Pizza night can be one of the most fun nights of the week. Most people associate this night with family time, moving watching, and an easy meal prep night. Your traditional oven, however, may not cook a pizza the way it was meant to be cooked. Pizzerias often have large specialty ovens that run on fire. That brick-oven taste you crave comes from a proper oven, a good baking stone, and extremely high temperatures. Electric and gas ovens in the home do not reach the temperature necessary to provide you with an authentic pizza experience. When you can get this taste in your own home or backyard, you may never want to call for a pizza delivery again.
Once you master pizza cooking at home, you may be tempted to have pizza wherever you go. Portable pizza ovens can be taken to your friend’s house, on a camping trip, or to your tailgating party. It is important to find something that is light, sets up easy, and reaches the correct temperature. You may also want to consider the size of the baking stone. Those with large families or entertainment obligations may like to make larger pizza. Some pizza ovens can be used indoors, while others are only for outdoor use. Be sure to look through the specifications of each oven to make sure it has all the features you desire.Best Pick
Presto 03430 Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven. This oven rotates the pizza to get it evenly heated. It also has separate top and bottom heating elements to help you customize the way your pizza is cooked. This takes the guesswork out of making pizza at home.
Budget Pick
Betty Crocker Pizza Maker Plus. Sometimes you just need something simple to cook a quick snack or dinner. There is no need to turn on the oven or stove for pizza, quesadillas, or cinnamon rolls when you own a little pizza oven like this.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Portable Pizza Ovens
1. Presto 03430 Pizzazz Plus Rotating Oven
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This rotating pizza oven is made by a dedicated company that works hard to make sure the needs of consumers are met. They pay close attention to the changes in kitchen trends as the years go by. This can help when you need a product for your modern kitchen. Pizza is a popular dish served for parties and busy nights. This Presto rotating oven makes it easy to serve pizza in a rush. You can cook store bought or homemade pizza with this item. A rotating oven saves energy to keep your bills low, as well. Top and bottom heating elements ensure an evenly cooked pizza.
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2. Betty Crocker BC-2958CR Pizza Maker
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There is no need to heat up the oven when you simply want a quick pizza for a relaxing night at home. This oven is even faster than delivery. You can also make a delicious flatbread for a warm sandwich. Omelets, cinnamon rolls, and cookies can also be made in this Betty Crocker model. You can cook your favorite frozen pizza or get creative and make one from scratch. There is a non-stick surface and the light turns on when the oven is heated and ready to use.
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3. Uuni 3 Portable Wood Pellet Pizza Oven w/ Stone and Peel, Stainless Steel
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This is a portable pizza oven meant for outdoor use. Use it for parties in your backyard or take it camping to avoid starting a fire in the pit or fighting with a grill. . In a mere ten seconds your Uuni wood-fire oven gets up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit. Wood pellets are more convenient and affordable, making this oven much easier to use on the go.
The Uuni 3 is insulated to hold in the heat even better than previous versions. Don’t turn away while cooking, however. Your pizza becomes classically word-burned in only one minute. The brushed texture makes this item attractive enough to keep out on display, while the stainless-steel material is rust-resistant and long-lasting. At home or on the go, the Unni 3 is a helpful cooking companion.
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4. Pizzacraft PizzaQue PC6500 Outdoor Pizza Oven
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If you love to travel or eat outdoors on your own patio, this pizza oven gets the job done. Camping with your family requires a proper meal plan and equipment. This pizza oven is preheated and ready to go in 15 minutes. It runs on propane, making it easy to fire up anywhere. It is small enough to travel with you and can be a part of your regular outdoor kitchen at home, as well.
Pizza is ready in six minutes, making it easy to cook for the entire group in a timely manner. There are also accessories available to make your pizza oven even easier to use. These include legs for making the oven taller and a side table for preparation or cutting. Finally, purchase a cover so you can keep your oven protected from inclement weather.
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5. BakerStone 0-AHXXX-O-000 Pizza Maker Oven Box
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This pizza box works with your gas grill to turn your backyard into a pizzeria. You can easily see what is going on while your pizza is cooking by paying attention to the icons on this model. Double walls enable you to be able to cook many different things. You can use this oven to cook vegetables, desserts, and meat.
You can even cook fish easily without it falling all over your grill. The trick to perfect outdoor pizza is the extreme heat elicited from a wood-burning specialty oven. When you place this box in your grill, it allows for higher cooking temperatures. You can also use it with a larger size charcoal grill.
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6. Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven Accessory
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This model is another that helps you with your quest for a pizza that tastes like it came out of an authentic wood-burning pizza oven. This is an accessory that works with all the Camp Chef stoves that are 16 inches in size. Ceramic helps to distribute the heat evenly.
This pizza oven has an open front so you can slide your pizza in easily and watch it cook. You are not limited to cooking pizza in this oven. You can even cook a pie in this oven. You can enjoy the fun of an outdoor stove without installing a large outdoor kitchen. Try it out for your favorite bread, as well. Enjoy your hot food in the backyard or on-the-go.
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7. Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto Outdoor Pizza Oven - PC6000
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Your pizza night can be moved outdoors with this portable pizza oven. There is no need to eat delivery pizza out of a box when you can have it hot out of the oven in your own backyard, on a camping trip, or on the beach. A small one-pound propane tank and an adapter are all you need to get dinner going for even a large group. This should last about two hours. This makes it easy to pack and use for several dinners on your camping trip. This oven is raised off the ground with legs that can be used on a variety of surfaces.
