Okay, so I’ve always wanted a pizza oven, you know, for that authentic, crispy crust. But those outdoor ones? Big, bulky, and kinda pricey. Then I stumbled upon this idea: an indoor brick pizza oven. Sounded crazy, maybe a little dangerous, but I was hooked. Here’s how it all went down.
The Initial Brainstorm (and Panic)
First, I spent hours online, just looking at pictures and reading (mostly terrifying) forum posts. People were talking about chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning… the works. I almost gave up, honestly. But the pizza dream was strong!
I decided to start small. No giant, room-dominating oven. Just a little something on my countertop, near a window (ventilation is KEY, people!).
Gathering the Goods
This was the fun part. I hit up a local building supply store and grabbed:
- Firebricks: These are special bricks designed for high heat. Don’t cheap out and use regular ones!
- Refractory mortar: Again, special stuff made for ovens.
- A metal base: I found a thick steel plate to put the whole thing on. Safety first!
- Some basic tools: Trowel, level, measuring tape, that sort of thing.
- A good pair of Heavy-duty gloves: Important! Don’t burn yourself.
Building the Beast
Okay, this is where things got… interesting. I laid out the base bricks in a simple square shape, leaving a small opening in the front for the pizza (and the fire). Then, I started stacking the walls, using the mortar to hold everything together.
It was messy. Really messy. My mortar skills are… not professional, let’s just say that. But I kept going, making sure the walls were (mostly) level and straight. I built it up about four bricks high, leaving the top open for now.
The Dome Dilemma
The top was the trickiest part. I wanted that classic dome shape, but… physics. I ended up doing a sort of stepped dome, angling the bricks inward each layer. It’s not perfect, but it works! It looks a bit like a wonky pyramid, but hey, it’s my wonky pyramid.
The First Fire (and a Few Scares)
After letting the mortar dry for a few days (patience is a virtue, especially when fire is involved), it was time for the test run. I placed some small pieces of wood inside, lit them, and held my breath.
There was smoke. A lot of smoke. I cracked the window open even wider and prayed to the pizza gods. Slowly, the smoke started to clear, and the bricks began to glow. Success!
Pizza Time!
I let the oven heat up for a good hour, then slid in a simple Margherita pizza. The smell was amazing. After about 10 minutes (way faster than my regular oven!), I pulled out a pizza with a perfectly crispy, slightly charred crust.
It wasn’t perfect. The oven is small, so it only fits one personal-sized pizza at a time. The temperature is a bit hard to control, so there’s a learning curve. But honestly? It’s the best pizza I’ve ever made at home. And I built the oven myself! That’s pretty darn cool.
Now be warned that it is not for everybody, there is a high potential of burning yourself, starting a fire in your house. Do it at your own risk.
