Gas or wood-fired pizza oven: the ultimate guide

The dilemma between wood-fired and gas oven is a worry for many pizza lovers. Both offer advantages and disadvantages, affecting taste, cooking and convenience of use. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the differences between the two types of ovens, highlighting pros and cons to help you choose the one best suited to your needs.

Wood-fired oven: tradition and flavor

The wood-fired oven has always been in the public imagination as the oven par excellence for baking pizza, bread and leavened goods in general. Let us look together at the pros and cons of its use.

PRO

• Authenticity of flavor: the wood-fired oven is renowned for its ability to impart a unique and unmistakable flavor to foods, thanks to the light smokiness that enriches especially pizzas, breads, and roasts.
• Uniform cooking: the wood burns creating a bed of coals that radiates heat evenly, ensuring perfect pizza cooking.
• High-temperature cooking: the wood-fired oven can reach high temperatures (up to 500C°) that are ideal for obtaining a pizza with a crust as the Neapolitan tradition requires.
• Versatility: a wood-burning oven is better able to adapt to different types of cooking, even allowing barbecuing.
• Atmosphere and and tradition: the wood-fired oven is a symbol of tradition and conviviality, perfect for creating a special atmosphere in the garden or pizzeria.
• Lower emissions: compared to gas furnaces, wood furnaces tend to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly option(25 CO2/MWh compared to 270 CO2/MWh for LPG).

AGAINST

• Maintenance: takes longer to reach optimal temperature and needs regular cleaning to remove ash and combustion residue.
• Experience: effective use of a wood-fired oven requires practice and specific knowledge to manage the flame and maintain a constant temperature. To make up for this, Clementi wood-fired pizza ovens are integrated with the patented Air Plus.

The characteristics of a Clementi wood-fired oven

Gas oven: convenience and practicality

PRO

• Greater temperature control: a gas oven offers more precise temperature control, allowing more predictable cooking.
• Practicality of use: the gas oven is easy to turn on and operate.
• Cleaning: easier to clean than the wood-fired oven.
• Power management: it is not necessary to have indoor/outdoor space for wood storage. It is sufficient to pipe the cylinder or set up the connection for natural gas.
• Smoke management: a gas furnace emits less smoke than wood burning.
• Installation in indoor spaces: a gas furnace can also be installed in indoor spaces (subject to proper piping).

AGAINST

• Less uniform cooking: gas tends to cook pizza less evenly than a wood-fired oven. Clementi, thanks to its patented Air Plus system, solves this problem by optimizing combustion while guaranteeing the same results as wood-burning.
• Less intense aroma: The gas oven does not give off the same aroma and taste as the wood-fired oven, offering a more neutral-tasting pizza.
• Installation Costs: installing a gas furnace may require technical expertise, especially if you do not already have a gas connection.

The features of a Clementi gas oven

Conclusions

The choice between a wood-fired oven and a gas oven depends on your needs and preferences. If you seek authenticity, flavor and don’t mind spending time on preparation and cooking, a wood-fired oven might be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer convenience, ease of use, and precise temperature control, a gas oven might better meet your needs. Carefully consider the pros and cons of each option and think about how you intend to use the oven in your daily or professional cooking. The decision between a wood or gas oven is not only a matter of taste, but also of lifestyle and personal values. Discover our range of ovens and become part of our community.