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Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo Review

An indoor alternative to building your own authentic wood-fired brick oven outside, this specialty pizza oven is the type of appliance to incorporate into a kitchen re-design
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Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo Review
Credit: Aaron Rice
Price:  $1,000 List
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Manufacturer:   Breville
By Aaron Rice ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 14, 2022
82
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 16
  • Cooking Performance - 30% 8.0
  • Output Power - 30% 7.5
  • Control - 25% 8.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 10.0

Our Verdict

The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo may replicate “brick oven performance at a fraction of the cost,” but that is only relative to professionally installed pizza ovens. These models are not exactly in the same ballpark as the other portable, best pizza ovens featured in this review. Cost aside, we are the first to admit that this electric, indoor alternative produces amazing pizzas. It is the only model to feature preset baking options for fresh Neapolitan, Thin & Crispy (St. Louis or Chicago Bar-Style), New York, and Pan (Chicago-style Deep Dish) pizzas. Relative to its specialty purpose as strictly a pizza oven, the Pizzaiolo is versatile, incredibly user-friendly — practically to the point of being automatic — and stylish enough to design an entire kitchen around.
REASONS TO BUY
Exceptionally user-friendly
Able to bake multiple types of pizza
Stylish
REASONS TO AVOID
Extravagantly expensive
Bulky footprint
Pulls a significant amount of power
Editor's Note: This product review was updated on February 14th, 2022. We have added specific information on what we would buy and offer more in-depth comparisons between products.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Indoor Oven
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Pizza Oven
Top Pick Award
Best Multi-Fuel Oven
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Buy Award
Best Overall Value
Price $1,000 List
$799.95 at Amazon
$500 List
$399.99 at Amazon
$429 List
$319.20 at Amazon
$320 List
$269.00 at Amazon
$130 List
$129.95 at Amazon
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Bottom Line Expensive but incredibly user-friendly, this is the one indoor alternative that successfully replicates a Neapolitan-style pizza ovenA professional-grade pizza oven that pulls out all the stopsIf you want to make excellent woodfired pizza at home, this redesigned oven makes that dream a realityThis price point pizza oven performs well above its weight class in terms of power and performanceAn affordable, but impressive indoor option for those not interested in investing in a new appliance
Rating Categories Breville Smart Oven... Gozney Roccbox Ooni Karu 12G Multi... BakerStone Original NerdChef 3/8" Steel...
Cooking Performance (30%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
Output Power (30%)
7.5
9.5
10.0
7.0
7.0
Control (25%)
8.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
6.0
Ease of Use (15%)
10.0
7.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
Specs Breville Smart Oven... Gozney Roccbox Ooni Karu 12G Multi... BakerStone Original NerdChef 3/8" Steel...
Fuel Type Electric Gas, Wood (w/ conversion) Wood, Gas (w/ conversion) Gas N/A
Maximum Pizza Diameter 12" 12" 12" 13" 14"
Average Pizza Cook Times 2 min 2 min 1.8 min 4 min 3.1 min
Average Stone Temperature 756 °F (on "Wood Fired" setting) 748 °F 825 °F 732 °F 686 °F
Average Oven Temperature 663 °F 795 °F 776 °F 780 °F 637 °F
Size of Firebox N/A 156 cu. in. 275 cu. in. N/A N/A
Power Output 1800 W 14,330 BTU 18,084 BTU 25,000 BTU N/A
Footprint 335 sq in. 299 sq. in. 471 sq. in.
503 sq. in. (w/ gas attachment)
345 sq. in. 228 sq. in.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Similar to the less purpose-built Smart Oven (of the same product line), the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo utilizes Breville's patented Element iQ system for “smart cooking.” The system presets have been specially designed to direct power to specific heating elements depending on the type of pizza you are baking. Additionally, the system employs temperature sensors and a PID control unit inside the well-insulated oven to achieve the optimal baking environment based on the particular pizza variety you want to achieve.

Performance Comparison


breville smart oven pizzaiolo - ever dreamt of making the perfect neapolitan pizza from the comfort...
Ever dreamt of making the perfect Neapolitan pizza from the comfort of your own kitchen? The Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo is a highly engineered appliance that can make those dreams a reality.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Cooking Performance


The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo borrows its name from the UNESCO-protected art of pizza making in the Naples region of Italy. It refers to the chef who oversees the traditional production of pizza making, from the precise preparation of dough to specialized baking techniques of wood-fired ovens. This Pizzaiolo oven seeks to recreate the experience of Neapolitan-style pizza, adding the satisfaction of baking these specialty pies from the comfort of your kitchen.


