PRECAST WOOD FIRED OVEN KITS

Our reviewer was sent a sample of the Gozney Dome Pizza Oven so she could test it in her own backyard. Keep reading for our full product review.

Outdoor pizza ovens are becoming more popular, and the Gozney Dome is a new contender in the race for backyard space. Gozney is no stranger to pizza ovens, since they also make the popular Roccbox.

I’ve owned and tested quite a few pizza ovens, and baked plenty more in my home oven, so I was more than ready to knead multiple batches of dough to thoroughly test both the wood and gas cooking options. While ham and pineapple pizza didn’t make an appearance, there were plenty of pizzas with varied toppings that made their way from kitchen to peel to oven.

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

Pizza is a true passion for Italians. One they can hardly give up.

There are many who put themselves to the test in their home kitchen by experimenting with new doughs or relying on family recipes perfected over the years.

However, in order to make tasty and fragrant pizzas, like the ones you eat in a restaurant, it is necessary to have a home pizza oven that is capable of reaching high temperatures, up to 1000°.

The reason is that the pizza dough needs the so-called “heat blast” so as to swell and cook perfectly in just a few minutes.

There are numerous home pizza ovens on the market with different features: they can be portable, light and not too bulky, fueled by wood or gas, capable of cooking one or more pizzas at the same time.

Since there are so many options available, it’s important to find the best home pizza oven that suits your needs.

Let’s then discover what features to take into account when choosing the best pizza oven for your home. In this article, we will see:

• How to choose a pizza oven
  –   Design
  –   Size
  –   Type of fuel
• The best oven for making pizzas are
  –   Easy to install
  –   Efficient
  –   Safe to use
  –   Equipped with custom accessories
• How much a home pizza oven costs

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All the best countertop ovens combine the best of both worlds. They can cook food as well as any conventional oven, and they also prepare meals much quicker, are more energy efficient, and take up less space. Greg Frey Jr.—a chef at Golden Door in San Marcos, California, which was rated the number one spa in the world by Condé Nast Traveler—tells us that the countertop oven in his home gets used quite often. “It’s more efficient to use the countertop unit for needs like reheating dishes, roasting small portions, roasting vegetable sides, even air frying, versus the energy needed to heat up the wall oven,” he says.

Some countertop ovens can roast a whole chicken or a 14-pound turkey, cook two 12-inch pizzas, or even be used to bake cookies, bread, and cakes while using less energy than a regular oven. However, Greg has some tips for choosing the best countertop oven. “Avoid small toaster ovens, unless that’s all you plan to use it for.” He also recommends a countertop oven with a bottom tray that easily slides in and out, and covers the entire bottom of the oven. “You will want to clean this tray routinely to keep it from creating a foul odor—or worse, a fire hazard—from dangerous buildup.”

We love the Lisboa ovens and this  RUSTIC BRICK ARCH PREMIUM is an authentic domed pizza oven, and the first model we ever offered. What we love about this oven is the versatility. Not only is it ideal for true Italian-style pizza (in just 90 seconds!), it is also rotisserie capable. The Lisboa has a higher opening than the Pizzaioli’s and Buena Ventura models, which allows room to fit a spit. It also gives off a strong ambiance as the fire is much more visible, almost like a fire feature or fire pit! The door of this oven is square-shaped and is perfect for pizzas, casseroles, breads and mouth-watering rotisseries.

Authentic Pizza Ovens are made with AUTHENTIC BRICK not CLAY!  Be careful of this when shopping oven brands- there IS A DIFFERENCE. Authentic Pizza Ovens are HANDMADE in Portugal and are triple-insulated, which means the outside of the oven is cool to the touch while the inside is blazing hot! Each oven has an inner layer of authentic fire brick and mortar, which is then covered with a thick layer of Rockwool Insulation that is secured with metal batting before an additional layer of refractory cement. Authentic Pizza Ovens are the only ones that use true Rockwool with their own international utility patent.

Premium Hardware:  The Lisboa has a traditional terracotta BRICK facade with a black NON RUST CAST ALUMINUM door, chimney cavity, and STAINLESS STEEL chimney. The door has a peep through high heat viewing window pane.

The authentic Pizza Ovens never use a galvanized coating or zinc galvanizing coating on any of their products. You can paint or tile our white domed ovens to match your home or design specifications. You will just need to use a high heat paint or adhesive. We recommend that you first cure your oven and use it for a few weeks and treat it with Ultra Fire (included) before you paint.

Each Oven Package Includes:

• Cast PREMIUM HIGH-GRADE ALUMINUM DOOR with Stainless Steel Chimney: 6” high spout with flu/damper (6″h x 5.5″w) 38” Pipe extensions and cap available separately.
• Ceramic Portuguese Baking Dish: (10” x 14.5” x 3”
• Thermometer: (0-500°C)

Please note that the door on this model opens from left to right and is split like a barn/dutch door. Weights & Dimensions Are Not Exact As Each Oven Is Handmade:

• OUTSIDE: 39″ W x 31” H x 39″ D
• INSIDE: 31” W x 19” H x 31” D
• DOOR: 15.5” W x 12” H
• CHIMNEY: 5.5” W x 6” H
• Overall Product Weight: 545 kgs

All of our ovens require “all-weather” protection from rain, sleet, and snow, fallen leaves, and protection from harsh elements when not in use. If you don’t have a cover, we offer them for purchase – see Add Ons These are beautiful ovens that are meant to last for a very long time if taken care of properly!

5 YEAR WARRANTY

• Home
• PIZZAIOLI PIZZA OVEN STONE ARCH PREMIUM

Product Description

This is a special oven with its ultra authentic stone arch.  Like all of our Pizzaioli models it is a *very* Italian-style pizza oven! While all of our wood-fired pizza ovens are brilliant, the Pizzaiolis are our most authentic models and is ideal for true Italian-style pizza (in just 90 seconds!). It has a wider opening and lower dome that conducts heat directly to the oven floor.

