Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven Review: The Ultimate Backyard Pizzeria or Overkill?

There’s a universal moment of disappointment that every home pizza enthusiast knows all too well. You’ve spent hours perfecting your dough, sourcing the finest San Marzano tomatoes, and shredding low-moisture mozzarella with the precision of a surgeon. You launch your creation into a conventional kitchen oven, even with a preheated stone, only to pull out a pizza that’s… fine. The crust is often pale and soft, the cheese is melted but not beautifully blistered, and that signature “leoparding” char is nowhere to be found. It’s a respectable homemade pizza, but it lacks the soul of what you’d get from a true, high-heat pizzeria. For years, my team and I have been chasing that authentic Neapolitan-style pizza experience in our own backyards. This chase has led us through countless gadgets and grills, all promising a slice of Italy but often delivering something far less inspiring. It’s this very pursuit that led us to test the Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven, a machine that claims to bridge that gap between amateur and artisan.

What to Consider Before Buying an Outdoor Pizza Oven

An outdoor pizza oven is more than just a novelty cooking appliance; it’s a key solution for unlocking a level of culinary performance that is simply impossible to achieve indoors. The core benefit lies in its ability to generate extreme temperatures, often exceeding 700°F, which is essential for cooking a pizza in 60-120 seconds. This intense, rapid heat blast creates “oven spring,” causing the dough to puff up dramatically, while simultaneously crisping the base and charring the crust in a way that a 500°F home oven never can. It transforms your patio into a social hub and a genuine pizzeria, capable of producing restaurant-quality results for everything from pizzas and flatbreads to seared steaks and roasted vegetables.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who is passionate about cooking, loves entertaining guests, and is willing to embrace a hands-on culinary process. If you find joy in crafting dough from scratch and experimenting with toppings, an outdoor oven will be a game-changer for you. However, it might not be suitable for those who prioritize convenience above all else or have very limited outdoor space. If you’re looking for a simple “set it and forget it” appliance or live in an apartment with no patio, a high-quality indoor pizza steel or a versatile countertop convection oven might be a more practical alternative for improving your pizza game.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Outdoor pizza ovens are not small. You must account for the unit’s footprint plus a safe, non-combustible clearance area around it. The Everdure KILN R Series, for example, is a countertop model, meaning you need a sturdy, level outdoor table or kitchen island to place its 60-pound frame. Measure your intended space carefully, ensuring you have enough room to operate the oven and maneuver a pizza peel safely.
• Capacity/Performance: Consider the size of the pizzas you want to make. Many portable ovens tap out at 12 or 13 inches, which is fine for personal pizzas but can be slow for a crowd. The Everdure KILN R Series boasts a 16-inch capacity, a significant upgrade for families and entertainers. Performance is also about heat-up time and maximum temperature; look for ovens that can reach at least 750°F in 20 minutes or less for authentic results.
• Materials & Durability: The construction materials directly impact heat retention and longevity. Powder-coated or stainless steel bodies are common and offer good weather resistance. Internally, a thick cordierite or ceramic pizza stone is essential for absorbing and radiating heat to cook the base properly. Look for double-walled or insulated construction, which helps the oven maintain its blistering temperature efficiently, even on cooler days.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Gas-powered ovens generally offer the most straightforward user experience with simple knob controls for ignition and temperature adjustment. Features like a built-in thermometer or a rotating stone, as seen in the Everdure KILN, can drastically reduce the learning curve. For maintenance, consider how easy it is to clean the stone and interior after use; a simple brushing and occasional wipe-down is ideal. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to gauge the real-world experience.

Investing in the right outdoor oven can elevate your cooking from a hobby to an art form. It’s about choosing the tool that best fits your space, your culinary ambitions, and your entertainment style.

While the Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing a Backyard Powerhouse

The arrival of the Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven was an event. The box is substantial, hinting at the 60-pound oven nestled inside. Right away, we have to address a concern echoed in some user feedback: packaging. A couple of users have reported receiving their units with damaged pizza stones due to shipping mishaps. Our unit arrived intact, but it’s clear the internal packaging could be more robust to protect the fragile cordierite stones during transit. We recommend inspecting the stones immediately upon unboxing.

Once out of the box, the build quality is immediately apparent. The graphite-colored, dual-insulated body feels solid and premium. Its high-domed shape isn’t just for aesthetics; it’s designed to roll heat over the top of the pizza for an even cook. Assembly was refreshingly simple: attach the legs, insert the two-piece stone, connect the battery for the turntable, and hook up the propane tank. From unboxing to ignition-ready, the process took us less than 10 minutes. The controls consist of two simple press-and-turn knobs, one for the main U-shaped burner under the stone and another for the secondary “arc” burner at the back of the dome. This dual-burner setup, combined with the powered turntable, immediately sets it apart from many single-burner competitors. It feels less like a portable camping accessory and more like a purpose-built, permanent fixture for a serious outdoor kitchen. You can explore the design and build quality further online.

