Ooni Fyra 12 Pizza Oven Review: Portable Wood Pellet Perfection?

The Ooni Fyra 12 is a portable, highly-compact, wood-fired pizza oven that’s ideal for Neapolitan style and California style pizza. With a 13 inch baking surface, a gravity-fed pellet hopper, and a fully functional chimney, this is one of Ooni’s best pizza ovens with everything you need to get started making authentic, smoke-infused pizza at home.

Unlike some other Ooni pizza ovens, the Fyra 12 is highly specialized and not multi-fuel capable, meaning it can only cook with one type of fuel (in this case, wood pellets). But in many ways, this is actually a feature of the oven rather than a drawback. The Ooni Fyra 12 is made for those who want to cook with wood—and it’s specifically designed to do it as easily and efficiently as possible.

With great expectations for this pizza oven, does the Ooni Fyra 12 live up to the hype? Does it actually provide any advantages over traditional wood? Also, why would anyone want to use a messy, wood-fired pizza oven over an easier to use (and cleaner) propane powered one?

In this review, I’m going to walk you through all of these questions and more.

Pros	Cons
Wood-fired cooking infuses pizza with smoky flavor	Limited size, maximum 12 inch pizza
High temperatures (up to 950°F) in 15 mins	More maintenance required than gas-powered ovens—you’ll need to brush or scrub away any ash, soot, or smoke residue between uses to ensure a clean tasting pizza.
Portable, lightweight (22lbs)	Limited fuel options, only wood pellets
Gravity-fed pellet hopper for easy flame management	Not suitable for larger pizza styles (New York, American, etc.)
Chimney and vents for intuitive airflow control	Peel not included (you’ll need one)
Perfect for small styles of pizza (Neapolitan, California, etc)
Least expensive Ooni oven ($349)

Ooni Fyra 12 Background

The Ooni Fyra 12 is designed to make wood-fired cooking easy, which is actually more difficult than you’d think. It’s not simply a matter of laying out some wood, adding a fire starter, and lighting a match.

Feature	Ooni Fyra 12
Fuel Type	Wood Pellets
Baking Surface Size	13 x 13 inches
Max Temperature	950°F (510°C)
Unboxed Weight	22lbs
Ideal Pizza Styles	Any pizza style 12 inches or under (Neapolitan, California, etc.)
Best Standout Feature	Gravity-fed Pellet Hopper makes wood-fired pizza as easy as possible
Price	$349

In fact, when using traditional wood, many first-time pizza cooks struggle to keep the flame lit and bring the oven to an appropriately high temperature. This is because tending a wood-fired flame is actually a skill that takes some time to master—somewhat similar to managing a campfire or a barbecue, but with more precision.

This is where the Ooni Fyra 12 comes in. Not only does it use wood pellets instead of traditional wood logs (which burn more easily and efficiently), it also has a gravity-fed pellet hopper. Instead of refilling the fuel tray every time the flame gets low, a gravity-fed pellet hopper automatically draws more pellets from the hopper whenever its needed.

What does this mean? Basically, if you keep the hopper filled with wood pellets, the Ooni Fyra 12 will take care of flame management itself. This is a major advantage over many traditional wood-fired pizza ovens.

Related Post: Ooni Volt 12 Indoor Pizza Oven Review

Who is the Ooni Fyra 12 Ideal For?

While the Ooni Fyra 12 will have broad appeal to many different kinds of pizza makers, there are some things you should keep in mind when buying it for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

The following is a list of qualities that I think describe the “ideal” user of the Ooni Fyra 12:

• Someone who is specifically interested in wood-fired pizza. Wood-fired pizza comes with lots of benefits (such as smoke-infusion), but it can be a lot of extra work too. If you’re just looking to make pizza at home with minimal hassle, you might want to consider a propane oven instead.
• Someone who has enough outdoor space to accommodate the oven itself as well as the smoke it produces. In a close-knit environment, smoke can easily travel into a neighbors’ window, yard, etc. Make sure there is at least 20 feet (depending on wind strength and direction) between the pizza oven and any neighboring property to avoid any conflincts.
• Someone who is willing to put in the time to learn how to manage a wood-fired flame. Starting and managing a wood-fired flame is not as easy as lighting a match—in fact, there can be quite a learning curve. Thankfully, the Ooni Fyra 12 is about as easy as it gets due to its gravity-fed pellet hopper, but it may still take several tries before getting the process exactly right.
• Someone who is looking for a portable and relatively inexpensive option compared to larger wood-fired ovens. The Ooni Fyra 12 is a small, portable pizza oven, so if you’re looking for something more substantial, have a look at the much bigger Ooni Karu 16 or the Gozney Dome.
• Someone who is okay just making small pizzas. The majority of pizzas I make are 12 inches or under, but then again I’m a huge fan of Neapolitan style pizza. If you or someone else in your family is more into New York sized pizza, the Ooni Fyra 12 will simply be too small for you.
• Someone who is willing to put in the extra maintenance required for a wood-fired oven. Wood-fired pizza ovens produce a lot of smoke, ash, and soot, in addition to whatever debris is left behind by the pizza itself. Make sure you’re willing to put in the extra work keeping it clean before purchasing.

