There are a lot of backyard pizza ovens available these days. Should the Kiln S-Series 16″ Pizza Oven be on your list to add to your backyard arsenal? After a few months of testing, below is an honest review of this mid-range pizza oven.
In-Depth Video Review
Check out my review on the Seared and Smoked YouTube channel below for an in-depth look at the Everdure Kiln S-Series Pizza Oven…
Kiln S-Series First Impressions
- Big enough to fit 16" Pizzas, but cooks 14" pizza more comfortably
- Its a big oven, so not portable, but small enough it can fit on most outdoor counter surfaces
- It has a nice space age look to it, kind of like a flying saucer that landed on your countertop... it looks sharp
- Setup out of the box was easy, as it it comes assembled. Just drop in the pizza stone and you are ready to go with a propane tank.
- The U-shaped burner is a nice innovation compared to other pizza oven burners I have seen
- Great price for a 16" Pizza Oven - check current price
How Long will it take to Heat Up?
I found it took about 30 minutes for the Kiln S-Series to heat up to a sufficient temperature of 650°F for new york style pizzas. If you let it heat up for 40 minutes you can get to temperatures of 750°F or more. If you are looking for 900°F or higher temperatures… then I would check out Everdure’s higher end Kiln R-Series with the rotating stone.
Can you Bake Pizzas Back to Back?
From my use of the Kiln Pizza Oven, it is best to have a little time between pizzas to reheat the pizza stone. I found having 5 minutes between pizzas worked well for getting consistent results. For your average backyard party with your family, this works fine. If you are trying to sell pizzas on the street, then this is not your oven.
Quality of Pizza from the Kiln S-Series
I have been really happy with the quality of pizzas and the quality of the crust developed from the cooks I have cooked on the Kiln S-Series Pizza Oven. It may not be the best for super high temperature pizza styles, such as neopolitan pizza, but it really does a nice job with New York Style and New Haven Style Pizza, which both have a medium-thin crust with a little chew to it. Check out my recipe for amazing 14″ pizzas with a crispy chewy crust… my favorite style for everyday pizza.
I also found it worked well for Tavern Style Thin Crust Pizzas. I have not experimented yet with Detroit Style Thick Crust Pizzas, but I think they would do well in this oven as you can dial down the temperature as needed with the easy to control gas burner.
Kiln S-Series Pros
- Heats up pretty quick, much faster than a pizza stone in your home oven
- Nice balance of size and price. Its an affordable oven with a good amount of space for larger pizzas.
- Great pizza at medium temperature ranges, for doughs that perform well in 600-700°F ovens.
Kiln S-Series Cons
- The ignition system could be a little easier to use. It works fine after you get used to it, but it could be easier to use
- If the stone was a little thicker, it might retain more heat and not require several minutes to bounce back to required temperatures.
- The U-Shape burner works well, but it would be great if it was extended closer to the front of the oven for higher temperatures by the front of the oven.
Recipes for Great Homemade Pizza
If you are a pizza lover, you will want to check out my other favorite Pizza Recipes and Tips for homemade pizza:
Final Thoughts on the Kiln Pizza Oven
For a price of $600-700, the Kiln S-Series Pizza Oven is worth a look for backyard weekend warriors. It looks good in your backyard and the overall performance is consistent and easy to manage. After a few test runs, I found that I could crank out quality pizzas pretty much every time, without much stress.
I love the extra room this 16″ pizza oven has, compared to some of the smaller 12″ ovens, such as the Gozney Roccbox, which I have also owned and used for a few years. I do not think I can use a smaller pizza oven again?
If you are looking for a quality pizza oven in the middle price range, I would give the S-Series a look. Check out the latest price here.
