This electric home pizza oven, the Ooni Volt 12, promises Neapolitan-style pizza without the need for an enormous garden. You can use it on a patio, balcony, and even indoors. But does it live up to the hype? I put the Ooni Volt 12 through its paces to see exactly how it worked and if it garnered equally as delicious results as the Ooni Karu 12G, for example.
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Pros
- Solid build: Durable and well-designed
- Easy setup: Quick to assemble and use
- Versatile use: Works both indoors and outdoors
- Fast preheat and reheat: Heats in 20 minutes with a 'boost' feature
- Good heat control: Adjustable dial for top and bottom heating
- Easy to clean: Simply wipe-down after use
Cons
- Bulky: Takes up counterspace; needs storage
- Indoor ventilation needed: Emits some smoke when opened
- Learning curve: Requires a few tries to master settings
- Few accessories included: Oven and stone only, extras sold separately
Testing the Ooni Volt 12 pizza oven
First impressions and setup
The Ooni Volt 12 is not a small package - it arrived in hefty and (mostly) plastic-free packaging. It was well-secured in the box, and I appreciated the simplicity of setup—just pop in the ceramic stone, plug it in, run it once for 20 minutes at full heat and you’re ready to go. I loved this easy start, no fiddling about with assembly. I guess I’m a lazy pizzaiolo.
Let’s talk about the size. This oven is bigger than I expected, likely due to the need for substantial insulation to reach those 450 degrees Celsius high temperatures. It looks fantastic and feels well-made - my son called it ‘a serious piece of kit’. Unless you’ve got a big kitchen, it’s better off as a pulled-out-for-the-occasion appliance. I tested it in November and didn’t fancy running cables outdoors, I’m not quite that brave. But for indoor use, it’s impressive as long as you’ve got a bit of extra countertop space.
Plugging it in
Once plugged in, the Ooni came to life with a series of beeps and piano-style tones that made me feel like I was powering up something special. The controls are straightforward, with a timer, a heat dial and an additional dial for top and bottom heat, unfortunately, I did find myself flipping back and forth between the text and images in the instruction manual a bit more than I’d like. Still, once you’ve got the hang of things, it’s surprisingly easy to get comfortable.
The oven heats up in about 20 minutes, and there’s a “boost” feature to quickly bring the stone back up to temp between pizzas. My son—who’s learned everything from YouTube—insisted that for a true Neapolitan pizza, you only need the top heater. It sounded good in theory, but I’d soon learn there’s a real art of balancing the heat and ignoring your children’s YouTube chefs.
The cooking test: Three pizzas in 10 minutes
First pizza
Let’s just say this one was a bit of a mess! I made the classic rookie mistake of building the pizza on the peel, and when it came time to slide it into the oven, it was practically glued in place. After some creative manoeuvring (shoving), I finally got it on the stone. Despite the rough start, it actually cooked nicely, with the crust rising beautifully. My son ate it up, calling it a win and the best pepperoni pizza he has eaten this side of our local pizzeria Mario’s, which is regarded to be one of the best this side of Naples.
Second pizza
Now we were cooking! After warming up the oven and carefully placing the pizza on the peel this time, I slid it into the Volt 12 and turned it every 30 seconds or so. The crust puffed up, the mozzarella melted to perfection, and in just under two minutes, I had a picture-perfect pizza. My daughter, ever the critic and a huge margarita fan, declared this one a success.
Third pizza
My own pizza, by which time the stone had cooled a bit. I’d kept the bottom heater too low after listening to the YouTube tips, which meant my pizza was golden on top but slightly undercooked on the bottom. Lesson learned! Even so, it tasted great, and I could tell with a few more tweaks, I’ll be turning out pizzas to rival Mario.
Beyond pizza: An oven for all seasons?
The Ooni Volt 12 has plenty of space to handle other foods, from roasted veg to chicken and even cookies, so it’s not a one-trick pizza pony. I’m looking forward to experimenting further with it, and I think it could earn a spot as a go-to oven for dishes that need a high and even heat. Since I tested the Ooni indoors, I placed it near our extractor fan, which I highly recommend. The oven lets out a bit of smoke each time you open the door, and while our smoke alarm didn’t go off, it was good to be prepared.
Clean-up
After we finished, the cleaning was simple. The stone just needed a dry wipe, and the glass door wiped clean easily. There’s no self-cleaning function, but honestly, with minimal residue left behind, it wasn’t an issue. You just need to flip the stone and next time you cook any left-over residue will be burned away.
Price and value
Let’s face it: the Ooni Volt 12 is an investment. But for anyone serious about their pizza (or who simply wants the convenience of a plug-in option), it’s worth it. We used Ooni’s excellent pre-prepared dough balls and Mutti Pizza Sauce, which were a treat. The dough balls are a bit pricier than making your own, but having them on hand is a win for those nights when only pizza will do, and you want minimal fuss. Tip: make sure you get them out of the freezer well before you need them so the dough can defrost and then rise.
Final verdict: Is the Ooni Volt 12 pizza oven worth it?
The Ooni Volt 12 has delivered on the promise of high-quality, homemade pizza with minimal hassle. It’s a sleek, substantial oven giving you the ease of electric cooking and excellent heat control. It takes a little trial and error to nail the perfect pizza (expect a few mistakes on that first attempt), but once you get the hang of the settings, it’s as close to a true Neapolitan experience as you’ll get at home.
For anyone who loves pizza nights and wants an oven without the wood or gas fuss, the Volt 12 is a fantastic choice. You’ll need a bit of space for it, and if you plan to cook indoors, some ventilation is a must. But with its quality build, quick preheating, and impressive performance, the Ooni Volt 12 has nailed it. For me, it’s made “pizza night” a whole new experience, and I’m genuinely excited to see what else I can cook up in it. Sorry Mario, I’m going to be practising and we might not be back for a while.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
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Ooni Volt 12 FAQs
How long does the Ooni Volt 12 take to heat up?
It takes around 20 minutes to reach full heat, with a boost function that quickly reheats between pizzas.
Can you use the Ooni Volt 12 indoors?
Yes, but make sure you have proper ventilation, as it does emit a bit of smoke when opened.
What else can you cook in the Ooni Volt 12?
Besides pizza, you can cook a variety of foods, from roasted vegetables to cookies.
Is the Ooni Volt 12 worth the price?
For pizza enthusiasts who want the convenience of an electric setup, it’s a worthwhile investment.
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Stuart Adam has been with Bauer Media for 17 years, working across motorcycling, golf, and automotive brands. Outside of work, Stuart enjoys family time, experimenting with new recipes, and playing golf with his son.