All of our ovens are AUTHENTIC BRICK not Be careful of this when shopping oven brands- there IS A DIFFERENCE.  Our ovens are HANDMADE in Portugal and are triple-insulated, which means the outside of the oven is cool to the touch while the inside is blazing hot! Each oven has an inner layer of authentic fire brick and mortar, which is then covered with a thick layer of OUR OWN INTERNATIONAL PATENT of Rockwool Insulation that is secured with metal batting before an additional layer of refractory cement.

Premium Hardware: This Pizzaioli Stone Arch Premium model   has a traditional the stone brick facade with a black NON RUST HIGH GRADE CAST ALUMINUM door, chimney cavity, and chimney. The door has a peep-through high heat window viewing pane.

Authentic Pizza Ovens never uses a zinc/galvanized coating on any of our products. You can paint or tile our white domed ovens to match your home or design specifications. You will just need to use a high heat paint or adhesive. We recommend that you first cure your oven and use it for a few weeks and treat it with Ultra Fire (included) before you paint.

• Stainless Steel Chimney: 6” high spout with flu/damper (6″h x 5.5″w) Pipe extensions and cap available separately.
• Ceramic Baking Dish: (10” x 14.5” x 3”)
• Thermometer: (0-500°C)

Please note that the door on this model opens DOWN. Weights & Dimensions Are Not Exact As Each Oven Is Handmade:

• OUTSIDE: 39″ W x 26″ H x 39″ D
• INSIDE: 33″ W x 15″ H x 33″ D
• DOOR: 19.7″ W x 10.6″ H
• CHIMNEY: 5.5” W x 6” H
• Overall Product Weight: Approx 1250 lbs

All of our ovens require “all-weather” protection from rain, sleet, and snow, fallen leaves, and protection from harsh elements when not in use. If you don’t have a cover, we offer them for purchase on our . These are beautiful ovens that are meant to last for a very long time if taken care of properly!

See Shipping for detailed shipping & delivery information.

See Returns for our Return Policy & Warranty Information.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Related Products

An authentic Wood Fired Oven makes the perfect centerpiece for any entertaining area. There’s nothing quite like the crackle of timber burning, the rich smell of wood smoke and the cheery, twinkling light of a fire to bring people together. Then there’s the food; from hand stretched pizzas cooked in 90 seconds to shoulders of meat slow-roasted for 14 hours, and everything between.

It’s little wonder Wood Fired Ovens are so popular. With our PreCast Wood Fired Oven Kits, we’ve made them simple.

PRECAST OVEN KIT OVERVIEW

FLOOR INSULATION

Calcium Silicate Board is used to prevent heat loss from the thermal mass of the oven floor, keeping the heat in the floor where you need it, for stable cooking. The kit also includes printed paper templates and drawing pins so that you can cut each piece of the ‘CalSil’ board to size quickly and accurately.

PRECUT FLOOR TILES

To increase the thermal mass in the oven floor the kit includes Refractory Castable and formwork to create a 2″ thick slab on top of the insulation board. This layer stores extra heat to balance the thermal mass of the large oven dome and gives you a flat surface to bed your floor tiles onto.

PRECAST DOME

The dome is made up of four PreCast sections, which lock together using custom ‘tongue & groove’ joints. These sections are hand-made in Australia from a high grade refractory castable, reinforced with stainless steel fibres for superior strength and durability, rated to over 2450°F.

CNC CUT FORMWORK

Our PreCast Oven Kits come with CNC machined timber formwork to form the outer arch. The formwork comes with the mortar joints engraved into it to help you lay each brick correctly. We also include plastic support strips to make removing the formwork as easy as possible.

PRECUT ARCH BRICKS

The Firebrick Arch at the front of the oven forms the Vent, that directs the smoke from the oven into the flue above. The Vent Arch bricks in the PreCast Kit are cut to fit perfectly across the face of the oven and numbered to make them easy to lay over the CNC Machined Timber Formwork.

FLUE GALLERY & FLUE

Made in Australia from high grade refractory castable reinforced with stainless steel fibres. It’s fitted with a stainless steel flue sleeve with an expansion joint around it to allow for the expansion of the flue as it heats up. The PreCast Kit comes with a single length of stainless steel flue and a cowl.

FIBREGLASS DOME

To pour the keystone that seals the precast sections together we give you a domed piece of fibreglass, custom made to fit the curvature of the oven. Prop this in place with a car jack, then pour the keystone using the Refractory Castable that’s included in the kit.

REFREACTORY MORTAR

We include plenty of Refractory Mortar to assemble your brickwork and PreCast sections, with Refractory Castable included to fill in the dome keystone. We allow for some wastage, so you’ll normally have plenty left over at the end of the build.

CERAMIC FIBRE BLANKET

This prevents heat escaping from the oven dome. The combination of the CalSil board under the floor and the Ceramic Fibre Blanket over the dome means the thermal mass of the oven is cocooned in high temperature insulation. This is why a P85 Oven heated to 750°F can take 36 hours to cool to 160°F.

WIRE, MESH & NAILS

Securing the Ceramic Fibre Blanket to the dome is done with 5″ nails to hammer into the side of the CalSil board, used as fixing points for the tie wire. The tie wire is used to lash the blanket down over the dome, while the chicken wire provides reinforcement to the Perlite Render.

RENDER & FINISHING

The Perlite Render forms a protective shell over the Ceramic Fibre Blanket. This layer is a structural substrate, ready for finishing. The custom curved Float helps you get a smooth dome shape and once the oven is cured and dry, you’ll cover this render layer with a coat of acrylic texture to waterproof the dome.

OVEN DOOR & EXTRAS

The P85 PreCast Oven kit includes a Stainless Steel Oven door, finished in a satin-black coating. The door comes with a temperature gauge that is accurate to 1000°F, and is fitted with beautiful hardwood handles. You also receive the Water Barrier System and High Temp Paint for the Flue Gallery.

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I’ve had the Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven Elite since the beginning of 2020, and it’s the reason why I rarely use my full-size oven. The countertop convection oven can broil, roast, bake, toast, warm, or proof—and even has a bagel setting to toast one side and warm the other side. When baking or roasting, I can use the optional convection button for forced hot air, which speeds up the cooking process by 25% while also providing a more even cooking experience. (Note: when using the convection button, either reduce the temperature by 25 degrees or reduce the cooking time by 25% to avoid burning the food). I can also insert the included probe when roasting or baking to gauge the internal temperature of my food. The temperature control settings are also easy to navigate. But since I’m lazy when it comes to cooking, I usually select the “Broil” setting for salmon or lamb chops so I won’t have to preheat the oven (although I’ll occasionally roast beef and chicken).

The Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven Elite is heavy, weighing 38 pounds, and made of quality components, including the stainless-steel exterior. Its dimensions are 22 ½ x 16 ¾ x 12½, and it has a 1.1 cubic feet interior, and can hold 9” x 13” dishes and quarter sheet pans. This model includes two oven racks that can be put in the three positions, slide-out crumb/drip tray, baking pan, with broil rack.

The Wolf doesn’t have as many features as many countertop ovens on the list. However, it’s my top pick because it does each of its functions exceptionally well, and I love the ease of use. And since this kitchen appliance and it’s components—including the five heating elements—are so well-made, I don’t even hear it working until the ready buzzer chimes. I also love those signature knobs (found on all of the Wolf Gourmet appliances). Mine are red, but the iconic knobs are swappable, and available in red, black, and brush silver. The Wolf Gourmet Elite Countertop Oven has a five year limited warranty.

• Well-built
• Integrated temperature probe
• Swappable dial colors (red, black, brushed silver)

Semi-permanent

While this isn’t built-in, like a brick oven, it’s a two-person lift. If the oven will need to be regularly—or even occasionally—moved across the deck or across the yard, the best option is to place it on a heavy-duty wheeled cart so it can become a one-person effort. This is definitely not something you’d toss in your trunk to take to an outdoor potluck.

5 reasons to choose an Alfa Heat Genius™ pizza oven

Alfa pizza ovens combine technology, performance and aesthetics.

Even the smallest component is made to consistently offer you the best cooking results and maximum safety, with a keen eye on design.

Thanks to continuous innovation processes, Alfa home pizza ovens offer professional performance such as lighting speed and precision in the various cooking processes.

Alfa ovens can reach 500°C ( about 1000ᵒF) in just 10 minutes, thus reducing fuel costs and your guests’ waiting time.

But what differentiates Alfa Heat Genius™ ovens from the many commercially available models?

• The cooking chamber is made with Forninox™ Technology
• OptiDome semi-sphere design
• Shell with double layer powder coating
• “Ready Already” technology to reach the cooking temperature even faster
• Sidefire gas burner

Let’s have a look at each one.

Construction of the Forninox™ steel cooking chamber

In order to cook a pizza in a few seconds, the oven must be capable of reaching very high temperatures, even up to 500°C ( about 1000ᵒF).

This means that the oven must be able to withstand the heat produced during combustion without being damaged in any way.

This is why the cooking chamber of an Alfa pizza oven is made with two different types of steel with a high thermal resistance:

• 441 stainless steel with titanium for the inner wall, so as to better respond to thermal stress
• Stainless steel for the outer wall, so as to resist heat, corrosion and weathering

In this way, the Alfa oven cooking chamber exploits all the advantages of the dome’s stainless steel and the refractory stones by better retaining the heat. Thus giving its maximum potential during the cooking of the pizza, or other dishes, and lasting longer over time.

OptiDome semi-sphere design

It is no coincidence that the top part of wood burning ovens has always been made in a spherical way.

The particular shape of the dome, in fact, enables optimal movement of the air so as to distribute the heat inside the cooking chamber, allowing it to reach high temperatures and keep them constant during cooking.

The Alfa Research and Development team has studied this particular characteristic of wood burning ovens with the aim of improving it and bringing it to a higher level of efficiency.

This is how the OptiDome dome was created. A flattened semi-sphere design capable of maximising circulation and heat flow inside the cooking chamber.

Its particular shape allows the Alfa pizza oven to heat up quickly and to maintain constant temperatures for consistent cooking.

Shell with double layer powder coating

The Alfa Heat Genius™ pizza ovens are built with two layers of powder coating, made in seven stages in order to reach the final result.

This allows Alfa ovens to better withstand weathering, last over time and offer maximum functionality and ease of cleaning.

“Ready Already” technology

Thanks to the “Ready Already” technology, Alfa ovens are able to reach the right temperature so as to cook the pizza even faster, thus also reducing the time required to warm up again between pizzas.

In this way, all your guests can eat together, avoiding embarrassing waiting time between one pizza and the next.

Sidefire gas burner

Alfa gas ovens are equipped with Heat Genius™ technology, nothing is left to chance, not even the smallest detail.

This is why they have a special Sidefire system so that the Alfa burner is found on the side of the oven and never on the bottom, as is the case with most ovens on the market

If the burner is located in the innermost part of the oven, in fact, part of the heat would be released from the mouth, thus greatly reducing the thermal efficiency of the instrument.

Thanks to Alfa’s Sidefire system, the heat is free to flow throughout the combustion chamber, circulating freely to offer you a better performance in terms of pizza cooking.

This translates into high performance and lower consumption, proving to be a concrete solution also for the protection of the environment.

Interior lights

Interior lights vary by model. Some have an interior light that only comes on when the door is opened. Other models let you turn the interior light on while the food is cooking. And there are also countertop ovens that provide a digital view (on the control panel or via your smartphone) of the appliance’s contents.

Calphalon Performance Cool Touch Toaster Oven

The June Oven also sent alerts to let me know how much cooking time was left. There’s also an option to preheat the oven remotely and also set the time and temperature remotely (although I’ve never used that feature). The oven is also compatible with Alexa, so voice commands can be used to preheat the oven as well.

Since becoming more familiar with the appliance, I love how the heating elements work, and I’ve been able to perfectly cook everything from steak to French Toast, as well as frozen pizza and (partially) made from scratch pizza.

I also tested the June Oven Premium, which is $400 more, but includes air fry, stone-fire, roast, convection bake, toast, broil, reheat, slow cook and hydrate (compared to the six cooking functions on the regular June Oven). The June Oven Premium also includes numerous accessories, including three air baskets, enameled grill/griddle, pizza peel, two roasting racks, two nonstick pans, wire shelf, crumb tray, food thermometer, and pro food thermometer. Its dimensions are 19.8 x 12.75 x 19.2 inches. The June oven has a one year warranty, and the June Premium and Plus oven bundles have a two year warranty.

