Top-Rated Pizza Ovens for Detroit-Style Pizza

Detroit-style pizza has gained immense popularity in recent years, with its signature rectangular shape, thick crust, and layers of cheese and sauce. But to achieve the perfect Detroit-style pizza, you need the right equipment. While the recipe and ingredients play a huge role in the final product, the oven you use will ultimately determine how crispy the crust becomes, how evenly the cheese melts, and how well the sauce is cooked. In this guide, we'll explore the top-rated pizza ovens specifically designed to make the best Detroit-style pizza.

What Makes Detroit-Style Pizza Unique?

Before diving into the best ovens for this style, it's important to understand what makes Detroit-style pizza unique:

• Rectangular Shape: Unlike traditional round pizzas, Detroit-style pizza is baked in a rectangular pan.
• Thick, Crispy Crust: The dough is thicker than most other styles, creating a crispy outer layer with a soft, airy interior.
• Layered Cheese: The cheese, usually a blend of mozzarella and Wisconsin brick cheese, is spread directly on the dough, covering it all the way to the edges of the pan. This creates a crispy, caramelized cheese crust.
• Sauce on Top: Detroit-style pizza is typically "sauce on top," meaning the sauce is applied after the cheese and toppings have been baked.

Given these factors, choosing an oven that can reach and maintain the high heat necessary to create a crispy crust and properly melt the cheese is crucial. Here's a look at some of the top-rated pizza ovens that excel at cooking Detroit-style pizza.

1. Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven

Overview

The Ooni Karu 16 is a versatile and powerful pizza oven designed for various cooking methods. It can run on wood, charcoal, or gas, offering flexibility for different outdoor cooking needs. This oven reaches incredibly high temperatures, making it ideal for creating the crispy crusts Detroit-style pizza is known for.

Key Features

• Temperature Range: Up to 932°F (500°C). The high heat is essential for achieving that perfect crispy crust.
• Large Cooking Surface: The Ooni Karu 16 can accommodate pizzas up to 16 inches, making it suitable for Detroit-style pies, which can sometimes be larger than traditional pizzas.
• Multi-Fuel Compatibility: You can use wood, charcoal, or gas, allowing for different flavor profiles based on your cooking fuel choice.
• Even Heat Distribution: The oven's design ensures heat is distributed evenly, which is crucial for cooking the thick crust and melted cheese of Detroit-style pizza.

Why It's Great for Detroit-Style Pizza

The Ooni Karu 16's ability to reach high temperatures quickly and maintain even heat distribution ensures that Detroit-style pizza gets that perfect crispy crust while keeping the inside soft and airy. The multi-fuel option also lets you experiment with wood or charcoal for added flavor.

Pricing

Around $799, offering premium quality and performance for serious pizza enthusiasts.

2. Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven

Overview

The Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven is a compact and portable option that still delivers excellent results. It is capable of reaching high temperatures and is compatible with both wood and gas, making it a versatile choice for cooking a variety of pizzas, including Detroit-style.

Key Features

• Temperature Range: Up to 930°F (500°C), which is essential for the high heat needed for Detroit-style pizza.
• Multi-Fuel Capability: Like the Ooni Karu, it can run on wood, charcoal, or gas, allowing for different heat control and flavor.
• Compact and Portable: Lightweight and portable, the Bertello is great for both home use and outdoor adventures.
• Affordable Price Point: Despite its versatility and power, it's a budget-friendly option compared to some high-end models.

Why It's Great for Detroit-Style Pizza

The Bertello's ability to reach high temperatures and its even heat distribution make it an excellent choice for Detroit-style pizza. It offers the perfect balance of affordability and performance, allowing you to cook thick crust pizzas without any compromise on quality.

Pricing

Around $250, making it a more affordable option for those looking for a reliable pizza oven.

