Ooni Koda 16: Features and Price of this Gas Pizza Oven XXL – Test and Review

I recently wrote a review about the Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven, and now I’m here to give you my opinion on its big brother, the Ooni Koda 16. The Koda 16 is the latest model from Ooni and it’s a gas-powered pizza oven designed for outdoor use, with a larger cooking surface than its predecessor. But the differences don’t stop there, as you’ll discover in this article. As a professional baker and pizza enthusiast, I’ve tested various ovens before finding the one that suits me best. I want to make it clear that I didn’t receive the oven for free and this review is completely unbiased. If you don’t want to read the entire article and just want to know my conclusion, you can click on this link. Otherwise, I’ll explain everything point by point right here.

Package Contents

When you open the box of the Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven, you’ll find everything you need. The oven itself comes with foldable legs for easy setup, a 16-inch cordierite stone, a propane gas regulator, an instruction manual, a recipe booklet, a warranty card, and a match holder. Everything is well-packaged and protected, ensuring that nothing is missing or damaged. The stone is securely wrapped in thick foam to prevent any potential damage during transit. Setting up the oven is a breeze thanks to the detailed instructions provided in the manual. The recipe booklet is a nice bonus, but you can also download the Ooni mobile app for even more recipe options. Unfortunately, the basic oven doesn’t come with a peel, but you can easily find one at a reasonable price online or on the Ooni website. Overall, opening the box of the Ooni Koda 16 is a pleasant surprise with everything you need to get started right away.

Technical specifications of the Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven

The Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven is a gas-powered model, similar to its predecessor, the Ooni Koda. However, unlike the previous model, it can also be connected to natural gas. This oven is slightly larger than the Ooni Koda 12, allowing it to cook pizzas up to 41 cm in diameter. The larger cooking capacity makes it easier to maneuver the pizza peel and flip the pizzas directly into the oven. It takes about 20 minutes to reach a temperature of 500°C, which is approximately 5 minutes longer than its predecessor. Once the oven is hot, the pizza cooks in just 60 seconds, which is incredibly fast. Additionally, the use of gas allows for continuous pizza cooking without any issues. Despite its larger size, the Ooni Koda 16 is still portable, with a wider opening for easier handling of the pizza peel and increased height to cook other dishes such as bread.

Starting up and operating the device

As mentioned earlier, setting up the Ooni Koda 16 is a breeze. Just like its smaller sibling, the Koda, all you have to do is unfold the legs and connect the regulator to the gas bottle. To get it up and running, simply use the button to generate a spark and the dial to adjust the temperature. One enhanced feature of the Ooni Koda 16 is its large cooking stone and L-shaped burner, which ensure even heat distribution. Unlike the Koda 12 model, there’s no need to flip the pizza during cooking, as the heat is evenly spread across the entire surface of the oven. Additionally, cooking with gas allows you to prepare multiple pizzas in a row without worrying about fuel. The new version of the Ooni Koda 16 offers improved cooking thanks to its L-shaped burner, which provides more even heat distribution. It’s clear that Ooni has listened to user feedback and made improvements to this oven.

The cooking quality of our pizzas

Ooni is renowned for its flame cooking quality, and the Ooni Koda 16 is no exception. Despite being a gas-powered oven, I was extremely satisfied with the end result! The pizza cooks evenly, reducing the risk of accidental burning. The dough is light and airy, reminiscent of Neapolitan pizzas, and the crust is perfectly « leopard-spotted » just like in Italy! This oven even allows you to cook other dishes such as meat, fish, or flammekueches. It’s truly top-notch! I was pleasantly surprised by the cooking quality of this oven. The bright and hot flames ensure a quick cooking of the dough. The pizza’s cornicione is light and well-risen, and even with a gas-powered oven, you can taste the characteristic flavor of stone-baked pizzas. It’s incomparable to a traditional oven!

Ease of use with the Ooni Koda 16

The Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven is larger than its predecessor, with dimensions of 58.9 cm wide, 37.2 cm high, and 63.4 cm deep. It’s perfect for sharing pizzas, yet still compact and portable for outdoor use or taking to a friend’s house. Lighting and temperature control are easy, and it’s less affected by wind thanks to a safety feature that automatically shuts off the gas supply during gusts. You can use it with a gas bottle or convert it to natural gas using a conversion kit. Additionally, the oven’s legs are foldable for convenient storage, although the Koda 16 isn’t completely flat when the legs are folded. It’s a detail worth considering.

