Breville Pizza Oven Review

Conductive, radiant, convective, and capable of reaching high temperatures, the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo allows you to bake authentic wood-fired style pizzas—and you can do so in the comfort of your home.

A good pizza requires a good oven.

Sure, you can bake the crust and toppings in a regular oven. However, you’ll soon discover that baking them in a pizza oven makes all the difference. Fun and seamless pizza making—who doesn’t want that?

Pizza ovens produce the qualities that we all look for in pizza: crisped-up crusts, perfectly melted cheese, and delectable toppings. And for specialty pizzas like Neapolitan-style pies, you’ll appreciate the leopard-spotted edges with soft and pillowy interior.

But the dilemma is that you can only achieve these qualities by using pizza ovens with high-temperature thresholds. And it should be at least 700 degrees Fahrenheit. A standard oven will provide 550 degrees Fahrenheit, which is fine, but you’ll likely sacrifice quality and time efficiency.

Baking at lower temperatures takes longer and results in less charred crusts. Longer cooking time draws moisture from the dough. This will transform your pillowy crust into a crunchy one. But that’s something you don’t want with your Neapolitan pizzas.

Having the prowess of a brick wood-fired oven at a fraction of the cost of professionally installed ovens, the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is causing a stir among pizza chefs. It’s user-friendly and versatile. And it boasts convenient features.

The idea of a countertop oven capable of reaching actual Neapolitan pizza oven temperatures is quite intriguing. So, we did our research and gained insights from users who have put the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo to test.

It may burn a hole in your pocket, though. And while it’s getting everyone on board, the real question is whether it’s worth the splurge.

Breville Pizza Oven Review: What to Know

In October of 2018, Breville introduced the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo in the US market. It’s a countertop electric pizza that the brand claims can reach a scorching heat of 750 degrees Fahrenheit—a temperature required to create traditional Neapolitan-style pizza.

This pizza oven has a dimension of 18.1 x 10.6 x 18.5 inches and weighs 37 pounds. A bit bulky. So, it may require the same amount of counter space as a large microwave.

To give you a closer look at the finer details of this pizza oven, let’s have a look at its features, design, control, baking performance, and more.

Specs

Design

The relatively large size of the Pizzaiolo does not seem to match its capacity. It holds 12-inch pizzas, which is standard size, but it may not be suitable if you’re looking to bake 16-inch pizzas. And since it’s designed mainly for cooking pizza, you can’t expect its small capacity to accommodate and roast a chicken.

Another thing that we like about this oven is that, while it seems bulky on the counter, it sits low. So you can easily store it on your shelf if you prefer to tuck it away after use instead of letting it take up some counter space.

In terms of aesthetics, we love the radiant, modern yet industrial-style design. It has a brushed stainless steel finish, which could easily complement your other kitchen appliances. The oven is also made of stainless steel, which further proves it’s crafted with durability in mind.

It has a spring-loaded door that closes firmly. And If you find joy in everything like watching your pizza as it cooks, there is a glass window that lets you see inside. However, it’s a little dark on the inside so you may need to do a sneaky peak to check on your crust.

When it’s time to bake your pie, it comes with a metal pizza peel. Some users find it a bit of a turnoff, though. Even with cornmeal in it, your dough may cling to the metal. Alternatively, you can use a similar-sized wooden peel. The included metal peel works well for fresh and frozen pizza, and pre-made, partially baked crusts.

It also includes a carbon steel pizza pan with a removable handle for your pan pizzas. The handle is easy to attach, so you can get it in and out of the shiny box without using oven mitts.

Features

So, it has an aesthetic that’s worth bragging about. But how about the features?

The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is equipped with competitive functionalities that many other countertop ovens on the market lack. Here are some awesome features to look forward to:

Outstanding Heating Element

The Element iQ® System directs power to where it is required to provide optimal baking conditions for a variety of pizza styles. It delivers just the right amount of conductive, radiant, and convective heat to your pizza.

Where does the superior heat conductivity come from?

This oven features a dynamic heat deck that sits directly above responsive heating elements. As a result, you can expect your cordierite stone to heat up fast and evenly. And this will maintain the ideal temperature for your pizza. It cooks your pizza base to the desired finish with just the perfect amount of char.

The halo variable density element helps achieve a leopard spotted crust. It will evenly cook your pizza without you rotating it and makes up for heat loss through the window. Its heat-intensifying parabolic reflectors allow the ceiling of the oven cavity to optimize the efficiency of the top heater and direct power onto your pizza crust.

And to protect your delicate toppings from the powerful heat that this oven produces, it features an optimized deflector shield. This element also reflects heat back onto your crust, resulting in a scrumptious leopard-spotted cornicione. Kind of what you’d expect from a wood-fired oven.