• Step by step onscreen instructions for fool-proof cooking
• Connects to June App
• 12 cooking presets

The Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro

We already love the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, but the Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro takes this love to another level. It has some of the same features as its predecessor, but the Joule Oven App and Joule Autopilot make it even more versatile. Since it’s a Wi-Fi–enabled countertop oven, I can choose to pair it with my iPhone using the Joule Oven App. The app lets me remotely monitor progress and even turn the oven off via my phone.

In addition, the app has lots of recipes—along with photos and info on the serving size and cooking time. The oven’s Element iQ system decides how much heat to use depending on what’s being cooked, and the Joule Autopilot can easily transition from one cooking feature to the next. You can also use voice activation, although I haven’t tried that feature. (Note: The smart functions are optional, so you can still operate the oven without them.)

Like the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, this brushed stainless steel countertop oven includes an air fryer among its 13 functions and also presets for toast (five browning settings/four slices of bread), bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, proof, reheat, cookies, slow cook, and dehydrate. It weighs 23 pounds and has a 0.83-cubic-foot interior (total dimensions: 17.3″L x 12.8″H x 21.5″W). There’s enough room inside the appliance to hold a 14-pound turkey, nine slices of bread, and even a five-quart Dutch oven. One of my favorite features is the magnetic auto-eject rack: If the rack is on third or fourth position when I open the door, the wire rack will automatically slide halfway out of the oven, making it easier to remove the food.

The Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro includes a crumb tray, a 13-inch pizza pan, two wire racks, a broiling rack, an enamel roasting pan, and a steel mesh/air fry/dehydrate basket. It has a two-year limited product warranty.

• Compatible with Joule Oven App
• Autopilot feature
• 13 cooking settings

Café Couture Oven with Air Fry

The Café Couture Oven With Air Fry is a work of art, but thankfully it’s functional art! The lightweight toaster oven has 14 cooking presets: air fry, bake, broil, roast, keep warm, reheat, toast, bagel, pizza, cookies, slow cook, dehydrate, proof, and crisp finish. I’ve used it to air fry salmon, bake pizza, air fry chocolate chip cookies, and broil chicken thighs, and everything has come out completely delicious. I use the crisp finish feature to melt the pizza topping and brown or crisp chicken thighs.

The oven, which weighs 28 pounds, is 18.5 inches long, 14 inches high, and 17 inches deep. It has an internal capacity of 0.8 cubic feet—which isn’t as large as some selections on our list, but it can hold a 12-inch pizza or a 9-by-12-inch pan. It’s a smart oven, with the option to use the controls on the display panel (my preference) or download the SmartHQ App to control it.

Accessories include a baking rack, a 12-inch pizza pan, an air fry/dehydrate basket, a wire rack, and a crumb tray. The oven is made of cast-iron aluminum with a choice of three finishes—stainless steel, matte black, or matte white—and each has polished copper and brushed copper accents.

• Beautiful design in three different finishes
• Crisp finish feature
• Wi-Fi connected

Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven

One interesting feature on the Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven is the dual cook feature. It allows me to combine two cooking functions or two temperatures to run consecutively. I tested it with one of the recommended recipes: ultimate nachos (which includes tortilla chips, beans, and tomatoes). I baked the meal for five minutes and then broiled it for another five so the cheese could melt and brown. Dual cook can be used with the bake, broil, roast, pizza, low, warm, and air fry functions.

The countertop oven actually has 12 functions: toast, bagel, bake, broil, pizza, roast, dehydrate, proof, low, air fry, reheat, and warm. I’ve made pizza, broiled pork chops, and air-fried shrimp and french fries with equal success.

The oven’s dimensions are 21.73 inches long, 15.75 inches high, and 17 inches deep, and it weighs 20.3 pounds. The lightweight and nonstick oven also uses touch controls and a dial. Accessories include an oven rack, a baking pan, and an air fry basket. The oven’s interiors are nonstick, but the baking pan isn’t. The appliance has a three-year limited warranty.

• Dual cook feature
• 12 cooking functions
• Air fryer
• Extended warranty

June Oven Premium

We have seen how many of the characteristics that determine the best pizza oven at home are associated with the use that each person intends to make of the instrument.

Nevertheless, a well-designed and well-made instrument must make the job easier and improve the cooking experience, which is why the best oven for making pizzas needs to be:

• Easy to install
• Efficient
• Safe to use
• Equipped with tailor-made accessories

Let’s have a look in detail.

Easy to install

Modern home pizza ovens can be installed quickly, without carrying out special masonry work as was the case with old wood-burning ovens.

For example, Alfa ovens are ready to use: simply remove the protective packaging and place them directly in the garden or on the terrace without having to worry about anything.

In fact, the smoke is managed thanks to a small flue, supplied, to be inserted on the top of the oven.

There are also mobile pizza ovens, which have no installation restrictions and offer ample freedom of movement.

Efficient

The best home pizza oven must guarantee excellent cooking results with minimum fuel consumption.

To this end, Alfa has developed the Forninox™ technology which enables to reach the high temperatures needed to cook fragrant pizzas, like the ones made in a pizzeria, while offering maximum energy efficiency and reduced consumption.

The reason for this is that the dome of the Alfa ovens, covered with a layer composed of different types of steel, combined with the refractory stone bed, allow the heat to be retained inside the cooking chamber.

Furthermore, in order to increase the thermal efficiency of its pizza ovens, Alfa has patented the Flue system™ technology.

This innovation consists of slowing down the smoke outflow from the combustion chamber so that it can release all its heat with a 50% higher efficiency than commercially available ovens.

Safe to use

A good home pizza oven must have a whole series of safety devices that are useful for safeguarding the people who use it.

This is why professional companies do not cut corners on investments in research and development and on components.

In addition to using quality materials for even the smallest of elements, Alfa installs a burner designed to guarantee high performance both in terms of cooking and safety.

