{"id":17192,"date":"2023-07-27T12:41:40","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T12:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/?p=17192"},"modified":"2023-07-27T12:41:45","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T12:41:45","slug":"best-wood-for-pizza-oven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/best-wood-for-pizza-oven\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Wood for Pizza Oven: 10 Smoky Wood Options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The best type of wood to use in a pizza oven<\/a> is hardwoods like oak, or maple because they produce high heat and hold up well in the oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The firewood you use in your wood-fired pizza oven can impact the flavor of your pizza. For this reason, it’s important to use the right type of wood to get the best flavors from your dish and reduce off-putting smoke. The wrong wood will give your pizza a bitter taste and may produce toxic smoke that can irritate the eyes. Moreover, your oven may not reach the desired oven temperature, or it may create a mess if you use the wrong wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve been a chef for over a decade, and I’ve found that you need a very hot oven to make the best pizza. That’s why I recommend hardwoods as the best wood for a wood-fired pizza oven. Read on to find out more about the best woods to use and discover ten options to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"best<\/figure>\n\n\n

The Best Wood Types for Pizza Oven<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s crucial to use the best wood possible for your wood-fired oven to avoid having soggy pizza due to poor burning of the wood. Additionally, you can have an excessive buildup of soot, and a foul odor if you use the wrong type of wood for a pizza oven. That said, I’ll mention the best types of wood you can use for your oven below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Hardwoods <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hardwoods like oak, maple, and ash that have been dried out and seasoned are unquestionably the best to use in your pizza oven. These firewoods are more energy dense than softwoods, meaning they can produce the optimal temperature required for cooking pizza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that the hardwood you choose must be properly dried before it can burn consistently at high temperatures without producing too much smoke. Here are excellent hardwoods you can use for your wood fired oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Best Types of Hardwood<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Ash<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Ash wood is a great option for your pizza oven because it burns hot similar to oak and has a moderate, neutral flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can enjoy making a stress-free pizza without continually watching the fire because it burns well for a long time. It is also easy to ignite. The highest quality ash wood properly cooks meats and fish in a pizza oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of that, ash wood<\/a> can be seasoned in six months and burns cleanly without producing any smoke. Note that ash wood should be handled with caution since it rots quickly when wet or touches the ground. For this reason, it’s essential to store ash wood elevated from the floor in a cool, dry area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birch<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The type of birch you choose will determine the quality of the wood. Compared to the other birch species, black and yellow birch wood produce the most heat. While the bark can generate a strong wood-fired cooking flavor, the wood’s sugar content imparts a sweet flavor to any dish. In my experience, I\u2019ve found that birch pairs best with pork and poultry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beech<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Beech wood is a great option for cooking fish, veggies, and poultry in a pizza oven. Bear in mind that this type of hardwood needs more time to season than other types of wood because of its high water levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American beech requires a minimum of one year to season; however, we advise two years for the best burning performance and minimal smoke. This wood has a subtle, moderate scent that is slightly nutty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hickory<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Hickory wood has a more intense flavor than oak wood but is not as strong as mesquite wood. This is one of the most widely used and hottest burning hardwoods for cooking because it has a distinct flavor. I love using this wood to cook meats like sausages, ham, bacon, and beef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, too much of this wood can leave you with a bitter taste, so ensure you use it sparingly. That said, I advise combining it with milder smoking wood, such as oak or pecan. You’ll need about a year to season hickory wood to ensure low smoke emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oak<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Oak is dense and heavy and works excellently at producing the high temperatures needed for wood-burning ovens. Oak is one of the most widely used hardwoods because it is readily accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is ideal for cooking different foods, including pizza, fish, lamb, beef, and veggies, because it burns slowly and has a mild flavor. If you’re not sure what kind of wood to use first in your pizza oven, I recommend choosing oak wood.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Brick<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Pecan<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Although pecan is a species of hickory, it has a much more delicate flavor with a nuttier undertone that pairs well with pizza. It is a sturdy, solid hardwood, although it burns more quickly than oak or other hickory woods. This makes using only pecans in your pizza oven a challenge. However, it complements other hot-burning woods like oak, plum, or apple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maple<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Maple wood has an excellent heat capacity and mild sweetness which make it another great choice for cooking in your pizza oven. Even though this wood is challenging to split, the slight sweetness makes it worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also cook a wide range of foods with maple wood, including chicken and pork. Note that you’ll need more of this wood when smoking in a wood-burning oven because of its lower density.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mesquite<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Mesquite is one of my favorite woods to use in wood-fired ovens. This hardwood has a peculiar, sharp flavor. Moreover, it produces a lot of smoke, making it arguably the smokiest of all the most widely used cooking woods. The reason this high-heat hardwood is so smoky is that it is high in lignin<\/a>, a compound that makes the wood rigid and produces a lot of smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mesquite burns quickly at high temperatures. Just be sure to pair it with some wood that has a milder flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.   Fruitwoods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fruitwoods can also be a lovely addition to your pizza oven in addition to your standard hardwoods, adding a unique taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, it is best to use fruitwoods moderately and mix them in with your preferred hardwood because not all of them burn as hot as some of the hardwoods we’ve discussed. Combining fruitwoods and hardwoods gives your dish a hint of aromatic flavor without overpowering the dish\u2019s flavors while maintaining the ideal heat levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing this also makes it easier to experiment with various fruitwood varieties to determine which flavors pair well with your preferred pizza toppings. My favorite fruitwood to use is applewood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, your preferred fruitwood will ultimately depend on your personal taste. That said, let’s look at some of the best fruitwood you can use in your wood-burning pizza oven.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Pizza<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Best Types of Fruitwood<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Apple<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Applewood should be at the top of your list of fruitwood if you want the traditional pizza flavor. Applewood produces an intense burning temperature and a pleasant aroma. Moreover, this fruitwood is excellent for practically any topping, including pork, salmon, and poultry, because of its slightly sweet and fruity flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drawback is that it breaks easily and, if you have a tiny oven, may leave some ash on your pizza. Moreover, applewood can be expensive and challenging to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plum<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Plum is another good fruitwood for your pizza oven because it produces a good quantity of heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its flavor is moderate and somewhat sweet; add it to oak or mix it with pecans to give dishes more depth. Plum wood is a great option for cooking poultry and is also a fantastic choice with pork and vegetable toppings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood You Shouldn\u2019t Use In Pizza Ovens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Understanding which kind of wood for pizza ovens is as important as knowing which wood to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n