Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

[branded]

Hi All,


I'm looking at some advice on a wood fired oven I'm thinking about purchasing. My number one goal is to make DOC-worthy Pizza Napoletana.

At the moment, I'm renting a place, so building an oven right now is not an option. However, there is an oven that I saw that is decently priced, is made out of only volcanic clay and is portable.

Now, I understand that there are factors involved, so assuming my dough was made perfectly, would this oven do the job properly? Would there be anything you think would be a problem and if so, how it could be rectified. I'd really hate to spend $500 on an oven that will never do the job.

Here's the oven (specs inc.): Chapala Large BBQ Pizza Oven I/N 3180436 | Bunnings Warehouse

Your help is much appreciated. Thanks!

[Greenman]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

Hey Branded - I had a look at these in Bunnings (out of curiosity) and quietly lamented how little you get for $500. It would be good to find out what temps they rate them at because they mention 5 - 7 minutes to cook a pizza so that mean the oven is not as hot as the temps talked about on this forum consistently. You would also need something to sit this on and the stand I saw it sitting on did not look particularly robust.

Have you thought about making an oven that you could move (as distinct from portable). There have been plenty of discussions about these here.

Hope this is of some use or generates some further discussion by others.

[Les]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

I would think that it would work for pizza. It looks like it has zero insulation so you would be limited on your baking. As far as 5-7 minute pizza, no clue where they got that. If it is fired clay you should be able to get that pretty damn hot. EDIT: I would sit on some insulation just to keep whatever heat you have from dissipating.

[applor]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

I think you'd be better off with the Amalfi portable wood fired oven:

http://www.woodfiredovens.com.au/wp-...and-Amalfi.pdf

Highly doubt you'd get Neopolitan pizza out of that portable clay oven.

[smeghead]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

Hi there,

I am considering getting one of these Chapala Large BBQ Pizza Ovens also but making some mods...

Do you think I could successfully add an insulating layer to this, such as vermiculite/cement/clay to aid in heat retention? Or, do you think that there is not enough thermal mass in these to get up to Neapolitan temps?? Could I add another layer of clay over it to get the mass? Put it on a decent base, etc?

I though it might be an easy way to get started with a precast dome, arch and flue...

Any advice would be great.

Cheers,
Sean.

[applor]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

You're referring to this oven?
Chapala Large BBQ Pizza Oven I/N 3180436 | Bunnings Warehouse

You probably could I think. Traditionally WFO were actually built out of clay. Unfortunately the page doesn't disclose the clays composition etc.

Buying one of those, insulating it properly and buying its appropriate steel stand would be a cheap and easy way to get a WFO going.

While I think it could work I don't think it would perform as well as a proper refractory WFO. Really you'd need more expert advice than I can give though.

edit: I will also add that the oven is entirely one piece including the deck/hearth so that doesn't really allow for expansion/contraction at Neapolitan temps. You could of course just cut the hearth from the dome to separate them and make that allowance.

I still think buying the Mediterranean WFO would be a more failsafe way to go.

[cobblerdave]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

G'day
There $ 990 oven I take it applor, it a Mediterranean but made in China. Only downside is the hearth insulation is ceramic blanket not board and would compress and be next useless.
Regards dave

[applor]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

Yeah that's right. You can buy a board for $60 though so doesn't add much cost.

[cobblerdave]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

G'day
True but you have to know enough to get some in.
The one I've seem was built on a hebel base so it was alright.
Wasn't a bad little oven either , the owner certainly has had 2 good years out of it.
Regards dave

[wotavidone]

Re: Will this oven do the job for Pizza Napoletana?

G'day
True but you have to know enough to get some in.
The one I've seem was built on a hebel base so it was alright.
Wasn't a bad little oven either , the owner certainly has had 2 good years out of it.
Regards dave

Hey Dave,
Hoping you see this fairly soon. Wondering if that oven you saw is still hanging in there?
A mate from work has someone buying one of these in Adelaide tomorrow.
I advised him to insulate it underneath at least but preferably over the top as well.
The big question - how big are these things inside?
Depending what the Bunnings measurements mean, I'm guessing maybe 650mm inside?
Cheers
Mick

[cobblerdave]

G'day mick
Sorry I've missed this completely. Sorry I can't help on this occasion.
ive just seen your PM. I truely do not remember exactly.
Lives been pretty different, I've done a pretty tough cancer journey but I'm still here and back at work. And my sweetheart still by my side. She likes my cooking!
Applor..what did you do in my he end?
Regards Dave