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We Tried Pizzacraft’s $280 Pronto Pizza Oven. See How the Funds-Pleasant Mannequin Carried out

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Up to date Dec. 5, 2023 5:00 p.m. PT

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Written by 
Pamela Vachon

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Pamela Vachon Contributor

Pamela is a contract meals and journey author based mostly in Astoria, Queens. Whereas she writes about most issues edible and potable (and equipment devoted to these subjects,) her actual areas of experience are cheese, chocolate, cooking and wine. She’s a culinary faculty grad, licensed sommelier, former bartender and fantastic eating captain with 10 years within the trade. When not sitting on the keys, she leads in-home cheese lessons, wine tastings and cocktail demonstrations.

Experience Wine, cheese, chocolate, cooking.

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oven on table with pizza

Execs

  • Funds-friendly for a gasoline pizza oven
  • Simple to assemble
  • Easy to function
  • Made persistently good pizza

Cons

  • Much less modern look
  • The hole between the stone and the oven
  • Comparatively small opening for loading pies

Heads up for these whose love language is pizza: a pizza oven for residence use is not one thing to gift evenly. Even if in case you have the final word pizza lover in thoughts, the operation and, frankly, expense of the vast majority of pizza ovens in the marketplace necessitate that an supposed recipient is severe about having one. It is not an off-the-cuff equipment to maintain on standby for a once-yearly pizza occasion. 

pizza oven on table

Here is how the $280 Pronto pizza oven oven carried out in our check.

Pizzacraft

CNET’s record of Best Pizza Ovens for 2023 breaks down the highest fashions for you, however even the funds choose is within the $350 vary. So it begs the query: Are there any worthy pizza oven fashions out there for lower than $300? Particularly in case you’re unsure how a lot use a pizza oven will get. I attempted Pizzacraft’s Pizzeria Pronto, a inexpensive mannequin with strong person evaluations on Amazon to see if saving a couple of {dollars} on a pizza oven can nonetheless prove an ideal pie.

Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto at a look

  • Model: out of doors, moveable gas-powered pizza oven with built-in pizza stone
  • Dimensions: 15″D x 18″W x 18″H
  • Weight: 26 lbs.
  • Value: $280

Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto setup

The Pizzacraft Pizza Pronto took solely 10 minutes to unbox and assemble. Essentially the most difficult half is attaching the gasoline hookup and heating mechanism. At first, the geometry of it appeared confounding, however the out there screw holes can accommodate just one attainable configuration. Even for a geometry-averse mind, (mine) it did not take me lengthy to situate it correctly and tighten the screws. The oven’s legs are simply connected, and the lid is solely positioned on prime of the bowl just like a charcoal grill. The Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto comes with a plastic rain cowl to position on prime when not in use. (Observe from person evaluations: Remember to take this off when working your oven.)

Making pizza with the Pizzeria Pronto

pizza cooking in oven

The Pronto has a smaller opening than different ovens we examined. 

Pizzacraft

The Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto has a built-in ignition change that does not require matches. Its directions point out that the oven ought to warmth up in about 20 minutes when set on excessive warmth. I used to be working it on a comparatively breezy day when it was about 45 levels Fahrenheit outdoors, and this was an correct estimate of how lengthy it took to achieve the “pizza cooking zone” indicated on the temperature gauge, about 700 levels Fahrenheit.

In about an hour, I made 4 completely different pizzas, using a dough I would made in our favourite bread machine — a technique I like to recommend for ease, freshness and avoiding having your palms caked with dough. With crusts of various thicknesses and toppings of assorted weights, the Pizzeria Pronto produced constant leads to the recommended 5 to six minutes, with one flip of the pie throughout cooking. Most pizza ovens have a scorching spot nearer to the again away from its opening, requiring a flip mid-way to provide even outcomes.

The skin fringe of the crust produced good air pockets and took on a fascinating, telltale char, whereas the underside was sturdy and crunchy. Actually, the one difficult a part of the operation is getting used to dealing with a pizza peel. It’s a must to work shortly in assembling your pizza in order that it does not adhere to the peel and refuse to slip off. (Using a big grain flour like semolina or cornmeal with the pizza peel can be beneficial.) 

