Can You Use Charcoal in a Pizza Oven?

Charcoal is easy to buy, easy to light and burns steadily, so it is natural to wonder whether it will work in your pizza oven. The answer depends on the oven, and on how you use the charcoal. Here is what you need to know.

Which pizza ovens can use charcoal?

• Multi-fuel ovens, such as the Ooni Karu range, are designed for wood, charcoal or a mix. These are the ovens where charcoal works best.
• Traditional brick and wood fired ovens can burn charcoal, although most people use wood for the bigger flame.
• Gas only ovens, such as the Ooni Koda, are not designed for solid fuel. Do not put charcoal in them.
• Pellet ovens are designed around pellets. Check your manual before trying anything else.

If in doubt, check the manual. Using a fuel the oven was not designed for can damage it and void the warranty.

Lump charcoal, not briquettes

Ooni recommends good quality lumpwood charcoal and advises against briquettes. Here is why:

• Heat. Lump charcoal burns hotter, which matters when you need the stone at 750°F (400°C) or more.
• Ash. Briquettes produce a lot of ash, which can smother the fire and blow onto your pizza.
• Additives. Many briquettes contain binders, and some contain lighting agents that give off fumes and flavors you do not want near your dough.
• Size. Lump charcoal comes in irregular pieces that leave gaps for air to flow through the fuel tray.

Charcoal on its own vs charcoal and wood

Charcoal is excellent at producing steady heat from below. What it does not produce is much flame. A pizza oven relies on a rolling flame across the roof to cook the top of the pizza and blister the crust.

That is why the best approach for most people is both:

• Charcoal gives a stable bed of heat and keeps the stone hot.
• Small pieces of hardwood added on top give the flame for the top of the pizza.

Charcoal alone works well for slower cooking such as breads, roasted vegetables and meat, where you do not need fierce top heat.

How to fire a pizza oven with charcoal

1. Clear any old ash out of the fuel tray so air can flow.
2. Add a single layer of lumpwood charcoal. Do not overfill the tray, as packing it full restricts the airflow and the fire burns cooler.
3. Light it with natural firelighters. Never use lighter fluid.
4. Open the chimney fully and remove the chimney cap.
5. Once the charcoal is glowing, add a couple of small pieces of kiln dried hardwood, no longer than about 8 inches (20 cm).
6. Close the door and preheat for 20 to 30 minutes, until the center of the stone reads at least 750°F (400°C) on an infrared thermometer.
7. Top up with a few pieces of charcoal and a small piece of wood every few pizzas, rather than adding a big load at once.

For more on getting the best from these ovens, read our Ooni review and top tips and the Ooni 101 guide.

Safety tips

• Only ever use a pizza oven outdoors, away from buildings and overhanging trees. Burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide.
• Use heat resistant gloves when adding fuel.
• Let the ash cool completely before emptying it, ideally overnight, into a metal container.
• Do not use treated, painted or resinous wood such as pine.

Keeping the stone clean

Charcoal produces less soot than wood, but ash and flour still build up on the stone. A quick brush between pizzas and a proper clean every few sessions keeps it cooking evenly. See our guide on how to clean a pizza oven stone.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use charcoal in a gas pizza oven?

No. Gas only ovens are not designed for solid fuel, and burning charcoal in one can damage the burner and is unsafe.

Can you use charcoal briquettes in a pizza oven?

It is not recommended. Briquettes burn cooler, produce more ash and can contain additives. Use lumpwood charcoal instead.

Does charcoal make pizza taste smoky?

Not much. Good lump charcoal burns quite cleanly. If you want more wood fired flavor, add small pieces of hardwood.

How much charcoal do I need for a pizza oven?

Start with a single layer in the fuel tray and top up a little at a time. Overfilling chokes the fire and lowers the temperature.

Sources: Ooni support: wood and charcoal for Karu 2 Pro.