Many users have attested that it delivers what it claims—reaching 750 degrees Fahrenheit. Just what you need to create authentic Neapolitan pizza!

Intuitive Control

The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo has fuss-free control. We just want to take our hats off to the brand for considering user-friendliness when they designed the control. You won’t need to figure out which temperature a frozen pizza needs versus a pan pizza.

It comes with 7 presets for a range of temperature settings and styles of pizza. You can dial it to your preferred settings to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for frozen pizza, pan pizza, New York style, thin & crispy, wood-fired, and 750 degrees Fahrenheit. The pre-programmed options are well-calibrated and entail minimal to no tweaking.

Selecting any of these also establishes a default cooking time and the perfect balance of both the upper and lower heating elements. The small knob or dial allows you to adjust the darkness.

You can also operate it manually if you want to, controlling the deck temperature vs. the upper heating elements separately so you can fine tune for your dough thickness.

To control the upper elements, use the smallest dial on the far right. This helps either distribute the heat evenly across your pie or shift extra focus to outer edges, supplying more heat to crisp the outer ring of crust.

Whichever settings you pick, the versatility of this oven will give you the opportunity to experiment with different crusts and toppings. Those who already have the Pizzaiolo in their kitchen attest to the fact that it perfectly cooks their pizzas, even with thicker toppings.

Keep in mind: Although it does not demand a proactive approach like other countertop ovens, you’ll still need to watch how your pizza bakes. Some users find erupting bubbles in their pies. This shows how the reflectors extend down from the heating element.

Output Power & Baking Performance

Any good Neapolitan-style oven can replicate the capabilities of wood-fired ovens. It should provide intense direct heat and high ambient air temperature. As well as an insulated pizza stone that absorbs and transmits high temperatures. The Breville pizza oven has all those capabilities, baking perfectly puffed pies every time.

While this electric pizza oven only delivers 1800 watts, its well-thought design directs heat to enhance baking performance. It employs a very durable natural cordierite stone. The pizza stone is thermally shock-resistant and capable of heating quickly without busting.

This feature helps lay the stone directly against the deck coils. Which results in an even conductive distribution of heat. So, no matter the type of pizza you cook, you can expect to get a crust that’s baked to perfection.

Many home cooks tried to compare the undercarriage of pizzas baked in a standard home oven versus the Pizzaiolo. The end result? Breville simply nails the leopard details. Not overly charred nor dehydrated.

We’ve mentioned earlier that many users applaud this oven for reaching its maximum temperature threshold. Others get lower than 750 degrees Fahrenheit but guess what? The oven can still produce beautiful, high-quality pizzas. And that’s what we find really impressive!

This goes to show that Breville got really clever with the radiant heat and convection elements.

Ease of Use

The Breville pizza oven is easy to use. Just set it to your preferred preset program and it will handle the rest. It will regulate the oven temperature as well as the cooking time. If you want to make exquisite pizzas but are not confident in your temperature-gauging skills, the oven is almost automatic. No more guesswork here!

This eliminates the extra step of figuring out the temperature for your pizza style. Using the style presets and alarm system for preheating and cooking times, you can concentrate on preparing your pizza while the oven takes care of the rest.

For those who want to customize their cooking experience and gain full control of the process, simply opt for the manual mode.

The intuitive control of this oven is one of the reasons why home chefs love it. No wonder why it has a very high rating in comparison to other ovens on the market.

Ease of Cleaning

Due to the small space of the oven, you may struggle with cleaning it. The opening just looks like a slot to us, so it may not be as easy to wipe clean as large toaster ovens. And you cannot run the removable parts in your dishwasher.

If you need to clean the stone thoroughly, you can take it out of the oven and wipe it down using a damp cloth. The included pizza pan is made of carbon steel and it is virtually nonstick. So, even when the cheese sticks to the pan, you won’t struggle to scrape it off.

Price and Product Availability

This Breville pizza oven costs almost $1,000. If you don’t mind spending that much money on a countertop oven, then you might as well get this model. It’s quite an expensive investment but we think it’s worth it.

Having a reliable pizza oven allows you to make your own at home. You have full control over the doneness of your dough and you can make your own recipe. If you are looking for something that can also bake other food like turkey, however, this is not a good option since it’s designed only for pizzas.

In terms of product availability, you can get it directly from breville.com or Amazon and Williams Sonoma. There isn’t much of a price difference no matter where you purchase it. Also, we’ve been reviewing products for a long time and have noticed that Breville rarely offers discounts.