Performance Deep Dive: Mastering the Flame

An outdoor pizza oven lives or dies by its ability to generate and manage intense heat. The Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven is, in this regard, an absolute beast. Its performance is defined by a trifecta of features: the dual-burner system, the automated turntable, and its sheer thermal efficiency. Over several weeks of testing, we put it through its paces with everything from classic Neapolitan and New York-style pizzas to calzones, steaks, and vegetables, discovering a machine with a high skill ceiling but deeply rewarding results.

The Dual-Burner System: A Symphony of Fire and Stone

This is the heart of the Everdure KILN and what truly separates it from the pack. Most gas pizza ovens use a single L-shaped burner at the back and side, forcing you to constantly turn the pizza to avoid burning one side. The Everdure KILN employs a more sophisticated approach. First, there’s a powerful U-shaped burner located directly *under* the pizza stone. This is a game-changer for solving the most common homemade pizza problem: the dreaded soggy bottom. This burner’s sole job is to pump heat directly into the stone, ensuring it’s scorching hot and ready to crisp the dough from the moment of launch. The second burner is a more traditional “arc” burner at the back of the oven’s dome, which projects flames over the top of the pizza to cook the toppings and char the crust (the *cornicione*).

In practice, this system provides an unparalleled level of control, but it also comes with a significant learning curve. One user, who described themselves as an advanced pizza maker, noted they burned their crust quickly. We can absolutely see why. Our initial test involved setting both burners to high, and the results were volcanic. The pizza cooked in under 70 seconds, but the top was charred before the base was perfectly done. The key, we discovered, is learning to orchestrate the two heat sources. Our winning formula became this: preheat with both burners on high for 15-20 minutes until the stone is around 750°F. Just before launching the pizza, turn the top arc burner down to its lowest setting and leave the under-stone burner on high. This allows the base to get that perfect crispness while the gentler radiant heat from the dome cooks the cheese and toppings without incinerating the crust. It’s a level of control that, once mastered, lets you fine-tune the bake for different pizza styles with incredible precision. This powerful heating capability is a feature that really sets it apart from simpler models.

The Rotating Turntable: Your Automated Sous Chef

If the dual burners are the oven’s engine, the battery-powered rotating turntable is its elegant transmission. This single feature eliminates the most stressful part of high-temperature pizza cooking: the manual turn. With other ovens, you’re constantly peering into a 900°F inferno, trying to slide a turning peel under a delicate pizza to rotate it every 15-20 seconds for an even cook. It’s frantic, requires skill, and often results in torn dough or misshapen pizzas. The Everdure KILN completely automates this. With the press of a button, the 16-inch stone begins a slow, steady rotation.

This feature works in perfect harmony with the dual-burner system. As the stone turns, every part of the pizza gets equal time under the intense heat of the rear arc burner, resulting in a remarkably consistent finish. The cornicione gets evenly puffed and leopard-spotted all the way around without any intervention from the chef. This frees you up to simply watch the magic happen and decide when to pull the pizza out. The battery pack is claimed to last up to 50 hours, and during our extensive testing, we never had to replace the batteries. One critique we share with an online user is the narrowness of the oven’s mouth. Launching a fully loaded 16-inch pizza requires a steady hand to get it centered on the turntable without catching the peel on the top lip of the opening. We found a high-quality, perforated metal peel works best, as it allows excess flour to fall away and provides a smoother launch than a wooden peel.

Build Quality, Efficiency, and Versatility Beyond Pizza

The 60-pound weight of the Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven makes it more of a “luggable” backyard fixture than a truly portable camping oven, but that weight translates directly into performance. The dual-wall insulated body does a fantastic job of retaining heat. Once up to temperature, the oven stays hot, allowing you to cook multiple pizzas back-to-back without significant temperature drops or recovery time. The exterior, while warm, never becomes dangerously hot to the touch, which is a great safety feature. The high dome is crucial, creating a convection effect that circulates hot air efficiently, contributing to the rapid cook times.

