You’re ready to fire up your Ooni and serve delicious pizza to your family. But as luck would have it, it starts raining cats and dogs. Cooking your pizza in the stovetop oven just won’t do, so you think of another idea: moving your Ooni into the garage and cooking the pizza there.
But this begs the (very) important question: can you use an Ooni in a garage?
This article discusses everything you need to know about using an Ooni in the garage, including the safety hazard associated with it.
Can You Use an Ooni in a Garage?
No, you shouldn’t use an Ooni in a garage. Even with the door open to provide ventilation, the possible fire hazard is just too great to dismiss.
Most Ooni ovens are advertised for outdoor use. Unlike indoor pizza ovens, Ooni pizza ovens reach temperatures of up to 950°F in far less time. They burn dangerously hot and may trigger a spark when positioned close to flammable or combustible items—which garages have more than enough of.
Using an Ooni oven in the garage also increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause permanent brain damage or even death at high levels. Without proper ventilation, the gas may accumulate indoors and put everyone present at risk of CO poisoning.
But that’s not all: using an Ooni in the garage increases the risk of gas leaks, which can be deadly if not addressed or detected promptly. This is especially true if the Ooni is powered by natural gas or propane tank.
If you want to use an Ooni oven in the garage, you’ll have to add in necessary safety features like built-in ventilation and automatic shut-offs. But at that point, it’s better to just purchase an indoor pizza oven.
While it’s technically possible to use an Ooni in the garage, the risks outweigh the benefits. Safety comes first—prioritizing your well-being is better than the convenience of using a pizza oven indoors.
How to Safely Use an Ooni Pizza Oven
Here’s how to ensure your safety whenever you use an Ooni pizza oven:
- Thoroughly read the manual, paying close attention to the safety section at the start.
- Assemble and position the Ooni oven correctly. You should place it at least 10 feet from the entrance of your house, with the oven’s mouth facing away from your home.
- Ensure that there’s ample ventilation in the surrounding area to prevent smoke inhalation. Don’t place it under a covering or a gazebo. You want it in an open area with at least nine feet of clearance above and three feet around the side.
- Make sure that it’s stable and secure. Place the oven on a marble, stone, or stainless steel surface, with the latter being the most suitable working surface. Avoid wooden surfaces as they can catch on fire or get damaged from the heat. If you don’t have anything else, place a heat-resistant placemat under the wooden surface.
- While using the oven, regularly monitor the heat and temperature within. Don’t add more wood to an already adequate fire as doing so not only increases the oven’s smoke output but also ruins the food you’re making.
- Use insulated gloves whenever you’re handling the Ooni oven to prevent burns.
- If you accidentally make a mess while cooking, leave it until the oven is cooled down to clean it. When set at high temperatures, the Ooni may take up to two hours to cool down.
Do Indoor Ooni Pizza Ovens Exist?
Yes, Ooni indoor pizza ovens exist! Ooni’s most popular indoor pizza oven is the Volt, a high-octane pizza oven that reaches a searing 850 degrees in under 20 minutes—surpassing most gas-powered outdoor ovens.
Instead of propane fuel, the Volt is powered by electric coils. The coils above and below let you control the heat more accurately. You can calibrate the balance of heat as you see fit, directing more energy to the bottom if the top is burning and vice versa.
The Volt has all the nifty details you’d find in a high-quality indoor pizza oven, like temperature control, a timer, a borosilicate glass door, and a boost function to supercharge reheat time. It has a sleek design, too, making it a stylish addition to a modern kitchen.
If you’re searching for an authentic wood-fired pizza oven to use indoors, the Volt is the closest you can get.
How to Clean an Ooni Pizza Oven
Ooni pizza ovens aren’t cheap, so proper maintenance is key to keep them in top condition and prevent oven-related hazards. Here’s how to properly clean an Ooni pizza oven:
You’ll Need
- Non-abrasive scrub
- Long brush
- Bucket of water
- Mild soap
- Baking soda
Instructions
- Place the removable parts of the oven, like the grate, in a bucket of soapy water. Let them soak for a couple of minutes. We’ll come back to these later.
- Wipe the inside of the oven with a soapy sponge. Avoid abrasive cleaning products or those with harsh chemicals, as they may damage the surface of the oven.
- If the Ooni has a removable chimney, take it off and scrub the inside with a long brush. Rinse the chimney thoroughly afterward to make sure all soap is removed.
- Wipe the outside of the oven with a damp cloth, then wipe it dry immediately. Leaving it wet encourages rusting, which can corrode or contaminate the oven.
- Scrub the removable parts with a non-abrasive sponge and chemical-free cleaner. If you’re dealing with a lot of grease, mix ¾ cup of baking soda in ¼ cup of water to create a paste. Dip a sponge into the paste and use it to scrub away the grease.
- Assemble all the parts and let the oven dry for at least an hour before using it again.
Conclusion
The answer to the question, “Can you use an Ooni in a garage?” is no, you can’t! There are just too many risks associated with using an outdoor oven in an indoor space. Unless the oven specifically states that it’s applicable for indoor use, you should keep it in an outdoor space.
When I gave birth to my first kid, I could no longer skip dinner, or just cook easy meals.
This is what inspired me to create EatThinkBeMerry.com.
I hope you will get to find your own inspiration for your next meals and have as much fun as we do looking out for you!
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