What I Like About the Ooni Fyra 12

There’s a lot to like about the Ooni Fyra 12, including its gravity-fed pellet hopper and fuel-efficient design. Here is a quick breakdown of all of my favorite features of this oven.

• The Ooni Fyra 12 uses wood pellets, which burn more easily and efficiently than traditional wood logs.
• I love how the the gravity-fed pellet hopper automatically draws wood pellets from the hopper whenever needed, making flame management as easy as possible. This truly sets the Fyra 12 apart from other wood-fired pizza oven.
• The Ooni Fyra 12 is compact and portable, making it just as easy to use at home as it is to pack up and bring to a friends’ house or on a camping trip.
• The Ooni Fyra 12 can reach high temperatures very quickly (15 mins), making it perfect for high-temperature pizza styles like Neapolitan and California.
• The Ooni Fyra 12 is the least expensive Ooni pizza oven (only $349), making it affordable for anyone to own a premium-quality pizza oven. This is an amazing deal for anyone interested in wood-fired cooking.
• Unlike many other wood-fired pizza ovens, the Ooni Fyra 12 has a fully functional chimney with adjustable vents. This helps to ensure an even temperature and well managed flame throughout every cook.
• The Ooni Fyra 12 is is easy to set up and maintain. Simply unfold the legs, attach the chimney, preheat, and you’re ready to go. Optionally, you may want to wipe down the baking surface before using it to remove any residue or debris from the manufacturing process.

What I Don’t Like About the Ooni Fyra 12

Fortunately there are no glaring design flaws when it comes to the Ooni Fyra 12, but there are some limitations you should be aware of before making a purchase.

• The oven is limited to a maximum pizza size of 12 inches, making it unsuitable for larger styles of pizza (like New York style).
• Wood pellets are significantly more convenient to use than traditional wood logs, but propane is still easier to master—especially if you’re a beginner to wood-fired cooking.
• The ash and soot generated by a wood-fired pizza oven means more maintenance than propane.
• The Ooni Fyra 12 can only run on wood pellets, meaning no option for other fuel types in the future, even with additional adapters.
• Like any wood-fired pizza oven, the Ooni Fyra 12 produces smoke. This may not be an option if you live in a high-density environment like an apartment of condo building.

Ooni Fyra 12 Features Compared

When buying a pizza oven, it’s useful to know how its features compare to other similar pizza ovens on the market. For the purposes of this review, I’m going to compare the Ooni Fyra 12 with two other Ooni pizza ovens (the Ooni Karu 12 and Ooni Koda 16) as well as the very popular Gozney Roccbox.

	Ooni Fyra 12	Ooni Koda 16	Ooni Karu 12	Gozney Roccbox
Fuel	Wood Pellets	Propane/Gas	Multi-Fuel	Gas/Wood
Baking Surface	13 x 13 inches	16 x 16 inches	13 x 13 inches inches	13 x 12.6 inches
Weight	22lbs	40.1lbs	26.5lbs	20kg
Max Temperature	950°F	950°F	950°F	932°F
Standout Feature	Gravity-fed	Huge baking surface	Supports 3 fuel types	Amazing insulation
Ideal Pizza Type	Neapolitan	Any	Any	Any
Price	$349	$599	$399	$499

Ooni Fyra 12 vs Ooni Karu 12

The Ooni Fyra 12 and Ooni Karu 12 are both compact, wood-fired pizza ovens that fit a pizza up to 12 inches. However, there are some important differences between the two to be aware of before making a your purchase.

Perhaps most importantly, the Ooni Karu 12 is a multi-fuel pizza oven while the Ooni Fyra 12 is only capable of burning wood-pellets. This makes the Karu 12 ideal for those looking to experiment with different types of fuel (wood, charcoal, and gas) in different situations while still wanting the smaller form factor.

On the other hand, the Ooni Fyra 12 burns wood pellets while the Ooni Karu 12 burns traditional wood logs. So, while both are technically wood-fired pizza ovens, the Fyra 12 is more efficient at burning wood—not surprising for such a specialized device.

Ooni Fyra 12 vs Ooni Koda 16

Compared to the Ooni Fyra 12, the Ooni Koda 16 is actually quite different in terms of features and price. I’ve included it here because they’re both Ooni pizza ovens, and because the Koda 16 has some features that might appeal to those who are left wanting after reviewing the Fyra 12.

The Ooni Koda 16 is a propane fueled pizza oven with a large 16 inch baking surface, which is more than big enough for a typical large or extra-large sized pizza. This addresses one of the most common complaints I see about the Ooni Fyra 12 (or any 12 inch pizza oven)—it’s simply too small.

If you’re accustomed to eating large American sized pizza, you might be disappointed to learn that a 12 inch pizza is only slightly larger than an average sized dinner plate. This is perfect for Neapolitan style pizza, but not ideal if you’re looking to make something resembling the portions at your local pizzeria.