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8. Deni Pizza Oven
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This pizza oven is a simple addition to your kitchen if you like to enjoy hot snacks without turning on your big oven. The cooking time is similar, but it does not heat up your home on summer day like the big oven. You can also use this pizza oven to make other tasty treats, such as quesadillas and breads. There is a heating element on the top, as well as on the bottom. This helps you get piping hot toppings and a crispy crust. The pan rotates, as well.
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9. Cuisinart CPO-600 Alfrescamore Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven
Your outdoor cooking adventures can include a pizza that tastes like it came from a brick oven. With this Cuisinart, you can also cook many other items. You can entertain guests in your own backyard or take this pizza oven camping or tailgating. This oven cooks fast once it is preheated for about 15 minutes. You can then expect to enjoy a hot, bubbling pizza in 5 minutes.
Cook one pizza right after the other to satisfy all your guests. You won’t spend much time or energy getting this pizza oven set up and ready to go, either. It can be up and running in just a few minutes and you don’t even have to get out your tool box. A pizza stone, pizza peel, smoke chip cup, and recipe booklet are included with your purchase.
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10. Pizzacraft PC0601 Pizzeria Pronto Stovetop Pizza Oven
This Pizzacraft model is different than most, as it sits on top of your gas stove. This is a model made for indoor use, but still cooks quickly. Total cooking time is about 6 minutes with a short break to turn the pizza around. This ensures even cooking. The door on this pizza oven shuts, unlike many outdoor models. This helps to keep the heat in. Once the oven is preheated, you can cook several pizzas in a row so the whole family can enjoy pizza night.
Preheating takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on the BTU of your gas stovetop. Traditional ovens are not optimal for pizza because they simply do not get hot enough. This pizza oven achieves a temperature of 600 degrees Fahrenheit. The built-in thermometer advises you when preheating is complete.
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Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Pizza Oven
Most people have specific needs when they begin to shop for a portable pizza oven. Many people simply want something to make family pizza night easier or something they can take camping. You may be looking for different features if you plan to cook in your kitchen or in the backyard. If you are going camping or tailgating, you may even need to think about the weight and setup time. Think about how you cook, where you cook, and how much you cook before you make a final decision.
Versatility
If you are mainly cooking from home, it may work out to have a pizza oven that only cooks pizza. A portable pizza oven can be an addition to your outdoor cooking area. Pizza can usually be cooked once the oven is preheated. With fast cooking times, it can be easy to cook for the entire family or a large group in a short period of time. If you are taking your oven camping, you may need like an oven with versatility. There are many models that also cook breads, desserts, and vegetables. This way you can get a lot of use out of one item when you pack it for a camping trip or tailgating.
- Works with several different types of foods
- Cooks quickly
- Can be used on its own without your stove or grill
Portability
Portability is key when you need to get your oven out to a campsite or to a friend’s house. Some models take a while to set up or may not travel well due to the weight. Many pizza ovens have a ceramic cooking stone that can add quite a bit of weight. This is key, however, to even cooking and crispy texture. You can look for other features, however, that make your oven easy to transport.
A small, compact size and handles can be a great help. An oven with minimal pieces can also travel better. Legs on the oven make it easier to use when you get to a location that may not have an ideal countertop. These keep the hot oven off the ground or table. Most ovens need to be assembled when you first get them and can be moved without taking them apart.
- Simple design
- Lightweight
- Legs for use anywhere
Size and Cooking Time
The overall size of your oven is important for travel purposes. There are other measurements to look for, however. Think about the size of pizza that you prefer to cook. Some ovens only accommodate a 12-inch pizza. Others work with pizzas as large as 16 inches. When you are trying to feed your entire family, you may not be content with only cooking 12-inch pizzas.
You can also think about the cooking time. A specialized pizza oven preheats in about 10-15 minutes with a cooking time of about 5-6 minutes. You can cook one right after the other without having to wait the 20 minutes required from a traditional oven. Smaller pizzas may not be a big deal since you can cook several very quickly.
- Check the size of the baking stone
- Look at overall size to make sure it fits in your backyard or packs well for a trip
- Check preheating and cooking times
Ease of Use
You should think about the environment you are using your pizza oven in most of the time. Wood pellets or use with a large grill may work well at home, but not on-the-go. For a campsite or a tailgating party, you may need to invest in a pizza oven that can run on propane. This makes it easy to use anywhere. Small propane tanks are also easy to pack when you are going on a long trip.
- Think about where you are going to use the oven most
- Fuel type
- Travel with fuel sources
Temperature
A classic brick oven flavor is only accomplished with extremely high temperatures. Some pizza ovens heat to over 900 degrees Fahrenheit. The average is about 600 degrees. This is achieved in a very short period of time. You must be very careful when inserting and removing your pizza. The heating must also be even so that the entire crust gets cooked well. Some ovens have a separate top and bottom heating element to ensure that your tasty ingredients cook at the right rate, as well. You may also need to turn the pizza during the cooking process if your oven has an open door.
- High temperatures that cannot be reached in a traditional oven
- Cooking stone to evenly distribute heat
- Top and bottom heat gauges and controls on some models
- Manual turning may be necessary
- Moisture vent on top can help your pizza to remain crispy
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