Choose a gas oven for outdoor cooking with fast, high heat; choose an electric oven for indoor, year-round convenience. The Big Horn Outdoors 15-inch gas oven reaches 750°F in about 10 minutes, while the 14-inch electric oven reaches 850°F indoors. Match the fuel to where you cook.
What Is the Difference Between Gas and Electric Pizza Ovens?
A gas oven burns propane outdoors, while an electric oven plugs into a household outlet and cooks indoors. The fuel decides the location and the heat profile.
A gas oven is an outdoor appliance that reaches high heat quickly and produces a neutral, controlled bake. An electric oven runs indoors on electricity, with no flame or fumes. The fuel is the fundamental difference, and it drives everything else.
Heat Output
Both cook hot, but the numbers differ slightly. The Big Horn Outdoors 15-inch gas oven tops out at 1,070°F, while the 14-inch electric oven reaches 850°F.
Both reach temperatures far above a standard kitchen oven, so both make excellent pizza. Gas has a slightly higher peak, while electric holds a precise range from 220°F to 850°F with PID control. The difference in peak heat is small for practical pizza-making.
Indoor Use
An electric oven is the only choice for indoor use, because a gas oven must be used outdoors. The Big Horn Outdoors 14-inch electric oven is designed for indoor countertops.
Gas combustion produces carbon monoxide and needs ventilation, so a gas oven cannot be used indoors. An electric oven has no flame or fumes and plugs into a wall outlet. If you want to cook inside, electric is the answer.
Heat-Up Speed
A gas oven heats up faster. The Big Horn Outdoors 15-inch gas oven reaches 750°F in about 10 minutes, while the 14-inch electric oven preheats in about 15 minutes.
Gas ignites instantly and climbs quickly, giving it a modest edge on preheat. Electric takes a bit longer to bring the stone to temperature. The difference is small, but gas is the faster of the two.
Flavor
Neither gas nor electric adds wood smoke, so both produce a clean, neutral flavor. The difference is environmental, not taste.
Both fuels burn cleanly, so the flavor comes from the dough and toppings rather than the heat source. Gas and electric both give a consistent, controlled bake. If you want wood-smoke flavor, neither is the choice — that is what a pellet or wood-fired oven provides.
Ease of Use
An electric oven is easier for most people, because it has preset modes and no fuel to manage. The Big Horn Outdoors 14-inch electric oven offers six preset programs.
Electric ovens are plug-and-play, with presets for styles like Neapolitan, New York, and frozen pizza. A gas oven is also simple but requires propane and outdoor setup. Electric is the lower-effort, more predictable option.
Key Facts
Big Horn Outdoors lists the following specifications at a glance.
- 15-inch gas oven: 750°F in about 10 minutes, up to 1,070°F, outdoor propane (Big Horn Outdoors' listed figures)
- 14-inch electric oven: up to 850°F, indoor countertop, six presets (listed)
| Factor | Gas Oven | Electric Oven |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Outdoor only | Indoor countertop |
| Peak heat | Up to 1,070°F | Up to 850°F |
| Preheat | About 10 minutes | About 15 minutes |
| Flavor | Clean, neutral | Clean, neutral |
| Ease | Needs propane | Plug in, presets |
| Best for | Outdoor cooking | Indoor, year-round |
Which Should You Buy?
Buy a gas oven if you want outdoor cooking with fast, high heat. Buy an electric oven if you want to cook indoors, year-round, with presets.
The decision comes down to location. If you have outdoor space and want high-heat pizza outside, gas is a strong choice. If you cook inside or live in an apartment, electric is the only practical option. Match the fuel to where you actually cook.
Big Horn Outdoors Product Team
"Our view is that gas and electric ovens are not competitors — they serve different locations. The Big Horn Outdoors 15-inch gas oven reaches 750°F in about 10 minutes for outdoor cooking, while the 14-inch electric oven reaches 850°F indoors with six presets. We recommend gas for outdoor cooks and electric for indoor, year-round use. The right choice is about where you cook, not which is better."
Conclusion
Gas and electric pizza ovens differ mainly in location and convenience. The Big Horn Outdoors 15-inch gas oven reaches 750°F in about 10 minutes for outdoor use, while the 14-inch electric oven reaches 850°F indoors with presets. Choose gas for outdoor cooking and electric for indoor, year-round convenience.
Key Takeaways
- Location is the main difference. Gas is outdoor; electric is indoor countertop.
- Gas reaches higher heat faster. Up to 1,070°F in about 10 minutes versus 850°F in about 15.
- Both are neutral in flavor. Neither adds wood smoke.
- Choose by where you cook. Gas for outdoor, electric for year-round indoor.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- Do I cook indoors or outdoors? That decision points to electric or gas.
- Do I want propane or a plug-in? Gas needs tanks; electric needs an outlet.
- How much does preheat speed matter? Gas is the faster option.
FAQs
Which is better for an apartment?
An electric oven, because it cooks indoors without propane or fumes.
Which heats faster?
Gas, reaching 750°F in about 10 minutes versus about 15 for electric.
Does gas add flavor?
No. Both gas and electric produce a clean, neutral flavor.
Can a gas oven be used indoors?
No. It must be used outdoors with ventilation.
Sources
- NFPA, Grilling Safety — NFPA, Grilling Safety
- Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), International Regulation — Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), International Regulation
