Sometimes you just want a good pizza.
Maybe it’s 12 degrees outside. Maybe there’s a hurricane. WE CAN’T HELP IT, pizza nerds.
And NO. Unless your oven is electric, you shouldn’t use it indoors.
😢
So what do you do when you’re craving a perfectly baked pizza, from your own pizza oven, but the weather won’t cooperate?
Can you use a pizza oven in the rain?
Maybe, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Technically, most pizza ovens (even Ooni ovens) state that they work in rainy weather (or even snow), but this could ruin your oven (or your pizza). If you do this repeatedly, certain parts of your oven are sure to degrade!
Pizza ovens don’t come cheap, so you want it to last, right?
And ruining your pizza is annoying and also waste of your time and resources.
Here’s more:
Why shouldn’t you use your pizza oven in the rain or snow
Let’s face it. Weather comes in many variations. Your pizza oven might say it works in inclement weather, or maybe just in slightly damp situations, but do you really know what that means?
What one person calls “less than ideal” (be it a drizzle of rain or minor snow flurries) is bad weather to someone else. Here’s the worst case if you decide to bake in damp conditions.
Rain or snow could boil on the top of the oven and ruin the outside.
Imagine a warped metal exterior, possibly making the oven never sit quite flat, again.
If you have a stone oven, the top might crack or the “bricks” develop spaces between them due to the contrasting heat on the inside and wet (and possibly cold) on the outside.
Speaking of ruining a stone…
Moisture from the weather could get on your pizza stone.
We all know that’s a recipe for a cracked stone!
Additionally, you’re using that oven to get an ideal texture for your pizza. Moisture, rain or melted snow, could blow in and ruin your pizza.
Is it worth risking it?
Related: How to wash and care for your pizza stone.
If you’re using a wood-burning oven–it could affect your temperatures.
Water can easily get down into the stove area (through the chimney, flue, etc), putting out the fire completely–or at least dropping temperatures.
Your perfect process might not work in damp conditions! Do you have time to adjust?
IMPORTANT NOTE: Finally, always remember a pizza oven involves high temperatures and burning (wood or gas) produces gases humans can’t breathe.
You can’t just take the pizza oven inside during inclement weather. Umbrellas or even a low overhang could heat up and melt or burn.
Using a fire-burning oven in an enclosed space can cause toxic gases to build up and suffocate those present. This can inadvertently happen when trying to shelter from the weather.
Make sure you use your oven safely, and that might mean not using it if the weather doesn’t allow it to be used in the open as it was intended.
What About Light Rain or Light Snow?
The truth is–pizza ovens are likely designed to work in light rain or snow, not a monsoon.
I know, we just gave you every reason NOT to–but you could actually be fine.
I’ve baked in light rain and snow a few times (on accident), and things did turn out fine! That’s probably the situation the manufacturer was imagining, not heading out in your frog suit with two golf umbrellas to get pizza at any cost.
In wet situations, I made sure to pack up the oven and move it into the shed just after I was through. Depending on where you use your oven and how you store it, this may or may not be practical.
Remember, moisture can still affect the oven after you finish baking but before the oven is cool enough to move and store.
Some Pizza Ovens Might Work Better Than Others in Inclement Weather
There are some factors to consider when you’re pondering pizza on a day that might get damp. A lot depends on the pizza oven.
Does it have a door?
Many outdoor pizza ovens are deeper and/or have doors. This will help protect your pizza and your pizza stone.
Does it have a chimney?
This is another place where moisture can get in and ruin your pizza, stone, or even the oven.
Does it run on gas?
Gas pizza ovens are much easier to get going in the rain. There’s no wood to get wet (which leads to smoke, not fire, if you can even get it going). A gas oven is ideal if there’s a chance of light rain or snow since you aren’t worried you’ll suddenly be unable to stoke your fire due to damp wood.
Pizza Oven F.A.Q.s
Can you use Ooni in the rain?
Ooni’s are designed to work in all weather situations, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Water can certainly ruin your oven over time, and also affect bake temperatures, ruin your pizza stone inside the Ooni, etc! Light rain is probably ok, but anything heavier could lead to moisture where you don’t want it!
Can you use a wood-fired pizza oven in the rain?
Technically, yes. Just as you can technically start a fire in the rain. The oven will protect the actual fire but getting the wood damp can lead to lots of smoke and insufficient heat. Getting the wood wet will mean no fire and no heat.
Is it worth your time to try this? You won’t be able to use your oven again until you have a supply of dry wood so consider if gathering your wood will expose all of it to precipitation.
Does an outdoor pizza oven need to be covered?
Yes. Most commercially bought pizza ovens should be covered if stored outside. This is especially true for any metal/aluminum ovens, similar to a grill. You don’t want any chance of moisture getting on the stone and then you fire up the oven and it cracks.
If water pools and sits inside your oven, that could also ruin the oven. Use a cover.
Can you use Roccbox in the rain?
Once again, technically, yes. Roccbox is insulated but all the considerations for any other pizza oven still apply. You want to avoid ruining your stone or your pizza. Roccbox also recommends a slow heat-up when temperatures are particularly low and this also applies to precipitation.
Can Ooni stay outside in rain?
You can store your Ooni outdoors but it should be covered. You don’t want moisture gathering on the inside which can ruin the stone or the actual oven. The only way to avoid this possibly happening is a quality cover that stays on in wind and rain.
Better yet, store your covered pizza oven in a sheltered or interior location (such as in a shed, on your porch, under the deck, or in the garage).
What happens if a pizza stone gets wet?
Water trapped in a pizza stone will turn to steam when the oven is heated and that expansion (liquid to gas) can crack your stone. Obviously if rain or snow is literally falling on your stone, this is even more likely.
A damp stone also leads to a damp crust even if there isn’t sufficient pressure to crack the stone. Keep your stone dry.