A good oven is essential when cooking a Neapolitan style pizza, or in a pan like the one they make in restaurants. However, accessories that facilitate the use of the oven are also particularly useful.

Being able to count on a selection of tools to make pizza that is compatible with your home oven is a significant advantage.

Calphalon Performance Cool Touch Toaster Oven with Turbo Convection

Although countertop ovens don’t generate nearly as much heat as a full-size oven, they can still get pretty hot—and that can pose a problem if you have small kids running around the kitchen. However, the Calphalon Performance Cool Touch Toaster Oven with Turbo Convection has a cool-touch exterior that keeps the appliance up to 75% cooler. The top, sides, and the front of the appliance all remain cool during the cooking process. (However, it’s still recommended to leave an eight-inch clearance on the side and the back.)

The Calphalon Performance Cool Touch Toaster Oven with Turbo Convection has 12 cooking functions: broil, roast, bake, bagel, toast, pizza, cookies, reheat, dehydrate, keep warm, defrost, and bread proof. The countertop oven’s dimensions are 19.25 inches long by 12.1 inches high by 16.8 inches deep, and it weighs 31.8 pounds. This kitchen appliance can hold a 12-inch pizza and also a whole chicken. The step cook feature allows me to program back-to-back cooking cycles. So, for example, I can set it to defrost a steak, and then start the broil cycle. Or I can set it to bake chicken, and then automatically go into keep warm mode if I know I’m going to be busy when it has finished cooking.

The Calphalon countertop oven includes a crumb tray, a wire rack, a nonstick baking pan, and a 12-inch pizza pan. It has a three-year warranty.

• Exterior is always cool to the touch
• 12 different cooking presets
• 2 back-to-back cooking functions

How to choose a pizza oven

Setting up an area dedicated to the outdoor kitchen to be used to comfortably organize dinners with family and friends.

It goes without saying that choosing a good oven is essential in order to create a wide variety of recipes with excellent results, based on the flair and needs of the moment.

But before starting your search for a home pizza oven you need to establish what your needs are in terms of space and habits in the kitchen.

Well then, how do we go about choosing a pizza oven? 3 elements need to be taken into consideration:

• Design
• Size
• Type of fuel

Let’s have a look at these in detail.

When you are about to buy a new oven, it is important to choose a style that is capable of integrating with the other furnishings already present outdoors.

In addition to being equipped with excellent thermal efficiency, modern domestic ovens offer refined and impactful designs that allow you to easily find a place both in the garden and on the terrace, thus completing the outdoor area dedicated to dinners and barbecues.

Alfa, to this end, has developed 3 lines of ovens, each with its own style, capable of adapting to various contexts, combined by the best of ‘Made in Italy’ in terms of design, the technology implemented, and the materials used.

The Alfa lines are:

• The Moderno line, ideal for younger and dynamic contexts which includes the ovens: 1 pizza oven, Ciao, Brio, Portable and Allegro.
• The Classico line, with its traditional shapes which includes: 5 Minuti and 4 Pizze.
• The Futuro line, where innovation and essential design have given life to the Stone Oven characterized by a stainless-steel arch on the front with a minimal style.

The attention to design enables Alfa pizza ovens to be integrated both in spaces that recall the past and in environments characterized by a more modern style, consistently managing to capture the guests’ attention and to enhance the work of the pizza chef.

The latter feature makes them particularly suitable for those who enjoy organizing cooking show evenings at home to entertain friends.

Sizes

Once you have identified your style, it is essential to understand how many pizzas you need to cook, so that you can choose the oven with the most suitable size for your needs.

In fact, the ideal model is one that manages to combine the right size of the cooking chamber and the available space.

You can find a wide range of ovens of various sizes on the market. Some models, like Allegro 5 Pizze, can cook simultaneously up to 5 pizzas to savor all together.

Choosing the largest oven isn’t necessarily the best solution: if you usually cook for a few people it would be pointless to spend more time and fuel in order to reach, and maintain, the desired temperature.

In this case, it makes sense to focus on smaller and compact models, capable of reaching 1000°in a short time, which can perfectly cook a pizza in 90 seconds, like the 1 pizza oven or Portable models by Alfa.

Type of fuel

When one thinks of a home pizza oven, the first model that comes to mind is undoubtedly the traditional wood-burning oven. However, this is not the only solution on the market.

In fact, depending on the type of fuel supply, you can find:

• Wood-burning ovens
• Gas ovens
• Hybrid ovens

Wood-burning pizza ovens

In this case the fuel used to heat the oven is wood, which burns directly in the cooking chamber and is moved to one side when the oven is ready to cook the various dishes.

This type of oven is not only ideal for cooking pizzas, but it is also perfect for baking bread and roasts.

It’s through lengthy cooking, in fact, that wood releases all its unmistakable aroma, capable of enhancing even the simplest of dishes.

Gas Pizza Ovens

This type of fuel supply is among the most sought after, thanks to the practicality in managing the oven.

It’s easy to turn on, you simply need to turn a knob, and its simple to clean as there is no ash to remove. Gas pizza ovens can reach high temperatures in a short time without effort.

The fuel source can be a classic gas connection from your home or an LPG or methane cylinder.

The latter solution is particularly comfortable because it allows you to easily move the oven to any area of your outdoor space.

If you’re concerned that purchasing this type of oven will give you less tasty pizzas, as opposed to wood-burning ovens, don’t worry!

In fact, the few seconds required to cook a pizza are not enough to ensure that the dough captures the scent of wood.

The models proposed by Alfa that can be fueled by gas are: Nano, Brio, Allegro 5 Pizze and Stone Oven.

Hybrid pizza ovens

If you can’t decide between the charm of wood and the undisputed practicality of a gas oven, there is a third solution studied and patented by Alfa: the Hybrid Kit thanks to which Alfa ovens can be fueled by either gas or wood according to your needs.

The Hybrid Kit consists of two elements:

• A cover to be placed over the gas burner, so as to protect it when using wood
• A wood protector

The advantages of using a hybrid oven are numerous in that the possibility of choosing the type of fuel, from time to time, can offer different culinary opportunities, and it is also useful so as to never run out of fuel.

