Pizza Oven Holiday Prep Checklist: Get Ready Before Guests Arrive

I figure it takes about a week to prepare a pizza oven for a holiday feast, clean out the fire box, gather the supplies of wood, weatherize the oven, assemble the tools and light the first fire. All the little problems of a cold oven, clogged flue and missing peel are remedied easily enough during the day when we are alone. With guests ringing the doorbell, not so easy.

Since Thanksgiving lands on November 26 this list will probably have made perfect sense as early as November 19.

1. Clean and inspect the oven

When the oven is cool and ash has been swept out. Remove loose debris and soot from the oven walls and floor using a wire brush or oven scraper, wipe down with a damp cloth. Do not use any harsh chemicals – they will flavour food cooked in the oven.

Then verify three matters:

• Chimney: Check for the any soot or any choking which causes the chimney to be choked.
• Door and handles: Make sure they are working and sealing.
• Top of the oven: Were there any fractured or broken bits.

Whether you are the builder or not you will be able to order parts if required, if you need to replace a part it will be ordered a week in advance so you will have the opportunity to receive the parts.

2. Sort out your fuel

Failing to get to the event without running out of gas is one of the simplest failures to prevent.

• When lit - Dry hardwood (oak, ash, fruit) will give a cleaner burn. Side on logs with a cover. Wet logs will give a weak flame and a lot of smoke. Plan ahead for your first test fire and the event, and bring your dry kindling stock.
• Gas oven: Check the grill by looking for signs of rust in the level of propane, hoses and fittings, and make sure the burner is igniting. And do yourself a favour and have a spare with you.
• HYBRID OVEN - has at least enough of each to allow, at some point, the optional use of either.

3. Late-November Weather Plan

You already know that a rain, wind or snow is not far away, so at this point, you should be weighing up whether you need to tie down your oven.

• Ensure your pizza oven is covered. Use a cover in between uses, which will help keep rain and other things from getting into your oven. If you want to get a pizza oven cover to assist in your storage, we recommend this one that is very easy to install.
• Place a shield/cap to obstruct the chimney opening. Spray water on a hot oven floor.
• Get ready for it – have a look beneath the bottom of where your oven sits! It should be heat resistant / fire proof (Stainless steel, stone and concrete are fine, but not wood). If your counters are granite you should use a ceramic board under the oven.
• Have you considered venting? Outside off the porch with an oven? Venting will be needed- check your code regarding fire requirements for the chimney and extension.

4. Collect equipment and test fire

All close to the oven so you don't have to turn your back to it. Equipment you need to have:

• Launching peel
• Turning peel
• Floor scraper/broom
• Infrared or probe thermometer
• Heat proof gloves
• Long handled tongs
• Cast iron skillet or Dutch oven
• Kindling and ash bucket

If you need any of these items just let them know – ilFornino says that shipping is 2-5 days.

Your test fire will provide you with a glimpse of what to expect in your oven. Set the oven on and watch these four things related to what you will see and hear:

1. Most models made of stainless steel will heat up to temperature within 35-40 minutes, but check the instruction book for exact heating times.
2. The smoke to be blown up the chimney, and not driven out of the door.
3. Hot spots: Follow the hottest spots in order to adjust the food.
4. Recovery: Notice how quick the temperature recovers when you're baking a skillet or a pizza.

First, you need to outgas your oven: Two or three hours of a long, slow, burn, at 250 to 300 F, will drive the moisture out of your oven.

Day-of checklist

• Have the fire out and up to temperature before guests arrive
• Keep your wood, kindling and tools close at hand
• Remove all combustibles from the area of the oven.
• Keep children and pets away from your oven and chimney
• Remove from packaging, discard covers and store in a dry place, out of reach of children. When the oven is cool, wipe down or cover.

More ilFornino pizza oven advice on the blog. In need of your next pizza oven? The pizza oven buying guide has options in many sizes, fuel, and setup to for residential and commercial pizzas.