The Pros

The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo makes excellent pizza of any style. If you’re still on the fence about getting your hands on one, have a look at the perks of using this oven.

High-temperature threshold

This oven has a maximum temperature of 750 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat is impressive because some users were able to achieve temperatures lower than that threshold while still producing an excellent finished product in 2 minutes. It also preheats as fast as 15 minutes.

Durable build and modern design

It’s made of stainless steel paired with a brushed stainless steel finish. We appreciate the sleek, modern look of this oven and it blends in with most kitchen appliances.

Versatile

If you’re looking for dependable equipment to make various types of pizza, this is the one. The oven is ideal for baking different pizza styles because it can reach high temperatures. It allows you to make everything from frozen and pan pizzas to Neapolitan pies to New York and thin and crispy pizzas.

Very user-friendly

The Breville pizza oven is one of the easiest-to-use countertop ovens out there. It caters to both beginners and seasoned pizza makers and gives you endless cooking possibilities.

A lot of its users are impressed with the pre-programmed settings. This feature allows you to relax and not worry about what temperature your pizza style should bake at. Just turn the dial to your preferred style and it will automatically establish the cooking time and temperature.

Also, the oven’s versatility extends beyond allowing you to set it and forget it. You can fully customize your cooking experience by opting for manual mode.

The Cons

This Breville pizza has wonderful features that make it worth checking out. However, no pizza oven is perfect. Here are a few things to keep in mind before purchasing the Pizzaiolo.

Expensive

This oven isn’t cheap. It’s currently priced at $999.95 and that is very expensive for a pizza oven, but we think it’s still great given the convenience and versatility it offers. We won’t recommend it for those who only occasionally bake pizza.

Eats up a lot of counter space

If you don’t have enough space for a coffee maker’s footprint, this oven may take over your counter. It’s quite bulky and may take up a lot of counter space. The oven is nearly the size of a large microwave, so unless you have the space in your kitchen for the Pizzaiolo, this may not be a space-saving appliance.

A pain to clean

Since the opening through which your pizza enters the oven is so small, it may be difficult to reach all of the areas inside. Also, all of its removable parts are not dishwasher safe.

Fortunately, you can remove the pizza stone and clean it easily. The carbon steel pizza pan is also naturally nonstick, making it easy to remove any food residue.

Do We Recommend the Breville Pizza Oven?

Despite its high price tag and somewhat bulky design that takes up a lot of kitchen counter space, we consider the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo to be a product worth considering. It’s definitely a great addition to your cooking arsenal. The oven is a must-have if you’re looking for something that produces excellent results every time.

We appreciate its innovative heating element that allows home chefs to bake various pizza styles. It’s fuss-free and easy to use. The temperature threshold is quite impressive. And the nearly automated design makes cooking easier and faster.

Considering the price, it’s extravagant but we think that it is still a fantastic work of engineering built by a design team that seriously adores pizza. If the expensive price won’t drain your bank account, then we’d definitely recommend this oven.

Any Other Breville Pizza Oven Alternatives?

The Pizzaiolo can boast exceptional cooking performance. However, it serves only one purpose. And its hefty price limits its appeal to other pizza makers. So we looked at other Breville pizza ovens and found some decent options that would help you save money.

Breville Smart Oven Pro Toaster Oven

This countertop oven uses the same heating element as the Pizzaiolo. It can compete in terms of cooking time, reducing it by up to 30 percent—thanks to the convection option. And it has 10 cooking settings to pick from with interior lights for easy monitoring.

This oven uses 5 separate quartz components, and smart algorithms direct power to where and when it is required to create the best cooking condition for consistent outcomes. With a power output of 1,800 watts, it preheats and cooks just as fast as the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo.

This model’s capacity is where it beats the Pizzaiolo oven. The Pro Toaster Oven allows you to bake not just pizza, but also muffins and cookies, and you can bake chicken as well.

Pros:
• Superior heating element
• Preheats and cooks fast
• Offers larger capacity
Cons:
• Requires a bit of work to clean

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

Another versatile Breville worth checking out is this countertop smart oven air fryer. This model can roast, air fry, dehydrate, and bake pizza. It also uses the same heating features as the Pizzaiolo, allowing for consistent and even heat distribution

For accurate and even cooking, the Sensing and digital PID temperature control feature of the oven helps avoid cold spots. Plus, it uses super convection technology with a two-speed convection fan for enhanced cooking control.

The convection feature generates a higher level of hot air. This is to ensure quick and equal heat distribution, which is ideal for air recipes that require high heat. With its 13 cooking modes, you may prepare a variety of dishes, including your favorite pizza.

