Electric and wood pellet pizza ovens offer a convenient way to prepare delicious meals for family or guests. The two oven types differ based on where they can be used, temperature control functions, and fuel types. Here are some key differences between a wood pellet and an electric pizza oven:
Indoor vs. Outdoor Use
A wood pellet pizza oven may emit smoke from burning wood, making it ideal for outdoor cooking. Electric pizza ovens are smokeless, so they can be used either indoors or outdoors. Many electric pizza ovens are small, effectively fitting on countertops or in small kitchens. Wood pellet ovens have large combustion chambers for holding wood pellets and smoke stacks. This increases their footprint, making them better for outdoor cooking.
Temperature Levels
An electric pizza oven heats up faster than a wood pellet pizza oven since converting electricity to heat energy is easier. Starting a wood pellet fire can take longer than flipping an electric oven’s “on” switch. Despite the slow start, the fire produced by a wood pizza oven is hotter than an electric oven’s internal temperature. Increased heat can result in faster cooking times.
Fuel Type
Electric pizza ovens convert electricity to heat energy for cooking. Some of these pizza ovens are designed to use either your home’s main electricity hook-ups or supplemental generators. Wood pellet pizza ovens use wood as the primary fuel.
Pellets are made from thoroughly dried and ground wood that is pressed into pellets. Pellets usually burn cleanly, producing minimal smoke and ash. This prevents your pizza’s flavor from being obscured by particulate residue created when burning wood logs or charcoal.
Food Flavor
When using an electric oven, food retains its original taste since electric currents do not alter flavors. In a pellet pizza oven, a pizza’s flavor depends on the wood type used to light the fire. Some pellets feature oak, cherry, hickory, or apple wood, which impart unique flavors to your pizza during the smoking process. Hickory wood pellets usually create a smoky flavor, which may be ideal for barbeque chicken pizza. Apple or cherry pellets offer a sweeter taste and could be more suitable for pizzas with fruit like apples or blackberries.
Ease of Use
An electric oven usually uses simple buttons to switch it on and regulate the heat. A wood pellet oven requires adding wood to the combustion chamber periodically to maintain the oven’s temperature during cooking. A pellet oven’s hands-on requirements may make it more suitable for chefs who desire to monitor meals from start to finish.
Wood pellet ovens require regular chimney cleaning and ash removal. You only need to clean the cooker vents and inspect the heating components in electric pizza ovens. Regularly cleaning either oven type helps make maintenance easier and improves the appliance’s longevity.
Invest in Wood Pellet Pizza Ovens
When choosing between electric and wood pellet ovens, review your preferences for ease of use, temperature control options, and final flavors. Despite their differences, both oven types can help you improve your culinary skills when developing unique pizza flavors. Contact a reputable wood pellet oven manufacturer today to get started.