The Cost of the Ooni Koda 16

The Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven is priced at €599 including VAT at 37 bar (the required model for use in France). You can find the best price on the retailer’s website. Considering the oven’s performance and quality, the price is quite reasonable. Additionally, it is possible to find it on sale during certain times of the year, such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I recommend buying directly from the Ooni website to automatically benefit from the 3-year warranty and free returns within 60 days. Just remember to purchase a small peel separately, as it is not included. A turning peel can also be considered for easy pizza flipping during cooking.

An Introduction to the Ooni Brand

Ooni is a well-known brand in the pizza oven industry. Whenever my clients ask me where to buy a good pizza oven, I often recommend this brand. Ooni is a reputable brand and it’s easy to find information about their products as well as additional or replacement accessories. Their range of ovens is very impressive and the build quality is excellent.

Conclusion: Our verdict on the Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven

The Ooni Koda 16 is undoubtedly the best gas pizza oven you can find in 2021 and even in 2022. It improves on the small imperfections of the Koda, which was already an excellent oven. With its large capacity, you’ll be able to make large pizzas, as well as flatbreads or breads. The cooking quality is exceptional and I highly recommend this pizza oven! In a way, it’s like the Koda 12 but with easier use and a more generous capacity. The Koda 16 remains practical, portable, and the L-shaped burner makes it an excellent choice for pizza cooking. You can visit Ooni’s website by clicking here! To compare the Koda 12 and the Koda 16, click here! Although slightly larger than the previous model, the Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven remains compact and easily transportable. Once connected to a small gas bottle, you’ll be able to cook your pizzas anywhere.

What we liked

The Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven is the ultimate accessory for creating perfect pizzas at home! With its spacious cooking surface, you can cook large pizzas without the need for a bulky appliance. Its foldable legs make it easy to store and transport. The Ooni Koda 16 offers excellent value for money, delivering exceptional cooking quality. Its L-shaped burner quickly reaches temperatures of up to 500°C, ensuring fast and delicious cooking. Plus, it’s incredibly user-friendly, making it suitable for beginners as well.

What we didn’t like

No, the Ooni Koda 16 does not come with a peel. To check the availability of the Ooni Koda 16 on the brand’s website, click here.

Differences between the Ooni Koda 12 and the Ooni Koda 16

The Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven is the perfect choice for those looking to cook larger pizzas. With dimensions of 39.5 cm wide, 29.8 cm high, and 59.2 cm deep, it offers plenty of space to accommodate generous-sized pizzas.

For those who prefer a more compact design, the Ooni Koda 16 also offers a slightly smaller option with dimensions of 58.9 cm wide, 37.2 cm high, and 63.4 cm deep. This allows you to save space in your kitchen while still enjoying the exceptional cooking performance of the oven.

If you’re interested in the Ooni Koda 12 model, I recommend checking out my comprehensive article on this appliance. You’ll find all the information you need to make your choice by clicking here!

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

What type of gas bottle should be used with the Ooni Koda 16?

The choice of gas bottle to use with the Ooni Koda 16 is a commonly asked question. It’s very simple – the oven’s regulator is compatible with small propane gas bottles known as « Cube » from Butagaz. These bottles are readily available in supermarkets and gas stations. It’s important to note that propane gas is recommended and that this type of oven should be used outdoors only.

What are the precise dimensions of the Ooni Koda 16?

The manufacturer has provided the dimensions of the Ooni Koda 16 oven.

Cleaning the Ooni Koda 16’s cooking stone: a step-by-step guide

After cooking, it’s normal for the stone of your Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven to get dirty and blackened. To clean it, simply let the oven run empty after cooking. This will create a « pyrolysis » cleaning effect where the dirt will be burned off at high temperature. Then, all you have to do is brush the stone. It’s possible for the stone to change color and become black in some areas, but this won’t affect the cooking quality in any way. Personally, I flip the stone after each use to take advantage of the oven’s « cleansing » heat, and then I brush it thoroughly. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below. I’ll be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading and see you soon!