We also tested the manufacturer’s claim that it “cooks more than pizza.” We used a 12-inch cast iron skillet to see how it would fare with other dishes. The results were spectacular. We seared a thick-cut ribeye steak, which developed an incredible crust in just a few minutes thanks to the intense top-down heat, essentially working like a professional steakhouse broiler. We also roasted asparagus and bell peppers, which were charred and tender in under five minutes. The ability to use the oven for high-heat roasting and searing makes it a much more versatile outdoor cooking tool than a dedicated, pizza-only appliance. It effectively becomes a secondary, high-performance oven for your backyard, perfect for dishes that would smoke out an indoor kitchen. The overall versatility and build make it a serious contender for any outdoor cooking enthusiast looking to check the latest price and availability.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our experience with the Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven was largely positive, but it’s crucial to consider feedback from a wider pool of users. The most consistent point of criticism we found revolves around shipping and packaging. Multiple users reported that their pizza stones—which are inherently fragile—arrived cracked or broken. This suggests a need for the manufacturer to improve the protective packaging to better withstand the rigors of modern delivery services. It’s a frustrating out-of-the-box experience that mars an otherwise premium product.

On the performance side, feedback corroborates our own findings. One experienced pizza maker, while searching for an oven that could properly cook the bottom crust, noted the Everdure’s immense power. Their initial experience involved burning the pizza top quickly due to the intense dual burners, highlighting the steep learning curve we also encountered. They also confirmed our feeling about the narrow opening, stating they burned their hand trying to center the pizza. This feedback is invaluable for potential buyers: this is not a beginner’s oven. It is a powerful tool that demands respect and practice to master, but for those willing to put in the effort, it solves the age-old problem of an undercooked base.

How Does the Everdure KILN R Series Compare to the Alternatives?

The outdoor pizza oven market is crowded, and the Everdure KILN R Series faces stiff competition. It distinguishes itself with its unique dual-burner setup and rotating stone, but other models may appeal to different users based on price, portability, or fuel type.

1. BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven

The BIG HORN OUTDOORS oven is a fantastic budget-friendly alternative for those dipping their toes into the world of outdoor pizza. Its primary advantages are its lower price point and lighter, more portable stainless steel construction. However, it comes with trade-offs. It features a smaller 13-inch capacity and a single L-shaped gas burner. This means you’ll need to be actively involved in turning the pizza manually for an even cook. While it can reach high temperatures, it lacks the sophisticated under-stone burner of the Everdure, so achieving a perfectly crisp base might require more technique. This oven is ideal for casual users or campers who prioritize portability and affordability over maximum performance and capacity.

2. Hike Crew 2-Burner Camping Stove with Carry Bag

The Hike Crew model is less a dedicated pizza oven and more a versatile outdoor camping appliance that includes an oven box. Its main selling point is its multi-functionality; you get two stove-top burners and a separate oven compartment suitable for baking, roasting, or warming food. While it can bake a pizza, it will not reach the blistering 750°F+ temperatures of the Everdure KILN. The results will be more akin to a conventional oven bake—slower and with less char. This is the perfect choice for a family camper or RVer who needs an all-in-one cooking solution and for whom pizza is just one of many menu items, rather than the star of the show.

3. Gozney Roccbox Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven

The Gozney Roccbox is a direct competitor and a titan in the premium portable pizza oven space. Its claim to fame is its incredible heat retention, thanks to its thick stone and layered insulation, and its ability to run on either gas or wood (with an optional wood burner attachment). The Roccbox gets ferociously hot and is known for producing phenomenal Neapolitan-style pizza. However, it is significantly smaller than the Everdure, with a capacity of around 11-12 inches. It also requires manual turning. A buyer would choose the Roccbox over the Everdure for its superior portability, fuel versatility, and its iconic, restaurant-grade performance in a compact package, provided they don’t need to cook large 16-inch pizzas.

The Final Verdict: Is the Everdure KILN R Series Right for You?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Everdure KILN R Series 2-Burner Gas Pizza Oven is a formidable machine for the serious home pizza artisan. Its dual-burner system and automated rotating stone are not gimmicks; they are a truly innovative combination that solves the two biggest challenges of home pizza making: achieving a crispy bottom and getting an even, hands-free cook. The large 16-inch capacity makes it an entertainer’s dream, capable of feeding a crowd with efficiency and style. It’s a beautifully designed, high-performance oven that brings a commercial-level experience to the backyard.

However, it is not without its caveats. The potential for shipping damage to the stones is a genuine concern, and the intense, dual-source heat presents a steep learning curve that can frustrate novices. This is a high-performance instrument, not a simple plug-and-play appliance. If you are a passionate home cook dedicated to perfecting the craft of pizza, and you love hosting friends and family, the Everdure KILN is an investment that will pay delicious dividends for years to come. For those who are willing to master its power, this oven is one of the most capable and rewarding ways to turn your backyard into a true pizzeria. If you’re ready to take your pizza game to the next level, we highly recommend you find out more and order yours today.