High, but you don’t need a bricklayer

This is definitely on the high end of outdoor pizza ovens, costing two or three times the amount of other, more portable outdoor ovens. For people who are passionate about their pizzas, it may be a worthy investment, and although it’s heavy, it’s certainly more portable than a built-in brick oven.

Measuring for the right countertop oven

We tested an assortment of countertop ovens—from high-end to economical, some with air fryers, steamers, and even models you can control from your smartphone or Alexa—to bring you our top picks.

Best Countertop Oven That Doesn’t Look Like a Countertop Oven

Let’s conclude this article with one of the most frequently asked questions: “How much does a pizza-making oven cost?”

It is difficult to offer a straightforward answer, because the price of an oven is influenced by many factors such as:

• The quality of the materials used
• The technology implemented
• The size of the cooking chamber
• Attention to design
• Available Pizza Accessories

What is certain though is that by purchasing a quality ‘Made in Italy’ product you will have the certainty of being able to use a professional-performing pizza oven that can cook pizzas and tasty delicacies for numerous years.

De’Longhi Livenza 9-in-1 Digital Air Fry Convection Oven

Another excellent choice to replace your full-size oven is the De’Longhi Livenza 9-in-1 Digital Air Fry Convection Toaster Oven. In addition to having a convection fan, it can bake, toast, broil/grill, defrost, reheat, keep food warm, and has dedicated functions for cookies and pizza. The oven has four oven positions, and includes a crumb tray, two wire racks, a bake pan, and a pizza pan. The controls are simple and easy to use, and the countertop oven also has one of the best air fryer features, producing fries and shrimp that are crunchy without being oily. The De’Longhi Livenza uses a heat lock system that locks the heat inside, which helps to keep the glass door cooler.

However, I really love using the bake function with power convection for lasagna (store bought, because, again, I don’t cook when given a choice). In addition, when making pizza, I can choose between fresh pizza and frozen pizza, and regardless of which type I’m baking, the final product rivals one of my favorite pizza restaurants. Chocolate chip cookies also bake to perfection. That’s why this is definitely one of my picks for the best countertop convection ovens as well as one of the best toaster ovens. It has a relatively compact size, with the total dimensions of the stainless-steel oven coming in at 19 x 17.5 x 12 inches. It also has an 0.8 cubic foot interior and weighs 24.94 pounds. The De’Longhi Livenza 9-in-1 Digital Air Fry Convection Toaster Oven comes with a one year warranty.

• 9 cooking presets
• Easy to use controls
• Nonstick, scratch-resistant interior

There are cheaper options

Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven: I previously tested the Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven, which also works with either wood or gas, but one major difference is that the wood doesn’t get burned inside the oven—instead, it’s loaded in the back and the flames come forward inside the grill. That setup works well, but it’s a bit less fun than building a fire inside the oven, as is done with the Gozney. The Ooni is less expensive than the Gozney, and easier to move since it’s much lighter, while the Gozney is more heavy-duty. Both work well to make pizzas, so the decision may come down to affordability.

Breville The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo: The Breville The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo that I also tested is an easy decision for people who prefer to cook indoors. While it’s not as large or versatile as the Gozney, it’s easy to use, and you don’t have to worry about the weather. It’s also expensive for a home appliance, but Breville has a reputation for making durable, high-quality products. Here, the decision comes down to a preference for indoor or outdoor cooking.

It’s a splurge, but you won’t be disappointed.

For cooks who want a versatile and comprehensive backyard kitchen, the Gozney Dome is a good fit. The only question is whether the investment works for the backyard budget.

Tovala Gen 2 Smart Steam WiFi Oven

One thing that sets the Tovala Gen 2 Smart Oven apart from other countertop ovens is its ability to scan the barcode of several types of frozen made-for oven meals from a variety of brands—including Trader Joe’s, Pillsbury, Amy’s, and Totino’s—and the oven will automatically set the temperature and time. However, I was more impressed with Tovala’s own scan-and-cook meals, which were delivered to my door. I tried the BBQ Chicken Breast with Mac & Cheese. It arrived in one container for the large, marinated chicken breast, and a separate container for the mac and cheese, in addition to a small container of sweet BBQ sauce, and a small container of cheddar cheese. (I love that I don’t have to find seasonings or extra ingredients, because everything is included in the box.)

The meal even includes the nutritional information (calories, cholesterol, sodium, etc.). Tovala also offers other types of meals—for example, Classic Italian Meatballs with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Smoky Coffee-Rubbed Salmon with Southwestern Salad, Backyard BBQ Pulled Pork with Freshly Baked Biscuits, and Herb Truffle Butter Steak with Mashed Potatoes & Bacon Sour Cream. The menu changes often, but the meals have an average cost of $11.99, and the smallest purchase quantity is three meals a week.

I can also cook my own food in the Tovala Gen 2 Smart Oven. In addition to the baking and roasting, I can steam, reheat, and also toast bread. The oven weighs 20.9 pounds. Its interior dimensions are 12.75 x 11 x 8 inches (total dimensions: 18.5 x 12.32 x 11.75 inches), so it doesn’t take up much space in a small kitchen. Tovala provides a limited one-year warranty.

• Optional meal delivery service
• Easy to scan to cook Tovala meals (and compatible with other frozen meals)
• Compact size

Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven

The Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is an economical option that punches above its price range—it’s unusual to find a smart countertop oven at this price range. After downloading the VeSync App, I had access to over 100 recipes designed by chefs and step-by-step instructions. There’s even an option to add my own custom recipes. The device can be controlled by either the app or voice control using Alexa or Google Assistant.

The Cosori has 12 cooking functions: air fry, roast, bake, pizza, bagel, toast, broil, cookies, rotisserie, dehydrate, ferment, and warm. The large capacity interior can hold a five-pound roasted chicken. I’ve used it to make pizzas, air fry chicken wings, bake cookies, and roast corn on the cob.

The countertop oven weighs 19.60 pounds, and its dimensions are 20.1 inches long, 12.5 inches high, and 16.5 inches deep. The nonstick coating also makes it easy to clean. The accessories included are a fry basket, a crumb tray, a food tray, a wire rack, a rotisserie shaft, and a rotisserie handle. The Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven has a two-year warranty.

