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Pizza Planet
Oven Problems

Too much smoke from oven

Reviewed by Marco Rivera · Updated

How to know this is your problem

  • Black smoke pouring from oven
  • Food tastes bitter/sooty
  • Neighbors complaining

Why it happens

  • Leftover flour/food burning on the stone
  • Wood not dry enough (if wood-fired)
  • Grease dripping onto heating elements

How to fix it

  1. 1

    Run oven at max temp for 30 min to burn off residue (self-clean)

  2. 2

    Use only kiln-dried hardwood — no softwood, no treated wood

  3. 3

    Scrape stone with a brush between cooks

  4. 4

    In electric ovens, ensure good ventilation (hood or open window)

More oven problems

Pizza Planet pizzaiolo chef pointing forward

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