How to Adjust the Oven Door for the Best Cooking Results

The oven door position plays a crucial role in temperature control, airflow, and humidity during cooking. Using it correctly optimizes performance, ensuring perfect results for every dish.

1️⃣ Door Closed

✅ When to Keep It Closed:
✔️ During preheating:
🔹 A closed door allows the oven to reach the target temperature faster and optimize fuel efficiency.

✔️ When recovering heat during a long cooking session:
🔹 Closing the door between multiple pizzas helps reheat the refractory floor quickly.

✔️ For baking bread, desserts, roasts, and slow-cooked dishes:
🔹 It helps maintain stable heat and trap moisture, ensuring even cooking.

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Better heat efficiency → Reduces heat loss and speeds up preheating.
✔️ Maintains temperature stability → Essential for consistent results.
✔️ Even heat distribution → Designed to ensure optimal airflow with a closed door.

⚠️ When to Avoid It:
❌ Never keep the door closed while baking pizza.
🔹 The open flame and airflow are essential for quick, even pizza cooking.

2️⃣ Door Open

✅ When to Keep It Open:
✔️ For pizza baking:
🔹 Keeping the door open allows proper air circulation, activates the flame, and ensures a crispy crust in 60-90 seconds.

✔️ To quickly lower the oven temperature:
🔹 If the oven overheats, an open door helps dissipate heat faster.

✔️ To monitor the food while cooking:
🔹 Opening the door briefly lets you check on your food without significant temperature fluctuations.

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Ensures the best pizza results → The flame stays active, giving perfect leopard spotting on the crust.
✔️ Allows better food monitoring → Particularly useful for meats and vegetables.

⚠️ When to Avoid It:
❌ Never leave the door open during preheating.
🔹 It slows down heat buildup, delaying the ideal cooking temperature.

❌ For baking bread, roasts, or desserts.
🔹 Frequent door openings cause temperature fluctuations, compromising the final results.

3️⃣ Dynamic Door Adjustment for Different Cooking Styles

🔹 Pizza 🍕
✔️ Always keep the door open → The direct flame is essential for a fast and crispy bake.

🔹 Bread & Desserts 🍞🍰
✔️ Keep the door closed → Traps heat for a steady and even bake.
✔️ Open slightly in the final minutes for a crispier crust.

🔹 Roasts & Vegetables 🥩🥦
✔️ Keep the door closed → Preserves moisture for a juicier result.
✔️ Open at the end to brown and crisp the surface.

4️⃣ Pro Tips for Optimal Door Management

✅ Follow the manual for your specific oven model → Alfa ovens are engineered for ideal airflow, even with the door closed.
✅ Keep temperature stable → Closing the door between pizzas helps recover heat quickly.
✅ Use an infrared thermometer → To monitor the refractory floor temperature for the best cooking results.

📌 Conclusion

Using the oven door correctly is key to achieving perfect cooking results with your Alfa oven. Follow these best practices:

✔️ Pizza → Always open.
✔️ Preheating & heat recovery → Closed.
✔️ Bread, desserts, roasts → Closed for even baking.

By mastering oven door control, you'll achieve professional-level cooking every time! 🍕🔥