How to Build a Pizza Oven using Plant Pots
Are you a pizza lover? Nothing beats the exceptional taste of homemade pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven. Unfortunately, most of us don't have access to such ovens at home. However, you can easily build a pizza oven using plant pots. This article walks you through how to build the perfect pizza oven using plant pots so you can enjoy delicious homemade pizza anytime you want.
Tools and Materials You Will Need
To build your plant pot pizza oven, you will need a few things, including:
5 to 6 large terracotta plant pots (size about 16 inches in diameter)
Fireproof insulation - such as vermiculite or perlite
Fire bricks
Cement mix
Wire mesh
Thermometer
Chimney pipe
Tin snips or wire cutters
Measuring tape
Bucket and trowel
Steps for Building a Pizza Oven Using Plant Pots
Step 1: Preparation
Clear a level area for your pizza oven. Mark out your pizza oven's dimensions and build a sturdy base to hold your pots. Choose a spot that is sheltered from wind and rain, with good ventilation, and away from flammable materials.
Step 2: Base Level and Wire Mesh
Start by laying out three large terracotta pots upside down to create a base level upon which you will build your pizza oven. Cover this base with wire mesh to support the weight of your pizza oven.
Step 3: Insulation Layer
Now create an insulation layer by pouring fireproof insulating material, such as vermiculite, around the base level. Make sure that it is even and level across the base of your pizza oven.
Step 4: Fire Brick Layer
Lay nine fire bricks flat on the insulation layer to create a base for your pizza oven.
Step 5: Building the Pizza Oven's Walls
Next, you'll use three pots laid upright to create the sides of your pizza oven, and then two more pots to create the back wall. Apply a layer of cement mix to the top of the first layer of pots to hold them together. Repeat this process until you have four or five layers of pots that create a circular enclosure around the fire brick base.
Step 6: Chimney Hole
Once you have built the circular enclosure, it's time to create a chimney hole to release the smoke. Using a tin snip or wire cutters, cut out a square from one of the pots to create a chimney hole. Once you have made a hole, insert your chimney pipe through the hole and then cement it in place.
Step 7: Thermometer Installation
Now you'll need to add a thermometer to your pizza oven. Install a thermometer by drilling a hole in the top of the pot and inserting it into place. The thermometer will help you keep track of the temperature inside the oven.
Step 8: Insulating Layer and Final Layer of Pots
Now you need to add a final insulating layer of fireproof insulation, such as vermiculite or perlite, on top of the cement. Make sure to spread it evenly across the top of the pizza oven. Finally, add the last two pots to create the roof of your pizza oven. Cover them with insulation and cement to make it secured.
Conclusion
By following these simple steps, you can build your very own pizza oven using plant pots. This oven is small, simple, and efficient, making it an excellent addition to your home. So next time you crave homemade pizza, fire up your pizza oven and enjoy it like a pro.