Ooni’s new Koda 2 Max pizza oven review: Why this new oven is such a BIG deal

Ooni Pizza Ovens have become a household name for those who want to make restaurant-quality pizza right in their own backyards. If you’ve ever looked into buying a pizza oven, you’ve probably heard of them already.

Today, Ooni expanded its lineup with the introduction of the absolutely massive Ooni Koda 2 Max, a model that might just redefine outdoor portable pizza ovens forever.

You can buy the Ooni Koda 2 Max pizza oven right here.

But, if you want my take on this oven in a nutshell, I’ll just say this: wow! Want to know more? Keep reading…

Overview of the Ooni Koda 2 Max

Most notably, the Ooni Koda 2 Max features a whopping 24-inch baking surface. This makes it one of the largest portable pizza ovens on the market (hence the “Max” in the name).

This size is a major step up from Ooni’s popular Koda 16 and Karu 16 models, both of which have a 16-inch cooking surface.

The increased size of the Koda 2 Max not only allows for larger pizzas but also accommodates multiple pizzas/dishes at once. This is a game-changer for those who love to host big groups of family and friends.

• Price: $999 (propane only)
• Free delivery (6–8 days)
• ‎Free returns within 60-day

Key Features of the Ooni Koda 2 Max

• 24-inch Cordierite Stone Baking Surface: Capable of reaching up to 950 °F (500 °C), ideal for making Neapolitan, New York style, and everything in between.
• G2 Gas Technology: This new tech with its “tapered flame” allows for rapid heat-up times and maintains consistent temperatures across the entire surface, which is exactly what you need to cook pizzeria quality pizza at home with minimal turning.
• Dual Independently Controlled Gas Burners: Provides unrivaled flexibility in cooking, allowing you to create distinct “cooking zones” at different temperatures within the same oven. No other home pizza oven (that I know of at least) offers anything like this.

• Cook multiple pizzas at once: The Koda Max 2 allows you to slow-cook a deep-dish pizza on one side while crisping a thin crust on the other, or prepare a meat dish alongside a vegetarian option, showing off the dual burners’ practical utility.
• Digital Temperature Hub: Gives you real-time air temperature readings from either side of the oven for precise control over the cooking chamber. This feature let’s you monitor and adjust the whole process fairly effortlessly.

Benefits of the Koda 2 Max’s Larger Cooking Surface

The massive 24-inch cooking surface of the Ooni Koda 2 Max is a game-changer! This larger space not only accommodates a 20-inch New York-style pizza but also allows the simultaneous cooking of two 12-inch pizzas or three 10-inch pizzas.

This flexibility is especially useful during social gatherings where you need to cater to different tastes and dietary restrictions. With the Koda 2 Max, you can easily prepare a range of menu choices, making sure that everyone at the party has something authentic to enjoy!

Technological Advancements

The Ooni Koda 2 Max isn’t just about size, it’s about smarter cooking. The inclusion of a digital thermometer integrated with smartphone connectivity allows you to monitor the internal air temperature of the oven in real-time from your phone or tablet.

This feature is part of the Ooni Connect™ app, and provides not only temperature readings but also cooking notifications and tips, which really just enhances the overall cooking experience, especially for beginners.

Also, the advanced G2 Gas Technology not only improves heat distribution and retention but also reduces the heat-up time between cooks, making the process more efficient and letting you spend more time with friends and family (and less in front of a hot oven).

Practical Applications

The versatility of the Ooni Koda 2 Max extends beyond just pizza making. Its dual-zone heating capability lets you cook different foods at different temperatures all at once.

For example, the oven can be used to slow cook a deep-dish pizza on one side while searing a steak or roasting vegetables on the other. This flexibility makes it an awesome choice for meal-prepping or catering to different dietary preferences within the same meal.

Pizza, fish, and steaks all in the same oven at the same time? Usually, that’s a luxury of restaurant chefs, but it’s all totally possible with the new Koda 2 Max.

Pricing and Availability

The Ooni Koda 2 Max isn’t surper cheap, priced at $999 for the propane model and $1,049 for the natural gas version. But for its size and features, it’s actually a great value.

By comparison, the Ooni Koda 16 is $599, but it’s only 16 inches in baking surface and doesn’t come with any of the advanced features of the Koda 2 Max.

So for anyone looking to invest in a new top of the line pizza oven to host larger gatherings (or, let’s be honest, even just yourself!), the Koda 2 Max is the one to look at first — if you can afford it. It literally has everything you could want in a pizza oven except for a wood burner.

The oven is set to be available for pre-order starting May 28th, providing an opportunity for you to be among the first to experience its capabilities.

Too Expensive?

If the Koda 2 Max is outside of your budget (which it will undoubtedly be for many), you still have lots of other great options.

The Ooni Koda 16 is only $599 and it has a big 16 inch baking surface (the size of a standard large pizza) and works off of regular propane gas. You can read my full review of the Koda 16 here.

There’s also the Ooni Karu 16, which has lots of great features like a digital thermometer and an insulated glass door. It can also use propane as well as burn wood, which is great if you want an authentic Neapolitan style pizza at home. The Karu 16 sells for $799, which isn’t cheap, but still a great value for the features. Read my review of the Karu 16 here.

But if all you really want is a pizza oven to make great pizza at home at the lowest price, you can’t go wrong with the Ooni Koda 12 for only $399. It uses propane (the easiest fuel choice) and is big enough for a 12 inch pizza.

Releases in May 2024

Stay tuned for regular updates about this new pizza oven, which I’m sure there will be many.

The best place to stay up to date on Ooni as well as the whole pizza making scene is right here on my Medium account, or at my home pizza making website My House of Pizza.

You can also check out Ooni’s preview page on the Koda 2 Max pizza oven right here.