It has the same 1,800-watt power as the Pizzaiolo. And it comes with inner oven lights for convenient monitoring. It’s easy to use and lets you cook a variety of dishes. Definitely, a good dual-purpose appliance to have.

Pros:
• Easy to use
• Superior heating element
• Multiple cooking functions for versatility
• Offers greater capacity than Pizzaiolo
Cons:
• Bulky

Breville Mini Smart Toaster Oven

Sleek and modern, this mini smart oven are more than meets the eye. This oven with Element iQ System is for the chef who wants a countertop oven that bakes the perfect pizza, tasty cookies, and toast evenly. And don’t be fooled by its name; although compact, it packs a bunch of capabilities.

This mini smart oven toaster offers 8 cooking functions and a great 1,800-watt power output that quickly preheats and cooks your food in no time. It has a small capacity, though, and can only bake 11-inch pizzas. But the fact that it can also bake muffins, cookies, toasts, and bagels is where it bested the Pizzaiolo oven.

Another feature we appreciate about this mini smart oven is how easy it is to clean. Plus, it’s so much more affordable compared to the single-purpose Pizzaiolo oven.

Pros:
• Sleek and modern design
• Compact and space-saving
• Versatile
• Easy to clean
• Inexpensive
Cons:
• Bakes smaller pizzas

Breville Pizza Maker

When it comes to portability, this dedicated pizza maker would be at the top of our list. It’s a cute must-have if you want something compact and easy to tuck away. We love the very compact design of this Breville pizza maker. And while it’s small, it boasts great cooking performance.

This countertop pizza maker provides superb brick-oven results in the comfort of your own home. It has dual heating elements on the top and bottom and heats up the ceramic pizza stone to 660 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, that is quite impressive for such a small machine!

The 12-inch baking stone conducts and holds heat evenly to produce crisp, golden crusts, but it can only accommodate an 11-inch pizza. The 12-inch baking stone conducts and holds heat evenly to produce crisp, golden crusts, but it can only accommodate an 11-inch pie.

You can set it to bake thin, medium, or thick crusts, and it will automatically adapt the cooking time and temperature, making sure that it bakes your pies evenly. And it does so regardless of how thick your toppings are.

Pros:
• Very portable and compact so it saves space
• Adorable and minimalist design
• Easy to store
• Bakes even, crispy, golden crusts
• Offers high baking temperature
Cons:
• More expensive than larger and versatile countertop models
• Bakes small pizza sizes

FAQs

What else can you cook in a Breville pizza oven?

Aside from baking pizza, you can also use the Breville Pizzaiolo for making flatbreads and focaccia bread. It’s also useful for roasting small quantities of vegetables. And it cooks vegetables like broccoli and asparagus faster than other regular ovens.

The Pizzaiolo comes with programmed settings that will produce excellent results every time.

How big is the Breville pizza oven?

The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo has a dimension of 18.1 x 10.6 x 18.5 inches. It has a relatively compact footprint compared to other models of the same brand.

Is it worth buying a pizza oven?

Yes. Pizza ovens aren’t exclusive to experienced pizza makers. If you’re one who enjoys making homemade pizzas and yourself hosting pizza parties occasionally, then a good pizza maker will be a wise investment. Overall, they are good cooking equipment to have on hand. Plus, it helps that they cook really fast!

Is pizza better in a convection oven?

Convection ovens work well for baking pizza. The hot air that circulates around the cooking chamber makes it so efficient and faster for cooking pizza than in a conventional oven. A convection oven creates a crunchy crust and more even surface, which constitutes a good pizza.

Our Verdict

The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo has earned and continues to gain consumers’ trust. Most users love it for being so generous with the temperature range. We appreciate how versatile this dedicated pizza oven is, allowing users to cook different types of pizzas with just a turn of the dial.

It definitely changes the game when it comes to heat retention and distribution, allowing your food to cook to your desired doneness. This oven is so efficient that it may be able to mimic results only achieved by baking in brick ovens.

So, overall, we are quite impressed, just like most Pizzaiolo users. It’s an easy-to-use piece of equipment that produces classic Neapolitan pizza.

Is it worth the splurge?

We think it depends on the level of passion you have for making pizza. But if you don’t mind shelling out on such a solid oven, it may be worth the investment. If you are a fan of the charred crust of a wood fired pizza, and you want to make your own Neapolitan pizzas at home instead of frozen pizzas in a regular oven this is a really solid option.

You might, however, want to go for the other Breville pizza ovens we’ve recommended here if you’re looking to save money without sacrificing too much performance. They are just as easy to use and have high heating capacities.

But with the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo, you get a practically automatic oven that is also attractive enough to be the centerpiece of your kitchen. Just make sure you have enough counter space, though.

Good luck!