Ooni Pizza 13 Steel Review — This cheap slab of steel will revolutionize your homemade pizza
Everyone loves homemade pizza, but it’s just never the same as a pizzeria. You still need an actual pizza oven to get anywhere close, especially when it comes to the crust.
But all that has changed in recent years. Enter: the Ooni Pizza Steel 13.
Since I first received it, I’ve made dozens of amazing pizzas using this little slab of steel. Basically, it preheats to an extremely high temperature, so your pizza starts cooking the moment the dough hits the steel. Just like a pizza oven.
Quick Thoughts: The Ooni Pizza Steel 13 is well-made, good-sized, and reasonably priced. If you’d like to make better pizzas in your home oven, it’s a great choice.
My Review of the Ooni Pizza Steel 13
There’s a lot to like about the Ooni’s pizza steel.
First up, I like the size of it. It’s designed for a 12-inch pizza (i.e.: your typical personal-sized pizza). And it’s crafted from 430-grade stainless steel with a sandblasted finish, so it’s very smooth to the touch.
Specifically, the Ooni Pizza Steel 13 is 13.46” x 13.46” (hence the name). This makes it a bit smaller than some of its rivals, but it’s still big enough for a standard size Neapolitan pizza.
Performance-wise, the Ooni Pizza Steel 13 is top-notch. It reaches a maximum temperature of 530F (280C) in just under an hour in my oven.
Just for reference, the pizza pictured at the top of this article was cooked in a little under 8 minutes. That’s about how long it takes if you want that kind of color in the crust.
Comparing the Ooni Steel To Similar Products
The Ooni Pizza Steel 13 is $99, which is a bargain compared to the price of a pizza oven.
It’s worth nothing that because a pizza steel is literally just a slab of steel, they don’t differ much from one brand to another in terms of performance. The main differences are usually in the shape and polish.
That being said, I think the Ooni pizza steel stacks up favorably when it’s compared to other steels on the market, especially in terms of quality and convenience.
Here’s how it compares to similar steels that are in the same class, quality-wise:
- The Original Baking Steel
- Size: 16 x 14 inches
- Thickness: 0.25 inches
- Weight: 16 lbs
- Price: $119
- Nerd Chef “Steel Stone”
- Size: 16 x 14.25 inches
- Thickness: 0.25 inches
- Weight: 16 lbs
- Price: $109.99
- Ooni Pizza Steel 13
- Size: 13 inches
- Thickness: 0.24 inches
- Weight: 11.51 lbs
- Price: $99.99
I’ve own all of these pizza steels and they all perform really well.
I especially like the Original Baking Steel, which is my go-to choice for larger pizzas over 12 inches.
That said, the compactness, convenience, and smoothed edges of the Ooni Pizza Steel 13 makes it my personal favorite.
What About Pizza Stones?
When you’re new to making pizzas in your home and/or you’re on more of a budget, then a pizza stone is another option to consider.
A stone doesn’t have the same heat retention as a steel, which means your crust might get the same color. It’s still way better than a pizza pan, though.
If you’re not sure where to get started, I’ve put together some pizza-making tips when using stones here: How To Use A Pizza Stone.
Ultimately, with just a little knowledge and the right recipe, a stone or a steel will help you improve pizza night, big time. Because trust me: homemade beats frozen pizzas each and every time. 🍕
Pizza Ovens Are Still The Best
While a pizza steel or stone is a huge upgrade from a baking sheet or parchment paper, a pizza oven is still the best.
Pizza ovens can reach up to 900F, which is nearly twice as hot as a regular home oven. That’s why a pizza oven is the best way to get Neapolitan level crusts at home.
If you’re interested in getting a pizza oven, I recommend the Ooni Koda 12 on the low end ($399) and the Ooni Karu 16 on the high end ($799).
I hope all this information was helpful, whichever path you choose. Happy pizza making!
