Why Choose a Wood Fired Pizza Oven Over a Gas Fired Pizza Oven

When it comes to cooking outdoors, there’s no shortage of options on the market. Traditionally, you might have owned a charcoal kettle barbecue, a gas barbecue, or, more recently, a kamado-style barbecue. Now, pizza ovens are the big thing. And nothing sparks more debate in the world of pizza ovens than gas fired vs wood fired. Gas fired pizza ovens deliver instant heat and convenience, while wood fired ovens are the go-to for authentic flavour, theatre, and romance that simply can’t be replicated by any plug-and-play alternative. But what makes a wood-fired oven worth it? Read on to find out.

Flavour

Let’s start with the big one — flavour. Can you really tell the difference between a pizza baked in a wood fired oven and one baked in a gas-powered oven? You bet you can! There’s a reason why the best pizzerias in the world still use wood to power their ovens. Wood releases its natural compounds and gives off a gentle smoke that infuses food with a depth of flavour that gas simply can’t recreate.

Of course, gas pizza ovens can emulate the heat and lateral flame of a traditional pizza oven, but it’s the flavour imparted by the wood that they really fall short. The subtle smokiness, char, and caramelisation that’s imparted by the wood is what truly differentiates wood fired ovens from gas. Yes, we’re biased, but Igneus Ovens tick all the boxes on this front!

And it’s not just pizza that benefits from the subtle smoke created by wood. Yes, pizza dough by its very nature has a tendency to take on flavour easily, but that’s also true of a host of other dishes — whether that be wood fired veggies, pasta dishes such as lasagne, or even wood fired desserts! The possibilities are endless.

Theatre

Cooking with wood fire is just cool. Fact. No one’s ever been impressed with someone hooking up a canister of gas to a pizza oven. But building a natural fire and nurturing the flames into an inferno of heat… now that’s impressive! Cooking with wood isn’t just about the end result, either — it’s about how you get there, and turning cooking into an event rather than just a task.

Cooking with wood also brings people together, whether that’s helping build the kindling stack, lighting the fire starter, or placing a log on the fire. It connects people, too. An Igneus oven is so much more than an outdoor cooking appliance — it doubles up as a wood burner that’s a centrepiece of your garden, and something that people naturally gather around as the sun goes down. There’s no denying that the crackle and glow of a wood fire creates an atmosphere that no gas burner can mimic.

Versatility

It’s a word we use a lot, but with good reason. Just because it’s called a pizza oven doesn’t mean it’s limited to pizza. In fact, one of the standout advantages of a wood fired oven over a gas fired oven is the fact it can cook low and slow, using just embers.

The retained heat of the oven, once the fierce heat of the flames dies down, can be used for roasting joints of meat, roasting delicate fish, baking crusty bread, or slow-cooking casseroles and desserts. Quite often, gas ovens just can’t get down low enough to achieve these kinds of dishes.

It’s this versatility that makes wood fired ovens a true all-year-round piece of kit. When the weather starts to get colder, pizza might not always be front and centre of people’s minds. But low and slow lamb shoulder with all the trimmings, followed by fruit crumble, might just be. It’s easy in an Igneus Wood Fired Oven!

With a little creativity, you’ll find yourself using your Igneus for breakfasts, Sunday roasts, and everything in between.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a wood fired pizza oven is about more than great food — it’s about the joy of cooking with real fire.

If you’d like to learn more about the range of Igneus Pizza Ovens, or have any burning questions (excuse the pun!), our friendly team is here to help. Call us on 01423 575885 or explore our full range of ovens and accessories here.