Device for conversion of a kamado cooker to a pizza oven
Exemplary embodiments of a kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device are disclosed. Certain embodiments detachably mount within a kamado-styled cooker such that the lid of the cooker rests at an angle on the top of the device and thereby “closes off” and defines a cooking space within the interior that takes advantage of the pizza oven-like features of a kamado cooker. With an embodiment of the solution installed in a kamado cooker, an open doorway or window is defined for allowing a user to insert a pizza into the cooking space and place the pizza on a pizza stone held by the device. Embodiments allow for cooking to occur simultaneously via conductive, convective and radiant thermal energy transfer.
1. A kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device, the device comprising:
a substantially vertical surface comprising an upper edge and a lower edge and defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter, wherein the upper edge defines a first plane that intersects a second plane defined by the lower edge;
a thermal energy and smoke distribution structure residing within the inner diameter of the substantially vertical surface and further defining an innermost diameter;
a plurality of pizza stone support tabs extending from the thermal energy and smoke distribution structure into a space defined by the innermost diameter;
an open doorway in the substantially vertical surface;
a heat shield feature extending over the open doorway; and
an oven landing defining a lower surface of the open doorway, the oven landing residing within the inner diameter;
wherein when the lower edge is seated in a body portion of a kamado-style cooker and a lid portion of the kamado-style cooker is seated on the upper edge, the body portion, lid portion and substantially vertical surface define an enclosed cooking space such that a food item may be inserted into the enclosed cooking space through the open doorway.
2. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pizza stone in mechanical communication with the plurality of pizza stone support tabs.
3. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 1 , wherein:
the thermal energy and smoke distribution structure comprises one or more ports configured to allow thermal energy and smoke to rise through the structure.
4. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more handles extending outward from the outer diameter of the substantially vertical surface.
5. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more cutout features in the thermal energy and smoke distribution structure, wherein the cutout features are positioned along the innermost diameter.
6. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vertical backstop feature positioned along the innermost diameter defined by the thermal energy and smoke distribution structure.
7. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower lip extending beneath the lower edge and configured to nest within the body portion of the kamado-style cooker.
8. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 1 , wherein at least the lower edge defines a circle.
9. A kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device, the device comprising:
means for defining a cooking space within a kamado-style cooker such that a lid of the kamado-style cooker is seated at an angle relative to a lower body portion of the kamado-style cooker;
means for defining an innermost diameter;
means for supporting a pizza stone within a space defined by the innermost diameter;
means for providing access to the cooking space such that the lid remains seated;
means for shielding heat extending over the means for providing access to the cooking space;
means for providing an oven landing within the cooking space; and
means for seating in a body portion of a kamado-style cooker.
10. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a pizza stone in mechanical communication with the means for supporting a pizza stone within a space defined by the innermost diameter.
11. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 9 , wherein:
the means for defining an innermost diameter comprises one or more ports configured to allow thermal energy and smoke to rise through the means.
12. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 9 , further comprising:
means for lifting the device.
13. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 9 , further comprising:
one or more means positioned along the innermost diameter and configured for access to a pizza stone.
14. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 9 , further comprising:
means positioned along the innermost diameter for preventing food from being pushed off a pizza stone.
15. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 9 , further comprising:
means for nesting within the body portion of the kamado-style cooker.
16. The kamado-style cooker pizza oven conversion device of claim 9 , wherein the device is configured to mechanically interface with an ovoid shaped kamado-style cooker.