Replacing Your BBQ Grill with an Outdoor Pizza Oven

This is a question we get frequently: “Is it really possible to replace my BBQ grill with one of your outdoor ovens?” Yes, it certainly is! The model that we most often recommend for grilling meat is the Pizza e Cucina. That’s because we designed it to be a multi-use outdoor cooking apparatus. Here’s why the Pizza e Cucina is the ideal outdoor oven for grilling.

Like our other outdoor ovens, the Pizza e Cucina has a wood combustion chamber to heat the upper area. However, this model also comes with cast iron grills – the only additional part you need to cook any meat you like directly above the fire, just like you would on a charcoal grill. They do not need to be purchased separately; the accessory is included!

Speaking of charcoal, that leads us to answer another common question: “Can I cook with charcoal in an outdoor pizza oven?” If you are using our Pizza e Cucina to grill meat, then the answer is yes. This model comes with a grate for your meat, and charcoal can be piled right underneath it so that you can cook directly over charcoal – just like on your outdoor BBQ grill. And for those who like to smoke their meat, wood chips can be substituted for the charcoal.

At some point, you may want to use your outdoor pizza oven to actually make pizza! When that happens, just remove the cast iron grill and replace it with the included pizza stone. When we designed the Pizza e Cucina, we thought of everything: We made the grill “cover” a pizza dome that can be removed to convert the unit to a pizza oven whenever you would like. No matter how you plan to use it, the oven is fully heated in a short 10-15 minutes.

So, there you have it: How to replace your BBQ grill with an outdoor pizza oven. This may not be possible with other outdoor ovens, but it is certainly possible with the Pizza e Cucina from Fontana Forni USA.

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Bread in a Wood Fired Oven: It’s Just Better!

There’s making bread, and then there’s baking bread. For anyone who has tried it, baking homemade bread in the oven is far superior to just “making it” in a bread machine. Here are some thoughts on bread machine bread vs. oven baked bread.

Bread machine bread just has a much denser, more compacted texture than oven baked bread, even if the recipe you use for each one is exactly the same. This is because bread machines have a very small pan space, and they don’t really allow the bread to rise enough. Plus, the loaves come out in a shape that is vastly different from what most people prefer. Often, these loaves aren’t even sliceable – and let’s be honest, they probably end up in the trash after a day or two.

Then, there’s bread in the oven. Most people prefer lighter, slightly moister bread that tastes fresh baked, rather than a hard, excessively dry bread – so if you are one of those people, that’s just one more reason to invest in one of our wood fired ovens. You could bake bread in a conventional oven, but once you try baking it in your wood fired oven, we think you’ll agree that there’s just no going back.

At Fontana Forni, we have one basic bread recipe that also works for pizza dough. You could say it’s our “bread and butter,” in fact.

Here it is:

• 2 ¾ cups lukewarm water

• 1 Tbsp. granulated instant yeast

• 1 Tbsp. salt

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil

• A pinch of sugar

• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

• 3 1/2 cups bread flour

Add the pinch of sugar and dry yeast to the water. Allow the mixture to rest until you see the surface of the water and yeast begin to bubble (about 15 minutes). Mix in about half the flour with a wooden spoon; when the mixture starts to form into dough, add the olive oil and salt. Add the remaining flour and mix gently by hand until the dough is moist; do not overwork it! Place in a container big enough for the dough to double in size and cover either with a plastic lid or with plastic wrap (not airtight). Allow it to rise at room temperature for about two hours; then, form into a bread loaf or pizza crust.

There’s a little more to it than that, so check out the original recipe for more details. If you have any questions about our wood fired ovens before placing an order, feel free to contact us; we will be glad to answer them!

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Wood Fired Ovens: Not Just for Pizza!

When people hear the term “pizza oven,” they often think that means an oven that is exclusively for cooking pizza. But if you own one yourself, you (hopefully) know that wood fired ovens are for much, much more than cooking pizza! It’s a little known fact that wood fired ovens can cook almost anything that can be cooked in the conventional oven you have in your kitchen.

For example, in many of our own wood fired ovens, it is possible to cook an entire meal; we’re talking appetizers, main courses and even dessert. Yes, it’s even possible if none of those courses are pizza! Some of the most popular dishes for cooking in wood fired ovens include:

Meats

Everything from slow cooked pork loin, to quick fired steaks and even chicken breasts can be made in wood fired ovens. As you would anytime you are cooking meat, you should use a meat thermometer to ensure your meat is cooked to a safe temperature. Other than that, just cook and enjoy!

Appetizers and Side Dishes
From summertime favorites like baked beans to comfort foods loaded with potatoes, side dishes are easily whipped up in wood fired ovens all year long. Check out our recipe for homemade ricotta and spinach ravioli; it’s to die for! As for appetizers, there are infinite meal starters that can be cooked to perfection in a pizza oven: stuffed mushrooms, mac ‘n cheese bites and spinach dip are just a few of the most popular.

Dessert

Wood fired ovens are the ideal vessel for cooking delectable desserts like crumbles, crisps and browned betties – and they’re even better for cookies. Chocolate chip cookies in a pizza oven? You bet!

If you are looking to make the most of your pizza oven, these dishes are a great place to start. Wood fired ovens are for so much more than pizza – and once you get going, you probably won't be able to stop!

 

 

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A Wood Burning Pizza Oven for Large Groups: The Marinara!

When we unveiled our Forno Toscano pizza ovens, we knew they’d be a big hit – but no one could have predicted how popular the Margherita would be. The Margherita is our signature pizza oven, and it is arguably our best seller, too. People love that they can cook a personal pizza in a wood burning oven in the backyard, and they love that they can load the pizza in after a quick, 10 to 15 minute preheat.

Now, we want to get you just as excited about another model of wood burning pizza oven: the Marinara. The Marinara is the largest model in our Forno Toscano line. Its dimensions are considerably larger than the Margherita, and even larger than our mid-sized wood burning oven for pizzas, the Mangiafuoco. It has a 32” x 32” interior, which means it can hold the equivalent of a large pizza – yes, one that would feed 6 to 10 people! If you entertain large groups, the Marinara is without a doubt the way to go.

If you aren’t sure that your outdoor kitchen has enough room for the Mariana, head outside now and take some measurements; you may be surprised! The Marinara has exterior dimensions of 42” deep, 30” wide and 77” high. If you have a width of 30 inches to spare, you can fit the Marinara in – and if you don’t have that space available, you may want to make some! Customers who have bought the Marinara and given us feedback have told us that it was well worth the sacrifice. After all, you made room for the wet bar and the beverage cooler – and they don’t help you feed anybody!

If you have any questions about the Marinara wood burning pizza oven, or any of the models in our Forno Toscano line, don’t hesitate to let us know. We will be happy to answer them when you fill out our contact form.

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