Key Facts

• Budget pizza makers like the $129 Baking Steel offer durable, heat-conductive surfaces that give crisp crusts but take longer to preheat.
• Mid-range pizza makers such as the $699 Ooni Volt 2 electric oven heat up quickly and can reach higher temperatures to cook pizza faster and more like a restaurant.
• High-end models, like the $2,800 Gozney Dome XL, are outdoor ovens fueled by propane or wood, reaching very high temperatures and cooking multiple pizzas at once.
• Pizza steels can be used for baking bread and other foods besides pizza.
• Electric ovens allow precise temperature control for cooking various foods, including cookies and vegetables.
• Outdoor pizza ovens can also cook meats and roasted dishes while providing a more authentic pizza experience.
• The author has professional experience testing kitchen gear and worked in his family’s pizzeria as a child.
• Each price level has trade-offs between cost, convenience, and cooking performance.