Ooni Karu 12: Features and Price of this versatile pizza oven – Test and Review

In this article, I’ll share my experience with the Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven! It’s the latest model from the Ooni brand, which has since been replaced by the Karu 12G. This outdoor pizza oven can be fueled with wood or charcoal. As a passionate pizza baker and pastry chef, I recently had the opportunity to try it out, like many other ovens from the brand. I’ve spent enough time with this product to give you my honest impression. My review is completely impartial and based on my personal experience. If you don’t want to read the entire article, you can click here to jump straight to my conclusion! And if you’re curious to know it all, here’s my point-by-point review.

Unboxing the Ooni Karu 12: A Culinary Delight!

When you unbox your Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven, everything you need is included. The oven itself comes with foldable legs, a chimney with a cap, a fuel hatch, a fuel tray, a high-quality cordierite cooking stone, a user manual, a recipe booklet, and warranty documentation. The only thing missing is the pizza peel, but considering the affordable price of the oven (less than €400), it’s understandable. Everything is well-packaged and presented. If you need to replace the cordierite cooking stone, you can easily purchase it on the brand’s website. It ensures excellent heat transfer.

Technical specifications of the Ooni Karu 12

The Ooni Karu 12 is a versatile oven that can be fueled by charcoal and wood fire. It can also be used with a gas burner adapter. With dimensions of 40 cm wide and 73.1 cm deep, it is a reasonably sized oven. The refractory stone cooking surface can accommodate pizzas up to approximately 33 cm in diameter. Made of stainless steel and insulated with ceramic fibers, this oven is durable and weighs about 2 kg more than other models from the same brand.

The Ooni Karu 12 Pizza Oven in Action

Like other ovens from the Ooni brand, the Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven takes about 15 minutes to reach a temperature of 500°C. Its fuel tray allows for optimal airflow and produces a highly intense flame. Simply load the tray with real wood or charcoal. The small door, also known as a flame guard, helps retain the heat to the maximum. Lastly, cooking a pizza takes only one or two minutes at most. The initial promises are indeed fulfilled!

Pizza cooking quality

The cooking quality of the Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven is truly excellent! Once the pizza is placed inside, the dough is quickly seared, resulting in a light and crispy texture. The wood-fired cooking and flames bring out that distinctive taste found in Neapolitan pizzas. Just like with other ovens from the same brand, simply flipping the pizza during cooking ensures that the dough is perfectly cooked on all sides, as well as the top and bottom. Additionally, the oven creates a beautiful « leopard » crust that is characteristic of Ooni ovens. Honestly, it’s flawless!

The overall user convenience of the device

The Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven is user-friendly and easy to use, even if cooking with wood may seem intimidating. Setting up the oven is simple, and the foldable legs make it convenient for storage. The French user manual is clear and understandable, making it suitable for beginners. While it may not be the smallest in its range, the Ooni Karu 12 is compact and portable.

In terms of value for money, the Ooni Karu 12 offers an excellent deal. Sold at a competitive price on the brand’s website (€349), it’s hard to find a better option. If you’re looking to save some money, you can also consider purchasing it during special periods like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Additionally, I recommend buying from the brand’s website to take advantage of the automatic 3-year warranty (compared to 2 years from other retailers) and the 60-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. At this price, the Ooni Karu 12 is truly a great deal!

Introducing the Ooni brand: a few words about this renowned name

In just 10 years, Ooni has become a prominent brand in the pizza oven market. They offer high-quality products with a well-functioning structure. Additionally, Ooni provides attractive pricing, a convenient smartphone app, the option to purchase accessories, and an active community for support. Ooni has everything you need! Click here to visit the Ooni website. It’s a brand that I genuinely appreciate because they specialize in their field and excel at it!

– The Verdict: Our Thoughts on the Ooni Karu 12

The Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven comes highly recommended for its versatility, compact size, and affordable price. Its ability to cook with wood-fired heat provides exceptional cooking quality. This model exceeds expectations and is likely to satisfy most users. Check here for the availability of the Ooni Karu 12!

What we liked:

The price positioning, the coal and wood fire cooking, the option to adapt it for gas, the compact size, the pizza size, the pizza quality, and the good build quality are all important factors to consider when talking about the Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven.

What we didn’t like:

I’ll give you my opinion on the Ooni Karu 12 pizza oven! I hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section. See you soon on the blog or in a cooking class! Alexandre, a chef and pastry chef with over 15 years of experience, pastry teacher in Bordeaux, and a private chef.