Kettle Pizza - Modifications

I have always wanted to have a wood burning pizza oven, but the cost has always been prohibitive.   I discovered, like so many others, that an insert made by Kettle Pizza can quickly and easily convert a Weber 18" or 22.5" kettle  into a pizza oven.

I followed the Kettle Pizza recommendations and was able to make some good, not great, pies.

I have been experimenting and have made modifications to the basic design that have resulted in better pies. The improvements include reducing the volume of the oven and making it easier to add wood to the fire at any time. I found removing the hot Kettle Pizza insert to add wood to be cumbersome and potentially dangerous

Materials used:

1. Weber hinged grate ($18) at Home Depot
2. wire
3. 21 x 3/4" pizza stone ($55) at California Pizza Stones
4. aluminum foil

Step 1.
Wire both sections of a hinged grate open and to the back of the grate.

Step 2.
Place Pizza Kettle insert into the base of the Weber kettle.  Now place the wired hinged grate into the Kettle Pizza insert UPSIDE DOWN on the bottom set of standoffs.  This way the handles will not get in the way when adding wood and a larger pizza stone can be placed on the grate.

Step 3.
Place your pizza stone onto the modified grate. I use a 14 x 16" stone.  I like adding wood from the front of the kettle, but you could use a smaller stone and add wood from the sides. Just rotate the modified grate.   A good source for quality pizza stones is California Pizza Stones.

This view shows the pizza stone and grate set into the Kettle Pizza insert from the front.  I found loading from the front easy to add more charcoal or wood while cooking.

Step 4.

Insert a second regular grate UPSIDE DOWN on the top section of the Kettle Pizza insert standoffs.   This will allow you to place a 21" pizza stone above the cooking surface thus reducing the volume of the oven.   If you place the grate with the handles in the up position the largest stone you can place on the grill is 19".  This will leave a lot of space for the hot air to fill the dome of the kettle.  The Serious Eats site recommended this modification using a smaller stone with improved results.  I tried a smaller stone and have found that the larger one keeps the oven temperature more constant while acting as a refractory ceiling on top.

Step 5.
Place a 21" stone on top of the inverted grill and seal the space between the stone and the kettle with aluminum foil.  Place the lid, with the vents closed, on top.

Below is a picture showing the assembled kettle. The lid is placed on the KettlePizza, with the vents closed, when  in use.  The opening in the front, between the stone and the kettle, is used to add wood at any time. Drop the wood in and move to the back of the kettle with a fireplace poker or similar tool.  Prior to this modification I would remove the Kettle Pizza insert to add wood. Cumbersome and potentially dangerous.  Now I can continue to bake pies without having to remove the insert.  The two pictures show the KettlePizza without the lid.

And, the results!