After a 20-minute preheat on the “Wood Fired” setting, this is the only electric model capable of reaching a measured average stone temperature of 756°F. After a preset 2 minute bake time, this oven turns out a practically perfect Neapolitan-style pizza ready to be cut into. The pizzas consistently turn out “soft and fragrant,” with an impressively airy crust that is lightly singed but never burnt.


But the incredible capability of the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo does not stop at just Neapolitan-style pizzas. The brilliance of Breville's patented Element iQ design is that this cooking system can easily adjust to achieve optimum baking environments for multiple kinds of pizzas. The list includes Bar-style (listed as "Thin & Crispy"), New York, and Pan pizzas (better known as Chicago-style Deep Dish). It even has a setting for takeaway frozen pizzas if home-cooking isn't exactly your thing. These preset options span the spectrum of pizza varieties and are an essential distinction in design because each type requires specific baking conditions to achieve its style particulars.

This is one of few at-home ovens that would make a master Pizzaiolo...
This is one of few at-home ovens that would make a master Pizzaiolo proud, producing light, airy crusts for a near-ideal Neapolitan pizza.
Oil-cupped pepperonis and evenly browned cheese are two signs of a...
Oil-cupped pepperonis and evenly browned cheese are two signs of a well-baked New York pizza.
Look closely: the laminated dough of a deep-dish pie offers a unique...
Look closely: the laminated dough of a deep-dish pie offers a unique combination of a light, airy outer crust and a crispy bottom. The included carbon-steel pan helps achieve cooking perfection for this style in an unprecedented 18 minutes.

Depending on the setting, the top and bottom heating elements automatically adjust heat output and distribution to switch between internal and exterior coils according to the temperature control system. Other sensors monitor internal air temperature and humidity while operating a fan to control the oven environment automatically. Instead of replicating a wood-fired oven's hot and dry environment, the New York preset heats the pizza stone to an ideal average of 520°F while maintaining a bit of humidity for the requisite foldability of the chewy crust. For a deep-dish pie, your purchase includes a carbon-steel pan to efficiently cook these skillet pies in only 18 minutes, producing a pizza with the key combination of a crunchy base, fluffy crust, and a thoroughly cooked filling.

breville smart oven pizzaiolo - this smart oven is unique thanks to presets that are engineered for...
This smart oven is unique thanks to presets that are engineered for optimal baking conditions for five distinctly different kinds of pizza.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Output Power


Every oven that successfully reproduces a wood-fired pizza utilizes the three pillars of a Neapolitan-style oven: intense direct heat from the source, ambient air temperature in the range of 800°F, and an insulated pizza stone capable of absorbing and transmitting similarly extreme temps. According to the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), the organization that sets the international regulation for Neapolitan pizza, this combination of conductive, radiative, and convective heat are required to bake perfectly puffed pies quickly.


Indeed, the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo skillfully combines all three key components with the capable Element iQ system. Dual heating elements — one on the top of the oven and another tucked away underneath the pizza stone in the slide-out deck — each have an interior and exterior coil to distribute heat throughout the oven evenly. Although this electric oven only puts out 1800 watts (equivalent to the standard Breville Smart Oven), the thoughtful design points specifically direct heat to significantly improve baking quality.

breville smart oven pizzaiolo - the heat from the individual heating elements on the top of the oven...
The heat from the individual heating elements on the top of the oven is dispersed around the highly reflective oven chamber for optimum efficiency.
Credit: Aaron Rice

This oven uses a durable cordierite stone, which is thermally shock-resistant and can heat up quickly without cracking. This trait allows it to rest directly against the deck coils, providing an even conductive heat distribution that creates an ideal crust consistency, regardless of pizza type. We used an infrared thermometer to take temperature readings across the stone surface, averaged those numbers, and then used a standard deviation approach to compare pizza stones of different ovens.


The Smart Oven Pizzaiolo has, by far, the most even temperature profile across the stone of any oven we tested, with an optimal temperature of 756°F on the Neapolitan setting. Even though the average internal temperature of the oven is less-than-ideal on this setting — averaging only 663°F — it is still capable of producing beautiful pizzas in this style, thanks to key designs to control radiant and convective heat distribution.

breville smart oven pizzaiolo - the pizza stone is set into a sliding deck, putting it in direct...
The pizza stone is set into a sliding deck, putting it in direct contact with the underlying heating elements. The deck slides into place when the heavily insulated door is closed to put it closer to the upper elements.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Control


To achieve ideal upper and lower crust consistency alongside timed perfectly with the finish time for prepared toppings, you need a perfect balance of heating elements. The convective and radiant heat delivery relies not only on the automatically adjusting heat elements but also on the highly reflective interior of a highly insulated oven body.


