As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my restaurant, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the opportunity to test and compare a variety of pizza ovens in my kitchen. In this article, I’ll be comparing the Big Horn Pizza Oven and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven, two popular options for home and professional pizza enthusiasts. I’ll evaluate these ovens based on key factors: quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and a real pizza cooking test to determine how they perform. For those interested, I also have a separate article detailing the thorough process I use to test pizza ovens.
The Big Horn Pizza Oven stands out for its affordability and wood-fired capabilities, offering a smoky flavor and high heat performance that appeals to many pizza lovers. The Deco Chef Pizza Oven, on the other hand, is designed for versatility and ease of use, featuring dual-fuel functionality that caters to different cooking preferences.
This article features a thorough comparison between the Big Horn Pizza Oven and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven based on my personal tests.
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.8
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Our Rating:
3.2
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Decent stainless steel build with a silicone door seal
- Heats up to around 500-550°F in 15-16 minutes
- Dome shape that promotes airflow
- Lighter and more compact
- Relies solely on wood pellets
- Cleaning requires more effort, especially with removing ash from the wood pellets
- Made of stainless steel with decent quality
- Half-circle dome design
- Straightforward assembly
- Lightweight and portable
- Cleaning is manageable
- Lacks premium finishing
- Maintaining a consistent temperature above 550°F can be challenging
- Exclusively powered by hardwood pellets
If you decide to purchase one of these ovens, I’d greatly appreciate it if you use my referral links. These links help keep my blog alive by providing a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can find the Big Horn referral link here and the Deco Chef referral link here. Thank you for your support!
Big Horn VS Deco Chef: Quality and Materials
| The Big Horn‘s stainless steel construction and silicone door seal ensure durability and effective heat distribution. |
Deco Chef offers sturdy stainless steel with three layers of insulation, though heat consistency can be an issue.
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Big Horn VS Deco Chef: Temperature Control
| Big Horn heats to 500–550°F in 15–16 minutes. Requires a manual thermometer for precise temperature adjustments. |
Deco Chef claims to reach 950°F in 15–20 minutes but sometimes struggles with consistent heat distribution.
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Big Horn VS Deco Chef: Shape
| The rounded dome design ensures excellent heat circulation, making it ideal for evenly cooked pizzas. |
Deco Chef’s half-circle shape is practical for small to medium pizzas but challenging for larger dishes.
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Big Horn VS Deco Chef: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Big Horn is user-friendly and performs well, making it a great choice for beginners and experienced cooks alike. |
Deco Chef requires some practice to achieve consistent results, but included accessories enhance usability.
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Big Horn VS Deco Chef: Power Source
| Wood pellet-fueled Big Horn delivers a delightful smoky flavor. It also supports charcoal for added versatility. |
Deco Chef uses hardwood pellets, requiring frequent refills to maintain even heat during cooking.
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Big Horn VS Deco Chef: Size
| Big Horn‘s compact design accommodates a 12-inch pizza, making it portable while still offering adequate cooking space. |
Deco Chef fits pizzas up to 13 inches, though its design is better suited for smaller, flatter dishes.
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Big Horn VS Deco Chef: Ease of Cleaning
| Removable trays and simple design make the Big Horn easy to clean and maintain after use. |
Deco Chef’s stainless steel and removable trays allow for straightforward cleaning, though frequent refills may cause extra mess.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Big Horn impressed with its preheating time, reaching 500–550°F in approximately 15–16 minutes. Once preheated, it cooked a Margherita pizza in just 90 seconds. The result was outstanding—a beautifully crisp crust with a smoky flavor from the wood pellets, bubbling cheese, and a vibrant, fresh-tasting tomato sauce. The even heat distribution across the cordierite pizza stone ensured there were no undercooked or overly charred spots, delivering a restaurant-quality pizza.
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven, while claiming a preheat time of 15–20 minutes to reach 950°F, realistically hit around 700°F in our test within 20 minutes. Cooking a Margherita pizza took slightly longer, around 60–90 seconds, depending on the temperature consistency. The taste was good, with the cheese melted to perfection and the crust developing a nice charred edge, though the bottom crust occasionally lacked the crispness achieved with the Big Horn. The smoky flavor was less pronounced, likely due to the smaller wood pellet capacity and frequent refilling, but the pizza still delivered a satisfying, homemade taste.
Both ovens produced tasty pizzas, but the Big Horn edged ahead with faster preheating and more consistent cooking results, making it a strong choice for pizza enthusiasts who value efficiency and flavor.
How We Tested
To thoroughly compare the Big Horn and Deco Chef pizza ovens, we conducted hands-on testing in a controlled environment. Both ovens were tested outdoors on a stable surface to ensure safety and consistency. We used the same high-quality ingredients for each test, including freshly made dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil for classic Margherita pizzas.
Each oven was preheated to its recommended temperature. For the Big Horn, we allowed it to reach 500–550°F, which took about 15–16 minutes. For the Deco Chef, we aimed for its claimed 950°F but achieved around 700°F after 20 minutes. We used infrared thermometers to measure the stone temperature, ensuring optimal heat for pizza cooking.
To assess performance, we cooked multiple pizzas back-to-back. During the cooking process, we timed each pizza to determine how long it took to cook fully, monitoring the crust’s crispness, the cheese’s melting, and overall evenness of the bake. We also evaluated flavor, paying attention to the presence of a smoky finish, the crust’s texture, and the toppings’ doneness.
Additionally, we tested how well each oven retained heat between batches and how easy it was to manage the fuel source, whether it was wood pellets or charcoal. Finally, cleaning and maintenance were observed post-cooking to gauge the convenience of each oven’s design. This comprehensive testing allowed us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both ovens, providing an in-depth comparison for pizza enthusiasts.
Conclusion
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.8
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Our Rating:
3.2
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|
Pros:
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Pros:
|
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
- Decent stainless steel build with a silicone door seal
- Heats up to around 500-550°F in 15-16 minutes
- Dome shape that promotes airflow
- Lighter and more compact
- Relies solely on wood pellets
- Cleaning requires more effort, especially with removing ash from the wood pellets
- Made of stainless steel with decent quality
- Half-circle dome design
- Straightforward assembly
- Lightweight and portable
- Cleaning is manageable
- Lacks premium finishing
- Maintaining a consistent temperature above 550°F can be challenging
- Exclusively powered by hardwood pellets
Ultimately, the choice between the Big Horn Pizza Oven and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven depends on your specific needs and preferences. Both ovens bring unique strengths to the table, whether it’s the Big Horn’s portability and affordability or the Deco Chef’s versatile cooking capabilities. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, lightweight option with a smoky flavor, the Big Horn might be your go-to. On the other hand, if you want a sleek design and the ability to cook a variety of dishes, the Deco Chef could be the better fit.
If you decide to purchase one, I’d highly appreciate it if you used my referral links. It helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. Check out the latest price and details for the Big Horn Pizza Oven here and for the Deco Chef Pizza Oven here. Happy pizza-making!