extra maneuvering space as you launch, rotate, and adjust the pizza as it cooks. 

“The Ooni Koda 16 is the most convenient and user-friendly portable outdoor pizza oven we tested, and it also bakes up a stellar pie.”

Wirecutter was also a fan of the unique heat map on the Koda 16’s baking stone, created by L-shaped burners on the back and left sides of the oven, along with its easy, right-out-of-the-box setup. Lighting the oven is just as easy: turn the dial and make a crazy amount of pizzas with just one tank of gas.  

For those who prefer wood-fired pizza, you can’t find a better deal than the “small but mighty”  Ooni Fyra 12. Our wood pellet-fueled oven is capable of reaching  top temperatures — we’re talking 500° C — while allowing you to be hands on with the fuel for that added connection to your creations. Small but mighty, indeed. This oven is perfectly portable for pizza purists who want to make authentic wood-fired pizzas on the go. To top that off, Wirecutter just may have claimed this oven is capable of baking “perfect pizzas with a hint of smokiness.”

The reviews don’t lie. 

These recommendations come from seasoned chefs and professional pizzaioli who all agree, independently, that Ooni pizza ovens help people make great pizza.