Expert Tips from Tom Gozney
Tom Gozney, founder of the eponymous pizza oven brand, explains that unlike conventional ovens, pizza ovens are designed to reach extremely high temperatures up to 500°C, creating the fluffy, leopard-spotted Neapolitan crust. He emphasizes heat retention for consistent 360°C temperatures and even cooking. Gozney notes that live-fire cooking brings people together and is versatile for steaks, flatbreads, and tapas. When choosing an oven, he advises considering usage (camping vs. outdoor kitchen), space, and non-negotiables like thick cordierite stone, insulation, good warranty, intuitive controls, and aesthetic appeal.
How I Tested
Every pizza oven was tested on appearance, cooking experience (accessibility with a loaded shovel and room to move the pizza), and ease of assembly. The author's husband, a critical cook, also participated.
Best Overall: Gozney Arc XL
Rated five stars. This first-class kit arrives like an Apple product, is easy to assemble, and at a perfect height with the purpose-built table. It creates 16-inch pizzas in 60 seconds with a large side burner, built-in digital thermometer, and 20mm thick cordierite stone for even heat. Fuel: Gas. Max temp: 500°C. Heat-up: 40-45 minutes. Price: £799.
Best Affordable Buy: Zanussi Gas Powered Black Pizza Oven
Rated three stars. Easy to set up, with a fixed square stone and sensible heat control. Makes 12-inch pizzas in 60 seconds using a ceramic stone. Foldable legs and carry bag included. Fuel: Gas. Max temp: 450°C. Heat-up: 15 minutes. Price: £133 at Tesco.
Best for Ease-of-Use: DeliVita Flow Dual Fuel Pizza Oven
Rated five stars. Large dome design, most accessible and easiest to use. Comes fully constructed with pre-installed stone. Dual-fuel (gas or wood) reaches 550°C in 15 minutes, fits 14-inch pizzas. Fuel: Gas and wood. Max temp: 550°C. Heat-up: 15 minutes. Price: £699.
Best Luxury Buy: Large Big Green Egg
Rated three stars. Highly desirable ceramic barbecue, excellent for other cooking but not ideal for pizza due to rapid charcoal consumption and small stone. Requires pizza wedges for proper use. Fuel: Wood. Pizza size: 14-inch. Heat-up: 15-20 minutes. Price: £1,495.
Best for Small-Space Living: Gozney Arc Lite
Entry-level Gozney oven, lightweight at 12kg, compact with 12-inch stone. Features lateral rolling flame and intuitive dial control. Reaches 500°C. Fuel: Gas. Pizza size: 12-inch. Max temp: 500°C. Heat-up: 15 minutes. Price: £349.99.
Best for Indoor Cooking: CASO Design Pizzachef 430°
Rated three stars. Electric indoor oven reaching 430°C with digital touch display and eight automatic programmes. Triple-glazed glass door and built-in lighting. Fuel: Electric. Pizza size: 14-inch. Max temp: 430°C. Heat-up: 15 minutes. Price: £199.99.
Best for Modern Aesthetics: Ooni Koda 2 Pro
Rated four stars. Well-built with large 18-inch baking stone, tapered flame gas burner, and Bluetooth-enabled temperature hub. Reaches 500°C. Fuel: Gas. Max temp: 500°C. Heat-up: 30 minutes. Price: £599.
ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven
Rated two stars. Features a rotating stone for even cooking, but heat control is inconveniently located on the back. Narrow opening. Fuel: Gas. Pizza size: 12-inch. Max temp: 500°C. Heat-up: 15 minutes. Price: £249.99.
What is the Best Pizza Oven?
While the oven makes a difference, a hot stone is key. Choose based on space, budget, and style. Gozney Arc XL is stellar, but DeliVita Flow is a strong competitor. Properly proven dough and a turning wheel are essential for perfect pizza.