What I preferred in regards to the Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto

peephole on side of pizza oven

A small peephole permits you to maintain watch on the flame inside.

Pamela Vachon/CNET

The Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto was straightforward to assemble, straightforward to make use of and produced constant outcomes — an important qualities relating to pizza ovens. It maintained its warmth all through the cooking course of, even in chilly situations. It additionally has a helpful peephole within the aspect of the oven with the intention to confirm that the burner is lit with out risk of harm. The pizza stone is detachable for simple cleanup of each the stone itself and the physique of the oven.

What I did not like in regards to the PIzzacraft Pizzeria Pronto

pizza oven from top

It isn’t the sleekest pizza oven in the marketplace, however it acquired the job finished. 

Pamela Vachon/CNET

The bulbous form of the Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto is extra akin to a charcoal grill than a number of the sleeker, flatter, pizza oven fashions resembling these from Gozney or Ooni, however that is merely a beauty downside, not an operational one.

There may be house between the pizza stone and the perimeters of the oven, which might typically make maneuvering your pizza appear treacherous. As soon as the pizza has been cooking for a minute or two although, the durability of the crust is not more likely to consequence within the pizza going overboard. Whereas it was often remarked upon in person evaluations, 85% of Amazon customers nonetheless gave the Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto both 4 or 5 stars.

The mouth of the oven is each slightly low and slim, so there’s not a variety of wiggle room within the measurement of the pizza you can also make. The small opening might be key in serving to the Pizzacraft mannequin maintain its temperature particularly nicely although, so that is probably a draw.

pizza pronto finished

We have discovered making smaller pizzas in moveable at-home ovens usually nets higher outcomes. 

Pamela Vachon/CNET

The directions for the Pizzeria Pronto mannequin point out it is attainable to hook up a 1-pound propane tank with an adaptor, however the orientation of the hose that is constructed into the mannequin makes this difficult and probably hazardous, because it’s tough to get the smaller gasoline canister to face upright when connected. I’m prepared to chalk this one as much as person error on my half, however I would skip forward and put money into the complete, 20-pound propane tank for protected operation.

Last verdict on the Pizzeria Pronto

pizza being pulled out of oven

PizzaCraft

For these deterred by a distinct segment equipment that prices greater than $300, the Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto is a lower-risk mannequin. The Pronto retails for $280, however we have seen it drop even decrease than that together with on Black Friday. With ease of setup and use and constant outcomes, it is a worthy funds choice to contemplate. 

In case you’ve acquired a couple of extra cash to spare for an oven, we advocate the modern $400 Ooni Koda. We additionally had nice success with the Gozney Roccbox. The Gozney retails for $500 however can usually be discovered on sale for round $400. It has a really sturdy construct (it is also heavier than most) and a big mouth for simple pie-making. For extra, see our record of the best pizza ovens for 2023.

What instruments do you have to use a pizza oven?

At first, you’ll need a pizza peel — the long-handled paddle that slides the pizza out and in of the oven. With the recent pizza stone, you possibly can’t depend on typical kitchen instruments for putting and retrieving your pizza. (Observe: Pizza peel dexterity can be not a given. This may occasionally take observe.) There are additionally turning peel designed that can assist you maneuver the pizza as soon as it is contained in the oven.

The stone factor additionally makes them considerably heavy and impractical to maneuver round quite a bit, even for a transportable mannequin. Neither the peel nor the quilt is very costly, however issue these into your funds when deciding which or whether or not to get a pizza oven.

Must you cowl your pizza oven?

Some pizza ovens include a canopy, but when not you may most likely want to accumulate one as nicely. Pizza ovens aren’t supposed to be saved inside when not in use, so you may wish to cowl it to guard in opposition to rust and corrosion.

How do you clear a pizza oven?

The pizza stone is the factor of your pizza oven that will require cleansing, however solely after it has cooled utterly following cooking. The warmth of the stone signifies that most spilled toppings will burn off, including character and a well-used look over time. The stone could also be scrubbed with a brush and water to take away some charred buildup, however utilizing cleaning soap is not beneficial as it may be absorbed by the pizza stone and end in a soapy style. Any particles that falls into the physique of the oven could be swept out with the pizza stone factor of the pizza oven eliminated. 



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