Love the idea of turning your outdoor fireplace into a pizza oven? You’re not alone. Whether it’s for entertaining friends, cooking family dinners alfresco, or simply enjoying the smell of wood-fired pizza on a summer evening, a pizza insert is a clever way to add versatility to your fireplace.
But not all pizza oven accessories are created equal. From materials and build quality to cooking performance and compatibility, each brand takes a slightly different approach.
Here’s a look at how Trendz stacks up against other leading brands, including; Escea, Flare Fires, Jetmaster, and Buschbeck, when it comes to pizza oven inserts.
Trendz Outdoors: Pizza Oven Hood Insert
Price: $695 NZD
Compatible with: Trendz Outdoor Fireplaces (requires either the Swinging Grill or Steel Cooking Frame)
Includes: Stainless steel pizza hood chassis, pizza stone, and laser thermometer
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The Trendz Pizza Oven Hood Insert is designed for those who want to elevate their outdoor cooking game. Crafted from stainless steel and built for performance, it turns any Trendz fireplace into a fully functional pizza oven. The hood captures and retains heat, while the included laser thermometer ensures perfect cooking temperatures.
Because it sits atop the existing cooking accessories, it’s simple to use and easy to remove when you’re done. Ideal for both casual cooks and pizza perfectionists alike.
Escea: EK Series Pizza Oven Insert
Price: From $350 NZD
Compatible with: Escea EK Series Outdoor Fireplaces
Includes: Pizza bricks and hood chassis
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Escea’s pizza oven accessory is one of the more affordable options. It slots neatly into the EK’s racking system and delivers quick cooking times, pizzas can be ready in just 5–10 minutes.
It’s a streamlined setup but lacks some of the extras found in others (like a thermometer or peel), which means you may need to invest in additional accessories to get the full wood-fired experience.
Flare Fires: Pizza Cooking Hood Kit
Price: $395 NZD
Compatible with: Flare Outdoor Fireplaces (requires standard cooking frame)
Includes: Pizza hood, pizza stone, and crisper
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Flare’s pizza kit is a good mid-range option, sitting on top of their standard cooking frame to create a compact pizza oven setup. Flare promotes it as performing “as good as a traditional pizza oven,” with the benefit of cooking and entertaining fireside.
Jetmaster: Portable Pizza Oven
Price: $541 NZD
Compatible with: Any braai stand or similar cooking surface
Includes: Stainless steel chassis with pizza stone, thermometer, and mini stainless steel paddle
Jetmaster’s portable pizza oven offers flexibility for those who want a standalone solution. It’s not fireplace-specific, which makes it versatile, but it doesn’t integrate seamlessly into an outdoor fireplace setup like the others do.
It’s a well-priced option that’s great for casual use, but if you’re after that authentic, built-in wood-fired experience, a dedicated fireplace insert may be a better fit.
Buschbeck: Pizza Oven Insert
Price: $499 NZD
Compatible with: All Buschbeck Outdoor Fireplace models
Includes: Stainless steel chassis, soapstone pizza stone, steatite plate
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Buschbeck’s insert is designed to slide into their signature outdoor fireplaces, combining simplicity with solid materials. The use of soapstone (known for its even heat retention) is a nice touch and helps deliver consistent pizza bases.
It’s a quality accessory with a clean, easy-to-use design, though it doesn’t offer extras like thermometers or accessories for more accurate cooking.
Which Pizza Insert is Best?
All-in-all, you’ll notice that each pizza oven insert is designed to work specifically with its brand’s fireplace, with the exception of Jetmaster’s, which is more of a standalone solution. That means the biggest consideration is: what fireplace do you have?
Or, if you’re still deciding on an outdoor fireplace, think ahead about the accessories you might want now or in the future. Does it come with woodboxes, or allow you to add them later? What cooking accessories are compatible?
For anyone who already owns a Trendz Outdoor Fireplace, adding the Pizza Oven Hood is a simple way to transform your setup, from fireside warmth to wood-fired dining, all in one.
Ready to take your outdoor cooking to the next level?
Explore the Trendz Pizza Oven Hood Insert
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