The Presto Pizzazz pizza oven: how does it perform?
Cath reviews the Presto pizzazz pizza oven (model 03430): what it is, how it works, who's it best for, pros and cons - and does it cook pizzas as well as a wood burning oven?
Full disclosure: I do not own this pizza oven. This review is based on extensive research about this product and the vlogs and comments of others, positive and negative, who have used it.
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What exactly is the Presto Pizzazz Pizza Oven?
Fun! The general feedback from users is that it's a really fast, fun way to cook homemade pizza so that you give your family salt- and additive-free pizza made from your own easily made dough and topped with healthy options.
It's just what it says it is - a small, counter-top gadget for cooking pizzas. It also cooks other things - but we'll come to that later.
You'll probably recognise the brand name 'Presto'. It's an American company which has been selling small kitchen appliances since 1905. So it's an established brand with some very innovative little gadgets - and this rotating pizza oven is one of them.
It's been on the market since 2001and has stood the test of time, with over 4,000 Amazon reviews.
It weighs just 8 lbs, measures 16" long by 14" wide and 10" high - so it's small enough to be stowed away easily. It has two separate parts: the electrical machine and a non-stick pizza plate which fits pizzas from 7" to 12".
Strictly speaking, it's not an oven in the sense that it's not enclosed. The pizza sits on the plate and rotates under the grill.
The great thing about that is that kids (and adults!) will sit for hours watching their pizza cooking - it's mesmerising!
How does it work? Take a look!
Basically you plug it in, put your pizza on the tray, set your timer, switch it on and then leave it alone. The tray revolves, cooking your pizza evenly under the electric element.
The machine has an automatic cut-off switch so turns the elements off when the cooking time has finished - and it makes a pleasant little 'dinging' noise to let you know your pizza's ready.
Big advantage - no more burned pizzas!
The top and bottom elements are controlled separately by an easy-to-see switch on top of the machine, so you can cook your pizza exactly how you like it.
Prefer a crispy base, or want to cook your pizza dough first? Start cooking with the bottom element by itself.
Like a bubbly top? Turn the top element on when the base has finished cooking and give it enough time to cook your topping.
Want to cook a pizza from frozen? Use both elements on a very gentle heat.
Does the Presto Pizzazz oven cook pizza properly?
Most people who have this electric pizza oven say it's one of the best things they've ever bought. Some people have been given it as a gift and thought they would leave it in a cupboard gathering dust - and then tried it and now use it all the time.
Kids love watching it cook. Parents love the fact that it keeps kids quiet! Everyone loves the fact that it cooks fresh or frozen pizzas, thin crust or deep pan equally well. Just use the timer to allow for the differences in texture and cooking times.
Presto help you out with this, because they provide a handy guide, suggesting cooking times for different types of pizza. As long as you don't expect all pizzas to cook at the same speed, you'll be fine.
All the negative comments about this machine are really related to that. Customers don't allow for different cooking times, and report a pizza left uncooked in the middle.
I have a conventional oven. Why would I need an electric pizza oven?
Good question!
The Presto Pizzazz pizza oven is an oven with a difference. It does not need time to heat up so it starts cooking as soon as you switch it on.
Because of that, it saves energy right from the start. The manufacturers estimate that its running costs will be about 60% lower than for a conventional oven.
And it heats only itself and the pizza - not the entire kitchen. No more sweltering summer days standing over a hot stove!
Who would the Presto Pizzazz pizza oven be especially useful for?
More or less anyone!
- It's particularly good for small spaces because it's so compact, so anyone with a 'bijou' cooking space would appreciate it.
- Students would find it useful because it's so efficient in its use of electricity, and therefore very inexpensive to run.
- This could make a great wedding gift, particularly for those newly-weds who may be working full time and are too tired to cook properly at the end of their working day. It's a good anniversary gift too.
- Maybe best of all, the Presto Pizzazz pizza oven is a wonderful gadget for a young family. Get the kids to make their own healthy pizzas and watch them as they cook!
Presto Pizzazz pizza oven: advantages
- It's great for small spaces because it doesn't take up much room.
- Unlike other electric pizza ovens no pre-heating needed so cooks more quickly than a standard oven.
- Its efficient use of electricity means it saves as much as 60% in energy costs - that's a lot of money in anyone's book!
- It's great for summer cooking because, unlike a conventional oven, it only heats itself (and the pizza, of course!) - it doesn't heat up the whole kitchen.
- You can use it to cook other foods too - small pieces of chicken are particularly good.
- The controls are on top of the oven and are large and easy to see. No more bending down to squint at switches!
Is it the best pizza oven?
The Presto Pizzazz pizza oven gets a very impressive 4.6 star rating on Amazon from over 4,000 reviews, and all the (many!) video reviews on YouTube are positive. People love it!
If you still haven't got to grips with how it works, have a look at this slightly crazy but very entertaining unboxing video from iJustine, which explains everything right from the start.
Any disadvantages?
- Don't expect to get the same results you would get from a wood burning pizza oven. This is a convenience appliance, not a state of the art machine!
- You do need to take care if you have very small children around as the oven is not enclosed, the elements become incredibly hot and small hands could get burned easily.
- As we say above, some people feel it doesn't cook the centre of the pizza. You do need to make sure you're careful about cooking times.
- Some people report the tray gets marked. Use proper non-stick tools with this machine.
- The base can go a little soft when taken off the pizza oven and put onto a plate. See our tips section underneath for the answer!
Presto Pizzazz Pizza Oven: top tips for best use.
- The dual control (top and bottom cooking times) is a really important feature in terms of making sure your pizza is cooked properly. Lots of people think it's a 'one size fits all' machine and cook every pizza at the same temperature and for the same length of time. It's not.
- For fresh pizza dough, start with the bottom element on alone for ten minutes and then add the top element, cooking both top and bottom for ten more minutes.
- For frozen pizza, cook the base first for two to three minutes before adding in the top element.
- To avoid your base going soft, take it off the machine and immediately place on a wire rack covered with kitchen paper. The paper will absorb the steam and the base should stay crisp.
- Don't expect all pizza toppings to cook at same speed. A pizza Margherita with only cheese and tomato will take a much shorter time than an all-singing, all-dancing topping!
- Use non-stick tools, especially when sliding your pizza off the plate. And under no circumstances try to cut the pizza on the plate - you'll ruin the non-stick coating.
- If you do damage the plate remember you can buy a replacement at Amazon.
Presto Pizzazz rotating pizza oven: conclusions.
- If you love pizza but you don't have much time to make it, this machine could be a real bonus.
- It's very energy-efficient and may save you money in the long-term.
- Great especially for students and young families.
- A gift with a difference!
Love pizza? You'll love these articles!
If you're looking more for outside cooking possibilities, this page reviews one of the best solutions for an outdoor pizza oven you'll find.
If you have ever made your own pizzas, you'll know just how delicious they are - and they're ready in minutes. Have a look at this page for an easy pizza dough recipe.
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