Stoke Pizza Oven Review
Summary
The Stoke Pizza oven is a wood-fired pizza oven that uses radiant heat to cook pizzas. The oven can reach temperatures of up to 950 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot enough to cook a pizza in just two minutes. The oven also has a convection fan that helps circulate the heat, so the pizzas cook evenly.
These ovens is made from durable refractory materials, so it can withstand high temperatures without cracking or crumbling. The oven also has a rust-resistant finish, so it will stay looking new for years to come.
Overall
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Quality
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Price Point
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Ease of Use
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Warranty
Pros
- Incredibly low price for all the accessories you receive
- Easy to assemble and carry around
- Available in 13” or 16” sizes, which easily feeds a family of four
- Durable stainless steel quality
- Gets up to high temperatures
- Easy to control
- Offers a trial period before committing to your purchase
- Lifetime Warranty
- Premium quality customer service
Cons
- Really only safe for outdoor use
- On first use there is a learning curve to getting the pizza cooked right
- You must spin the pizza to get a quality outcome from the either Stoke pizza ovens models
The Stoke Pizza Oven is a fantastic, innovative product that promises to bring the joy of pizza-making into your home. It’s designed to be easy to use and requires little effort on your part to go from fresh ingredients to worthy pizza pies.
Plus, it’s portable, so you can take it on outdoor camping trips or even give it as a gift for those friends and family members that enjoy cooking on their porch or gazebo.
Our review team has had the pleasure of checking out the Ooni pizza oven, so we were excited to get our hands on the competition with the Stoke woodfired and gas-powered pizza ovens.
Let’s dive into what we thought about the Stoke Pizza Oven, what makes it so special, and if it’s worth the money for your personal mouthwatering pizza.
Stoke Pizza Oven Review
One of the significant benefits of purchasing a Stoke pizza oven is that everything you need to start with outdoor cooking is already in the package.
It takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes to set up, and then you can immediately begin tasting a classic woodfired or gas-heated pizza pie.
What is the Stoke Pizza Oven?
The Stoke pizza oven allows you to enjoy outdoor or portable cooking of wood-fired pizza or through the use of gas-powered stove models. You don’t need any outlet, and the Stoke pizza oven is small enough to carry it anywhere you’d like. This is a solid pizza oven option for backyard BBQs, tailgating, and family camping trips.
There is a wood-fired oven model that relies on compact, safe-to-use wood pellets and a Firestarter. The Stoke gas pizza oven comes in two different models and uses a regulator to control the temperature of the oven.
As long as you correctly monitor the cooking mechanism and heat, you can expect to receive a quality woodfired pizza in anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes.
Let our review team be the first to tell you there is nothing quite like the taste of woodfired dough fresh at your home. Instead of the long lines at your favorite pizza place, you get to control the ingredients and temperature settings of the ovens.
What makes it so special?
There are a lot of pizza ovens on the market. What sets Stoke apart is the quality materials, ease of setting the ovens up, and the ability to use either woodfired or gas-powered pizza ovens.
The size of the pizza you can cook is between 13” and 16”, which is more than enough for a family of 4 who loves an outdoor cooking experience.
The other major selling point of the Stoke pizza oven is its price compared to the outdoor stove competition. Stoke offers a complete package with all the cooking accessories you would need, including wood pellets, at a price point below the rest.
Finally, Stoke pizza ovens are made right in the USA. While that may not appeal to every audience, our review team tends to lean into businesses sourcing their materials and operations inside the USA because it helps out the economy.
Who is this good for?
If you’re interested in making pizza at home, the Stoke Pizza Oven is a great option. If you want to cook outdoors, it’s also a good choice. This oven is worth considering if you have a large family who loves pizza and wants to try something new.
This is also a fantastic option for outdoor cooking with all kinds of ingredients. It is next to impossible to experiment with various pizza options at a restaurant. With the Stoke pizza oven, you can easily mix and match whatever types of meats, seasonings, cheeses, vegetables, and more. That includes calzones, pizza rolls, and other fun bakery items.