While regular gas- or wood-fired ovens require constant attention and consistent turning to avoid burning a Neapolitan pie, the dual-coal heating elements in the Pizzaiolo deliver even radiant heat across the top of the pizza for consistent results. Because of this feature, the oven earned an 8 out of 10. For settings other than “Wood Fired,” the inner heating element switches on and off throughout the cooking process — this is how the oven achieves the characteristically browned cheese on the “New York” preset.

breville smart oven pizzaiolo - while it doesn't require direct action like other ovens, it is...
While it doesn't require direct action like other ovens, it is important to still monitor how a pizza is baking. An overly excited air bubble exploded from the middle of this deep-dish pie, which also highlights how the reflectors extend down from the heating coils.
Credit: Aaron Rice

This process is enhanced by parabolic reflectors encircling the heating elements, which help improve the precision for radiant heat delivery and improve efficiency. And that is how the oven can cook at sub-800°F air temperatures and yet still produce similar quality pies to a traditional Neapolitan wood-fired oven. The reflectors also are designed to direct radiant heat outward towards the crust to achieve the sought-after “leopard-spotted effect” — the browning of the crust instead of burning — rather than overcooking toppings or burning cheese. There is a knob that adjusts for lighter or darker crusts depending on your preference.

Manual mode comes with an additional magnet to change the...
Manual mode comes with an additional magnet to change the front-facing display of this oven.
The darkness knob adds some level of control, even when using the...
The darkness knob adds some level of control, even when using the essentially-automated presets.

Ease of Use


Much of the allure of the Pizzaiolo is around its user-friendliness, and it earned a very high score relative to other ovens in our review. For those who want to turn out flawless pizzas each and every time but are a bit wary of their own cooking skills, this oven is all but automatic. It offers all of the same convenience as other electric ovens, but actually delivers high-quality pies. With the style presets and obvious alarm system for things like preheating and cooking times, you can focus on pizza preparation and leave the worry to the oven.


However, for those who do want to be more involved in the cooking process, this oven also offers a “manual” setting. It allows you to dial in the deck and oven temperatures and set whether the top heating element distributes heat evenly or directs it more toward the crust. Despite its purposeful design specific to pizza making, the Pizzaiolo delivers a full-value experience — from fully automatic to entirely manual operation. This feature is part of what makes this oven such a versatile option for such a wide array of cooking abilities.

breville smart oven pizzaiolo - the automated function of the smart oven pizzaiolo allows you to...
The automated function of the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo allows you to focus on nailing pizza prep while pies cook. Here, we're putting together a deep-dish pie in the included carbon steel pan.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Should You Buy the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo?


For those seeking the best pizza oven for ultimate at-home pies, the fully automated design of the Breville Smart Oven Pizzaiolo should be incorporated into your arsenal of kitchen tools. This extravagant oven is a remarkable feat of engineering by a design team that clearly loves pizza. It does, however, carry a price tag that will outshine its marvel for many, but if the price does not bother you, we do not hesitate to recommend this modern oven to anyone.

It's amazing to be able to cook three different styles of pizza, all...
It's amazing to be able to cook three different styles of pizza, all in sequence according to temperature profile of the oven. A deep-dish pie comes 1st, cooked between 400 and 500 degrees.
A New York pizza comes 2nd in-line, cooked between 500 and 550...
A New York pizza comes 2nd in-line, cooked between 500 and 550 degrees.
Finally we have the Neapolitan pizza (not yet topped with fresh...
Finally we have the Neapolitan pizza (not yet topped with fresh basil) quickly cooked at temperatures in excess of 750 degrees.

What Other Pizza Ovens Should You Consider?


The size and expense limit the desirability of this oven, not its cooking performance or ease of use. There is no way around it: the Pizzaiolo is an expensive, single-purpose appliance that will likely only appeal to those designing a lavishly technical modern kitchen or for the truly pizza-obsessed. If you don't fall into either category, you may want to check out some other options. The Gozney Roccbox is one of our top-rated options and actually scores higher overall than the Pizzaiolo, although it entails a more involved cooking process. The BakerStone Original is a much more affordable option that produces quality pies on par with other much more expensive machines. We also love the Solo Stove Pi if you're looking for an eye-catching addition for your back patio.

breville smart oven pizzaiolo - a beautifully puffed, and perfectly singed "cornicione" (the...
A beautifully puffed, and perfectly singed “cornicione” (the distinctive crust of a Neapolitan pizza). This is a serious feat for an electric oven.
Credit: Aaron Rice

Aaron Rice