Commercial Wood Pizza Oven And Domestic Wood Pizza Oven

What's The Difference ?

Usually the size of the wood oven and price is the main difference between domestic and commercial wood fired pizza ovens. Domestic ovens are cheaper and smaller than commercial ovens, as they use inferior materials, such as clay and have thinner insulation. This means that the domestic clay oven is less capable of retaining heat in the dome and the oven base, leaving you with incorrect cooking condtions.

When measuring the quality of an oven, usually the weight is the main concern. The thicker the high density specialist refractory concrete base and dome, the heavier the oven will be. This thickness is an essential point to consider when purchasing a quality oven. The use of refractory concrete instead of clay is another way of telling quality. Refractory concrete is a specialist material used to produce the best retention of heat in the oven. When refractory stone is not used, cooking conditions are jeopardised.

When purchasing a wood oven be cautious of cheap clay ovens, they do not last well, especially if positioned outside. Clay absorbs water and if this is then frozen it will cause the oven to crack. If the oven has a long warranty this usually indicates that it uses specialist refractory materials and will stand the test of time.

The shape of the oven is another thing to look for. Cheap ovens may not be shaped correctly to enable the wood to burn efficiently. The correct shape enables heat to be retained in the dome and oven base which is essential for even cooking.

Domestic ovens have a small arch and flue, if the arch is black on the outside of the oven this can be because of one of two problems, that the oven is not working correctly or that the flue is incorrect or fitted wrongly.

Domestic ovens are created with the intention that they will not be used regularly on a day to day basis; commercial ovens are designed to run all day, day after day. The use of specialist materials, such as refractory concrete, means the oven can retain maximum heat over night, saving energy and time the next day to bring the temperature back up to a point where by it is ready for cooking. This means you will have a completely reliable piece of equipment in your busiest situations.

If your oven is an outdoor oven you must care for and protect it from the wet; even the best ovens will crack if they become wet and are allowed to freeze over winter.