We Have Good Wood… for Pizza Ovens

We all know size matters. But this is especially true for pizza oven wood! At Hot Box, we’re champions of ensuring everyone knows exactly how long and hard our wood is because we’re proud of it. How did we become so obsessed with wood for pizza ovens? Keep reading to learn our origin story!

A man sits in his workshop with a box of Hot Box Cooking Wood

Becoming Wood Masters

Our team has over 30 years of combined experience in the cooking wood industry. In that time, we’ve come to an intimate understanding of everything there is to know about wood. And through trial and error, we’ve learned what makes the best pizza oven wood in the world.

For many years, we provided every variety of cooking wood imaginable to high-end wood-fired pizza restaurants across the United States. World-class chefs relied on us for consistent, perfectly cut, perfectly dried pizza wood.

Those experiences taught us that pizza ovens work best with a certain cut of wood, which we call “extra split.” We would cut the wood down to about 1” – 2” in diameter to produce an even balance of hot coals and rolling flames.

We learned to use special equipment to make this extra-split pizza oven wood without cutting our fingers off. The pizza chefs who tested our wood stuck with it because, once you’ve had good wood, it’s hard to go back.

Solving a Size Problem

We can still remember how stoked we were when we learned about portable pizza ovens. How could we not be excited about being able to make a wood-fired pizza at home? It sounded too awesome to be true.

But it wasn’t long after buying an Ooni Karu pizza oven that we noticed a problem. The 16” extra-split wood we’d perfected for pizza ovens didn’t fit in the tiny opening. Our wood was too long, and for the first time, we were two guys who were disappointed to hear that.

So, we looked around for wood that would fit. We called every hardware store, all of our chefs and everyone we knew. Nobody knew where to find small enough extra-split wood for pizza ovens.

That’s when it hit us:

We had the knowledge and experience to make that tiny wood a reality!

And so, using our knowledge of what worked best in commercial pizza ovens, we crafted our masterpiece: 6” extra split wood for pizza ovens. Thus, the Hot Box was born, and it was time to spread the word that size matters.

A woodworker crafts the perfect portable pizza oven wood

Perfecting Wood for Pizza Ovens

We guarantee we have the best wood that will slip right in your pizza oven. Here’s why:

  • Cut to Size: Every piece of wood in each Hot Box is cut to fit in portable pizza ovens from top brands like Ooni, Gozney Roccbox and Bertello.
  • Kiln-Dried: We kiln-dry our wood to reduce its moisture content and kill all insects, pests, mold and fungus. So, the wood lights easier and burns hotter and cleaner.
  • Safe to Transport: Since it’s kiln-dried, you can bring the Hot Box anywhere without worrying about spreading invasive pests that are dangerous for forests.
  • Sustainably Sourced: We are committed to using only sustainably sourced materials in the Hot Box. Plus, we plant a tree for every single Hot Box sold.

Bringing the Heat Across the Country

To make the best wood-fired pizzas, you need the best pizza oven wood. At Hot Box, we promise our wood is always hard, always hot and always fits.

Best of all, if you want to experience it for yourself, you can order some today and get it with free nationwide shipping!