Ooni Karu 16 Review: Is It Worth It?
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Ooni Karu 16
Cooks who want big 16-inch pies and the freedom to burn wood, charcoal, or gas.
Ooni · Ooni Karu 16
Here is what makes it special: the front door has a glass window. That means you can peek at your pizza without opening the door and letting all the heat run out. It's like a little TV that shows a cheese show. You also get a built-in temperature gauge on top, so you don't have to guess when it's hot enough.
Fuel-wise, you have options. Burn wood or charcoal for that smoky, campfire flavor, or snap on the gas burner (sold separately) for easy, steady heat. The stone floor is big and wide, so you have plenty of room to turn your pizza like a merry-go-round. Give it 15 to 20 minutes to heat up, turn every 20 seconds, and you'll pull out a pie that looks like it came from a fancy pizzeria.
Now the honest part, and we say this kindly: the Karu 16 is heavier and pricier than the Karu 12. At around 62 pounds, it's not the oven you toss in the trunk for a picnic. It's a stay-at-home oven. And the bigger size means a bigger bill, so check the current price on Amazon before you fall in love. If you don't need 16-inch pies, the smaller Karu 12 may save you money and your back.
The specs, in plain English
Fuel
Wood, charcoal, or gas
Max Temp
~950°F
Cook Time
~60 sec
Pizza Size
16-inch pizzas
Weight
~62.6 lbs
Type
Multi-Fuel
What's great & what's not
What's great
- Cooks a big 16-inch pizza in about 60 seconds
- Multi-fuel freedom: wood, charcoal, or gas
- Glass front door lets you watch without losing heat
- Built-in temperature gauge takes out the guesswork
The honest downsides
- Heavier and pricier than the Karu 12
- Gas burner is sold separately
- Too big and heavy to be truly portable
The Ooni Karu 16 is a big, beautiful, do-it-all oven that turns out restaurant-worthy pizza with wood, charcoal, or gas. If you have the space and the budget, you'll love it.
If the Ooni Karu 16 isn't quite right
Dad's FAQ
Is the Ooni Karu 16 worth the money?
Yes, if you want big 16-inch pizzas and the freedom to cook with wood, charcoal, or gas. It costs more than smaller ovens, so check the current price on Amazon and weigh it against the Karu 12 if size isn't a must.
Does the Ooni Karu 16 come with a gas burner?
No, the gas burner is sold separately. Out of the box it burns wood and charcoal, and you can add the gas attachment later for easy, steady heat.
How big of a pizza can the Ooni Karu 16 make?
It fits pizzas up to 16 inches wide. That's a full-size pie, big enough to feed the whole hungry table.
Ready to fire it up?
Ooni Karu 16 · Ooni