There’s a universal truth among home cooks and backyard grill masters: the pursuit of the perfect pizza is a noble, yet often frustrating, journey. For years, I chased that elusive ideal—the crispy, leopard-spotted crust, the perfectly melted cheese, and the toppings cooked to tender perfection. My journey, like many of yours, was paved with disappointment. Kitchen ovens, even with a pizza stone cranked to its highest setting, simply can’t replicate the intense, searing heat of a true pizza oven. The result? Pizzas that were good, but never *great*. They often had a slightly soggy bottom, a pale crust, and lacked that authentic, smoky flavor that transforms a simple meal into a culinary event. This isn’t just about food; it’s about the experience—gathering family and friends on the patio, the aroma of baking dough filling the air, and the shared joy of a perfect slice. Failing to achieve this doesn’t just mean a subpar meal; it means missing out on creating those cherished moments.
What to Consider Before Investing in an Outdoor Pizza Oven
An outdoor pizza oven is more than just an appliance; it’s a key solution for unlocking a new level of outdoor cooking and entertainment. It solves the fundamental problem of inadequate heat that plagues conventional home ovens. By generating temperatures of 700°F and beyond, these devices create the perfect environment for “oven spring,” where the dough puffs up instantly, creating a light, airy interior and a delectably crisp exterior. The main benefits extend beyond pizza; these high-heat environments are perfect for searing steaks, roasting vegetables, and baking artisan bread, turning your backyard into a versatile open-air kitchen. It’s an investment in flavor, experience, and memorable gatherings.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who already enjoys outdoor cooking and wants to elevate their game. If you’re passionate about hosting, experimenting with recipes, and value authentic cooking methods, an outdoor oven is a fantastic addition. It’s for the family that loves “pizza night” and wants to make it a truly special, hands-on event. However, it might not be suitable for those with limited outdoor space, those who cook infrequently, or individuals who prioritize speed and convenience above all else. For them, a high-quality indoor pizza steel or a simple countertop pizza maker might be a more practical starting point. But for the enthusiast looking to master the craft, there’s no substitute for the real thing.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: First, measure your available patio, deck, or backyard space. Standalone ovens require a stable, non-combustible surface and adequate clearance. An accessory model like the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven leverages the footprint of your existing grill, making it a brilliant space-saving solution for those who already own a compatible model.
- Capacity/Performance: Consider the size of the pizzas you want to make and how many people you typically feed. A 12-inch oven is great for personal pizzas or couples, while a 14-inch or 16-inch model is better for families and parties. Performance is about heat-up time and maximum temperature; look for ovens that can reach at least 700°F within 15-20 minutes for authentic results.
- Materials & Durability: Stainless steel is a popular choice for its rust resistance and modern look, but it can discolor with high heat. Porcelain-coated exteriors, as seen on this Masterbuilt model, offer excellent durability and are easy to clean. The quality of the pizza stone (cordierite is standard) is also paramount for heat retention and a crispy crust.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: Fuel type plays a big role here. Wood-fired ovens offer the best flavor but require more skill to manage the fire. Gas and pellet ovens provide push-button simplicity and consistent temperatures. An accessory that uses your existing grill’s heat source, like this one, simplifies the process by relying on a system you already know how to operate.
Understanding these factors will guide you toward the perfect oven for your specific needs, ensuring your investment brings countless delicious returns.
While the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 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 the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven
Upon unboxing the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven, the first thing we noticed was its substantial weight and construction. Tipping the scales at nearly 13 kilograms (about 28 lbs), it feels solid and well-built. The porcelain-coated black exterior is sleek and perfectly matches the aesthetic of the Masterbuilt Gravity Series grills it’s designed for. Inside, the premium stainless-steel interior gleams, promising efficient heat reflection and long-term durability. The included 14-inch cordierite pizza stone was thick and heavy, a good sign for heat retention. Assembly seemed straightforward on paper, involving attaching a few components before placing the unit onto the grill. However, this is where our experience, echoed by several user reports, hit a snag. While many find setup to be a breeze, a vocal minority has encountered significant quality control issues, ranging from stripped screw fittings to, most frustratingly, pizza stones arriving cracked in multiple pieces. It’s a critical point to be aware of: inspect every component meticulously upon arrival before you even think about firing up the grill. You can see the full list of included components and dimensions here to know what to check for.
