At how many degrees does the oven cook?
GRA-di — two syllables, stress on first. This is a fairly technical question.
When deeply interested in the technical specifications of a wood-fired oven — shows expert-level knowledge of Neapolitan pizza.
The correct temperature for a Neapolitan wood-fired oven is 485°C on the cooking surface. At this temperature, a pizza cooks in 60–90 seconds. Asking this question marks you as a genuine pizza enthusiast and will start an enthusiastic conversation.
Quanto tempo ci vuole la cottura?
How long does the cooking take?
Related question — cooking time at the correct temperature is 60–90 seconds
Che tipo di legna usate?
What type of wood do you use?
'Legna' type matters — oak and cherry wood are preferred for even heat and aroma
Il forno è sempre acceso?
Is the oven always on?
Traditional pizzeria ovens burn continuously — never allowed to cool completely
Managing a wood-fired oven at 485°C requires constant attention — adding the right wood at the right time, rotating the fire, and reading the colour of the flame. The pizzaiolo at the oven ('al forno') is as skilled as the one stretching the dough — together they form the perfect team.