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Ooni Koda 12 Review

The brand that put portable pizza ovens on the map lives up to its name with outstanding performance
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Ooni Koda 12 Review
Credit: Aaron Rice
Price:  $399 List
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Manufacturer:   Ooni
By Aaron Rice ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 14, 2022
76
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 16
  • Cooking Performance - 30% 9.0
  • Output Power - 30% 7.0
  • Control - 25% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 7.0

Our Verdict

A fan favorite pizza oven that almost needs no introduction, the flagship Ooni Koda 12 is the model that has made “Ooni” synonymous with “portable pizza oven.” This compact and lightweight oven earns our Top Pick for portability. A well-insulated frame is powered by a rocket booster of a gas-burner, capable of generating temperatures over 800°F. The operation of this beautifully streamlined oven is straightforward from the moment you take it out of the box. Though convenient, don't take the speed and simplicity of this pizza oven for granted — it takes some time and commitment to hone the skills of a Pizzaiuolo before you can expect to turn out beautiful, Neapolitan-style pizzas with consistency. See our best pizza oven review for a deep analysis on how this oven compared to the competition.
REASONS TO BUY
Fantastic crust quality
High-fire temperatures
Compact and portable
REASONS TO AVOID
Steep learning curve related to control
Prolonged cook times
Editor's Note: The Ooni Koda 12 review was updated on February 14th, 2022, with additional recommendations on what we would buy and help to make better in-depth comparisons between products.

Compare to Similar Products

 
ooni koda 12
This Product
Ooni Koda 12
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for Portability
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Pizza Oven
Top Pick Award
Best Multi-Fuel Oven
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Buy Award
Best Overall Value
Price $399 List
$399.00 at Amazon
$500 List
$499.99 at Amazon
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$320 List
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$130 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line Popular for more than a few good reasons, this oven stands up to the hypeA professional-grade pizza oven that pulls out all the stopsIf you want to make excellent woodfired pizza at home, this redesigned oven makes that dream a realityThis price point pizza oven performs well above its weight class in terms of power and performanceAn affordable, but impressive indoor option for those not interested in investing in a new appliance
Rating Categories Ooni Koda 12 Gozney Roccbox Ooni Karu 12G Multi... BakerStone Original NerdChef 3/8" Steel...
Cooking Performance (30%)
9.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
Output Power (30%)
7.0
9.5
10.0
7.0
7.0
Control (25%)
7.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
6.0
Ease of Use (15%)
7.0
7.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
Specs Ooni Koda 12 Gozney Roccbox Ooni Karu 12G Multi... BakerStone Original NerdChef 3/8" Steel...
Fuel Type Gas Gas, Wood (w/ conversion) Wood, Gas (w/ conversion) Gas N/A
Maximum Pizza Diameter 12" 12" 12" 13" 14"
Average Pizza Cook Times 2.8 min 2 min 1.8 min 4 min 3.1 min
Average Stone Temperature 733 °F 748 °F 825 °F 732 °F 686 °F
Average Oven Temperature 778 °F 795 °F 776 °F 780 °F 637 °F
Size of Firebox N/A 156 cu. in. 275 cu. in. N/A N/A
Power Output 13,648 BTU 14,330 BTU 18,084 BTU 25,000 BTU N/A
Footprint 368 sq. in. 299 sq. in. 471 sq. in.
503 sq. in. (w/ gas attachment)
345 sq. in. 228 sq. in.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Ooni Koda 12 is the oven that sets the standard for modern, portable pizza ovens. The cold-rolled carbon steel frame provides ample insulation for quick cook times, yet at just over 20 pounds, it is lightweight enough to travel. A single 13,648 BTU burner located at the back of the oven directs flames directly up and over the 13" pizza stone to conveniently crank out Neapolitan-style pizzas within a matter of just a few minutes.

Performance Comparison


ooni koda 12 - modern in appearance but traditional in style, this portable oven...
Modern in appearance but traditional in style, this portable oven bridges the gap between new-school and classic Neapolitan pizza making.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Cooking Performance


Within moments of igniting the gas-powered Koda, it is easy to understand why this oven is a fan favorite. Allowing for 15 minutes of preheat time brings the pizza stone up to an incredible 755°F — right on par with the manufacturer's recommended “optimal” temperature of 752°F (400°C.) At these kinds of temperatures, it is possible to pull out Neapolitan-style pizzas in as little as 90 seconds, producing a perfectly crisped crust that you can't wait to cut into.


However, our testing revealed that decreasing the output of the burners and thus increasing your bake times to around three minutes will consistently produce a better pizza, with much less of a chance of the pie transforming into an inedible charcoal brick.


When making rounds of pizzas in succession, average stone temperatures hover a bit lower, around 710°F. However, this is still hot enough to transform thinly rolled dough into beautifully browned, puffy crusts with impressive consistency.

ooni koda 12 - this oven delivers lightly singed "cornicone", or the raised pizza...
This oven delivers lightly singed “cornicone”, or the raised pizza edge of a beautiful Neapolitan-style pizza (if we do say so ourselves!)
Credit: Aaron Rice

The trick with the Koda is learning to work with the oven to hit that harmonious rhythm where the bottom of the crust cooks through at the exact moment the upper crust begins to develop a golden tinge. It may sound easy on paper, but this is precisely the skill that Pizzaiuolo spend years working to develop.

ooni koda 12 - and on the inside, a perfectly puffed pocket of airy goodness. the...
And on the inside, a perfectly puffed pocket of airy goodness. The intense temperatures of the insulated Koda offer the perfect environment for a quick crust rise, a critical component to successfully making Neapolitan-style pizza.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Output Power


We measured the average internal temperature of this oven at 778°F, but this only considers each of the four walls that make the oven chamber. The operating temperature of the Koda is likely higher than we were able to capture — our infrared thermometer tops out at 800°F. But whatever the exact internal temperature, you can be sure that it is hot. These extremely high temperatures earned the Koda higher score in this metric.


