As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve tested and worked with various pizza ovens in my kitchen. In this comparison, I’ll be sharing my insights on the Blackstone Pizza Oven and the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven, two models that I’ve used extensively. My evaluation covers essential aspects such as quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and the results of a real pizza cooking test. For a detailed breakdown of my testing process, check out my separate article on how I test pizza ovens.
The Blackstone Pizza Oven is a high-performance, propane-powered model that features a unique rotating pizza stone for even cooking. The Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven, on the other hand, combines portability with authentic pizza-making capabilities, modeled after traditional wood-fired ovens.
Here, I’ve done an in-depth comparison of the Blackstone and the Camp Chef Italia, backed by my test results.
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.5
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Our Rating:
4.4
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Durable construction with a stainless-steel cooking chamber and a heavy-Duty cast iron rotating tray
- Capable of reaching 900°F
- Unique design
- Heavier and bulkier
- Took longer to assemble
- Powered by a single, high-pressure propane burner
- Requires more effort to clean
- Made with stainless steel and has a double-layer ceiling
- Can reach 750°F
- Smooth dome shape
- Thinner metal frame may impact its durability over time
- Requires careful management, especially on windy days
- Took a bit longer to set up
- Propane-only
- Portable but slightly bulkier
Lastly, please note that this article includes referral links, which help keep my blog alive. If you decide to purchase one of these ovens, I’d greatly appreciate your support!
Blackstone VS Camp Chef Italia: Quality and Materials
| The Blackstone Pizza Oven is built with high-quality materials, including a stainless-steel cooking chamber, durable cast iron rotating tray base, and double-wall insulation for even heat distribution and durability. |
The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven is made of stainless steel and features a double-layer ceiling for rigidity, but its thinner metal frame raises concerns about long-term durability.
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Blackstone VS Camp Chef Italia: Temperature Control
| The Blackstone Pizza Oven reaches up to 900+ degrees Fahrenheit with a powerful 60,000 BTU propane burner, providing precise control and consistent performance for professional-grade results. |
The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven achieves temperatures over 750°F and maintains them well, but its heating system requires more manual adjustments for precision.
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Blackstone VS Camp Chef Italia: Shape
| The unique design of the Blackstone Pizza Oven includes a burner placed away from the pizza stone and a rotating tray, ensuring evenly cooked pizzas with minimal effort. |
The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven has a smooth dome top that facilitates even heat circulation, though its compact interior makes rotating larger pizzas challenging.
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Blackstone VS Camp Chef Italia: First-Time Usage Impressions
| The Blackstone Pizza Oven impressed with its robust build and powerful performance, though assembly required two people due to its size and weight. The rotating tray was intuitive and enhanced even cooking. |
The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven was easy to set up but felt less substantial. The cooking space was smaller, and the lack of a wood-fired flavor detracted slightly from the pizza experience.
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Blackstone VS Camp Chef Italia: Power Source
| The Blackstone Pizza Oven uses a high-pressure propane burner that delivers consistent and rapid heating, making it ideal for outdoor cooking. |
The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven also runs on propane and includes a regulator, offering convenience but lacking the power and efficiency of the Blackstone.
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Blackstone VS Camp Chef Italia: Size
| The Blackstone Pizza Oven is larger and heavier, making it best suited for stationary use in a backyard or patio. Its wheeled cart enhances mobility despite its substantial size. |
The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven, while lighter at 47 pounds, has a smaller cooking area and lower roof, which can limit the size of pizzas and dishes it can handle.
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Blackstone VS Camp Chef Italia: Ease of Cleaning
| The Blackstone Pizza Oven is straightforward to clean, with a removable pizza stone and durable materials that withstand frequent use. |
The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven is also easy to clean, with its stainless steel surfaces and a method for burning off food debris, though its smaller size makes it less convenient for larger-scale cooking.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Blackstone Pizza Oven showcased its power and efficiency during our tests. It heated up to its optimal cooking temperature of over 900°F in just 10 minutes, demonstrating its high-performance 60,000 BTU propane burner. When we tested it with a classic Margherita pizza, the oven cooked it in an impressive 70 seconds. The rotating stone ensured even cooking, delivering a pizza with a crispy, golden crust, bubbling cheese, and well-cooked toppings. The taste was outstanding, with a texture and flavor that matched professional-grade results.
