A countertop electric pizza oven can make a great addition to any kitchen, allowing you to enjoy a fresh cooked pizza whenever you want.
But if you’ve ever wonder what exactly an electric countertop pizza oven is, this article will break it all down.
We’ll go over the different types of countertop pizza ovens out there, what they are, how they work, and how they differ.
What You’ll Learn
In this article you will learn:
- What a countertop electric pizza oven is
- How is an electric pizza oven different from other kinds of pizza ovens
- What makes an electric countertop pizza oven better than other types of pizza ovens
- All about the different types of countertop electric pizza ovens
What Is A Counterop Electric Pizza Oven
An electric countertop pizza oven is pretty much exactly what is sounds like. It’s a compact pizza oven that doesn’t take up a lot of space and is perfect for using at home.
These type of pizza ovens work by using electricity to heat an element that cooks the pizza. Depending on the type of electric pizza oven, the heating element cooks the pizza either by direct contact with the bottom of the pizza, indirectly cooking the pizza from the top and bottom simultaneously or by using some combination of both methods.
There are many different types of electric pizza ovens available. Some of them can make and heat up a lot of other types of foods, while others are more suited for just cooking pizzas. This article will help break down the different types available. And if you’re in the market for one, help you decide which type would be the best choice for you.
How an Electric Pizza Oven is Different From Other Kinds of Pizza Ovens
Besides electric, there are also gas and brick pizza ovens. Your usual everyday pizza delivery chain probably uses commercial gas ovens to cook their pies. Brick ovens are used in a lot of restaurants and some people have them at home too, but they are more permanent. We’ll go over what makes each of them different, below.
Gas Pizza Ovens
Gas pizza ovens usually run on natural gas (or propane for some of the new, smaller ones). The heat from the flames is used to heat a cooking element or heat the pizza directly to cook it.
Gas ovens are probably the most widely used type of pizza oven. Nearly every delivery chain out there uses some sort of gas oven. They are the most common and are good for cranking out a lot of pizza. These ovens usually have a conveyor that is constantly running, so multiple pizzas can be cooked continuously.
Gas pizza ovens are not very portable though, since they are lage and need a dedicated gas supply line. They also generate a ton of heat and aren’t really suited for small spaces.
Brick Pizza Oven
Brick pizza ovens have been around for a VERY long time. They are a traditional type of oven that has been making a big comeback recently. Many modern pizzerias are using brick ovens to cook their pizzas.
These ovens burn wood and the pizza is cooked on a brick or concrete surface inside the oven, next to the fire. It goes without saying, that you need a steady supply of wood to keep a brick oven fed with fuel.
Brick pizza ovens are usually big too. They take up a lot of space. Also, they’re usually built in place so they’re not portable either.
These ovens make a great pizza. If you’ve ever had one, you know what I’m talking about. But like a gas oven, they are not well suited for home use.
Brick ovens take a while to heat up and get going since you really need all the surfaces inside to be really hot. The brick can take a while to absorb enough heat to be able to cook. They also need a dedicated exhaust to outside…basically a chimney.
Countertop Electric Pizza Oven
Countertop electric pizza ovens are smaller than gas or brick ovens, so they are a lot more portable and take up a lot less space. They use electricity to cook the pizza so there’s no need to worry about hooking up a gas line or stocking up on firewood. All you need is an outlet.
These ovens also will not heat up a room the way a traditional gas oven, or brick pizza oven would.
One downside of electric pizza ovens is that they can take a little bit longer to heat up compared to a gas oven. The heating element needs a few minutes to get going before it really starts producing heat.
What Makes an Electric Countertop Pizza Oven Better Than Other Kinds of Pizza Ovens
Ok, so an electric pizza oven is not always better than other types of pizza ovens. There’s a reason why pizza always tastes better from an actual pizza place.
BUT…if you’re looking for a small pizza oven, perfect for your countertop, electric is the way to go. Here are the reasons why an electric pizza oven is better for your small space.
- They’re more efficient. Electric pizza ovens are more efficient than gas pizza ovens and a LOT more efficient than brick pizza ovens. This means they use less energy.
