Ooni Volt 2 Review: An Honest Test by a Professional Chef

With more than ten years of experience as a chef, I’ve prepared and served countless pizzas at my restaurant, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston. Over the years, I’ve used many different pizza ovens, and after testing the Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven for several months, I’ve identified some standout features that truly set it apart.

In this review of the Ooni Volt 2, I break down its build quality and materials, temperature control, design, first-use experience, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and – most importantly – its real-world performance in a pizza cooking test. For details on my testing process and professional approach, check out my article: How I Test Pizza Ovens.

The Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven is a game-changer for anyone who wants authentic, restaurant-quality pizza without stepping outside. Unlike Ooni’s wood- or gas-powered ovens, the Volt 2 is fully electric, safe for indoor use, and equipped with Ooni’s most advanced tech yet – the Pizza Intelligence™ adaptive control system. It’s designed to make Neapolitan-style pizza in 90 seconds, but it also doubles as a versatile countertop oven for everyday meals.

Disclaimer: This review contains affiliate links for the Ooni Volt 2 pizza oven. If you decide to buy through these links, I may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. My feedback, however, comes from genuine hands-on testing and over a decade of experience as a professional chef. The affiliate partnership does not influence the honest and unbiased opinions shared in this review.

How Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven Works and How To Use It

From a chef’s perspective, what stood out right away is how the Pizza Intelligence™ system mimics the way I manage heat manually in a commercial oven. Instead of me rotating pans or opening vents, the Volt 2 uses sensors and adaptive heating to balance the temperature in real time. I could feel the difference when cooking multiple pizzas back-to-back – the stone stayed hot and consistent. Using it is simple: choose a preset (Neapolitan, Thin & Crispy, or Pan Pizza), slide your dough onto the stone, and let it go. If you like tweaking, you can adjust crisping intensity or hit “Boost” for more top heat – something I found helpful for cheese-heavy pies.

Unboxing Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven and My First Impression

Unboxing Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven and My First Impression

When I unpacked the Volt 2, it reminded me more of a serious kitchen appliance than the smaller, lightweight ovens I’ve tested before. At nearly 39 lbs, it has heft — not something you casually move around, but that weight usually means stability and better heat retention. The design is sleek and modern, and the glass door immediately caught my eye. In a restaurant, you rely on visual cues — crust color, bubbling cheese — and being able to watch the bake without opening the oven door felt natural to me. My first thought: this isn’t a toy, it’s a real oven.

Quality and Materials

Quality and Materials The Volt 2

The build is impressive. The powder-coated carbon steel body with a stainless steel interior shell feels built to last, and the cordierite stone is thick enough to hold serious heat. I’ve cracked thinner stones in cheaper ovens, but this one stood up after repeated high-heat cycles. The tempered glass door is also a plus; in pro kitchens, glass often fogs or warps with heat, but this one held up well during my tests.

Shape of Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven

The Volt 2 has a low, rectangular shape, similar to other Ooni models, but a bit taller inside. The 3.6-inch opening is enough for pizzas, but I noticed you need to be mindful with thicker pans or doughs — it’s not meant for deep dishes or oversized pies. As a chef, I usually work with 12-inch rounds anyway, so the size felt practical, but if you’re used to making XL pizzas at home, this will feel restrictive.

Temperature Control

Temperature Control of Ooni Volt 2

This is where I really noticed a difference compared to standard home ovens. The 70 °F to 850 °F range is wide enough to cover proofing dough, baking bread, and, of course, Neapolitan pizza. The adaptive system automatically corrects temperature drops, which reminded me of how I constantly adjust airflow in a wood-fired oven. The Crisping Intensity is something I appreciated – if you like toppings more caramelized or want extra char, you can dial it in without overbaking the base.

Using it For the First Time

For my first test, I stretched out a classic Neapolitan dough, set the oven to its preset, and let it preheat. After about 12 minutes, it hit full temp. I slid in the pizza and within 90 seconds, I had a crust that looked and tasted close to what I serve in my restaurant. The balance of top and bottom heat was better than I expected — the cheese browned evenly while the crust stayed soft with leopard spots. My main takeaway: I didn’t have to fight with it the way I do with most home ovens.

Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven Power Source

Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven Power Source

Working in restaurants, I’m used to gas and wood, so switching to electric felt unusual at first. But I quickly realized the convenience. No propane tanks, no wood mess, no weather concerns. For someone in an apartment, this solves a big problem. From a chef’s view, the trade-off is you lose some of the smoky character wood-fired ovens give, but for pure consistency, electricity is a huge win.

