We’ve tested 45 pizza ovens – and these are the best three for sizzling toppings and a crispy base
question The average Briton will eat 5,387 slices of pizza in their lifetime. (That’s about 1.5 million calories, but let’s not dwell on that.) The best way to shape your slices and win at garden parties is to get a pizza oven for your home. But which ones are the best?
Basic information Which? The masters tested 45 ovens (and ate 150 pizzas in the process). The cheapest was £99 from Vonhaus and the most expensive was £995 from DeliVita.
Method Which?‘s in-house pizzaiolo measured how long it took each pizza stone to reach 400°C (the very high temperature required for Neapolitan-style pizza), and then they baked three pies (all with the same dough, sauce, and cheese) in each oven. Once this was done, they evaluated the quality of the finished dish: whether the crust was puffy or not; how much the cheese melts; If only the soles were crispy. Finally, they considered practical issues: portability, stability, and how easy each product was to put together.
thing to remember Which? It’s a non-profit organization, so all the money it makes goes towards making life simpler, fairer and safer for consumers.
You can see all the expert reviews at: which.co.uk/pizza-ovens
BEST VALUE
Medicine Electric
Dimension H 32cm x W 59cm x D 42cm
Weight 11.9kg
Maximum pizza size 11.5 inches
What does it do? It’s lightweight (and therefore portable) and it’s electric so you just plug it into an electrical outlet. It heated to 400°C in about 15 minutes and has a nifty ‘air frying’ mode for things like chips.
What is the catch? The pizzas were more good than great and no live flames were used, much to the disapproval of foodies.
BEST MIDDLE CLASS
Medicine Multi-fuel (wood, coal or gas)
Dimension H 75.4cm x W 41.7cm x D 76.1cm
Weight 15.5kg
Maximum pizza size 12 inch
What does it do? A lot. It is easy to set up and use, is very portable and reaches 400C in as little as 13 minutes. Best of all, the food results were top-notch: sizzling sauces, crispy bases and a leopard-spotted crust.
What is the catch? If you want to use gas you’ll need to buy a plug-in Ooni Gas Burner for an extra £90.
BEST BLOWING
Medicine Gas
Dimension H 34.2cm x W 48cm x D 56.4cm
Weight 21.5kg
Maximum pizza size 14 inch
What does it do? This produced the best pizzas and was extremely easy to use. Plus, the gas stove is on the side (located in the back of most ovens) so you can keep a close eye on your pizza and know when to turn it.
What is the catch? The price is clear. And it takes about 20 minutes to reach 400C; Not as fast as other products.
