OONI KODA 16 Gas-Powered Pizza Oven Review

Ooni seems to be pumping out pizza oven models as fast as each model can cook a pizza… which is SUPER FAST! One thing we love about Ooni is that they keep improving their oven designs and technology; making it easier on the consumer to make the perfect pizza every time. If you’ve read our review on the original Ooni Koda, then you know how a Gas-Powered oven not only makes it easy and quick to get up to the correct temperature, but it’s also easy to maintain the proper temperature, resulting in a more consistent pizza crust every time. The Ooni Koda 16 is no different. Plus it has a bigger cooking surface area for baking larger pizzas, equaling in fuller bellies and happier friends and family. So, is bigger better? Let’s dive in and see what makes  Koda 16 the new Powerhouse of pizza making goodness.

Key Features & Specs:

• 16.7″ x 16.7″ cooking surface
• 28mBar QCC1 regulator and hose included
• 1.5cm cordierite stone baking board
• L-shaped gas burner with waterfall flame
• Built-in gas ignition
• Insulated, powder-coated carbon steel shell
• Runs on propane and cooks pizza in just 60 seconds
• Compatible with natural gas (kit sold separately)

Setup:

The last thing you want to do when you are hungry for some pizza, is waste time setting up everything. Thankfully the Koda 16 was just as easy as the original Koda and we were up and running within 20 minutes. From taking it out of the box, un-folding the legs, attaching the propane tank, inserting the pizza stone, and firing it up to the proper temperature, it was as easy as reading that sentence. The longest part about any of this process, is figuring out which toppings you want on your pizza and actually making the pizza.

Design:

Carrying onward with the durable, ceramic fiber-insulated and powder-coated steel shell, the Ooni Koda 16 is able to retain superior heat and withstand the elements. What makes the Ooni Koda 16 design different than its little brother, is the fact that it has a larger frame with a bigger cooking surface area, thicker stone board, and a L-shaped gas burner with waterfall effect flame that makes it much easier to evenly cook your pizza and faster with less frequent rotations.

I love the fact that I can make a bigger pizza, but one thing I found even more useful was keeping it slightly smaller so I had more wiggle room to adjust where I wanted the pizza on the stone, which allowed me to play with the stone’s temperature. The closer to the back corner where the L-shaped gas burner lives, the hotter the stone. The further away from the flame (front right corner), the stone’s temperature decreases. So if you want the stone to stay at a specific temperature to bake the crust, but the flames are too hot for the toppings, then you can simply rotate and move the pizza away or closer to the corner you need. With the previous models (that had just one back row of flames), you would need to rotate the pizza more frequently to get an even crust, however, with the Ooni Koda 16, I found myself only needing to rotate it once. You can also play with the flame intensity by adjusting the heat control dial located on the right side.

Performance:

The first time I turned the dial to ignite the Ooni Koda 16, it worked! Right away I heard the roaring of the waterfall flames and I could feel myself getting all excited to launch the pizza and get cooking. When we first looked into the Ooni Koda 16, we thought it had a U-shaped burner with flames on both sides (which would seem even better), but after cooking with the L-shaped design, we quickly realized you need that extra buffer to play with to get the proper cooking constancy and heat distribution from the stone temperature and the waterfall flames that dance alone the toppings. The heat control dial makes it easy to get the right temperature for each dish you want to make. Whether it’s a thin crust, thick crust, or if you are utilizing a cast iron skillet, the heat control you get with a gas burner is easy and convenient.

Ooni Koda 16 Value & Accessories:

It’s not the most expensive member from the family of Ooni Pizza Ovens, but it isn’t the cheapest either. However, when you factor in the ease of use, quick and consistent baking, plus the shear size and look of the Ooni Koda 16, we feel it’s a great value. Not to mention the convenience of being able to make a neopolitain style pizza right in your own back yard!

Ooni offers a good selection of pizza peels and accessories. We tested out the 14″ Bamboo Pizza Peel and believe this is a must have accessory if you want an easy way of prepping, launching, and even serving the pizza from start to finish.

Pre-Order: $499.00 or to learn more, check out ooni.com