Ooni Karu 16 User manual

How to set up, use and
look after your Ooni Karu 16,
plus handy tips and recipes.
Karu 16
Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven
Essentials Guide

Ooni Karu 16’s legs must be fully extended before firing up.
Important
Ooni Karu 16 is designed for outdoor use only.
Do not use in high winds.
Your safety is paramount. Please read the
Ooni Karu 16 safety manual carefully.
Keep Ooni Karu 16 company while preheating and
cooking. It must not be left unattended while lit.
Do not use water to clean Ooni Karu 16 while it is hot
and only store when completely dry.
Ooni Karu 16 has been designed to run at up to 950°F /
500°C. If Ooni Karu 16 exceeds these temperatures, stop
adding fuel and allow to cool.
Ensure children and pets are kept at a safe distance
and supervised at all times around Ooni Karu 16.
Do not touch the outer body while in use -
Ooni Karu 16 will get hot!
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If your Ooni Karu 16 has not arrived as expected, reach out to us
at support.ooni.com. We’ll be happy to help!

Contents
Say hello to Ooni Karu 16! 02
Quick start 04
Getting started 06
Cooking, extinguishing and storing Ooni Karu 16 08
Tools for cooking 10
Ooni Karu 16 features 12
What’s in the box? 14
Stone temperature and cooking technique 15
How to use the Digital Thermometer 16
Which fuel should you use? 18
Chimney bae and ceiling vent 20
Cooking with wood 22
Cooking with lumpwood charcoal 24
Flame management 26
Top tips for making great pizza 28
Top tips for launching pizza 30
Recipies
Classic Pizza Dough 32
Classic Pizza Sauce 34
Pizza Margherita 36
Detroit-Style Pizza 38
Flame-Cooked Steak 40
Care instructions 42
Troubleshooting 44
Cooking troubleshooting 48
Keep in touch 51
01

Making truly amazing pizza at home is the reason I invented the first Ooni pizza oven. To become a master pizzaiolo takes
time, passion, and of course, the right tools. Ooni Karu 16 packs all of the right ingredients for making great pizza at home
into a sleek design.
The way you cook and enjoy food outdoors is about to change forever.
Building on eight years of design and engineering, Ooni Karu 16 is the latest innovation in the Ooni range,
and we are proud of the cooking experience it provides.
Ooni Karu 16 is a multi-fuel oven, choose your preferred fuel from wood logs, charcoal, or propane. Each fuel source will
allow you to reach the super high heats needed to cook truly great pizza at home. Ooni Karu 16 heats to 950°F / 500°C and is
ready to start cooking incredible Neapolitan-style pizza in just 15 minutes. Like all Ooni Pizza Ovens, you can cook so much
more than Neapolitan style - try Detroit style at a lower temperature, or how about searing a tasty Tomahawk steak, grilled
veggies and more.
Cooking with Ooni Karu 16 is simple, fun, and an experience like no other - whether you’re a beginner or a pro, the Essentials
Guide will help you to enjoy your Ooni experience.
Be sure to hold onto this guide for hints, tips, and delicious recipes. Thank you for being part of the Ooni Community and
enjoy Ooni Karu 16 - we know you’re going to love it.
Kristian and the Ooni Team
Say hello to Ooni Karu 16!
*Ooni Karu 16 Gas Burner available separately at ooni.com. Region specific.
02

The Ooni Impact Fund donates 1% of Ooni’s annual global turnover to charitable causes and
projects focused on social and environmental change. By purchasing Ooni Karu 16 you’re
helping to plant trees through Ooni’s partnership with Eden Projects and 1% for the Planet.
Thank you!
ooni.com/impact

