Can you use any wood in a pizza oven?
Isabella Harris
Updated on January 18, 2026
Oak is generally the best all-round wood for your wood-fired pizza stove, and it can be used alone or with small amounts of fruitwood added for a more nuanced flavor. If you're unsure which wood to go for, go for oak firewood for your pizza oven, you won't be disappointed.
Do you need special wood for pizza oven?
Hardwoods, which usually contain broad leaves as trees, are a better option than softwoods, which usually have needles and cones. One reason hardwoods are better for cooking in a pizza oven is because they are cleaner and last longer than softwoods. The best examples of hardwood are ash, beech, sycamore, birch and oak.Can I use firewood in my pizza oven?
Best Woods to Use in Your Pizza OvenHardwoods are great for cooking because they are typically cleaner and burn for longer than softwoods. The most popular types of hardwood used in cooking are oak, maple, hickory, ash, birch, walnut, and beech. This wood is perfect to use with the wood-fired Ooni ovens.
Can you use pine for pizza oven?
Avoid resinous woods with high sap or oil contents, like red pine. This type of firewood will leave excessive soot, coating the pizza oven and chimney flue with creosote. You can burn it off with a hotter / clean-burning firewood like oak.What is the best wood for brick oven pizza?
One reason hardwoods are better for cooking in a pizza oven is that they are cleaner and last longer than softwoods. The best examples of hardwood are maple, oak, ash, hickory, walnut, birch, and beech.Ep 3. Which woods to use in the oven and how to store them.
What kind of wood do you put in a pizza oven?
Oak is generally the best all-round wood for your wood-fired pizza stove, and it can be used alone or with small amounts of fruitwood added for a more nuanced flavor. If you're unsure which wood to go for, go for oak firewood for your pizza oven, you won't be disappointed.What kind of wood do you burn in a pizza oven?
Pecan is widely used for wood-fired ovens. It gives a sweet flavor almost the same as hickory, the only difference is that it does not burn very hot. Oak is the most popular of all the woods used in wood-fired ovens. Oak wood burns for the longest time and gives off a great aroma for your food.Can I use cedar wood in a pizza oven?
For one thing, it's not going to burn as hot, and it will certainly not burn as long, which means you'll have an initial inferno, then it'll all turn to dirty ash and soot quickly. In addition, it'll probably have sap (like pine or cedar) which creates a dirty soot and creosote.Can you use charcoal in a pizza oven?
Yes! It's super common to use charcoal in a pizza oven. It's the best way to achieve that unique flavour for meats, veggies, fish and a range of other dishes. However, not every pizza oven is designed for charcoal.Is olive wood good for pizza ovens?
Did you know olive wood is used to cook with too? We actively encourage people to try cooking with olive wood on the BBQ, pizza oven or wood fired smoker - it will give the most amazing flavours to the food you are cooking; everything from smoked vegetable kebabs to wonderful slow-cooked lamb joints.How do I stop my pizza oven from smoking?
6 Ways You Can Stop Your Pizza Oven Being Too Smokey
- Get the fire burning at maximum efficiency.
- Use the right wood type.
- Use seasoned or kiln dried wood with no bark.
- Use your oven to 'kiln' dry your logs.
- Light the fire with the “top down” method.
- Finish curing your oven – it will smoke more in the curing stage.
Can you use kindling in pizza oven?
Here is our step-by-step guide to lighting a pizza oven… Place some kindling in the centre of the oven. Three or four small logs with a few pine cones or other kindling material should be fine. Arrange them in a teepee shape, and place some firelighters in the middle.Can you use coffee logs in a pizza oven?
They burn, on average, for an hour, depending on the appliance efficiency and its airflow control. Each log is made from the grounds of around 25 cups of coffee and will be used in RCP Meeting & Events' pizza ovens.Can I use heat logs in a pizza oven?
Ideal Temperature for your Wood Fired OvenBefore you can get cooking, it's important to make sure you get your wood-fired oven to the right temperature. We recommend using either heat logs, such as our Hotties or our Pizzaz pizza logs.