• Smartphone and voice control
• Air fryer included
• Great price

Galanz 4-in-1 ToastWave with TotalFry 360

Galanz may be better known for its retro-style refrigerators and freezers. However, the Galanz 4-in-1 ToastWave with Total Fry 360 proves that the company also makes great countertop ovens. And this sleek and thoughtfully designed appliance can be used as a toaster, microwave, convection oven, and air fryer—in fact, it has 12 total cooking functions. The microwave functions include microwave, sensor cook, sensor reheat, and defrost. The toaster oven functions include broil, air fry, bake, pizza, warm, toast, bagel, and convection cook.

The Galanz 4-in-1 includes a nonstick turntable, a silicone cooking mat, and an air fry kit. It has a one-year limited warranty.

• Stylish design that’s easy to use
• Sensor Cook prevents overcooking
• Microwave, convection cooker, and air fryer

It’s a beast

Unlike many of its more portable competitors, the Dome is a heavy-duty and very heavy oven—think of the difference between a kamado grill and a kettle grill. Weighing in at 128 pounds, this is well insulated, which is important when pizzas cook so quickly and there’s no door to close.

The dome shape is attractive, and the optional stand gives it a safe place to rest, with two side tables and two shelves to hold extra items. Built into the dome, below the cooking surface, is a niche that can be used to store wood, stash small tools, or hold the chimney cover during cooking.

The dual-fuel oven I tested includes a ceramic puck to seal the open hole on the left or right side of the oven, depending on which fuel is used. When cooking with gas, the puck sits in the hole on the right, providing just a little more space for the pizza inside the oven. Flames from the burning gas come up from the hole on the left and depending on how high the heat is, the flames may lick across the top of the oven.

When it comes to making pizzas, it’s certainly impressive to heat-blast the pie and cook it in 30 seconds or so.

When using wood, the hole on the left is sealed with the puck while a grate is placed on the right. Wood is started in the center of the oven to heat the stone, then moved to the left, and then finally moved to the right over the grate. Ash falls through the grate into the ash catcher, keeping the oven a bit neater.

While cooking with gas was a bit easier, cooking with wood was more fun and added some smoky taste to the pizza. Both methods produced excellent results.

While this oven isn’t tall enough to roast a turkey, it can handle more than pizza. Besides the integrated thermometer that measures internal temperature, it also has two ports for the included probe thermometers, which can be used when roasting meats. Upcoming accessories will make it even more versatile. The oven has an accessory port that can be used for the yet-to-come cold smoker or pellet burner accessories.

FOTILE ChefCubii 4-in-1 Steam Combi Oven

Fotile makes cooktops, gas ranges, and ovens, so it knows something about kitchen appliances. The Fotile ChefCubii 4-in-1 Steam-Combi Oven can air fry, dehydrate, and convection bake. However, my favorite feature is the steam function, which provides steam on low, medium, and high settings (ranging from 86-230 degrees). There’s also a pretty good-sized removable water tank.

The countertop oven has 40 presets for the various cooking modes, and I’ve used several when steaming food. For example, P05 is the preset to steam shrimp, P08 is the preset to steam rice, and P13 is the steam corn preset. There are also a variety of other presets. For example, I’ve used P21 to roast pork chops, and the P16 preset is for baking cookies. In addition, there are presets for baking other types of food, in addition to air frying, dehydrating, and using the combi steam and convection function.

I’ve also used the steam function to help clean the countertop oven by filling the appliance with water and then putting the appliance in Steam Clean Mode. This helps to remove any built-in grime. The Fotile ChefCubii is a sleek white appliance with a black glass door that has a capacity of one cubic foot. The exterior dimensions are 17 13/16 x 18 7/8 x 14 inches. Accessories include a grill rack, bake tray, steam tray, and humidity-controlled chip (for dehydration). Sometimes, the door is hard to open, but when I reached out to the company, it informed me this was done on purpose to ensure that the door is properly sealed when steaming food. The Fotile ChefCubii 4-in-1 has a one year limited warranty.

• Steam function
• Self-cleaning feature
• 40 different presets

Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Digital Air Fryer Oven

Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of room for a countertop oven. The Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven is only 19.7 inches long, 15 inches high, and 7.6 inches deep and weighs 18.57 pounds. However, Ninja doesn’t skimp on features with this appliance. It has nine cooking functions: air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, toast, bagel, dehydrate, keep warm, and reheat. Also the digital air fry oven has the ability to actually flip away when not in use, so you can save up to 50% more space. This also makes it easy to clean underneath and around the appliance. In addition, the back panel can be easily accessed, making cleaning even easier and more thorough.

I’ve used it to air fry french fries and chicken wings, air roast veggies, air broil salmon and steak, and bake pizzas and chocolate chip cookies—all with fantastic results. Accessories include a removable crumb tray, an air fry basket, a wire rack, and a sheet pan. The countertop oven has a one-year limited warranty.

• Space-saving design and flips up
• Nine cooking functions, including air fryer
• Easily accessible back panel makes oven easy to thoroughly clean

Chefman XL Air Fryer Toaster Oven

The Chefman XL Air Fryer Toaster Oven is one of the most economically-priced options on the list. However, it is also one of the best values for people on a budget, and the large capacity (it can hold up to a 5.5 pound chicken) makes it convenient for family meals. The stainless steel kitchen appliance’s dimensions are 15.5 x 16.75 x 14 inches and it weighs 15.20 pounds. The convection toaster oven actually has presets for seven cooking modes, including broil, bake, convection bake, air fry, toast, slow cook, and warm.

I’ve used the broil function to make steak and have also baked pork chops, and was pleased with both. The air fry mode also works well and made my French fries crunchy and tasty; not having to use oil also made them healthier and made cleanup a lot easier. The nonstick, countertop toaster oven includes a removable crumb tray, air fry basket, broil pan, and baking rack. It comes with a one-year warranty.

• Large capacity to cook 2 meals at once
• Great price
• Air fry feature

Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven with Air Fryer Combo

If you would prefer not to have several small appliances in your kitchen, the Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven With Air Fryer Combo can do it all. First, it’s a microwave, but it also has an air fry, broil, convection, pro defrost, sensor cook, and combi function. The combi function can be used for convection plus microwave, and also broil plus microwave. In addition, there are preset shortcuts, for example, H01 for frozen french fries and A06 for cookies.

