Baking bread in a wood-fired pizza oven has become more and more popular in recent years.
There is something magical about watching the dough spring up and the bread form a crisp crust in just a few minutes. Here we go through the benefits of baking bread in a pizza oven, which kinds of bread suit it best, and how to get the oven to the perfect temperature. We also share a few tips and four different recipes for you to try!
What are the benefits of baking bread in a pizza oven?
A wood-fired pizza oven can reach temperatures of over 400 degrees Celsius, which is hotter than most ordinary ovens. That means the bread bakes faster and gets a lovely crisp surface without drying out. The high temperature also gives the bread a better, more even bake.
Better flavor
Baking bread in a wood-fired pizza oven gives a completely different flavor experience from baking in a regular oven. That is because the oven gives the bread a smoky, rustic taste. On top of that, the bread gets a wonderfully crunchy surface and a soft, airy crumb.
Lower energy use
A wood-fired pizza oven needs less energy to hold its heat than a regular oven. That is because the oven is smaller and the heat from the fire can be reused. And you don’t have to worry about the electricity bill when you use a wood-fired oven!
A wood-fired pizza oven can be used for much more than just baking pizza. You can bake bread, cookies and pies, or even cook meals in it. That makes it a very versatile and useful oven to have in the kitchen.
The experience
Baking bread in a wood-fired pizza oven is an experience in itself. It is a different and fun activity to share with friends or family. It is also a chance to unwind and enjoy being outdoors while you bake.
What kind of bread can I bake in a pizza oven?
You can bake almost any kind of bread in a pizza oven, but some types suit it better than others. Breads with a high-hydration dough, like ciabatta or focaccia, are perfect for a pizza oven because the dough turns crispier and the bread picks up a light touch of smoke. Other breads that work well in a pizza oven are baguettes, sourdough loaves and pizza dough that you can use to make calzone.
How hot should the pizza oven be?
The temperature in the pizza oven is decisive for getting the perfect bread.
First of all, keep in mind that a wood-fired pizza oven can get much hotter than a regular oven. While a regular oven rarely goes above 250–300 degrees Celsius, a wood-fired pizza oven can easily reach temperatures of over 400 degrees Celsius. That is perfect for baking bread, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
A general guideline for baking bread in a wood-fired pizza oven is to keep the temperature at about 250–300 degrees Celsius. That gives enough heat for the bread to bake through properly and get a lovely crisp crust. But it’s also important to keep an eye on the temperature throughout the bake so the bread doesn’t burn.
Another tip is to keep the temperature as steady as possible during the whole bake. A wood-fired pizza oven can have quite large temperature swings, so it can be a good idea to add wood and adjust the air supply regularly to hold the temperature constant.
What is important to keep in mind?
Baking bread in a wood-fired pizza oven can be a fantastic experience, but there are also a few things to keep in mind to get the best result. Here are some important things to remember when you bake bread in a wood-fired pizza oven.
First of all, it’s important to have the right kind of dough. A dough that is too thin or dry can burn onto the surface or dry out in the hot oven. A dough that is too sticky or loose, on the other hand, can collapse and not bake through properly. Follow the recipe carefully and adjust the amount of flour and water if needed.
Another important tip is to keep an eye on the oven temperature, which we talked about in the previous section of this article. Make sure to keep the temperature steady and adjust it to the type of bread you’re baking. Some breads need higher temperatures than others to bake properly.
When you bake bread in a wood-fired pizza oven, it’s also important to have the right tools. A pizza peel, for example, is an indispensable tool for putting the bread into the oven and taking it out. A pastry brush is also handy for brushing the bread with olive oil or another flavored oil, to give it extra flavor and a crisp crust.
Another thing to remember is to make sure the oven is properly preheated before you put the bread in. This helps create a lovely crust on the bread and makes sure it bakes through properly.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new recipes and techniques when you bake bread in your wood-fired pizza oven. There are so many fantastic recipes out there, and a wood-fired pizza oven lets you bake bread in a completely different way than in a regular oven. Below are a few simple recipes to try.
Ciabatta
Ingredients:
- 1 lb 1¾ oz special wheat flour (high-protein bread flour)
- 10 g yeast
- 10 g salt
- 13 oz lukewarm water
Method:
- Mix the flour and yeast in a large bowl.
- Add the salt and mix well.
- Pour in the water and stir until everything is well combined.
- Let the dough rise for about 1.5–2 hours.
- When the dough has finished rising, pour it onto a floured surface and shape it into two oval loaves.
- Let the loaves rise for another 30 minutes.
- Make sure the pizza oven is at a temperature of 250–300 degrees Celsius and let it heat up for at least an hour.
- When the oven is hot, oil the pizza peel and load the loaves.
- Bake the loaves for about 10–15 minutes, until they have a lovely golden color.
Sourdough bread
Ingredients:
- 1 lb 1¾ oz special wheat flour
- 5½ oz sourdough starter
- 10 g salt
- 13 oz lukewarm water
Method:
- Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the sourdough starter and the water and stir until everything is well combined.
- Let the dough rise for about 8–12 hours.
- When the dough has finished rising, pour it onto a floured surface and shape it into a round loaf.
- Let the loaf rise for another 30 minutes.
- Make sure the pizza oven is at a temperature of 250–300 degrees Celsius and let it heat up for at least an hour.
- When the oven is hot, oil the pizza peel and load the loaf.
- Bake the loaf for about 20–25 minutes, until it has a lovely golden color.
Focaccia
Ingredients:
- 1 lb 1¾ oz special wheat flour
- 10 g yeast
- 10 g salt
- 13 oz lukewarm water
- ⅓ cup + 1½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp flaky sea salt
- Fresh rosemary
Method:
- Mix the flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the water and 1/¾ cup + 1½ tbsp of the olive oil and stir until everything is well combined.
- Let the dough rise for about 1–2 hours.
- When the dough has finished rising, pour it onto a floured surface and shape it into a large rectangle.
- Place the dough on an oiled baking sheet and press it out with your fingers so small dimples form.
- Drizzle the rest of the olive oil over it and sprinkle on the flaky salt and rosemary.
- Make sure the pizza oven is at a temperature of 250–300 degrees Celsius and let it heat up for at least an hour.
- When the oven is hot, bring out the pizza peel and slide in the focaccia.
- Bake the focaccia for about 10–15 minutes, until it has a lovely golden color.
Baguettes
Ingredients:
- 1 lb 1¾ oz special wheat flour
- 10 g yeast
- 10 g salt
- 13 oz lukewarm water
Method:
- Mix the flour and yeast in a large bowl.
- Add the salt and mix well.
- Pour in the water and stir until everything is well combined.
- Let the dough rise for about 1.5–2 hours.
- When the dough has finished rising, pour it onto a floured surface and shape it into three long baguettes.
- Let the baguettes rise for another 30 minutes.
- Make sure the pizza oven is at a temperature of 250–300 degrees Celsius and let it heat up for at least an hour.
- When the oven is hot, bring out the pizza peel and load the baguettes.
- Bake the baguettes for about 10–15 minutes, until they have a lovely golden color.
