As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve tested dozens of pizza ovens both for home and commercial use. In this review, I’ll compare the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Bakebros 14″ Outdoor Pizza Oven—two models I’ve used extensively in my kitchen. I evaluated their quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and also ran a real pizza cooking test to see how long it takes to make a Margherita. If you’re curious about how I test pizza ovens in general, you can check out my separate article explaining the process step by step.
The Cru Oven Model 32 is a handcrafted wood-fired oven made in Portugal, known for its premium build, removable dome for easy cleaning, and ability to handle more than just pizzas—from roasts to pastries.
The Bakebros 14″ Pizza Oven is a gas-powered, budget-friendly outdoor oven that heats up fast, is extremely portable, and delivers solid performance despite its lightweight construction.
Here, you’ll find an in-depth comparison of the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Bakebros 14″ Outdoor Pizza Oven, backed by my testing.
This article contains referral links. If you decide to buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. It tremendously helps support this blog and lets me continue testing gear like this for you.
Cru Oven Model 32 VS Bakebros 14: Quality and Materials
| The Cru Oven Model 32 is made in Portugal using a dual layer of 304 stainless steel, ceramic fiber insulation, and Cordierite stones. It feels solid, durable, and built to last through years of outdoor use. |
The Bakebros 14 uses lighter stainless steel that feels less premium. It’s durable enough for regular use but doesn’t have the same heavy-duty, long-lasting feel as the Cru Oven Model 32.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Bakebros 14: Temperature Control
| The Cru Oven Model 32 reaches up to 900°F, though it takes about 40 minutes to get there. It holds heat well, especially when preheated for 45 minutes. The door helps manage airflow and retain consistent baking temps. |
The Bakebros 14 also heats to 900°F in 20–30 minutes thanks to its gas power. It maintains steady temperatures, but you may notice more fluctuation when cooking multiple pizzas.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Bakebros 14: Shape
| The Cru Oven Model 32 has a barrel shape that improves airflow and distributes heat evenly across the baking surface. It’s also tall enough for baking bread or using grill inserts. |
The Bakebros 14 has a compact, flat profile that works well for pizza. It’s designed for portability and consistent heat, but it lacks the vertical space and airflow optimization of the Cru Oven Model 32.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Bakebros 14: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Assembling the Cru Oven Model 32 was simple—just stack the dome on the base, insert stones, and attach the flue. Despite a slightly longer preheat, it delivered excellent, even results on the first try. |
The Bakebros 14 setup was lightning-fast—just unfold the legs, place the stone, and connect the gas. It’s beginner-friendly, though adjusting to its nuances took a few pizzas to master.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Bakebros 14: Power Source
| The Cru Oven Model 32 is wood-fired (with optional charcoal), which adds a smoky, traditional flavor that gas ovens can’t replicate. It’s ideal for chefs who enjoy the hands-on cooking process. |
The Bakebros 14 runs on LPG, making it convenient and fast. There’s no smoky flavor, but the ease of use makes it appealing for quick outdoor pizza nights.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Bakebros 14: Size
| The Cru Oven Model 32 offers a large 20” x 16” cooking surface and wide opening (11.8”), letting you cook larger pizzas, roasts, or even grill dishes. It weighs 56 lbs but is still portable. |
The Bakebros 14 is more compact and lightweight at 39.5 lbs. While advertised for 14” pizzas, it’s best suited for 12” pies due to its internal space limitations.
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Cru Oven Model 32 VS Bakebros 14: Ease of Cleaning
| Cleaning the Cru Oven Model 32 is straightforward thanks to its removable dome. You can fully access the interior to sweep ash, wipe down the chamber, and clean the stones with ease. |
The Bakebros 14 is also easy to clean—remove the stone and mesh disc, wipe with a cloth, and clean the exterior with mild soap. It’s quicker to cool down than wood-fired ovens.
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Pizza Cooking Test: Cru Oven Model 32 vs Bakebros 14
During testing, the Cru Oven Model 32 took about 40 minutes to reach an ideal cooking temperature of 850–900°F—a bit longer than the manufacturer claims, but well worth the wait. Once hot, it baked a classic Margherita pizza in around 90 seconds. The result? A beautifully blistered crust, evenly melted cheese, and that signature smoky flavor that only a wood-fired oven can deliver. The texture was airy yet crisp, with slight char on the bottom—just like you’d expect from a proper Neapolitan-style pizza.
The Bakebros 14 heated up much faster, taking just 20–30 minutes to reach the same 900°F mark thanks to its efficient gas burner. It cooked a Margherita pizza in just 60 seconds. The crust was crisp and nicely browned, and the toppings were evenly cooked. While the result was impressive for a compact gas oven, it lacked the deeper flavor profile of wood-fired cooking that the Cru Oven Model 32 offers.
How We Tested
Both the Cru Oven Model 32 and the Bakebros 14 were used in my professional outdoor cooking setup at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston. I assembled and cooked with each oven multiple times to get a clear sense of their real-world performance.
I focused on the full user experience—starting from unboxing and assembly, through heating, cooking, and cleaning. I evaluated how intuitive each oven felt during regular use, how well it handled pizza baking from start to finish, and how practical it was for anyone cooking outdoors. Everything I share in this comparison comes from firsthand use in an active kitchen environment, not from specs alone.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose the Cru Oven Model 32 or the Bakebros 14 depends on what matters most to you. If you value build quality, versatility, and that authentic wood-fired flavor, the Cru Oven Model 32 stands out. But if convenience, speed, and portability are your priorities, the Bakebros 14 is a solid performer that won’t disappoint.
If you decide to buy one of these ovens, I’d really appreciate it if you used my referral links below. It won’t cost you anything extra, but it helps support this blog so I can keep sharing hands-on reviews like this one:
Thanks for reading, and happy pizza-making!