Karu 2 Pro Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven

Why it works as a gift

The Karu 2 Pro is a gift for someone who has moved past the occasional homemade pizza and wants the real thing. Ooni says it reaches up to 950°F and has a 17-inch cooking area that takes 16-inch pizzas. It burns wood or charcoal straight out of the box, which gives the smoky, wood-fired character many pizza makers are after. Gas is an option too, but only with Ooni's gas burner, which is sold separately.

What makes it more than a hot box is the control. Ooni lists a borosilicate glass door designed to limit soot, so the cook can watch the pizza without opening the door and losing heat, and a digital temperature hub on the front that connects to a phone over Bluetooth and comes with a food probe. That probe means the oven can also handle roasts and other dishes, not just pizza.

Shnoop already lists Ooni's Volt 2, and the choice between them is simple. The Volt 2 is electric and sits on a kitchen counter, so it works indoors all year. The Karu 2 Pro is an outdoor oven with live fire and a bigger pizza size. Choose the Karu for someone who already cooks outside and has the space; choose the Volt for an apartment, a small yard or a cold climate.

Who it’s for

• A home cook who already grills and has a patio, deck or garden with room for a large outdoor oven
• Someone who makes pizza dough from scratch and wants the high heat a kitchen oven can't reach
• A family that hosts outdoor dinners and would use a larger 16-inch pizza size
• A milestone birthday gift for someone whose hobby is cooking outdoors

Skip it if

• There's no outdoor space for it: Ooni lists it at 62.6 lb unboxed and about 32 inches long and tall, so it needs a permanent spot outside
• They would prefer gas only: the gas burner is a separate purchase, so budget for it or choose a different setup
• They rarely cook outside in winter or have a small balcony; the indoor Ooni Volt 2 is the more practical choice

Giving it

• It arrives in a large, heavy box (Ooni lists 86.6 lb boxed), so ship it to an address where someone can receive it and move it
• Pair it with a pizza peel and a bag of hardwood or charcoal so the first bake can happen the day it's unpacked
• Check warranty terms before buying: Ooni's page ties its free 5-year warranty to purchases on ooni.com, so read the Amazon listing's terms and register the oven with Ooni

The facts

Fuel

Wood or charcoal out of the box; gas with the Karu 2 Pro Gas Burner, sold separately

Top temperature

Up to 950°F

Cooking area

17 inches; takes 16-inch pizzas

Door and thermometer

Borosilicate glass door; digital temperature hub with Bluetooth and a food probe

Stone

Cordierite, about 15 mm thick

Size and weight

About 32.4 x 19.8 x 32.4 inches; 62.6 lb unboxed

Body

Powder-coated carbon steel with stainless steel internals and legs

Consider instead

• Ooni Volt 2 Electric Indoor Pizza Oven — Electric and indoor, for someone without a patio or who wants pizza year-round
• Breville Barista Express Impress — A kitchen project at a similar budget for someone whose hobby is coffee rather than pizza