3. Camp Chef Artisan Pizza Oven 16

Overview

The Camp Chef Artisan Pizza Oven 16 is another highly rated outdoor pizza oven known for its sturdy construction and ability to produce great results. This oven is built for high heat and consistent cooking, making it ideal for thick-crust pizzas like the Detroit-style.

Key Features

• Temperature Range: Up to 700°F (371°C), which is sufficient for baking Detroit-style pizzas with crispy edges and perfectly melted cheese.
• 16-Inch Cooking Surface: The larger cooking surface allows you to make bigger Detroit-style pizzas without crowding.
• Insulated Walls: The oven is designed with insulation to ensure heat retention and consistent cooking.
• Gas Grill Integration: This oven can easily be placed on top of compatible Camp Chef gas grills, adding flexibility for different cooking setups.

Why It's Great for Detroit-Style Pizza

The insulated design of the Camp Chef Artisan Pizza Oven ensures that the heat stays inside the oven, creating a crispy crust while still allowing the cheese and sauce to cook evenly. It's particularly good for larger Detroit-style pizzas, thanks to its 16-inch cooking surface.

Pricing

Around $350, providing excellent value for a well-built and high-performance pizza oven.

4. Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto Outdoor Pizza Oven

Overview

The Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto is a compact and user-friendly outdoor pizza oven. It's designed to quickly reach high temperatures, making it great for cooking a variety of pizza styles, including Detroit-style.

Key Features

• Temperature Range: Up to 700°F (371°C), which is adequate for achieving a crisp, golden-brown crust on Detroit-style pizza.
• Quick Preheat Time: Heats up quickly, often ready to cook in just 15 minutes.
• Portable: Lightweight and easy to transport, making it a great option for both backyard cooking and camping trips.
• Sturdy Construction: Built to withstand outdoor conditions and deliver consistent results.

Why It's Great for Detroit-Style Pizza

While the Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto doesn't reach as high temperatures as some other ovens, its consistent heat and quick cooking time make it suitable for making smaller batches of Detroit-style pizza. It also provides the even heat distribution needed for the thick, hearty crust of Detroit-style pizza.

Pricing

Around $250, offering an affordable solution without sacrificing quality.

5. Baking Steel Pizza Oven

Overview

The Baking Steel Pizza Oven is a unique pizza oven that uses a steel surface to achieve excellent heat retention and distribution. It's perfect for those who want a professional-quality pizza oven that can deliver crispy Detroit-style pizza crusts.

Key Features

• Temperature Range: Up to 800°F (427°C), ideal for achieving the perfect texture on a Detroit-style pizza crust.
• Steel Surface: Unlike traditional stone, the steel surface provides better heat retention and faster cooking.
• Compact Design: Although it's not as portable as some other options, it fits well in most outdoor spaces and can be used with a gas grill.
• Quick Preheat Time: The steel cooking surface heats up quickly, reducing wait time for pizza.

Why It's Great for Detroit-Style Pizza

The steel surface of the Baking Steel Pizza Oven ensures that heat is absorbed and transferred quickly, creating a beautifully crispy crust. The high heat and consistent temperature allow for perfect Detroit-style pizzas every time, especially when it comes to creating that signature caramelized cheese crust.

Pricing

Around $400, this is a premium option for those who want the best in heat retention and cooking speed.

Conclusion

Making Detroit-style pizza requires the right balance of heat, cooking time, and texture. The top-rated pizza ovens for Detroit-style pizza are designed to reach the high temperatures necessary for creating the signature crispy crust, evenly melted cheese, and perfectly cooked sauce. Whether you're opting for a versatile multi-fuel oven like the Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven or a more affordable option like the Bertello Outdoor Pizza Oven, these ovens provide the heat and cooking environment needed to craft an authentic Detroit-style pizza in your own backyard.

Choosing the right oven will depend on your needs---whether it's portability, cooking capacity, or fuel type. Regardless of the model you choose, each of these ovens is capable of delivering delicious, restaurant-quality Detroit-style pizza every time. Happy pizza making!