This review delves into the Everdure Kiln S-Series pizza oven, a mid-range option offering impressive size and performance. Unlike smaller models, the S-Series boasts a generous cooking area, easily accommodating 14- to 16-inch pizzas. The reviewer highlights its ease of use, noting a straightforward setup process and relatively quick heat-up time, achieving temperatures exceeding 600°F in under 30 minutes. While a slight temperature gradient exists from front to back due to the U-shaped burner, this is easily managed with simple pizza rotation. The overall cooking experience is praised for producing excellent results, with both tavern-style and New York-style pizzas receiving high marks.
The review examines both the strengths and areas for potential improvement in the S-Series design. While the reviewer found the oven effective and efficient for achieving delicious results, suggestions are offered for future iterations. Optimizing the burner placement to ensure even heat distribution across the entire pizza surface and streamlining the ignition process are identified as potential areas for enhancement. The overall assessment remains highly positive, emphasizing the S-Series as a strong contender in the mid-range pizza oven market, providing excellent value and satisfying results for home pizza enthusiasts.
Pros And Cons
- Larger size than previous model (Rockbox)
- Can fit 14-16 inch pizzas
- High-quality product
- Easy to assemble and use
- Reaches high temperatures (over 600°F in 30 minutes)
- Produces good results for tavern and New York style pizzas
- Heavy; may require two people to move
- U-shaped burner doesn't extend to the edges of the oven, resulting in uneven temperature distribution and potentially longer cooking times.
- Initial burner ignition requires multiple attempts to clear the gas line.
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Size and Dimensions
The Everdure Kiln S-Series is a mid-range pizza oven with a good size for home use. The front opening is approximately 20 inches wide, accommodating pizzas up to 16 inches in diameter, though 14 inches is a more comfortable size. The interior U-shaped burner is 16 inches wide. The depth of the cooking stone is closer to 19 inches, but the effective cooking area from front to back is around 12 inches.
This size allows for a variety of pizzas. I primarily used it for 14-inch pizzas, finding them ideal. While 16-inch pizzas fit, they may require more careful placement and attention. The oven's depth is also noteworthy, providing ample space for thicker crusts or toppings.
The propane tank hose is a generous 48 inches long, which provided sufficient reach for my setup. Overall, the oven's dimensions are well-suited to home use, balancing cooking space with portability and ease of use.
Setup and Initial Use
The Everdure Kiln S-Series is remarkably easy to assemble. It arrives largely pre-assembled, requiring minimal setup. While it's quite heavy, moving it by myself (a mistake!) resulted in a minor dent. It's recommended to have two people for transport to avoid similar issues.
The battery compartment for the igniter is easily accessible via a magnetic latch. Simply insert a double-A battery, and you're ready to start cooking. The igniter itself works well, with no issues encountered during testing.
Initially, the burner might require a few attempts to light due to gas clearing the line. After this initial step, lighting and adjusting the flame is straightforward. The oven heats up relatively quickly, reaching over 600°F in around 30 minutes.
Cooking Performance
The Everdure Kiln S-Series consistently produces excellent pizzas. I tested it with a tavern-style pizza and a New York/New Haven style pizza. Both cooked beautifully, achieving a good crispiness and even baking.
Temperature control is important. After 30 minutes, the oven easily exceeds 600°F. After 40 minutes, the hottest parts of the oven reach over 700°F, while the front remains cooler (around 500°F). Rotating the pizza is necessary for even cooking due to the U-shaped burner.
The temperature gradient from front to back needs to be factored into cooking time. A single or two rotations usually suffices. For the New York style pizzas, the 650°F range produced great results. Adjustments are needed based on dough type and desired crispness.
Areas for Improvement and Conclusion
While the Everdure Kiln S-Series is a great oven, there are areas for potential improvement. Extending the U-shaped burner closer to the oven's front edge would ensure more even heat distribution, especially for larger pizzas. This would result in shorter cooking times and improved consistency.
Simplifying the burner ignition system would also enhance user experience. While it works well eventually, it's not as immediate and reliable as some other ignition systems I've used. These are minor quibbles, however, and do not significantly detract from the oven's overall performance.
Overall, the Everdure Kiln S-Series provides excellent value for its price. It delivers consistently delicious pizzas, and the ease of use and efficient heating make it a joy to use. The size is perfect for home use, comfortably accommodating a wide range of pizza styles and sizes. It's definitely a worthy addition to any backyard cook's arsenal.