Blackstone Has Discontinued Its Pizza Oven, So What Are Some Great Alternatives?
Blackstone has been supplying both homes and restaurants with incredible outdoor cooking equipment such as griddles and pizza ovens for decades. But now that it’s not available, which pizza oven is the best? We tested some of the leaders and here’s what we found.
What is going on with the Blackstone pizza oven? Has the Blackstone pizza oven been discontinued? Are there some Blackstone pizza oven alternatives? Let’s answer some of these burning questions. But first, let us share our number one choice for…
Tested & Approved:
The Best Overall Pizza Oven:
Ooni Koda 12 Gas Pizza Oven: With nearly 1000 Amazon reviews, and almost 90% of those shoppers rating this gem 4-stars or above, this pizza oven is truly the winning choice for the best overall oven! Gas-powered, easy-to use, freestanding, and delivering pizzas in 60-seconds, the Ooni Koda will be the center of your next backyard patio party.
Video of Outdoor Living Style team testing the Ooni Koda outdoor Pizza Oven.
Does Blackstone Still Make Pizza Ovens?
In early 2022, Blackstone discontinued their pizza oven production. There hasn’t been an official explanation as to why Blackstone stopped production of their pizza oven, but it is likely to do with the compounding supply chain issues that are affecting the whole world. Even though the demand remains high, it is likely that the pizza oven became too expensive to build and it would end up losing money for the company. Instead of putting out a subpar product, they likely chose to just suspend production until issues are solved.
The pizza oven is listed as “Blackstone Patio Oven” on their website and has been sold out for quite some time. As of this writing, only a few of the accessories or replacement parts were still in stock. You may be able to find the Blackstone pizza oven on other sellers’ websites, but of course the demand is dwindling and you may be paying more than the original price.
Is Blackstone Making Other Pizza Ovens?
No, Blackstone has completely ceased production of their pizza oven line. They do, however, continue to produce a wide range of griddles that can handle many of your outdoor cooking needs. These griddles are available from 17 inches across to 36 inches across. Delicious dishes that can be easily made on one of these griddles include pancakes, grilled cheeses, omelets, hash browns, fried rice, and more. Unfortunately, pizzas need ovens to deliver consistent heat from all sides instead of just below like a griddle will. As of this writing, Blackstone has not published any plans to restart their pizza oven production line in the future.
Is A Backyard Pizza Oven Even Worth It?
Yes! The backyard pizza oven makes an incredible addition to any outdoor kitchen. It can greatly expand your cooking capabilities for both indoor and outdoor meals. Even while your outdoor living space is dormant during the worst of the winter, a backyard pizza oven can still pump out all sorts of delicious foods. Such a fantastic appliance will become an attraction in itself and be a key feature for all sorts of gatherings.
A backyard pizza oven will use either wood or natural gas to make many types of foods throughout the year. Apart from the obvious pizzas, you can cook many types of breads in the oven, both rising and flatbread styles. Pulled pork and all types of braised meats come out juicy and delicious when covered with foil. Roasted potatoes and other skillet dishes will make plenty of wonderful breakfasts and dinners whenever you like. The list goes on and on with baked fish, all sorts of pies, casseroles, and more. Virtually every meal you eat in your home and outdoors can involve a backyard pizza oven.
What Is The Best Type Of Outdoor Pizza Oven?
Even though they may have many of the same capabilities, not all outdoor pizza ovens are the same. Let’s cover some of the best types of pizza ovens that will fit well in all sorts of backyards.
Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven: Winning numerous awards multiple years running, this sleek and innovative pizza oven is a true winner. It uses natural gas for fuel, burning at a consistent and controllable heat as long as you need it. It comprises a beautiful steel shell with a modern design pizza stone big enough to make 16" pies. It is freestanding, but this easy to use and slick design will help you make the best of your outdoor gatherings. This may just be the ultimate tabletop outdoor pizza oven.
Gozney Roccbox Gas Pizza Oven: The Roccbox brings a professional-grade pizza oven to the backyard. With gas burner standard out of the box, Gozney also offers a detachable wood burner accessory. Talk about the best of both worlds! Wrapped in a design-forward, cool-to-the-touch silicone covering, the Roccbox is cool to the touch, stylish, and cooks pizzas in a matter of minutes. In fact, temperatures reach 950F. It’s also portable with retractable legs and detachable burner.
Or for those who want to kick things up a notch or two…
MCP 32.5” Outdoor Wood Fired Red Enamel Stainless Steel Artisan Pizza Oven or Grill: Yes, you read that right! This amazing outdoor kitchen appliance can double as a pizza oven or a grill. It simply needs to be converted by replacing the pizza stones with the metal grill. For its versatility and effective wood fired foods, this one is the way to go!
What’s The Best Overall Gas Outdoor Pizza Oven After we Tested These?
Using natural gas or propane to cook can cheaply make some delicious foods. One of the best gas pizza ovens out there is also one that conveniently fits on your outdoor kitchen countertop. The Ooni Koda 12 Gas Pizza Oven is a fantastic addition to your outdoor living space. Reaching temperatures of over 950 degrees Fahrenheit, this oven will cook pizzas in just 90-seconds. Of course, it doesn’t need to be at that temperature all the time! The temperature you desire can be controlled using digital thermometers that will stay accurate despite the high levels of heat inside.
Natural gas and propane pizza ovens are advantageous in creating incredibly consistent pizzas and other baked goods. While wood is a fuel that needs to be carefully tended throughout the cooking process, natural gas and propane will get hot quickly and stay hot as long as you need it. Many of the more advanced pizza ovens will also use digital thermometers to ensure that the fire remains at the correct temperature regardless of the specific location inside the oven. That will ensure that all sides of your pizzas are cooked just right and definitely not cooked unevenly.
If you’re imagining the delicious taste of pizza right now, you’ve got some great options to choose from for a summer filled with the irresistible attraction of a freshly baked pizza right in your backyard.
Image courtesy of Ooni