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We managed to hit temperatures around 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit without breaking a sweat, which is a game changer for anyone serious about their pizza craft. The even heat distribution is about as good as it gets for DIY home ovens, but there is a learning curve.
See the CBO-500 DIY Kit Oven @ Amazon.comThis oven doesn’t mess around. It’s a hefty 34.25″ wide, 32.5″ deep, and stands proudly at 23.5″ tall. It’s spacious with a cooking area of 594 square inches. The cooking diameter is 22.5″ with a depth of 26.75″. And just a heads up, it rings in at a solid 450 lbs.
This isn’t your typical pre-assembled appliance. It’s a full-on DIY kit that requires a little elbow grease to get going (here’s a quick YouTube animation). The CBO-500 comes as a detailed kit, and while the instruction manual is clear, if you’re more accustomed to ordering takeout than assembling furniture, you might want a couple of buddies on standby to help lift the 210-pound dome piece. All in all, if you can build a stable bookshelf, you’ll be fine. But it’s best to be prepared for a few hiccups. Brining me to my next point; support.
Customer service—because when things go south, you want a support team that doesn’t ghost you. Chicago Brick Oven has a friendly crew ready to help troubleshoot your oven woes, which is more than you get from other overseas manufactures in this industry.
We the cooking surface provides enough room for baking a couple of pizzas side by side, a full tray of roasted veggies, and maybe even a whole chicken. This traditional style of pizza oven doesn’t mind when you load it up, or pull something out – internal ambient heat stays about the same.
Many of the compact pizza ovens we’ve reviewed tout quick cooking times and ease of use but may compromise dramatically on those wood-fired flavors. The Chicago CB0 effectively mimics the cooking conditions of a traditional pizza oven.
However, since you’re dealing with wood fuel, be prepared; it’ll take about 30 minutes to hit that sizzling 900 degrees, which is great. But, if you’re new to this, you’ll probably want to give yourself around an hour to really get the party started.
Once built, the CBO-500 isn’t exactly going to waltz away easily. However, if you’re feeling adventurous and have the muscles to match, you could theoretically lift it with the support of a few strong pals and a good old-fashioned dolly. Just know that your best bet is to find a perfect spot for it—one that offers ample space for your pizza parties, doesn’t tug at the achy back, and maybe avoids the direct path of the neighborhood cat looking to reclaim its territory. So, you’ll need to choose your location wisely.
Comparing the CBO-500 to commercial ovens is like comparing apples to… well, really high-quality apples. Commercial ovens tend to be more powerful and consistent, but you also pay for that privilege—typically in the six-figure range. So, unless you’re opening a pizzeria or want a new mortgage, the CBO-500 serves up a compelling argument for backyard entertainers.
It fits beautifully in that sweet spot between affordable and serious cooking equipment. As an added bonus, the CBO-500 is made in the USA. In a world where “imported” seems to be the name of the game, knowing that your pizza oven comes from local craftsmen is worth paying a little extra.
