Ooni Rotating Pizza Stone: Even Cooking & Hands-Free Control

Outdoor pizza ovens have become increasingly popular, offering home cooks the ability to create restaurant-quality pies in minutes. But achieving a perfectly cooked pizza in a high-heat environment often requires constant attention and manual rotation to ensure even baking. Ooni, a leading manufacturer of wood-fired and gas-powered pizza ovens, has introduced a latest accessory designed to automate this process: the Rotating Stone for its Koda 2 series of ovens. This hands-free system aims to eliminate hot and cold spots, delivering consistently excellent results with minimal effort.

How the Rotating Stone Works

The Ooni Rotating Stone isn’t simply a revolving platform. According to Ooni, the mechanism is positioned around the perimeter of the stone, rather than relying on a central pivot. This design choice is intended to prevent wobbling or stalling, even when using heavier cookware. The stone offers two distinct rotation modes: continuous rotation for traditional pizza cooking, and a 90-degree rotation mode, which is useful for slower, rotisserie-style cooking of meats and vegetables. This flexibility expands the oven’s capabilities beyond just pizza.

A key feature of the Rotating Stone is its hands-free operation. It incorporates a LIDAR sensor that allows users to start and stop the rotation with a simple wave of their hand or a pizza peel. This eliminates the need to interrupt the cooking process to manually turn the pizza. Installation is designed to be straightforward, taking less than 10 minutes to set up – involving securing a motor unit, placing the stone and rotating rings, and attaching a battery pack. The battery pack is magnetically connected for quick replacement, providing up to 7 hours of continuous use on a single charge.

Pricing and Compatibility

The Rotating Stone is available for three models within the Koda 2 lineup: the Koda 2, Koda 2 Pro, and Koda 2 Max. Pricing varies by model, with the Rotating Stone costing $329 for the standard Koda 2, $349 for the Koda 2 Pro, and $399 for the Koda 2 Max. Engadget notes that Ooni as well offers bundles that include the oven and Rotating Stone, priced from $799 to $1,649.

Beyond Pizza: Rotisserie Capabilities

While designed with pizza in mind, the Rotating Stone’s versatility extends to other types of cooking. The ability to support heavy cast iron cookware opens up possibilities for rotisserie-style dishes. Ooni’s product page highlights the potential for cooking meats, fish, and vegetables using the 90-degree rotation mode, mimicking the effect of a traditional rotisserie. This feature could appeal to users looking to expand their outdoor cooking repertoire.

Integration with Ooni Ecosystem

The Rotating Stone is designed to integrate seamlessly with other Ooni products. It’s compatible with the Ooni Connect™ Digital Temperature Hub, available with the Koda 2 Pro and Koda 2 Max, allowing users to monitor and control the oven’s temperature remotely via their smartphone. Ooni also recommends pairing the Rotating Stone with its specially crafted cast iron cookware range, designed specifically for rotisserie cooking in the Koda 2 Pro & Koda 2 Max.

What Comes Next for Automated Pizza Cooking?

The Ooni Rotating Stone represents a step towards greater automation in outdoor pizza cooking. However, it’s important to note that this accessory addresses only one aspect of the process – rotation. Launching the pizza and managing the overall cooking temperature still require user input. Future developments could focus on further automating these steps, potentially through integration with more sophisticated sensors and control systems.

The success of the Rotating Stone will likely influence other manufacturers in the outdoor pizza oven market. If consumer demand for automated features continues to grow, we can expect to see similar innovations from competitors. The long-term impact will depend on factors such as price, reliability, and ease of use.

Further user feedback and independent testing will be crucial in evaluating the Rotating Stone’s performance and identifying any potential limitations. Tom’s Guide positions the accessory as particularly helpful for beginners, suggesting it lowers the barrier to entry for achieving consistently excellent results. However, experienced pizza makers will likely want to assess whether the automation compromises the level of control they’re accustomed to.