The reason homemade pizza rarely tastes like the pizza you order is because of the heat. A domestic oven rarely gets past around 240C, and at that temperature a base dries out slowly while the toppings take their time, which is why it comes out crisp in the wrong way. A pizza cooks the base and the top at the same rate and does it in minutes. This guide covers the types available, what separates them, and which of our two ovens suits how you cook.
Electric, gas or wood-fired?
There are three kinds of pizza oven on the market and the differences are practical rather than subtle.
Wood-fired ovens reach the highest temperatures and add a smoke character. They also need fuel, a long warm-up, somewhere outdoors to live and a fair amount of practice. They are for people who want the process as much as the pizza.
Gas ovens heat quickly and give you a controllable flame without managing a fire. They must be used outdoors, without exception: burning gas produces carbon monoxide, so an oven designed for outdoor use should never be brought inside, into a garage or under an enclosed cover.
Electric ovens plug into a normal socket, reach temperature in minutes, need no fuel and are the only type safe to use indoors. Our whole range is electric, which is why these ovens work on a kitchen worktop in January as readily as in the garden in July.
The two ovens in our range
Not sure which of our pizza ovens are suitable for you? Compare the features of our two models of pizza oven, here is how they compare:
| Feature | Electric Pizza Oven | Pizza Pro 450 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 1200W | 2200W |
| Maximum temperature | 400C | 450C |
| Heat control | Five heat settings, 110C to 400C | Independent top and bottom zones |
| Time to temperature | Around 10 minutes | Around 15 minutes |
| Cook time | About 3 minutes | As little as 90 seconds |
| Stone plate | 30.5cm ceramic | 36cm, 1.2cm thick |
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 17 × 35 × 35cm | 26 × 48 × 50cm |
| Weight | 5kg | 11.3kg |
| Timer and viewing window | Yes, both | No |
| Body | Ceramic stone plate with dual heating elements | Powder-coated carbon steel, stainless steel inner walls, twin-wall insulated door |
| Included | Two stainless steel paddles and a baking sheet | Stainless steel peel with heat-resistant handle |
| Guarantee | 2 year | 2 year |
Current prices, finishes and stock for both are on the product pages here.
Which one suits you?
If pizza is an occasional thing, a family Friday or a summer garden habit, the 1200W oven is the sensible choice. Three minutes a pizza is still five times quicker than a domestic oven, the timer and window make it forgiving while you learn, and it is light enough to move around and put away easily. It also earns its keep between pizza nights, which the higher-powered oven does less of.
If you make pizza often, the Pizza Pro 450 is the one. Ninety seconds at 450C is what produces the puffed, lightly charred rim that lower temperatures cannot, and the separate top and bottom controls give you something to adjust when a base comes out paler than you wanted.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a pizza oven indoors?
An electric one, yes. Both ovens in our range are electric and are made for indoor or outdoor use. Gas and wood-fired ovens are a different matter: they produce carbon monoxide as they burn, so they are strictly for outdoor use and should never be brought into a kitchen, garage or enclosed space.
How hot does a pizza oven need to be?
Hotter than a domestic oven can manage, which is the whole point. Our 1200W oven runs up to 400C and the Pizza Pro 450 reaches 450C. Anywhere in that range cooks the base and the toppings at the same speed, which is what gives you a crisp base without dried-out toppings.
How long does a pizza take in a pizza oven?
Around three minutes in the 1200W oven and as little as 90 seconds in the Pizza Pro 450, once the oven is fully up to temperature. Add the preheat and you are still eating well inside half an hour from a standing start.
Do you need a pizza peel?
You do, and one is included with both our models. Launching a pizza off a peel and retrieving it again is not something you want to improvising with a baking tray at 450C. The 1200W oven comes with two stainless steel paddles and the Pizza Pro 450 with a stainless steel peel with a heat-resistant handle.
Can you cook a frozen pizza in a pizza oven?
Yes. The 1200W oven handles frozen pizzas alongside homemade ones, and the range of heat settings means you can bring one up gently rather than scorching the base before the middle has thawed.
Choose your pizza oven
Compare both ovens, the set versions and the boards and cutters in our pizza oven collection, then read our guide to making authentic pizza in an electric oven before your first attempt.