- Compact/portable size. Countertop electric pizza ovens are perfect for a smaller kitchen or apartment. They take up minimal space and can even be moved out of sight when you’re not using them,
- You don’t have to wait for your conventional oven to preheat. The smaller size of an electric countertop pizza oven means that it gets to cooking temperature quickly.
- They won’t heat up the whole kitchen like a conventional oven would. Want to make a hot pizza on a hot day? No problem!
Different Types of Countertop Electric Pizza Ovens
Toaster Oven
Who hasn’t used their toaster oven to cook or re-heat some sort of pizza? The truth is, toaster ovens are great for a lot of things…one of them being pizza! You will never get the same crunch from re-heating pizza in a microwave than you would from an electric toaster oven.
Some electric pizza/toaster ovens are the traditional type, with a separate tray dedicated for pizza. While others don’t have any dedicated features for cooking pizza, but still work really well for it.
The good thing about an electric toaster oven is that it can be used to make a lot of other foods that would normally require a full size oven. Oh, yeah and they also make toast.
Toaster ovens work by using electric upper and lower heating elements to cook the food. There’s usually a wire rack and removable tray that can be used for a lot of different things. Most also come with adjustable temperature controls, oven settings and timers.
Commercial Electric Pizza/Snack Oven
Do you want that toasted? The next type of countertop pizza oven you’ve probably seen at your local popular green and yellow sandwich shop.
Commercial electric pizza ovens are the metal box type, with top and bottom heating elements..similar to the toaster oven. They come with a tray that has a handle attached to it, which makes it quickly removable. The tray is usually either a flat bottom or wired tray.
These ovens are great for heating food quickly. Their small opening usually is just tall enough for the tray, which really helps to hold all that heat inside.
You can make other stuff that you normally would with regular ovens too, but…
The downside is that you can only make stuff that doesn’t rise higher than the internal clearance of the oven’s opening. Not a big deal if all you want to make is pizza but something to consider if you’re hoping to have something more versatile.
Most commercial electric pizza ovens are temperature adjustable, and some of them have built in timers as well.
Rotating Tray Electric Pizza Oven
Another type of countertop electric pizza cooker available is the rotating tray pizza oven. This type of pizza cooker is perfect for home use since it’s so compact.
These pizza ovens have a tray that continuously rotates for even baking and cooks the bottom of the pizza. There is a heating element on the top, that cooks the top of the pizza as it passes under. The tray usually has a non-stick surface that the pizza sits on when it cooks.
Rotating tray pizza ovens are uncovered so your pizza cooks out in the open. Not a big deal, but it is something to be mindful of if kids are around. The exposed bottom heating element can burn you easily if it’s touched while in use.
You might think these type of pizza ovens can only be used for pizza but you can for sure make other foods on them as well. It may look a little awkward, but it will get the job done.
There are a few limits to these type of pizza cookers. For one, most are only able to handle up to a 12 inch round pizza. That’s usually not a big deal for the average home user, unless you’re making some pretty large pizzas.
Another limitation is that it only works well with round pizza. If you want to make a square pizza that’s big enough to fill the tray, you’d probably have to cut the corners off. Otherwise it may interfere when rotating.
Flip Top Electric Pizza Oven
The last type of countertop electric pizza oven we’ll talk about in this article is the flip-top pizza maker. These pizza makers sort of resemble a clam shell. They have upper and lower non-stick heating surfaces that close down on the pizza to cook it. Flip-top electric pizza ovens usually have a fixed temperature but some of them may be adjustable.
Like the rotating tray pizza maker, flip-top pizza makers are super compact and do not take up a lot of counter space.
Also like rotating tray makes, flip-top pizza makers are usually made for round pizzas. Most have a 12 inch size limitation as well.
These pizza ovens can cook a pizza pretty quickly. This is because the pizza maker closes down on the pizza. When it closes down, all that heat is kept inside which cooks the pizza faster than a rotating tray pizza oven.
Flip-top pizza ovens are also very versatile, since they can cook and heat a variety of different foods. They’re great for making cinnamon buns, heating tortillas, making omelettes or even giant pancakes!
So now you know all about the different types of countertop electric pizza ovens. Each kind has their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Hopefully this article has helped you figure out the differences between them and which one would be the best for you, should you be in the market for one.
Thanks for reading and if you liked this article, please share or leave a comment below!