Baking in a stone oven dates all the way back to the 1400s in France when the first recorded stone oven was recorded. This time-honored tradition still plays a major role in the world of baking as many bakers and pizzaiolos alike rely on stone ovens to produce the highest quality products for their business. When it comes to producing perfect artisanal breads and beautifully baked pizzas, stone ovens provide a result that no other oven could compete with or replicate.

So what sets a stone oven apart from the rest? Stone ovens feature a stone hearth baking surface with a baking chamber that boasts a higher thermal mass and retains heat better for a longer period of time. The radiant heat of a stone oven will provide a consistent temperature throughout the oven which results in a consistent and quality bake. When you are looking for that beautiful artisan bake on your bread that features a dark and crisp crust with a soft and airy crumb, a stone oven is the only true way to accomplish that. And for the pizzaiolos looking to create a perfectly baked pizza with that beautiful “leopard” spotting on the bottom, a stone oven is the only thing that will provide that result.

Another benefit that sets a stone oven apart from others is its energy efficiency. Stone ovens require less energy because they retain heat so well. The heat retention will prevent the oven from constantly trying to reach its set temperature and make it more cost-effective in the long run. We speak with our customers who purchased a stone oven from Empire and they all admit their energy costs are down. A recent customer of ours who purchased a Minitube Stone Hearth Deck Oven told us that switching to a stone oven cut his energy bill in half!

The art of the stone oven is truly represented in its versatility. There are not many ovens out there that allow you to produce artisan breads, pizzas, pastries and even roast meats and vegetables. Empire prides itself on offering a line of deck ovens that are not only extremely versatile, but it bakes all types of products with the highest quality and consistency.

A reliable and high-performing stone oven in your bakery or pizzeria can help take your business to the next level. Being able to consistently bake a superior product time and time again leads to happy customers and peace of mind. At Empire, we know just how important and valuable a good oven is. That is why for over 45 years we have been building better bakeries and providing state-of-the-art stone hearth deck ovens to countless bakeries, pizzerias and restaurants across the country.