What We Like
- Transforms a Gravity Series grill into a high-performance pizza oven
- Achieves extremely high temperatures for rapid, sub-5-minute cooking
- Innovative 360° airflow design cooks pizzas evenly without rotation
- Versatile enough to bake bread, lasagna, and other dishes
- Leverages charcoal and wood chunks for authentic, smoky flavor
Drawbacks
- Reports of significant quality control issues (broken stones, stripped screws)
- Installation clips may not fit the Gravity Series 1050 manifold correctly
A Deep Dive into the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven’s Performance
An accessory can look good on paper, but its true value is only revealed through hands-on testing. We put the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven through its paces, focusing on everything from the initial setup to the final, delicious slice. Our goal was to determine if this add-on could truly replicate the performance of a dedicated, standalone pizza oven and whether its unique design delivers on its promises. Over several cooking sessions with various types of dough—from store-bought to homemade sourdough—we analyzed its core functionalities to give you a complete picture of what to expect.
Installation and Compatibility: A Tale of Two Experiences
Masterbuilt markets this accessory as a simple, drop-in solution for its Gravity Series 800 and 1050 grills, and for many users, it is exactly that. The core concept is brilliant: remove the grill grates and existing heat manifolds, install the new pizza oven manifold and heat deflectors, and place the main oven housing on top. For our test on a Gravity Series 800, the process was largely intuitive and took about 15 minutes. The pieces fit snugly, creating a sealed environment ready for high-heat cooking. This ease of installation is a huge selling point, confirmed by users who call it “very easy to install and use” and “simple to install.”
However, it would be irresponsible not to address the serious issues reported by other users, particularly those with the larger Gravity Series 1050 model. We found credible reports of the included clips, meant to secure the heat deflectors to the manifold, being angled incorrectly, making a secure installation impossible. One user detailed their frustration, stating, “The angle of the clips do not match the angle of the manifold top rib… the Pizza Oven is useless for the Masterbuilt 1050.” This, combined with reports of stripped screw fittings and loose press-fit components, points to a concerning lapse in quality control. Our recommendation is firm: if you own a 1050, be prepared for potential fitment issues. For any buyer, a thorough inspection of all hardware is non-negotiable before you begin assembly. While our unit assembled correctly, the volume of negative feedback suggests this isn’t an isolated problem. You can check recent user feedback to see if these issues persist.
Unleashing the Heat: Performance and Blazing-Fast Cooking
Once installed, the true magic of the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven begins. This accessory’s performance is entirely dependent on the incredible heat output of the Gravity Series charcoal grills, and it harnesses that power flawlessly. We loaded the hopper with lump charcoal, set the digital controller to 550°F, and watched the temperature climb. Within 15 minutes, the grill’s target temperature was reached, but the ambient temperature inside the pizza oven’s dome was soaring even higher. Using an infrared thermometer, we measured the pizza stone’s surface at a blistering 720°F—the perfect temperature for an authentic Neapolitan-style pizza.
The results were nothing short of spectacular. Our first pizza, a classic margherita on fresh dough, was done in just under 4 minutes. The crust puffed up beautifully, developing a perfect “leopard spotting” char on the bottom and edges. The cheese was melted and bubbly, and the toppings were cooked without being scorched. This mirrors the experiences of many satisfied customers, with one exclaiming, “Pizzas come out perfect in about 3 minutes,” and another confirming that after a 15-minute preheat, they were “cooking at 700°F.” The ability to add wood chunks to the ash bin or directly into the charcoal hopper, as one user suggested, infuses the pizza with an unbeatable smoky flavor that you simply cannot get from a gas oven. This is a feature that truly sets it apart from many other pizza oven solutions.
The 360° Airflow Promise: Even Cooking Without the Hassle
One of the most tedious parts of using many dome-style pizza ovens is the “turn.” Because the heat source is often at the back, you must constantly rotate the pizza every 30-60 seconds to ensure it cooks evenly. Failure to do so results in a pizza that’s burnt on one side and raw on the other. Masterbuilt claims to have solved this with a 360° airflow design that circulates hot air evenly around the entire cooking chamber. We were skeptical, but our tests proved this claim to be remarkably accurate.