Quick start
We know you’re excited to get cooking! We’d recommend reading the Essentials Guide cover to cover because it’s awesome
and it took a long time to write. For those of you too desperate to start, here’s everything you really need to know:
Set up Outdoors on an Ooni Modular Table. Ooni Karu 16 can also be placed on wooden,
stone, marble or stainless steel surfaces.
Prep Your high-quality fuel and ingredients.
Light Fire Ooni Karu 16 for the first time for 30 minutes to season the oven.
Get hot An Ooni Infrared Thermometer is a must-have for cooking amazing pizza.
We never cook without one!
Pizza For awesome pizza, preheat to 750°F / 400°C in the centre of the stone.
Launch your pizza and rotate every 20-30 seconds.
Relax Let Ooni Karu 16 cool when you’re done. Don’t use water to clean or cool Ooni Karu 16.
Repeat Baking great pizza is a journey and the more you practice, the better your pizza will become!
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Getting started
Finding the right place to set up
Ooni Karu 16 will perform best when
sheltered from wind. Choose a spot that
has at least 1m / 3ft around the oven,
away from buildings, structures and
plants / trees. Place Ooni Karu 16 on the
Ooni Modular Table or a similarly sturdy
outdoor table that can hold weights
upwards of 99 lbs / 45 kgs. Choose
the perfect space, snap a picture and
share it with us - we love seeing the
Community’s set ups!
For Ooni Karu 16 we recommend the
large Ooni Modular Table, especially if
you want to store a gas bottle on the
bottom shelf.
Glass and plastic tables are not
recommended.
Seasoning Ooni Karu 16
Before cooking for the first time, run
Ooni Karu 16 at top temperatures for
30 minutes before allowing the oven to
completely cool and wiping down with
dry paper towels. This will remove any
oils or coatings that are remnants from
the manufacturing process.
It’s also a good opportunity to get to
know your oven — after all, you’re going
to be spending a lot of time together!
Getting the right burn
Using the right fuel is the first step
towards delicious food. When you fire
up with high-quality fuel, you will get
high-quality food out.
See page 23 for further information.
If you want to change from using solid
fuels to using gas, allow Ooni Karu 16 to
cool first before attaching the Ooni Karu
16 Gas Burner.
Learn more
Keep reading to find out more about
cooking, extinguishing and storing
Ooni Karu 16 as well as our top pizza
tips. We also have video guides that will
help you to get the best results from
Ooni Karu 16.
Find videos, recipes and inspiration at
ooni.com.
If you have any questions - or want to
send us some pictures of your delicious
Ooni Karu 16 dishes - you can always
reach us at support.ooni.com. We love
talking about pizza and Ooni!
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lbs
The door:
To open the door
Lift the door up so the hooks are o of
the pins, and pull the handle towards
your body. Do not let the door drop.
To close the door
Lift the door up so the hooks rest safely
on the pins and ensure it’s secure.
Do not lean on or put weight on
the door
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Cooking, extinguishing and storing
Reaching optimum temperatures
Ooni Karu 16 has been designed to run
at up to 950°F / 500°C. The perfect
cooking temperature for our Classic
Ooni Dough Recipe is from 752°F /
400°C in the middle of the stone. Read
more about our recipes on page 32.
Use your Ooni Infrared Thermometer to
gauge your stone floor’s temperature.
The ambient temperature can be
read using Ooni Karu 16’s inbuilt
thermometer. Aim for a close match in
stone and ambient temperatures for an
even bake.
Don’t leave Ooni Karu 16 running on
high for extended periods without
cooking and do not allow your oven to
exceed 999°F / 550°C. If you are taking
a break, give Ooni Karu 16 a break too
- you’ll save fuel and it never takes long
to get back to top temperatures when
you’re ready to cook again.
If your stone is too hot, place a piece
of Ooni cast iron in the oven to draw
some of the heat out.
Extinguishing and storing
After you have enjoyed cooking with
Ooni Karu 16 and are ready to finish up,
simply stop adding fuel. Wait at least two
hours before attempting to move
or clean Ooni Karu 16.
Make sure Ooni Karu 16 is dry and
completely cool before storing.
Ooni Karu 16 is happy living outdoors,
especially with the Ooni Karu 16 Cover.
To keep Ooni Karu 16 looking great,
store indoors during periods of not using
and during harsh weather conditions
such as strong winds, heavy rain or
snow. Use a hard-wearing brush to clean
any excess ash or fuel residue from the
grate so that the air can flow through
the perforations.
Use the Ooni Karu 16 Cover to protect
your oven. Available at ooni.com
Excited to get cooking? Skip to page 22
for detailed lighting instructions.
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Tools for cooking
Ooni Infrared Thermometer
We never cook without one!
Get an instant and accurate stone
temperature reading by aiming the
laser at the middle of the stone
baking board. The Ooni Infrared
Thermometer will allow you to
achieve the amazing pizza bases.
We aim for at least 750°F / 400°C
when baking Neapolitan pizza.
Ooni Pizza Peels Range
Our pizza peels have been designed
specifically for use with Ooni pizza
ovens and are sleek and easy to
transport and store. Having an
additional peel helps to speed up
the pizza supply chain, allowing you
to invite more friends and family to
create their own personalised pizza.
Ooni Cast Iron Series
The high temperatures and fuel
versatility of Ooni Karu 16 are perfect
for searing meat, baking fish and
roasting vegetables. Our Ooni cast
iron series is designed to withstand
the high temperatures of Ooni ovens,
made with removable handles and
fitted wooden boards for easily
moving and serving your hot dishes.
Ooni Premium Fuel Ranges and
Natural Firestarters
We always use Ooni Premium Fuels
and Ooni Natural Firestarters with
Ooni. Our all-natural Ooni Premium
Natural Firestarters are simple to
use and provide enough heat and
flame to light up wood and charcoal
without aecting the flavor.
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Ooni Pizza Oven Gloves