Size

At 21.5 x 17.4 x 10.4 inches, the Volt 2 fits on a countertop, but at nearly 39 lbs, it’s not something you’ll move often. In my restaurant, ovens are anchored in place, so the weight didn’t bother me — it actually made it feel more professional. But for a casual home cook, it’s worth knowing this is more of a permanent fixture than a portable gadget.

How To Clean Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven

How To Clean Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven

Cleaning is refreshingly simple. The Volt 2 comes with a removable, dishwasher-safe filter system that vents smoke and steam while keeping the oven interior clean.

Cleaning the Exterior

After service in a restaurant, cleaning is routine, and I approached this oven the same way. The powder-coated steel wipes clean with a damp cloth, and the glass door was surprisingly easy to keep streak-free compared to other ovens I’ve used..

Baking Stone Care

Like all cordierite stones, this one doesn’t go in the dishwasher. I used a scraper to remove flour and crumbs. One detail I appreciated: the stone didn’t discolor as quickly as some cheaper ones I’ve tested. It absorbed heat evenly, and after a few weeks of use, it still looked solid.

Can I Use Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven Indoors?

Can I Use Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven Indoors?

Yes, and this is where it’s different from every other oven I’ve tested. Normally, I need a vent hood, open flames, and a fireproof setup. With the Volt 2, I baked in my kitchen without worrying about smoke or fumes. The built-in filter did its job – after a few back-to-back pizzas, the air was still clear.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Pizza in Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven?

How Long Does it Take to Cook Pizza in Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven?

In my tests, Neapolitan pizza baked in 90 seconds consistently, just like in my restaurant oven. Thicker pan pizzas took around 6–7 minutes, which is still fast compared to a conventional oven. The speed was one of the most impressive aspects for me.

How Long It Takes For Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven to Warm Up

It took about 12 minutes to hit full temperature. In a professional setting, we keep ovens hot all day, so this felt fast. For home cooks, it’s significantly quicker than preheating a standard oven.

Can I Cook Something Besides Pizza in it?

Can I Cook Something Besides Pizza in Ooni Volt 2?

I tested it with roasted vegetables, chicken thighs, and even baked a batch of cookies. The results were surprisingly good. I don’t usually expect multi-functionality from a pizza oven, but the Volt 2’s wide temp range made it possible. The dough-proofing mode at 70 °F is something I didn’t expect – it actually worked well for overnight dough rests.

Downsides

  • Heavier than Ooni’s portable models at nearly 39 lbs
  • Limited to 12-inch pizzas (no XL pies)
  • Premium price at $699
  • Requires a stable indoor space — not as easy to use outdoors as gas/wood models

From a chef’s perspective, those trade-offs make sense — you’re paying for precision and indoor convenience, not portability or smoke.

Price

the Volt 2 sits at the high end of Ooni’s lineup

At $699, the Volt 2 is on the premium end. I’ve spent far more on ovens that do less, but for a home cook, the price will feel steep. For me, what justifies it is the ability to replicate pizzeria heat indoors with consistent results.

How Does it Compare to Other Outdoor Pizza Ovens?

Compared to gas and wood Ooni models, the Volt 2 trades portability for convenience. Outdoors, I’d still choose gas or wood for flavor. Indoors, though, the Volt 2 is unmatched – you simply can’t use those ovens safely inside. If consistency and indoor safety matter most, this wins.

What Others Say

What Others Say Ooni Volt 2

Most users I’ve seen echo what I noticed: it’s easy to use, reliable, and produces pizzas close to restaurant quality. People mention the removable filter a lot, and I agree – it keeps kitchens smoke-free, which is a big plus.

My Cooking Tips for This Oven

  • Use the Boost mode for perfect leopard spotting on Neapolitan pizza.
  • Preheat for the full 12 minutes before cooking for best results.
  • Keep a pizza peel handy — things cook fast at 850 °F.
  • Experiment with the Crisping Intensity if you like crunchier toppings.
  • Don’t forget it’s more than pizza — try roasted vegetables or cookies.

Conclusion

The Ooni Volt 2 Electric Pizza Oven

After months of testing, I see the Ooni Volt 2 as the closest thing to a professional pizza oven you can safely use indoors. It won’t give you wood-fired smokiness, but it will give you speed, heat, and consistent results. As someone who bakes pizzas every day in a restaurant, I was genuinely impressed by how close this electric oven came to my professional setup.

If you want to bring the authentic Neapolitan pizza experience into your kitchen — no backyard required — the Volt 2 is worth every penny.

If you decide to purchase, I’d really appreciate it if you used my referral link.

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