Okay, so I’ve always wanted to make truly amazing pizza at home. You know, the kind with the crispy crust and bubbly cheese? I figured an indoor brick oven was the way to go. Let me tell you, it was a journey!
Getting Started
First, I did a ton of research. I mean, hours and hours, looking at different oven designs, materials, and all that. I felt so overwhelmed. There are so many options!
I finally decided on a smaller, countertop brick oven kit. It seemed less intimidating than building one from scratch (which, let’s be honest, was never going to happen).
Then I had to assemble this. I’m not a DIY person at all, but even I can follow instruction, so it’s a simple job.
The Build (Sort Of)
The kit arrived, and it was… a lot of bricks. Seriously, a pallet full. I enlisted the help of my buddy, Mark, because there was no way I was moving all that myself.
- We cleared a space in my kitchen.
- We laid down the base, following the instructions (mostly). There was a slight disagreement about which way one brick should face, but we figured it out.
- We started stacking the bricks, using the special mortar that came with the kit. It was kind of like playing with adult LEGOs, except messier.
It took us a whole weekend, a few pizza and some, but we finally got the oven assembled. It looked… rustic. Let’s go with rustic.
The First Firing
I let the mortar cure for a few days, as instructed. Then came the moment of truth: the first firing. I built a small fire inside, slowly adding more wood to gradually increase the temperature. This is apparently super important to avoid cracking the oven.
It took hours to get the oven up to temperature. I’m talking, like, most of the day. But the smell! Oh, the smell of wood smoke and hot brick was amazing.
Pizza Time!
Finally, it was time to make some pizza. I’d prepped the dough the day before, and I had all my toppings ready to go.
I used to learn how to make a perfect pizza for a long time. And I am proud of my skill now!
I slid the first pizza into the oven, and… magic. Seriously. The crust puffed up beautifully, the cheese melted and bubbled, and the bottom got those gorgeous char marks.
It cooked in, like, 90 seconds. 90 seconds! My regular oven takes 20 minutes, and the results aren’t even close.
The Verdict
Was it a lot of work? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The pizza was incredible, definitely the best I’ve ever made at home. And there’s something so satisfying about cooking with fire in your own brick oven. Even if it is a little… rustic.
Would I recommend it? If you’re serious about pizza and have some patience (and maybe a helpful friend), then yes, go for it! Just be prepared for a bit of a project.
My family was also excited about my new oven, and it’s the perfect time for a small family party!