We’ve got you covered for
when things get a little hot in
the (outdoor) kitchen! These
heat-resistant gloves will keep
you cool when cooking with
all Ooni pizza ovens, whether
you’re removing the door or
adding fuel.
Ooni Modular Table Range
Our tables have been designed
specifically for Ooni ovens.
They provide the perfect set-
up and weather resistance for
outdoor cooking all year long
as well as neat and convenient
storage options.
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Ooni Karu 16 features
Innovative drop-down door for easy
access and increased heat retention.
Full glass door with innovative
ViewFlame™ technology.
Front-mounted digital thermometer
for accurate and immediate
temperature readings in °F or °C.
Extra-large hatch access for
inserting large wooden logs and
solid fuel.
Ceiling Vent for total flame control.
Chimney Bae
Optimized fuel tray design for
fuel-ecient air flow.
Cooking with wood and charcoal
Ooni Karu 16 needs the right airflow to reach optimum temperatures.
When firing with solid fuels, set up with at least 3 feet /1 metre of space around the
oven and 9 feet / 3 metres above the oven.
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Cooking wth Ooni Gas Burner for Ooni Karu 16
15mm thick cordierite baking stone.
16.7”/ 425 mm cooking surface for
up to 16” pizzas.
Folding legs with non-slip feet.
The legs must be fully extended
before lighting Ooni Karu 16.
Fully insulated for improved fuel
eciency and maximum heat
control.
Carbon steel shell with high
temperature-resistant powder-
coated finish oering increased
weather resistance.
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What’s in the box?
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Main body - Fully insulated to help Ooni Karu 16 run eciently and
retain heat. Ooni Karu 16 has 3 legs that keep it sturdy and safe and
non-slip feet to protect your table-top surface.
Digital Thermometer - The digital front-mounted thermometer
displays the internal temperature of the Ooni Karu 16. The
thermometer displays temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F)
and Celsius (°C).
Door - Fully insulated to retain heat, with a cool-to-touch handle.
The ViewFlame™ technology built into the door will reduce the
amount of soot on the glass when firing with solid fuels.
Chimney cap - Keeps rainwater out of Ooni Karu 16 when not in
use and stored outside without the Ooni Karu 16 Cover.
Chimney - Draws heat through Ooni Karu 16 when cooking
with wood and the chimney bae allows you to make airflow
adjustments. The chimney’s quick release feature allows you to
set up and pack down with ease.
Thermometer bracket
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Burner tray & grate - Carefully designed to help Ooni Karu
16 reach optimum temperatures when firing with wood and
charcoal. The holes in the grate serve a dual purpose: to increase
airflow through the fuel and to allow excess ash to drop away
from the burning area.
Fuel hatch - Fully insulated to hold in heat. Remove and hook on
to the back draft defender plate when adding wood and charcoal
to the burner.
Back Draft Defender Plate - Regulates the air into the back of
Ooni Karu 16 for more consistent flames.
Stone baking boards - Custom-made from durable cordierite
stone, the stone baking boards retains heat and cooks pizza
bases thoroughly.
Fixings
Thermometer bracket screw (x2)
Thermometer thumb nut (x1)
Door hinge screw (x2)
Draft defender plate screw (x2)
Washer (x2)
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Stone temperature and cooking technique
Ooni Karu 16’s large stone floor provides ultimate cooking
versatility. The stone floor surface will gradually increase in
temperature the closer it gets to the flame, allowing you to
manoeuvre food around the oven depending on how you want
it to cook. When cooking with fire, it’s important to rotate your
pizza and food for an even bake.
An Ooni Infrared Thermometer is a must-have tool for gauging
the stone’s temperature.
Stone temperature vs. air temperature
Your pizza stone will heat up a little more slowly than the air
temperature that is displayed on your Digital Thermometer.
For cooking great pizza, you need the balance of both. So use an
Ooni Infrared Thermometer to ensure your stone and air temps
are similar.
Hottest
Hot
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How to use the Digital Thermometer
Ooni Karu 16 comes with a battery powered Pizza Oven Digital Thermometer to measure the internal air temperature within the
oven body in either Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F). For the most accurate stone temperature, use our Ooni IR Thermometer.
Power on
Press the Ooni button until ‘888’ appears on screen.
Power o
Press and hold the Ooni button until the display goes blank/o.
The thermometer will automatically power o after 3.14 hours. Get it?!
Change unit of measure
Single press the Ooni button to cycle between Celsius (C)
and Fahrenheit (F).
Temperature
The temperature will be displayed in the unit of measurement
you selected.
Max Temperature
Maximum internal temperature reached, open Ooni Karu 16 door to
reduce the temperature within the oven
Error
This will display if the thermometer cable has not been connected to
the Jack Bracket
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Instructions on how to install the Digital Thermometer
are on pages 8 to 10 of the manual.

Which fuel should you use?
Ooni Karu 16 has been
designed for use with solid
fuels, including real wood
and charcoal, as well as
propane gas with the use of
the Gas Burner accessory.
Whichever fuel you choose,
Ooni Karu 16 will bake
incredible pizza.
Never use water to clean
the grate.
Ooni Karu 16 preheats super
quickly and will heat most
eciently when topped up
with fuel gradually, creating
the best environment for
optimised airflow. Top up
little and often to maintain
consistent temperatures. Solid
fuels should never overflow
out of the grate and the
fuel hatch should always be
able to fit in place and close
comfortably.
Do not overfill the fuel
tray, fuel should be added
little and often. Overfilling
the fuel tray like shown
above (in photo) can
damage your oven
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