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I have a secret - I've never been a huge pizza fan. It sounds shocking, I know. It's not that I don't like it at all, just that it's never my go-to. I'll take pasta, a burger cooked on the BBQ or a Chinese takeaway over the Italian classic any day.
So when I first set eyes on the Cuisinart indoor pizza oven, I wasn't sure if I'd even enjoy using it. At the Daily Mail we've tested some of the best pizza ovens, so I wondered if a £300 indoor model would be worth it, especially when so many people regret their expensive middle-class gadgets.
Cuisinart is well known for its kitchen appliances, but when competing with the likes of Ooni and Ninja in the pizza space, the brand has tough competition. We've recently reviewed the Ooni Koda 2, Gozney Arc Lite and Ninja Artisan pizza oven so I was excited to see how this indoor model would compare.
The Cuisinart pizza oven has definitely reignited my love for the dish but is it really worth the investment with so many other great brands out there? Read my verdict to find out.
Cuisinart indoor pizza oven: At a glance
I put the Cuisinart indoor pizza oven through its paces. Here are the key specs:
- Cooking area: Indoors
- Assembly required? No
- Dimensions: Fits a 30cm/12" pizza
- Fuel type: Electric
- Weight: 12.7kg
What we love
- User friendly - set up and use was easy, even for a beginner
- Performance - cooks pizza really fast
What could be better
- Price - some might find it too expensive for a solo use gadget
Price: £299.99 from Cuisinart, £219.99 from B&Q.
Our verdict
Despite my apprehension, I have to say the Cuisinart indoor pizza oven is an absolute game-changer. I live in a top-floor apartment, so have never been able to try out one of the popular outdoor ovens - but this is just the right size, easy to store in the corner of my small kitchen without taking up too much room.
For me, the biggest win was how easy it was to use. I was initially overwhelmed by the instruction manual but within 10 minutes had set it up - and 15 minutes later had heated it enough to cook my pizza.
It cooked three pizzas back to back with little temperature drop and I found it cooked the base and toppings evenly, even if I didn't turn the pizza halfway through. The timer was a nifty addition, meaning I didn't even have to use my flour-covered hands to pick up my phone to check the time.
If you're looking for a pizza oven that's suitable for indoors and don't want to spend more than £400, this is one of the best.
How we test
When testing kitchen appliances like pizza ovens, I put them through a series of tests to determine whether they live up to their claims. For pizza ovens, this includes looking at how quickly the oven takes to heat up, as well as how fast the bottom crisps up and how long pizzas take to cook. I also look for how easy it is to get an even colour across the dough.
As well as performance, I take into consideration how easy the oven is to set up, whether any additional tools are needed and of course, general value for money compared to similar models. All of this allows me to provide a well-rounded and honest review to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Cuisinart indoor pizza oven review
Design
Sleek, stylish and silver, this is a great addition to your kitchen. It was easy to set up and looks great on your countertop. Being stainless steel, it does pick up fingerprints easily but it's just as easy to wipe down to keep it looking good.
As mentioned, this oven has a timer at the front, making it easy to keep an eye on your pizza without it burning. The only downside to the design is the weight - I could carry it alone, but not confidently, so it's not ideal if you plan to constantly move it around. At 12.7kg, it's not significantly heavier than alternatives, so this can hardly be considered a serious disadvantage but definitely something to keep in mind.
Performance
While its style impressed me, the performance is what really makes the Cuisinart pizza oven shine. It produced delicious pizzas with a lovely crisp in just a few minutes - I found six minutes at 400°C was ideal for my medium thickness crust. That's pretty speedy for an indoor pizza oven. Results were consistent too, regardless of which toppings I used.
The full temperature range for the Cuisinart is 170°C - 400°C, meaning you could even cook lower and slower in this if you wanted to make bread, for example. Switching the pizza around halfway through ensures even cooking.
I would say it took two attempts to get the hang of launching the pizzas into and taking them out of the oven. If you're completely new to this, I'd recommend watching a couple of videos beforehand, as it can be trickier than you first think.
Now on to the taste test - I genuinely found it significantly better than pizza I had tried in restaurants - and, with the average takeaway pizza in the UK costing around £14, you'd only need to make 22 pizzas with this oven to make back the cost (excluding ingredient costs, of course). This would be easy to do - I cooked five in just one week with a group of friends.
Cleaning is fairly simple, too. After the oven cools, you can use a soft brush on the stone to get rid of any excess crumbs and flour, then simply reheat to burn off any stubborn bits. It was almost impossible to make pizza without spilling some cheese on the inside of the oven, but I think practice will make perfect.
Value for money
I think the Cuisinart indoor pizza oven is great value for money at £300. It has the look and feel of a premium product and considering most good outdoor ovens start at the price, it's a sensible investment.
Plus, it comes with all the additional tools you might need - a 12.5" heat-conducting pizza stone for crispy crusts, a deep dish pan for specialty pizzas, a pizza cutter and a foldable pizza peel for easy handling. Most brands like Ooni and Gozney require you to buy these separately.
How does it compare to similar products
Cuisinart's indoor pizza oven sits in a similar size and price range to the Ooni Koda 12 (£299) and Gozney's Arc Lite (£349.99), though is significantly cheaper than Ooni's Volt 2 indoor pizza oven (£499).
Another contender to consider is Ninja's Outdoor Artisan Electric oven (£300). It's not a traditional model in the sense that it's electric and won't produce flame licked crusts, but it is a versatile outdoor cooker that can also air fry and we loved the results in our testing.
How does it rate online
The Cuisinart indoor pizza oven has a 4.7/5 rating on its website - which bodes well. One positive review read: 'I brought the pizza oven for my husband for his birthday and he loves it. So simple to use and no more takeaways for us.' Another chimed in: 'What an amazing appliance. Perfect pizzas in 2.5 min. So easy to use and I love the giant pizza cutter. Buy one today!'
Why trust us
Erin has lots of experience reviewing products for the Daily Mail. She prides herself on testing everything thoroughly. Her reviews are impartial, honest and will always give you a complete picture of a product - the good and the bad.
Can I leave my Cuisinart pizza oven outdoors?
No, the Cuisinart indoor pizza oven is for indoor use only.
How long does it take to heat up?
The Cuisinart indoor pizza oven took me around 20 minutes to heat fully, with pizzas cooking in around five to six minutes. Thinner pizzas will cook in less time and larger deep pans will take longer.