Types of Stoke Pizza Ovens
There are two main types of Stoke pizza ovens –gas and wood-powered oven. The Stoke gas-powered oven comes in two different sizes – 13” and 16”, while the woodfired is 16”. It helps to know a bit more about these two oven models when you are picking an outdoor cooking option for your home or next camping trip.
Stoke Pizza Oven – Gas
The first thing you’ll notice about the gas-powered Stoke pizza oven is the quality of the build. This oven feels like you could drop it off a cliff, and it would be perfectly fine. The exterior is made from cold-rolled carbon steel, which is durable and looks fantastic and sleek.
The Stoke pizza oven rests on a four-legged design to elevate the body and keep you safe. It includes a built-in thermometer so you can easily monitor the temperature of the pizza you are cooking.
What’s in the box
Inside the gas-powered Stoke pizza oven, you’ll find:
- User manual
- Oven body
- Tools for assembly
- Cordierite pizza stone
- Stoke pizza oven carrying cover
- Pizza peel
- Pizza cutter
- Propane tank valve with hose
- Analog thermometer
- Igniter tray with gas regulator knob
Everything may not ship at the same time. For example, we receive the pizza peel and Stoke pizza cutter in a different packages but on the same day as the rest of the oven accessories.
Set-up
The set-up process is simple and easy to follow. All you need to do is unfold the legs and place the Stoke pizza oven on top so it is balanced and level. Pop in the temperature gauge on the top according to the instructions, and then tighten it with a nut.
At the back of the gas-powered Stoke pizza oven, you’ll place the igniter and tighten the three screws around it. Once you connect the gas line and open the valve for the propane, you can start heating up the oven.
Performance
We found the best Stoke pizza oven and cooking stove performance at around 700-800 degrees. Otherwise, the pizza doesn’t quite get that crunch to the crust you want without burning the ingredients or cheese. You should also spin the pizza using the pizza peel while it cooks.
The first pizza we put in took about 8-10 minutes, then every subsequent pizza took only 2-5 (depending on the thickness of the crust).
We do have a couple of Chicago-based pizza lovers on our review team that prefer a deep dish, while the rest of us enjoy standard or thin crust. All of these were possible with the gas-powered Stoke pizza oven.
Control
You’ll find an easy-to-use control knob for the gas flow on the back of the oven for the gas-powered unit. It may take a couple of times to nail down precisely where to turn the knob for optimal temperature, but once you get that, you’re good to go.
As long as you watch the temperature closely and spin the pizza in the Stoke pizza oven, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Ease of Use
Using the Stoke Pizza Oven is a straightforward process. The oven comes with a handy guide that provides some helpful tips and recipes to get you started.
All you have to do is assemble the Stoke pizza oven, preheat the inside, then let it heat up for 15 minutes or according to your recipe’s instructions.
Once heated, we found that it did an excellent job of baking pizzas evenly the pie as long as you spin them. It also had no problem crisping up both sides to perfection!
The cleaning process is equally easy as most of the ingredients get on the pizza stone, which you can scrape off with a bit of water after it has thoroughly cooled. You don’t want to use soap on the stone because it needs to maintain the seasoning from frequent cooking activities.
Stoke Pizza Oven – Wood Oven
The Stoke Pizza Oven and cooking stove is a woodfired oven that will conjure old-school pizza pies from Italian restaurants and bakeries from the past. It’s meant to be used in your own home, which means that you’ll need to set up the oven in your kitchen or on the patio. With the amount of heat and chimney runoff, we highly recommend only using this pizza oven in an outdoor cooking setting.
It will take a bit of trial and error to learn to use the wood pellets when firing up this model of the Stoke pizza oven. The Stoke woodfired pizza often comes with a set of wood pellets, but if you want a unique outdoor cooking experience, we highly recommend recycled hardwood that has been seasoned – especially mesquite or oak wood pellets.
What’s in the box
Like the gas-powered Stoke pizza oven, you’ll find everything you need to get started inside the box. This is a massive selling point for Stoke pizza ovens compared to others available on the market. That includes:
- User manual
- Oven body
- Tall chimney
- Tools for assembly
- Cordierite pizza stone
- Stoke pizza oven carrying cover
- Pizza peel
- Pizza cutter
- Analog thermometer
The Stoke pizza oven and the cooking stove come in a large box with all the components. The first thing you will notice is the distinctive shape of the oven’s dome, which looks like an upside-down bowl or drum. This design allows heat to circulate throughout your pizza and cook it evenly, producing a crispy crust that’s perfect for any topping combination you can imagine—including barbecue sauce.
