As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the opportunity to test both the Gozney Roccbox and Ooni Karu 12 pizza ovens in my kitchen. In this comparison, I’ll share how these two ovens stack up based on quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and a real pizza cooking test. For a deeper dive into my detailed testing process, be sure to check out my separate article on evaluating pizza ovens.
Gozney Roccbox: The Gozney Roccbox is a premium, dual-fuel pizza oven designed for both home and professional use, delivering restaurant-quality results with its efficient design.
Ooni Karu 12: The Ooni Karu 12 is a compact, versatile multi-fuel pizza oven known for its flexibility to use wood, charcoal, or gas, making it a popular choice for outdoor cooking enthusiasts.
Here, I’ve done an in-depth comparison of the Gozney Roccbox vs. Ooni Karu 12, backed by my test results.
Disclaimer: This article includes referral links that help keep my blog running. If you decide to purchase one of these ovens, using my links would be greatly appreciated and will not cost you anything extra:
Gozney Roccbox VS Ooni Karu 12: Quality and Materials
| The Gozney Roccbox stands out for its exceptional craftsmanship, using dense insulation, a thick stone floor, and premium stainless steel construction. It’s built for professional-grade performance. |
The Ooni Karu 12 also boasts high-quality construction with a durable stainless steel exterior. Its reinforced components are designed to withstand high heat, ensuring long-lasting performance.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Ooni Karu 12: Temperature Control
| The Roccbox reaches up to 950°F with precise control, making it easy to achieve crispy, restaurant-quality pizzas in just 60 seconds. The rolling flame ensures even heat distribution across the pizza. |
The Ooni Karu 12 is versatile, capable of reaching 900°F in 15-20 minutes. While wood-fired cooking requires more hands-on management, the option to switch to gas simplifies temperature control. However, it can take practice to maintain even heat with wood.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Ooni Karu 12: Shape
| The Roccbox’s thoughtfully designed shape ensures optimal heat retention and distribution, enhancing airflow for perfectly cooked pizzas. Its dome shape allows for consistent cooking results. |
The Karu 12 features a compact dome shape that enhances heat circulation and retention. Its sealed design minimizes smoke escape, ensuring a great cook for both wood and gas. However, managing airflow with wood can require more adjustments.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Ooni Karu 12: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Using the Roccbox was seamless from the start. It’s incredibly user-friendly, heating up quickly and cooking pizzas in just 60 seconds. Even beginners can achieve pro-level results with minimal effort. |
The Karu 12 setup was easy, and its multi-fuel capability is impressive. However, the wood-fired setup has a learning curve, especially when managing heat and airflow. With practice, it delivers excellent results.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Ooni Karu 12: Power Source
| The Roccbox offers dual-fuel capabilities, supporting both propane gas and wood. This flexibility lets you choose between the convenience of gas or the rich flavors of wood-fired cooking. |
The Karu 12 is also multi-fuel, allowing the use of wood, charcoal, or gas (with a separately purchased burner). This versatility is perfect for those who enjoy experimenting with different cooking styles, though gas adds convenience.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Ooni Karu 12: Size
| The Roccbox weighs 49.9 pounds, providing stability without sacrificing portability. It’s compact enough for easy transport, making it ideal for outdoor use while retaining professional performance. |
The Karu 12 is lighter at 26 pounds, making it highly portable and perfect for camping or backyard setups. Despite its lighter weight, it maintains durability and can handle intense heat.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Ooni Karu 12: Ease of Cleaning
| The Roccbox is straightforward to clean. A quick brush for the stone and a wipe-down with soapy water keep it in excellent condition. It’s designed for hassle-free maintenance. |
Cleaning the Karu 12 requires regular ash removal when using wood. Wiping down soot from the chimney and stone is necessary, though it’s relatively simple. Gas mode reduces the need for intensive cleaning.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Gozney Roccbox heats up impressively fast, reaching its peak temperature of 950°F in just about 15 minutes. For the cooking test, I prepared a classic Margherita pizza, which was ready in just 60 seconds. The results were outstanding: a beautifully crispy crust with a light, airy texture, perfectly melted mozzarella, and a hint of char that added a rich, smoky flavor. The high heat and even distribution ensured that the toppings caramelized without burning, delivering a true Neapolitan-style pizza with a delightful balance of flavors.
The Ooni Karu 12 took around 15-20 minutes to reach its optimal temperature of 900°F using wood. The Margherita pizza cooked in about 90 seconds. The crust was crispy with a pleasant, slightly charred edge, while the toppings were well-melted and flavorful. The wood-fired setup added a distinct smoky aroma that enhanced the overall taste. However, it required more attention and occasional rotation to cook evenly, especially when using wood as fuel. Despite the slight learning curve, the results were delicious and authentic, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a hands-on cooking experience.
Verdict: While both ovens produced excellent pizzas, the Gozney Roccbox was faster and more consistent, delivering flawless results in less time. The Ooni Karu 12 offered a fantastic wood-fired flavor but required more manual adjustments to achieve even cooking.
How We Tested
To compare the Gozney Roccbox and Ooni Karu 12, I conducted cooking tests at my restaurant using the same dough, sauce, and toppings for consistency. Both ovens were monitored with a thermometer to ensure accurate temperatures.
The Roccbox heated up to 950°F in about 15 minutes, while the Karu 12 took around 15-20 minutes to reach 900°F using wood. Once preheated, I tested each oven with a Margherita pizza. The Roccbox cooked the pizza in just 60 seconds, producing a perfectly crispy crust with evenly melted toppings. The Karu 12 needed around 90 seconds and required some rotation to ensure even cooking due to its wood-fired setup.
In terms of taste, the Roccbox delivered a light, crispy crust with balanced toppings, while the Karu 12 offered a rich, smoky flavor with a slightly charred finish. The Roccbox excelled in speed and consistency, while the Karu 12 stood out for its authentic, wood-fired aroma.
Conclusion
Both the Gozney Roccbox and Ooni Karu 12 are exceptional pizza ovens, each offering unique advantages. The Roccbox is ideal for those who prioritize speed, ease of use, and consistent, professional-quality results. On the other hand, the Karu 12 is perfect for enthusiasts who enjoy the hands-on experience of wood-fired cooking and appreciate the rich, smoky flavors it can deliver.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your cooking style and preferences. Whether you value the convenience of the Roccbox or the versatility of the Karu 12, both ovens are capable of producing delicious pizzas.
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