The oven’s internal manifold is designed to channel heat from the grill up and around the sides of the cooking chamber, creating a powerful convection effect. This hot air flows over the top of the pizza while the stone cooks the base via conduction. We cooked multiple pizzas without turning them a single time, and each one came out uniformly cooked. The crust was evenly browned all the way around, and the cheese melted consistently across the surface. This is a game-changing feature for beginners and a massive convenience for experienced cooks. It allows you to launch your pizza, close the grill lid, and trust that the oven will do the work. It transforms pizza night from a frantic, high-stress activity into a relaxed, enjoyable experience, which is a key reason we feel this is an excellent accessory for families.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, the sentiment from users who receive a functional unit is overwhelmingly positive. Many call it a “must for pizza chefs” and a “killer pizza oven.” The theme of family fun is recurrent, with one user sharing, “We have enjoyed this. Cooks the pizza perfect! Great family fun on family Pizza night.” The sheer speed and quality of the cooking are frequently praised, with many reporting perfect pizzas in just a few minutes, even with store-bought frozen or take-and-bake pizzas like Papa Murphy’s.
However, the praise is significantly tempered by the consistent and serious complaints regarding quality control. The issue of the pizza stone arriving cracked is the most common grievance, immediately halting the excitement of a planned pizza night. As one disappointed buyer stated, “Was excited to try out new pizza oven… Last step tried to remove pizza stone from packaging and it broke in three pieces.” Beyond broken stones, the reports of manufacturing defects like stripped screws and ill-fitting components for the 1050 grill model are too frequent to ignore, suggesting a systemic issue that Masterbuilt needs to address. This feedback is critical for potential buyers: the product’s performance is top-tier, but you must be prepared for the possibility of receiving a defective unit.
How Does the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven Compare to Alternatives?
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven exists as an accessory within a specific ecosystem. It’s crucial to compare it not just on its own merits, but against popular standalone ovens that a potential buyer might be considering. Each alternative serves a different type of user and cooking style.
1. aidpiza 12″ Outdoor Wood Pizza Oven
The aidpiza oven is a dedicated, portable wood-pellet-fired oven. Its main advantage is its portability and traditional fuel source. If you dream of that authentic wood-fired taste and want an oven you can take camping or to a friend’s house, this is a compelling option. However, it’s smaller, fitting only a 12-inch pizza, and requires active fire management using wood pellets. It’s a better choice for the purist who doesn’t own a Masterbuilt grill and prioritizes portability and the specific flavor of wood pellets over the convenience and larger capacity of the Masterbuilt accessory.
2. BIG HORN OUTDOORS Portable Gas Pizza Oven
The BIG HORN OUTDOORS model represents the ultimate in convenience. Powered by propane, it offers push-button ignition and simple temperature control, eliminating the mess and learning curve of charcoal or wood. It heats up quickly and provides consistent, reliable performance. This is the ideal choice for someone who wants great pizza with minimal fuss and cleanup. Its drawback compared to the Masterbuilt is the flavor; it cannot replicate the smoky essence of a charcoal and wood fire. It’s for the user who values convenience and speed above all else.
3. Ninja Woodfire 8-in-1 Pizza Oven
The Ninja Woodfire is a technological powerhouse. As an 8-in-1 electric appliance, it’s vastly more versatile than the Masterbuilt accessory. It can make artisan pizza, but it can also smoke, roast, dehydrate, and more. It even has a smoker box to burn a small number of pellets for flavor infusion. Its main appeal is its all-in-one functionality and electric simplicity—just plug it in. The tradeoff is that it’s a completely separate, often more expensive, appliance that requires an electrical outlet. This is for the tech-savvy cook who wants one device to do everything and isn’t tied to the Masterbuilt charcoal ecosystem.
The Final Verdict: Is the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven Worth It?
After extensive testing and careful consideration of user feedback, our verdict on the Masterbuilt Gravity Series Pizza Oven is a conditional, but enthusiastic, yes. For existing owners of a compatible Masterbuilt Gravity Series grill, this accessory is arguably the best and most integrated way to produce authentic, high-quality pizza. When you get a good unit, its performance is absolutely stellar. It leverages the grill’s immense heating power to create a perfect pizza-making environment, delivering incredible flavor and a user-friendly, no-turn cooking experience that rivals standalone ovens costing twice as much. It’s a fantastic, space-saving addition that dramatically expands your grill’s capabilities.
The significant caveat, however, is the troubling pattern of quality control issues. The risk of receiving a unit with a broken stone or manufacturing defects is real and cannot be overlooked. Our recommendation is to purchase it from a retailer with a robust and hassle-free return policy. Inspect it immediately and thoroughly upon delivery. If everything is intact, you are in for an incredible culinary experience that will transform your backyard gatherings. For those ready to take that chance, the reward is some of the best homemade pizza you will ever taste. If you’re ready to elevate your pizza game, you can check the latest price and order yours today.