In comparison, the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven took slightly longer to preheat, reaching its maximum temperature of 750°F in about 20 minutes. The Margherita pizza cooked in approximately 7 to 9 minutes, depending on the dough type and thickness. While the oven produced a nicely browned crust and flavorful toppings, achieving an evenly cooked pizza required careful rotation due to the smaller cooking space. The lack of a wood-fired flavor, which many associate with traditional pizzas, was a noticeable difference.
Both ovens delivered delicious pizzas, but the Blackstone Pizza Oven stood out for its speed, consistency, and ease of achieving a perfect crust and evenly cooked toppings. The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven provided a solid performance, but its slower cooking time and smaller interior required more attention during the process.
How We Tested
To provide a fair and thorough comparison of the Blackstone Pizza Oven and the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven, we conducted a series of tests focusing on real-world cooking scenarios. The goal was to evaluate their performance, usability, and the quality of the pizzas they produced.
We began by preheating both ovens to their optimal cooking temperatures. Using built-in thermometers and an infrared thermometer, we measured how long each oven took to reach its recommended heat level and assessed the consistency of the temperature across the cooking surface.
Next, we prepared a classic Margherita pizza in both ovens. This simple recipe allowed us to focus on each oven’s ability to create a crispy crust, evenly melted cheese, and well-cooked toppings. To maintain consistency, we used the same dough, sauce, and toppings in both tests.
The cooking process was closely monitored to evaluate the ease of use. With the Blackstone Pizza Oven, we noted the benefits of its rotating tray, which required minimal intervention during cooking. In contrast, the Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven demanded more hands-on attention, including frequent pizza rotation to ensure even baking due to its smaller cooking area.
Taste and texture were critical components of our assessment. We evaluated the crispiness of the crust, the melt and browning of the cheese, and the overall flavor profile of each pizza. Special attention was given to how each oven’s design and temperature control influenced the final results.
Finally, we evaluated ease of cleanup and versatility. Both ovens were tested for their ability to cook additional dishes like flatbreads and roasted vegetables, providing insights into their multi-functionality.
This comprehensive testing approach ensured a balanced evaluation of the Blackstone Pizza Oven and the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven, highlighting their strengths and any areas for improvement.
Final Thoughts
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.5
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Our Rating:
4.4
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Pros:
|
Pros:
|
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
- Durable construction with a stainless-steel cooking chamber and a heavy-Duty cast iron rotating tray
- Capable of reaching 900°F
- Unique design
- Heavier and bulkier
- Took longer to assemble
- Powered by a single, high-pressure propane burner
- Requires more effort to clean
- Made with stainless steel and has a double-layer ceiling
- Can reach 750°F
- Smooth dome shape
- Thinner metal frame may impact its durability over time
- Requires careful management, especially on windy days
- Took a bit longer to set up
- Propane-only
- Portable but slightly bulkier
Both the Blackstone Pizza Oven and the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven bring unique features and capabilities to outdoor pizza-making. The Blackstone Pizza Oven stands out with its powerful burner, rapid heating, and innovative rotating tray, making it ideal for those seeking professional-grade results with ease. The Camp Chef Italia Pizza Oven, on the other hand, offers a more compact design with a traditional dome shape, providing solid performance for casual outdoor cooking.
Ultimately, the choice between the two ovens depends on your needs and preferences. If you prioritize speed, high-temperature cooking, and consistent results, the Blackstone Pizza Oven may be the better option. For those who value portability and a more traditional oven design, the Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven could be the right fit.
If you decide to purchase one, I’d greatly appreciate it if you use my referral links. I’ll earn a small commission at no cost to you, which helps support my blog and allows me to continue sharing detailed reviews like this one.
Thank you for your support, and happy pizza-making!