Okay, let’s talk about building a brick pizza oven. I’ve always loved the idea of having one of these in my backyard, so I finally decided to take the plunge. It’s been a real learning experience, I gotta tell you.
First off, I started by figuring out where to put this thing. Location is key, people! You want it to be somewhere easy to get to, but also with enough space around it. And don’t forget about ventilation – you don’t want to smoke out the whole neighborhood! I made sure the ground was level, because nobody wants a wonky oven.
Then came the size. I didn’t want something huge, but also not too small. After some measuring and thinking about how many pizzas I realistically wanted to make at once, I settled on a size around 120cm deep and 85cm wide. It seems like a good balance – big enough for decent-sized pizzas but won’t take over my entire patio.
The next step was actually building it. I found some plans online and got all the materials together. There were so many bricks! Laying them out took longer than I expected. I had to make sure every brick was properly placed and leveled. It took me several days to finish laying all the bricks. I added a small chimney on top of the oven. I felt like a real mason, except with way more sweat and probably a lot less skill. Let me tell you, it was a workout.
- Gathering Supplies: So many bricks, mortar, a few tools I had to borrow.
- Building the Base: This was surprisingly tough. Getting it level was a real pain.
- Laying the Bricks: This felt like it took forever, but slowly it started to look like an oven.
After it was all built and the mortar had dried, it was time for the moment of truth – firing it up. Getting the temperature right is important. I aimed for around 450 to 500 degrees F. It took some trial and error, but I finally got the hang of it.
And then, the first pizza. It cooked so fast! And the taste? Amazing. That crispy crust, the perfectly melted cheese. It was way better than anything I could get from delivery. I know there are all kinds of fancy pizza ovens out there, like that Ooni Karu 16, but there’s something special about making one with your own hands.
What I Learned
Honestly, building a pizza oven is a lot of work, but it’s so worth it. If you’re thinking about doing it, just be prepared to put in the effort. But trust me, when you taste that first homemade pizza, you’ll know it was all worth it.
