Derek Gaughan
Ooni just officially announced their biggest oven ever.
I say “officially” because there were some interesting rumors about Ooni purposely trying to “leak” images of the oven prior to release (which is what happened to the Gozney Arc). I can’t say if there’s any truth to that. But in any case, I think we can all agree the earlier we see it, the better.
Its massive cooking area measures in at a shocking 24 inches, enabling the option to cook multiple pizzas simultaneously. Ooni’s advancement in gas-powered pizza oven technology, namely the G2 gas technology, offers users the flexibility to manage dual-zone cooking with precision.
Just when Gozney releases two badass ovens, Ooni hits right back with some game-changing features. Apart from going big (literally), I’ve never seen an oven that can operate dual burners like the Koda 2 Max. Usually, dual burners is the term for one burner below the stone and one up top; this is more suited for ovens with a weaker overhead flame, since the bottom burner will help maintain stone temps.
But this new tech will operate a left burner and right burner separately. This offers so much flexibility during bakes. I can’t wait to test this out. For example, I’m really interested in testing out the following scenarios:
- Cooking one 12″ Neapolitan in the center of the stone with both burners on high.
- Cooking one 12″ Neapolitan off-center to the right, with the right burner on low and the left burner (further away) on high.
- Cooking two Neapolitans (which placement would be best? How high of heat can the burners be?)
- An 18″ NY with both burners on low.
I’m really impressed by Ooni’s continued innovation in the pizza oven space. Nothing gimmicky; only solidly performing products by people who live and breathe pizza. Just how it should be.
Key Specifications and Features
- Cooking Surface: 24-inch cordierite stone, suitable for large 20-inch pizzas or multiple smaller dishes
- Temperature Range: Capable of soaring temperatures, up to 950 °F (500 °C)
- Technology: G2 gas technology for uniform heat and efficient cooking
- Cooking Zones: Two zones with independent burners for varied temperature settings
- Connectivity: Bluetooth-enabled digital temperature hub for remote monitoring via Ooni app
- Additional Tools: Digital temperature probe for exact internal temperature measurements
Pricing & Launch Date
The Koda 2 Max will be available for preorder on May 28 for $999.
This seems like an incredibly competitive price point for what you’re getting. It’s not just a bigger Koda 16. You’re getting dual independent burners inside a 24″ oven. This opens up so many possibilities – we’re even talking the option to make a pizza on one side and a protein on the other!
Alright. I’m rambling again. I’m excited about this one, and you should be too. Check back in with me soon, I’ll aim to get my hands on one as soon as possible.
