To best achieve that perfect pizza is using a wood fired oven. I get that not everyone, well actually, most people own or have access to a wood fired oven but if you can, you will never go back to a standard oven. So this article is for those that have convinced the wife to buy a pizza oven, selling the idea that it can be used for cooking other things than just pizza such as bread, roasts, etc. In reality that’s a rare thing but at least it’s there if you do. I have another article about choosing the best pizza ovens.
Ok, you have an oven and now you need to cook. Bang, you prepare the oven and throw the pizza in to cook (well not throw it in or you’ll spend more time cleaning than cooking – speaking from experience). The key to achieving the best pizza (or bread, roasts) is being able to control your oven’s temperature. You want the end product to be edible, not something that looks like this.
There are several ways to control the temperature in a wood-fired oven:
- Use a thermometer: You can use an oven thermometer to monitor the temperature inside the oven. This will allow you to gauge when the oven is at the desired temperature and make adjustments as needed.
- Control the airflow: The amount of airflow into the oven can greatly affect the temperature. You can control this by adjusting the size of the fire, opening or closing the damper, or using a blower to increase or decrease the airflow.
- Use fuel efficiently: The type of wood you use and how it is burned can also affect the temperature. Dry, well-seasoned wood will burn more efficiently and produce less smoke, which can help to maintain a consistent temperature.
- Monitor the coals: The coals in the oven will also have an effect on the temperature. You can use a rake or poker to move the coals around and distribute the heat evenly, or remove some of the coals if the temperature is too high.
- Experiment and practice: It can take some trial and error to get the hang of controlling the temperature in a wood-fired oven. The more you use it, the better you will become at making the necessary adjustments to achieve the desired temperature.
- Preheat the oven: It can take some time for the oven to reach the desired temperature, so it’s a good idea to start heating the oven well before you plan to use it. This will allow the oven to stabilize at the desired temperature before you start cooking.
- Add moisture: Adding moisture to the oven can help to regulate the temperature. You can do this by misting the inside of the oven with water, or by placing a pan of water inside the oven.
- Use the correct size fire: A fire that is too large can lead to an overly hot oven, while a fire that is too small may not generate enough heat. It’s important to find the right balance and use a fire that is appropriate for the size of your oven and the type of cooking you are doing.
- Use a deflector: A deflector is a piece of metal or ceramic that is placed inside the oven to deflect heat away from certain areas. This can be useful for creating different temperature zones within the oven and allowing you to cook multiple items at the same time.
- Use the oven’s mass to your advantage: A wood-fired oven works by storing heat in its walls and floor, and then slowly releasing it over time. This means that the temperature will gradually decrease as the oven cools down. To take advantage of this, you can start cooking at a high temperature and then let the oven’s mass do the work as the temperature decreases. This can be useful for slow-cooking dishes that require a longer cooking time.
If you want to accurately measure your oven’s temperature, you can purchase an infrared thermometer. I personally swear by this when moderating and controlling my oven besides the visual indicators. Here’s a suggested product that I use which you can purchase off Amazon.
Infrared Thermometer Non-Contact Digital Laser Temperature Gun with Color Display -58℉～1112℉ (-50℃～600℃) Adjustable Emissivity – Temperature Probe for Cooking/BBQ/Freezer – Meat Thermometer Included.