Keep in mind, though, that with a 16 inch pizza oven, you can easily make smaller sized Neapolitan style pizza as well, so it will give you some flexibility. Also, you’ll lose the smoky flavors that come with wood, but you’ll gain the convenience of propane, so it’s a trade-off.

• Related Post: Ooni Koda 12 Pizza Oven Review

Ooni Fyra 12 vs Gozney Roccbox

Breaking away from Ooni for a moment, let’s discuss how the Ooni Fyra 12 squares up against the ever popular Gozney Roccbox.

Both pizza ovens are big enough for a 12 inch pizza (although the Roccbox is just a bit smaller), and both are capable of burning wood. But the similarities end there, as the Roccbox is also able to cook with propane, while the Ooni Fyra 12 uses wood pellets only.

In my opinion, while the Roccbox’s wood “Burner 2.0” works well enough, the Ooni Fyra 12 is easier to operate and more fuel efficient because it uses wood pellets. This takes some of the tediousness out of the process and lets you get right to making wood-fired pizza.

But where the Fyra 12 is superior with wood, the Roccbox makes up for it in flexibility. As a propane powered pizza oven, the Gozney Roccbox is superb. The gas burner is well designed and the insulation maintains a steady heat so you can make one pizza after another without having to reheat it every time.

Ooni Fyra 12 Accessories: Pizza Peel, Carrying Case

Like most domestic outdoor pizza ovens, the Ooni Fyra 12 (unfortunately) doesn’t include everything you need to get started. Luckily, the only thing you absolutely need to use this oven that doesn’t come in the box is a pizza peel.

A pizza peel is the flat, paddle-like tool that you use to transfer your uncooked pizza from the counter to the pizza oven. You might think you can just use some other flat object, like a plate or a pan, as a kind of workaround, but trust me, you want to buy a proper pizza peel.

A pizza oven is just too hot to be messing around with anything that isn’t specifically designed to go into it, or that doesn’t include a long handle. If something goes wrong with your DIY pizza peel, you risk making a huge mess inside your oven—or worse, burning yourself trying to get the pizza in and out of the oven.

The following pizza peels aren’t too expensive and will work just find with the Ooni Fyra 12. You don’t have to buy an Ooni brand pizza peel for it to work, but just make sure it will fit inside the body of the oven before you buy it.

• Ooni 12 inch perforated pizza peel
• Ooni 12 inch solid pizza peel

Another accessory you may want to consider buying is an Ooni Fyra 12 cover. This is entirely optional, but it does a great job of keeping the oven protected from the elements if stored outside, as well as from bumps and scratches if it’s being transported from one place to another.

• Ooni Fyra 12 pizza oven cover/carrying case

Don’t Forget Fuel

It goes without saying, but in order to use the Ooni Fyra 12 you’ll need some high-quality wood pellets to get started. You can buy these locally from your favorite fuel supplier, but Ooni brand wood pellets are made from top quality 100% oak hardwood and I can personally recommend them.

• Ooni Premium 100% Oak Hardwood Pellets

Ooni Fyra 12 Review Highlights

• Wood-fired pizza made easy: The Ooni Fyra 12 is designed to make wood-fired cooking easy, which is actually more difficult than you’d think. It’s not simply a matter of laying out some wood, adding a fire-starter and lighting a match.
• Wood Pellets: Instead of traditional wood logs, the Ooni Fyra 12 uses wood pellets, which are (in my opinion) far easier and more convenient to use.
• Gravity-fed pellet hopper: Instead of refilling the fuel tray every time the flame gets low, a gravity-fed pellet hopper automatically draws more pellets from the hopper whenever its needed.
• Super High Temperature: The Ooni Fyra 12 can reach temperatures of up to 950°F, which is ideal for Neapolitan style and other wood-fired pizza
• Portable: The Ooni Fyra 12 is weighs only 22lbs and can be easily packed up and taken on a camping trip, or just to a friend’s house.
• Small Size: The Ooni Fyra 12 is only big enough for a 12 inch pizza, making it unsuitable for larger pizza styles.
• More Maintenance: While wood pellets are more convenient than traditional wood logs, all wood-fired pizza ovens require more cleanup (ash, soot, etc.) than using propane.
• Beware of Smoke: Unlike a propane pizza oven, the Ooni Fyra 12 produces smoke which might be an issue if you don’t have enough room between the oven and neighboring windows, etc.
• Wood-fired Pizza Only: The Ooni Fyra 12 is not a multi-fuel pizza oven, which means you can’t use gas with it even if you buy optional attachments. Only purchase this oven if you’re interested in cooking with wood exclusively.
• Don’t forget to buy a pizza peel and some wood pellets, because you need them and they aren’t included with the Ooni Fyra 12.

Alternative Vendors

If you’d prefer to buy from Amazon, the Ooni Fyra 12 is usually in stock. However, I still recommend buying directly from Ooni to ensure you’re getting a legitimate product and to take advantage of bundle discounts.

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