Don’t Buy an Ooni Pizza Oven Before You Read This: Memorial Day 2024 Sale Buyer’s Guide
Ooni pizza ovens and accessories are currently on sale for the Memorial Day period. From now until May 27th, you can get up to 30% off on the Ooni Karu 16 and the Ooni Fyra 12, as well as several premium accessories.
BUT don’t go rushing to buy anything until you’ve read exactly which Ooni pizza oven models I think are best for you!
The two featured pizza ovens — the Karu 16 and Fyra 12 — are actually quite distinct and suited to different kinds of pizza makers.
You don’t want to waste your time, and hard earned money, on an oven that’s more than you need, or one that doesn’t come with the features you want.
TLDR; The Karu 16 is the best oven by far, but it costs the most ($639 on sale) and has features and fuel choices you might not need. The Fyra 12 is a specialized wood-fired oven that only supports wood pellet fuel, but it only costs $240 on sale. Lots of must-have accessories are on sale as well.
Question #1: Do you want wood-fired or multi-fuel?
Basically, do you plan on burning wood in your oven, or do you want other options like propane and charcoal? Or do you not care and just want to make some pizza? This is the first question you should ask yourself.
Wood-fired pizza is the most authentic fuel, but propane is by far the easiest to use. Mastering a wood-fired oven takes some practice, but with propane you literally just flip a switch and adjust the dial — just like operating a bbq grill.
Both the Fyra 12 and Karu 16 work are wood-fired, BUT the Fyra 12 works with wood exclusively while the Karu 16 also supports propane and charcoal.
If you only want wood-fired pizza, the Ooni Fyra 12 is a great option
At less than $250 on sale, the Ooni Fyra 12 is one of the best wood-fired pizza ovens on the market. What I love about it is that it doesn’t use traditional wood logs, which can be difficult to use for beginners. Instead, it uses wood pellets exclusively.
Wood pellets are easier to light, simpler to adjust the size of the flame, and burn more efficiently compared to traditional wood logs. So, if you’ve always wanted to get into wood-fired cooking, the Fyra 12 is just about the easiest introduction you’re going to get.
And at only $244 on sale, you’re getting a premium wood-fired pizza oven in the Fyra 12 for no more than you’d pay for a cheap knock-off on Amazon.
Just keep in mind that at 12 inches, it’s only big enough for a standard Neapolitan size pizza. For most people, this is more than enough, but not if you want to make large New York style pizzas or roast meats, etc.
The Ooni Karu 16 is the king of home pizza ovens
The Karu 16 is almost universally regarded as one of the best pizza ovens you can buy for your home. It has a huge 16 inch baking surface and supports all fuel types, including wood, charcoal, propane, and natural gas.
This choice of fuel with the Karu 16 and gives you flexibility as a pizza oven beginner or an expert. Priced at $640 on sale, that’s a great value for what you’re getting.
As a beginner, you can start off using propane and build up to using wood. Or as an expert, you can use the wood-fired option most times and save the propane option for those nights you just want to make a quick pizza.
The extra size of the Karu 16 makes a difference as well. It’s big enough for Neapolitan (about the size of a large dinner plate), as well as a large 16 inch New York sized pizza.
Basically any style is possible in the Karu 16, including enough room for skillets and roasts.
Stick with the Ooni Fyra 12 if you’re on a budget
It will be true for many that the Karu 16 is what they really want, but even on sale it’s too expensive. That’s understandable… not everyone has several hundred dollars to drop on a pizza oven.
If that sounds like you, the Fyra 12 is a great starter pizza oven that most people will still be able to afford. This way, you can hone your pizza making skills while you save up for the bigger more feature packed oven.
If you want it all and can afford it, go for the Ooni Karu 16
The Ooni Karu 16 is the pizza oven to get if you want or need all of its premium features and you can afford it. It’s not cheap, not even when on sale, but we’re talking about one of the most well-reviewed pizza ovens on the market today.
In my own experience, the Karu 16 has never disappointed. From build quality to fuel-efficiency, this oven is exactly what you’d expect from a premium pizza oven (and maybe more).
The only contender to this oven is its newer and smaller sibling, the Ooni Karu 12G — which unfortunately is not part of this year’s sale. But even that oven doesn’t compare to the Karu 16 in terms of size and its ability to cook any pizza style large or small.
Don’t forget about bundles
With all of the attention on the individual pizza ovens and accessories, the bundle deals seem to flown under the radar. A bundle is the easiest and cheapest way to get everything you need to get started using your pizza oven right away.
For example, you can’t use a pizza oven without a peel, and Ooni ovens don’t come with one by default. The peel is the large flat paddle that gets the pizza in and out of the oven safely without burning yourself.
Here are some bundles that will save you even more money on top of the 20–30% discount on the ovens themselves:
- Fyra 12 Essentials Bundle: (includes oven, peel, hardwood pellets, carry cover)
- Karu 16 Ultimate Bundle: (includes oven, pizza door, peel, turning peel, oak logs, brush, infrared thermometer, gas burner attachment)
I hope that clears things up! If you have any more questions, just leave them in the comment box below, or get in touch with me directly via my website at My House of Pizza.
