Ooni Karu 12 or Ooni Karu 2?

The Karu 2 is the oven previously sold as the Karu 12G, and it is very close to the Karu 12. Both take 12 inches (30 cm), both reach 500 °C according to Ooni, both heat up in about 15 minutes, and both burn wood or charcoal, with a separately sold gas burner if you also want to bake on gas. The stone is the same too: 15 mm cordierite.

The difference is comfort. The Karu 2 has a glass door, so you can see the fire and the edge of the pizza without opening the oven, and a built-in thermometer. With a wood fire, which burns less evenly than gas, it helps to see how hot the oven is. The Karu 12 has neither: you open it to look, and for the temperature you need a separate thermometer.

In return the Karu 12 is lighter, 12 kilos against 15.5. The Karu 2 gives you no larger bake, and the glass has to be kept clean to be any use.

Pick the Karu 12 as an entry into wood-fired baking if you do not mind working by feel. Pick the Karu 2 if you want more to go on while tending the fire, without opening the oven every time.