I’ve used the convection function (with 360-degree rapid heat circulation) to make chicken thighs, bake cookies, and cook Swedish meatballs, and the helpful instructions in the recipe book let me know if the air fry tray should be on the low rack or the high rack for best results. Using the combi modes, which combine grilling and convection, I can also prepare meals faster.

The combo countertop oven is 20.6 inches long, 11.8 inches high, and 16.3 inches deep (with an interior of one cubic feet) and weighs 36.9 pounds. Accessories include a glass turntable, an air fry tray, an air fry basket, a lower wire rack, and a higher wire rack. The microwave oven has a one-year warranty.

• Microwave, convection, and air fry
• 360-degree heat circulation
• Combi mode

Wolf Gourmet Countertop Oven Elite

When using gas, there’s very little debris inside the oven to clean, aside from some crumbs or cheese spills that are likely to simply burn off. When using wood, there’s likely to be some unburned wood, along with ash, left inside the oven. Once everything is cool, the inside can be brushed clean and the ash catcher can be emptied. It was surprising how little ash was produced in testing. The exterior can be wiped clean.

Like a grill, this is likely to spend its life outdoors. While the exterior won’t be hurt by rain or snow, it’s wise to cover the grill to keep rain, snow, and debris out of the cooking chamber.

The Brava Oven

If you’re willing to really splurge on a countertop oven, consider The Brava Oven, which uses high-powered light bulbs to cook food and doesn’t require pre-heating for any of its functions. The Brava provides more heat than a regular oven, delivering crispy wood-fire crusts and the type of browning you’d expect from cast-iron skillets. The oven can cook, sear, toast, bake, dehydrate, slow cook, and reheat. One of my favorite features is that it can distinguish between different zones so I can cook several types of foods on the same tray at the same time.

But my absolute favorite feature is that The Brava Oven has a library of recipes that I can scroll through on the oven’s interface (via Wi-Fi) or on my iPhone. For example, I selected the Filet Mignon, with Potatoes and Baby Broccoli, and received detailed instructions on how to prep the meal and which zones to place the meat and veggies in. Or, for breakfast, I can cook another combo, using the egg tray to cook eggs in one zone, while also cooking frozen waffles in the metal tray in another zone.

• Choose from over 7,000 step-by-step recipes
• Cook up to 3 ingredients at different temperatures
• View cooking progress on either the oven or phone

What to know before you buy

Since you’re getting a countertop oven for convenience, it’s natural to want one that has as many functions as possible. However, Greg offers this warning: “Added features are nice, but be wary of models with lots of dials and function switches,” he says. “I find these selectors are the cheap parts in these units, and they are the first to fail.”

A wide variety, and some are must-haves

Along with the pizza oven I tested, Gozney provided a generous selection of accessories, and some of them may be must-haves. Top of the list is the stand. Not only does it hold the oven securely, it has wheels that make it a one-person job to move the oven. I was able to handle it on my own, albeit with some struggle, on my uneven lawn. On a smooth deck or patio, it would be a breeze. Since the oven is likely to live outdoors, the cover is a good purchase since it fits the oven perfectly.

Other accessories that are available now are a pizza peel, pizza turning peel, pizza serving tray, wood, wood handler, pizza cutter, dough scraper, and dough cutter. Experienced pizza makers may already have tools they can use, but it’s good to know where to buy all the toys.

More accessories are coming soon, including a Neapolitan archway to retain even more heat, a rope-sealed door for bread baking, a steam injector, a mantle for the front of the oven to provide extra space for moving pizzas, a wood rack, a cold smoker, and a pellet burner.

Super-hot yet easily adjustable

When it comes to making pizzas, it’s certainly impressive to heat-blast the pie and cook it in 30 seconds or so. It’s also amusing to watch the crust rise and bubble as it cooks, going from raw to golden, to a little bit of char. That’s great for thin crust, minimally topped pizzas. This oven certainly excels at that type of cooking.

Thicker pizzas or those with a lot of toppings require a slower cook so the interior can be thoroughly baked without turning the exterior to charcoal. Thanks to the integrated thermometer and easy gas adjustment with a dial, this oven can handle that as well. Even better, when cooking with gas, it’s easy to keep the temperature constant.

When cooking with wood, there’s a bit of a learning curve to make sure there’s just enough fire, but it’s simple enough to add more wood when more heat is needed. Because it’s a small, well-insulted space, it doesn’t take a lot of wood to keep the oven hot.

I also decided to try searing some meat—previously cooked using sous vide—in the oven. I used a cast iron griddle, which I preheated along with the oven. The meat seared on the bottom from the heat of the pan, and seared on top from the flames.

Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven

The Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven is large: 17.09 x 20.22 x 13.34 inches and weighs 33.6 pounds. It has plenty of room for a five-pound chicken along with a pan of vegetables on another rack at the same time. It can even hold a 12-pound turkey. The XL stainless steel kitchen appliance has 10 cooking functions: air fry, air roast, whole roast, bake, dehydrate, broil, reheat, pizza, toast, and bagel. When cooking two foods at one time, my favorite feature is that the true surround convection means I don’t have to swap out the food.

For example, when air frying chicken fingers and French fries, I place one on level two and the other on level four, and I don’t need to stop halfway to adjust the rack positions, since the large capacity Ninja Foodi cooks evenly. This also means that I don’t have to flip food over at the halfway point. The Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Oven includes two sheet pans, two wire racks, an air fry basket, roast tray, and crumb tray.

• Generous cooking cavity
• 10 cooking functions
• True surround convection

Bring a friend

There’s not much setup involved with the oven, aside from lifting it onto its new home, whether it’s a table, an existing cart, or the Gozney cart. This oven is heavy and a bit bulky, so it requires at least two people to lift it safely.

Once the oven is in place, the digital display needs its battery, which is included. Before the first use, a short burn-in is required. Then, it’s just a matter of choosing gas or wood, preheating, and cooking.