How To Make Your First Ooni Pizza

Making your first pizza in your Ooni may seem a little daunting, but fear not. With this step-by-step guide, you'll be making mouth watering pizzas in no time. So grab your ingredients, fire up your oven, and let's  learn how to make pizza!

Set up time

If you haven’t already, follow the simple instructions in your manual to set up your Ooni pizza oven. Make sure it’s placed on a sturdy, heat-resistant surface in a well-ventilated area. We pride ourselves on how easy it is to set up our ovens, but if you are struggling or have a question, then simply contact our incredible support team!

Let’s heat things up

Preheating is essential for that crispy crust we all know and love. Depending on whether you're using solid fuel or gas, preheating can take up to 30 minutes (check your manual for more details). While that’s happening, it’s time to get your hands on some dough.

If you’re using your oven for the very first time, we recommend running your oven at top temperature for 30 minutes before use. This will burn off any oils or residue left over from the manufacturing process. Allow it to cool down fully before giving it a wipe down with a dry paper towel. Avoid using water on your stone. You can then put your oven on again and begin the preheating process.

Dough time

We recommend using Ooni's Classic Dough Recipe because it’s simple, reliable and tasty, but you could use other dough recipes, or even use a great quality pre-made mix. Once your dough is ready to go, it’s time for a… 

Biiiiiiig stretch

Now you’ve got your beautifully made dough, stretching it is crucial. Sprinkle some flour on a clean surface and stretch it out to about 1/4 inch thick. Remember, evenness is key. Make sure there’s no holes, otherwise your dough will stick to the peel (the pizza paddle). If you do find holes, just pinch them together and it’s like it never happened. Once you’re ready, place your pizza base on the peel and give it a shake. If it sticks, add a bit of flour so that it’ll easy slip off when you’re ready to launch. 

Don’t go crazy with the toppings

When it comes to toppings (from the classics, to the more unusual) resist the desire to overload your pizza; less is definitely more. Start with a layer of tomato sauce, add your cheese and then go add your toppings. Our Classic Sauce Recipe is one of our most popular recipes, and makes an excellent starting point for your pizza.

Learn the hovercraft technique

Once you're ready to cook, it’s time to launch your pizza into the oven. Here’s a little trick that will make your life easier; the hovercraft technique. This allows the dough to slide effortlessly from the peel to the stone. First, lift up one edge of the pizza base and blow a gentle stream of air beneath the dough. This creates pockets of air that help distribute excess flour to any spots where the dough might be sticking. 

You can also check out this video for more tips.

No waiting around

Annnnd, relax. You’re almost there! Cooking in an Ooni is quick and easy, and your 

pizza will cook in just 60-90 seconds at temperatures of up to 500 °C. Take it out of the oven carefully, because it’s going to be hot, hot, hot! Slice and serve to thunderous applause from friends and family.

Enjoy!

We hope you found learning how to make pizza with your Ooni oven a blast! Now you’ll have the confidence to experiment with different flavour combinations, try new recipes and make perfect pizzas every time.