This review delves into the Ignus Classico Wood Fired Pizza Oven, exploring its design, build quality, and performance during a first-time cook. The oven, manufactured in Portugal, boasts a robust stainless steel construction with a powder-coated exterior, available in various colors. Its features include a chimney with damper for airflow control, a built-in thermometer, and a thick stainless steel door, all contributing to precise temperature management. The Classico model occupies a mid-range position in the Ignus lineup, offering a generous cooking area ideal for one or two 12-inch pizzas. Its internal construction features thick fire bricks for excellent heat retention, enabling the cooking of multiple pizzas consecutively and even facilitating slow cooking after the fire has subsided.
Beyond its core functionality, the Ignus Classico provides a premium cooking experience. The use of high-grade 304 stainless steel ensures durability and weather resistance. The optional cart, also constructed from 304 stainless steel, provides a convenient and stable base, elevating the oven to a comfortable working height. Included accessories such as a protective cover, pizza peels, a brush, gloves, and an ash rake enhance the user experience. This comprehensive review covers the assembly, firing process, and a first pizza cook, offering an in-depth assessment of the Ignus Classico’s capabilities and overall value.
Pros And Cons
- High-quality cover with strap
- Perforated launching peel with long handle
- Turning peel with sliding handle for rotating pizza
- Long-handled brush for cleaning ash
- Heat-proof gloves
- Ash rake
- Ash rake handle could be longer
- Looks nice, high quality
- Manufactured in Portugal
- Made of stainless steel (304 grade)
- Powder-coated exterior
- Features chimney with cover and damper for airflow control
- Includes thermometer
- Thick stainless steel door with airflow control
- 30 mm thick fire bricks that retain heat for extended cooking
- Ceramic fiber insulation for heat retention
- 60x60 cm cooking area
- Fire bricks are removable and replaceable
- Weatherproof and hardwearing
- Provides authentic wood-fired smoky flavor
- Cart is an optional extra
- Weighs 45kg (heavy)
- Requires kill-dried hardwood for optimal operation
- Wood-fired ovens can be more difficult to operate than gas counterparts
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First Impressions and Design
The Igneus Classico immediately impressed with its sleek and high-quality appearance. The stainless steel construction, powder-coated exterior, and overall build felt robust and well-made. The Portuguese manufacturing adds a nice touch of authenticity. Available in multiple colors, the oven's design is both modern and functional.
Key features include a chimney with a cover and damper for airflow control, a built-in thermometer for easy temperature monitoring, and a thick stainless steel door with additional airflow control. These details enhance the user experience and contribute to the oven's overall appeal.
Oven Interior and Cooking Area
Inside, the oven boasts four 30mm thick fire bricks, designed to retain heat effectively for cooking multiple pizzas consecutively. This also makes the oven suitable for slow cooking once the fire has died down. The inclusion of ceramic fiber insulation further enhances heat retention.
The oven offers a generous 60x60cm cooking area, ideal for one or two 12-inch pizzas. The fire bricks are easily removable and replaceable, allowing for upgrades or repairs as needed.
Materials and Construction
The Igneus Classico is constructed from 304 stainless steel, known for its durability and weather resistance. While it can withstand outdoor conditions, a protective cover is recommended for prolonged outdoor use. The optional stand, made from the same 304 stainless steel, adds stability and convenience.
The stand provides a suitable height for comfortable cooking and features a shelf for storage. Wheels and a handle on the stand make the oven easier to move around. The 45kg weight, however, necessitates a strong and stable surface.
Accessories and First Cook
The oven comes with a high-quality protective cover, perforated launching peel, turning peel, ash brush, heat-resistant gloves, and an ash rake. The peels and brush are well designed, although a longer handle for the ash rake would improve usability at high temperatures.
The initial fire-building process was straightforward, using kindling and progressively larger pieces of wood. Reaching optimal temperature took approximately 15-20 minutes. A digital thermometer is recommended for precise temperature monitoring, ideally aiming for 450-480°C for Neapolitan-style pizzas.
Cooking the Pizza and Final Thoughts
The first pizza, a simple margarita, cooked beautifully in approximately 60-90 seconds. The intense heat from the stone created a perfectly crisp base, while the rolling flames delivered a nice char and melted the cheese evenly. The ample cooking space allowed for easy pizza manipulation.
Overall, the Igneus Classico is a well-designed, high-quality wood-fired pizza oven. Its excellent heat retention, generous cooking area, and ease of use make it a worthwhile investment for pizza enthusiasts. The additional accessories enhance the cooking experience.
Conclusion
The Igneus Classico Wood Fired Pizza Oven provides an excellent cooking experience. Its high-quality construction, effective heat retention, and generous cooking area are standout features. While the optional stand is recommended for ease of use, the oven itself is extremely well-built and highly functional. The inclusion of useful accessories completes the package. Overall, it’s a highly recommended product for those wanting authentic wood-fired pizzas.