The efficiency and efficacy of this oven design come into focus when you realize that all the incredible heat is being generated by a single gas burner located at the back of the oven. And while other ovens tend to employ all three forms of heat transfer to cook a pizza evenly, the Koda seems to focus almost entirely on radiative heat transfer.


A highly reflective stainless-steel interior combined with a low-profile oven chamber helps cook a pizza from the top three sides evenly. This method is so effective that it is often necessary to turn down the heat to a medium setting to avoid over-charring the fresh toppings. A similar approach is used for cooking the crust base simultaneously.

ooni koda 12 - the stainless steel interior of the oven chamber drives the...
The stainless steel interior of the oven chamber drives the radiative cooking process, more so than the burner at the back (though that does drive the convective heat throughout the oven.)
Credit: Aaron Rice

The pizza stone is made from cordierite, a highly heat-resistant material that allows for all of the oven's heat to be transferred directly into cooking the crust. Considering internal oven and pizza stone temperatures alongside our anecdotal evidence from cooking, we can confidently confirm that the Koda is one of the most powerful pizza ovens on the market.

ooni koda 12 - thanks to the power of the gas burner, supported by an efficient...
Thanks to the power of the gas burner, supported by an efficient insulate design, this oven is able to quickly rise the pizza stone to optimal temperatures in the range of 750F.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Control


When we first started, the sheer output power of the Koda made it challenging to cook well. But like any good chef, to produce a consistent quality product, one must be in tune with the tools at hand; certainly, this is true of a pizza oven.


It is essential to recognize that you will likely have to work through a steep learning curve while operating this particular oven before you can expect to churn out the brushed golden crusts of a perfect Neapolitan-style pizza. But to the benefit of this oven — and to the benefit of your confidence as a cook — the gas burner can easily be managed to either increase or decrease baking times, resulting in a more flexible timeline to turn your homemade dough into a delicious pie.

ooni koda 12 - the unfortunate outcome of being just a few seconds behind the...
The unfortunate outcome of being just a few seconds behind the curve. Don't be fooled by its short stature, this oven is powerful.
Credit: Aaron Rice

There is a significant difference between the lowest and highest output settings, which is easily adjusted by the turn of a dial. Unlike other highly-insulated ovens, based on the fact that the Koda cooks primarily with radiative heat, this also means that if you turn the burner down, the internal temperature will quickly follow suit.

ooni koda 12 - learning to turn a pizza is a requisite skill. while master...
Learning to turn a pizza is a requisite skill. While master Pizzaiuolo use a special technique to perform this turn swiftly in the oven, there is no shame in pulling the pizza out to accomplish the same task.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Ease of Use


Despite a small time commitment to learn how to harmonize internal and pizza stone temperatures to achieve pizza perfection — an expected learning curve for practically all pizza ovens — the Koda is remarkably easy to use. Even when firing this oven up in the middle of winter, we still experienced the same performance and heat output when cooking outside in sub-freezing temperatures.


Although this is predominantly a pizza oven, its versatility arises from its ability to take the show on the road. Compared to other pizza ovens we tested, we would qualify the compact, 20-pound Ooni Koda as a portable pizza oven. Similar to a turtle returning to its shell, simply fold the legs inward and tuck the slender oven away when it comes time to pack up.

ooni koda 12 - collapsible legs, make this oven easy to store. and a removeable...
Collapsible legs, make this oven easy to store. And a removeable pizza stone make it much more reasonable to transport to avoid any potential damage.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Setup could not be more effortless; you can begin making pizzas within minutes of pulling this oven out of the box. Cleanup is equally painless and simply uses the high-heat output of the oven to burn off any mess on the pizza stone.

ooni koda 12 - pre-heating the koda provides enough time to burn off any previous...
Pre-heating the Koda provides enough time to burn off any previous mess. But for a more thorough cleaning, Ooni recommends simply flipping over the stone to allow debris to burn off from the bottom.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Should You Buy the Ooni Koda 12?


It is not technically the first portable pizza oven to hit the market, but the Ooni Koda 12 advances that legacy. As a compact powerhouse capable of producing beautiful, Neapolitan-style pizzas in a matter of minutes, you can rest assured knowing that in this case, the original is still one of the best pizza ovens out there. We recommend it to anyone who wants to make top-notch fresh pizzas on the go, as long as you are not afraid to pay extra for the convenience and quality.

ooni koda 12 - the efficiency and speed with which the koda cooks makes it an ideal...
The efficiency and speed with which the Koda cooks makes it an ideal oven to host an impromptu pizza party.
Credit: Aaron Rice

What Other Pizza Ovens Should You Consider?


Like all quality products, especially those that have somewhat of a flagship design, it is not surprising that the Ooni Koda carries a price tag worthy of its performance. If the high cost causes you to hesitate, the BakerStone Original may be a good alternative. Although this oven is not as portable as the Koda, it is a bit more affordable and scored slightly higher in our testing. If you'd prefer a multi-fuel option from Ooni, check out the Ooni Karu 12G.

ooni koda 12 - it's hard not to be excited about fresh neapolitan-style pizza...
It's hard not to be excited about fresh Neapolitan-style pizza, particularly when the Ooni Koda produces such appealing pies!
Credit: Aaron Rice

Aaron Rice