Set-Up
You may be wondering, “How do I set up the Stoke Pizza Oven?” The answer is: it’s pretty straightforward.
First, remove all packing materials from your oven and place them on a solid surface where you can easily reach them. The appliance comes with instructions that walk you through the rest of the process. Essentially all you need is to set the four legs onto the base and tighten a few screws around the chimney to get this model of the Stoke pizza oven going.
After that, the significant part to pay attention to is the cooking stove fuel tray. This is where you can place wood pellets or charcoal. We never attempted the charcoal type of fire, but we hear it holds its heat the best.
You may also want to pick up a few firestarters or small enough pellets that can be easily lit with a long-stem lighter. One of our review team members works as a carpenter on the side and brought in a bag of wood shavings from a barn they were building as a firestarter for us.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Stoke pizza oven and the cooking stove is a solid little stove. The temperature hovers between 750 and 950 degrees Fahrenheit when the oven is firing at full power, which means that you can cook any type of pizza in it—even those with more delicate toppings like fresh mozzarella or thinly sliced prosciutto.
You’ll also be able to cook bread up to about 10-12 inches in diameter without worrying about scorching them on one side as long as they get sufficient exposure to heat from all angles through the dome.
Control
The control with wood pellets has a lot to do with how high you fill the fuel tray. The more pellets, the hotter the Stoke woodfired pizza oven temperature. We found about 45-60% full of wood pellets brought the most consistent temperature in the Stoke pizza oven in outdoor settings.
Granted, we were testing our Stoke pizza ovens in a fenced area without any significant wind gusts. That could change how the control of the woodfired pizza oven is compared to the gas-powered model.
As a side note, we recommend making breadsticks for the woodfired Stoke pizza oven and cooking stove model. The reason is that it only takes a few minutes to cook a pizza once you hit the optimal temperature (maximum temperature is 950 degrees). It also takes a little while to cool down completely, giving you time to make some delicious bread sticks with a little drizzled garlic butter on top.
Ease of Use
Our review team thinks the gas-powered model is easier to use, but the woodfired tastes better. The difference is not incredibly wide. It just may take a little while to get used to the volume of wood pellets to utilize.
After a few tries, you should be able to produce a quality at-home pizza. Do not forget to spin the pizza using the pizza peel while enjoying your Stoke pizza oven outdoor cooking experience.
Stoke Pizza Comparison
| 13” Gas Powered | 16” Gas Powered | 13" Wood Powered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Propane Gas | Propane Gas | Wood Pellets |
| Model | 13” | 16” | 13” |
| Size | 23"L x 19"W x 13"H | 25”L x 21.5”W x 13”H | 23.5"L x 19.5"W x 13.5"H |
| Weight | 34.7 lbs | 46.8 lbs | 36.9 lbs |
| Time | 15 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins |
| Max. Temperature | 950°F | 950°F | 950°F |
| Material | Heat-resistant, steel shell | Heat-resistant, steel shell | Heat-resistant, steel shell |
| Specs | Smokeless + Portable | Larger pizza sizes | Wood-fired flavor |
Stoke Pizza Oven Pros and Cons
Pros of Stoke Pizza Oven
The Stoke pizza oven and cooking stove is a quality product that you will be able to use again and again. It’s also easy to use, so you won’t need someone else around to help you cook your pizzas in the oven. It’s durable, meaning it can withstand heavy usage without showing signs of damage or wear.
And lastly, it’s versatile – if you’re interested in expanding your cooking repertoire beyond pizza, there are many recipes available online for tasty meals made in the Stoke pizza oven. Other pros include:
- Incredibly low price for all the accessories you receive
- Easy to assemble and carry around
- Available in 13” or 16” sizes, which easily feeds a family of four
- Durable stainless steel quality
- Gets up to high temperatures
- Easy to control
- Offers a trial period before committing to your purchase
- Premium quality customer service
Cons of Stoke Pizza Oven
- Really only safe for outdoor use
- On first use there is a learning curve to getting the pizza cooked right
- You must spin the pizza to get a quality outcome from the either Stoke pizza ovens models
What do Customers Think?
