As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the opportunity to test a variety of pizza ovens in my kitchen. In this comparison, I’ll be taking a closer look at the Halo Versa 16 and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven. These two ovens cater to different preferences and needs, and I’ve assessed them based on their quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and a real pizza cooking test to see how they perform. If you’re curious about my detailed testing process, feel free to check out my separate article that explains everything step-by-step.
The Halo Versa 16 is a sleek, propane-powered pizza oven designed for efficiency and consistent results, while the Deco Chef Pizza Oven is a versatile, wood-fired oven that brings a rustic cooking experience to your outdoor setup.
I’ve compared the Halo Versa 16 and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven in detail in this article, using my own test results.
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.7
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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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- Durable stainless steel build and a Cordierite stone
- Reached about 900°F
- More spacious interior and can handle larger pizzas up to 16 inches
- Lighter at 43.2 pounds
- Runs solely on propane gas
- Stone may require more effort to maintain due to occasional residue build-up
- 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
At the end of this comparison, I’ll include referral links for both ovens. If you decide to purchase one, using these links helps support my blog and allows me to continue sharing in-depth reviews—all at no additional cost to you. Stay tuned!
Halo Versa 16 VS Deco Chef: Quality and Materials
| The Halo Versa 16 is built with high-quality stainless steel and durable components, ideal for long-term use in both home and commercial settings. |
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven uses stainless steel with three-layer insulation, offering decent durability but less robust compared to the Halo Versa 16.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Deco Chef: Temperature Control
| The Halo Versa 16 reaches up to 950°F in 20 minutes. The built-in thermometer simplifies monitoring, though rear burners may need adjustment for consistent results. |
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven uses hardwood pellets and can also reach 950°F. However, maintaining consistent heat requires regular pellet refilling and monitoring.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Deco Chef: Shape
| The Halo Versa 16 is designed to accommodate pizzas up to 16 inches, with a shape that ensures even heat distribution and versatility for different pizza styles. |
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven has a compact, dome-shaped design suitable for pizzas up to 13 inches. Its shape provides even cooking but limits larger pizza sizes.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Deco Chef: First-Time Usage Impressions
| The Halo Versa 16 is easy to set up and feels premium. First-time use may require slight adjustments to master, but the oven delivers consistent results. |
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven includes useful accessories like a pizza peel and dough scraper, but learning to manage the pellet feed effectively may take time.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Deco Chef: Power Source
| Propane gas provides hassle-free temperature control and quick heating, with compatibility for both large LP tanks and portable canisters. |
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven uses hardwood pellets, offering a smoky flavor but requiring frequent refueling and more manual management.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Deco Chef: Size
| The Halo Versa 16 has a spacious 16-inch cooking surface, with overall dimensions of 24.3″ x 21.64″ x 14.82″. It weighs 43.21 lbs., making it manageable for outdoor use. |
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven is compact at 15.5″ W x 20.5″ L x 29.1″ H and lightweight at 30 lbs., ideal for portability and smaller spaces.
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Halo Versa 16 VS Deco Chef: Ease of Cleaning
| The Halo Versa 16 features a hinged top for easy access, and its Cordierite stone and crumb tray are simple to clean. |
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven includes removable components like a drip tray and stone, making cleaning straightforward but requiring more frequent maintenance due to pellet ash.
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Pizza Cooking Test
In the pizza cooking test, the Halo Versa 16 performed impressively, taking about 20 minutes to preheat to 732°F. Although slightly below the manufacturer’s claim of 950°F in 12 minutes, the oven provided consistent and efficient heating. A classic Neapolitan-style Margherita pizza was cooked to perfection in under 2 minutes, delivering a crisp golden-brown crust with evenly melted toppings. The result was a well-balanced flavor profile, with a crispy base, slightly charred crust, and gooey cheese. The propane heat source ensured a clean and consistent bake, making the process straightforward and enjoyable.
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven had its own strengths. It heated up in 15 to 20 minutes, reaching temperatures between 700 and 950°F, although maintaining consistent heat required careful feeding of hardwood pellets. The Margherita pizza was ready in just 60 to 90 seconds, but slight temperature inconsistencies led to some uneven browning on the crust. The taste was highlighted by a delightful smoky flavor from the wood pellets, though parts of the crust were undercooked, requiring close attention during cooking.
While both ovens produced great results, the Halo Versa 16 excelled in delivering consistent baking with minimal effort, whereas the Deco Chef Pizza Oven offered a unique smoky flavor but required more hands-on adjustments for the best outcome.
How We Tested
To evaluate the performance of the Halo Versa 16 and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven, we conducted a series of hands-on cooking tests in a controlled outdoor setting. Both ovens were set up on stable surfaces, ensuring proper ventilation and safety during operation. We prepared identical Margherita pizzas using fresh dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil, maintaining uniformity in size and thickness to ensure fair results.
For the Halo Versa 16, we used propane as the power source and followed the manufacturer’s instructions for preheating. The oven was allowed to reach its optimal cooking temperature, and we monitored the heat using an infrared thermometer to gauge the accuracy of the built-in thermometer. Pizzas were cooked individually, with close observation of crust texture, cheese melt, and overall baking consistency. Any necessary adjustments to cooking placement, such as lifting the pizza closer to the rear burner for better top browning, were made based on observations during the test.
The Deco Chef Pizza Oven was tested using hardwood pellets as fuel, gradually feeding them to maintain a consistent flame. Preheating time was carefully recorded, and the internal stone temperature was checked using the same infrared thermometer. The pizzas were cooked one at a time, with special attention paid to the impact of the smaller cooking surface and the potential for uneven heat distribution. We monitored the cooking process closely to identify any temperature fluctuations or challenges with pellet refueling.
Through these tests, we compared preheating times, cooking speeds, and final pizza quality, including crust texture, cheese melt, and overall flavor. Both ovens demonstrated their unique strengths, but the results revealed notable differences in convenience, heat consistency, and ease of use, providing valuable insights for potential buyers.
Conclusion
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Winner
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Loser
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Our Rating:
4.7
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Our Rating:
3.2
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|
Pros:
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Pros:
|
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
- Durable stainless steel build and a Cordierite stone
- Reached about 900°F
- More spacious interior and can handle larger pizzas up to 16 inches
- Lighter at 43.2 pounds
- Runs solely on propane gas
- Stone may require more effort to maintain due to occasional residue build-up
- 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 Halo Versa 16 and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven depends on your personal preferences and cooking needs. Both ovens bring unique features to the table—whether you prioritize the ease of propane use and consistent heat distribution of the Halo Versa 16 or the affordability and portability of the Deco Chef Pizza Oven.
If you decide to purchase either of these ovens, I’d greatly appreciate it if you used my referral links for your purchase. This helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. Here’s the Halo Versa 16 and the Deco Chef Pizza Oven. Thank you for your support, and happy pizza-making!