Customers have been overwhelmingly positive about their purchases. They love the fact that they can cook pizza outdoors and enjoy delicious, fresh, at-home meals without having to buy a large cooking stove or even leave the comfort of their own home.
The reviews are a little lower than we thought. We were surprised to see 4-4.2 stars out of five on Amazon. It seems to be mostly from customers that could not master controlling the temperature, which is fair because that takes some practice.
One customer review we found spot-on for the Stoke pizza oven writes:
“I ordered the Stoke 13” gas version. Assembly was surprisingly simple. It took basically three steps: (1) attach temperature gauge (single bolt/nut); (2) attach heating element / igniter (three screws); (3) attach gas burner line (hand-screw hose).
It took about fifteen minutes in 25-degree weather to heat up to 800 degrees, and the temperature held for the entire cooking time (including shaping dough, preparing toppings, and cooking). I cooked six pizzas, each improving on the last based on my growing experience.
The final product was almost exactly how I imagined it to be, which is a rare occasion for a first-time at anything. The compactness of the oven makes it easy to take out and put away for use on a whim. No forethought is needed for a pizza night (except for making a proper dough). Cleanup is easy – just remove the baking stone and wash.”
Stoke Pizza Oven vs. Ooni Pizza Oven
Both the Ooni and the Stoke are great pizza oven products that have a large following of satisfied customers. They both possess a strong reputation for quality. They are easy to use and clean while remaining affordable.
These pizza oven and cooking stove companies have a large selection of accessories, making it easy to customize your oven or grill based on your specific needs. The Ooni’s extra-large surface area allows you to make larger pizzas (up to 15 inches), which comes in handy if you’re cooking for many people at once or if you like sharing with friends who want their own individual slices.
The Stoke’s more portable pizza oven design is best for carrying around to different events or setting up outside seasonally when you live in a cold climate.
The primary difference between the two types of pizza ovens is the price of what you get. The Ooni pizza oven requires additional purchasing for all the accessories you would get standard with the Stoke pizza oven. That said, Ooni does offer a number of options that include the Ooni Koda, Ooni Karu and Ooni Fyra.
For this reason, we recommend the Ooni cooking stove to those experienced pizza chefs that already understand what it takes to maximize an oven for the best-tasting pies. While Ooni is good for experienced users, the Stoke pizza oven is excellent for any age or family type. The lower price point also makes the Stoke a fantastic gift.
Is the Stoke Pizza Oven Worth it?
Most people who have used a pizza oven before, like the one from Stoke, will tell you that it is worth it. A pizza oven can be used to cook delicious, perfectly baked pizzas in a short amount of time.
These ovens are also great for entertaining friends and family because they provide entertainment as well as good food. The wood cooking stove model is easier to manage because it doesn’t require lugging around a propane tank.
The price point is what makes the Stoke pizza oven so worth it. We saw the gas pizza oven at $445 on Amazon, which is about $150-$200 less than most competitors at the same size and power source.
Again, for our money, we would go with the woodfired version, but that is because our review team loves that distinctive taste.
Wrapping it Up
The Stoke Oven is a solid investment for anyone looking to experience the deliciousness of pizza in the comfort of their own home. This oven offers a unique look and feel, as well as an innovative design that allows it to perform better than other similar products on the market.
It’s clear that the Stoke Pizza Oven and cooking stove is a high-quality product for people who want to make delicious pizza at home. It’s not quite as large as some of its competitors, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—and it can still bake up plenty of pies in less than 10 minutes.
All in all, the Stoke pizza oven has some great features, which means you can cook your favorite pizzas exactly how they should be cooked regardless of the fuel source. Wether you prefer the gas oven or the wood pizza oven, this is one of the best outdoor pizza ovens for the price. We say pick up a Stoke pizza oven today and invite your friends for a pizza party! This is a great addition to your back yard or easy portable outdoor pizza ovens.
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