Sage The Smart Oven™ Pizzaiolo SPZ820BSS4GUK1 Pizza Oven - Brushed Stainless Steel

Really cannot fathom the seemingly universally and ecstatically positive reviews. I cook pizza every weekend in a hot (275 C) oven using a pizza steel and the results are invariably very good. I wanted to take it to the next level, so as expensive as the Pizzaiolo is for a single-use product, the reviews suggested it was worth a go. It wasn't. The unit is cumbersomely large and very hard to find a home for in the kitchen, but this much was obvious from the stated dimensions, so no complaint on this score. However, the internal dimensions are only sufficient for quite a small pizza and it is very fiddly to slide a pizza in on the peel, as the way the oven door opens means you have to do so at an angle. You cannot slide the uncooked pizza in with gusto as you can with a full-sized over, not unless you want it to hit the very hot back wall of the Pizzaiolo and end up as a concertinaed mess. It's also a nightmare to clean. All that might be worth putting up with if the results were outstanding. They're not. The funny thing is that the manufacturer's pictures of finished pizzas are really pretty accurate, as they show well-browned bases and appealingly charred crusts with pizza toppings that look decidedly uncooked. This has been my experience. So, if you want a large and expensive single-use item that delivers sloppy pizzas with nicely cooked bases, then the Pizzaiolo very much for you.

Really cannot fathom the seemingly universally and ecstatically positive reviews. I cook pizza every weekend in a hot (275 C) oven using a pizza steel and the results are invariably very good. I wanted to take it to the next level, so as expensive as the Pizzaiolo is for a single-use product, the reviews suggested it was worth a go. It wasn't. The unit is cumbersomely large and very hard to find a home for in the kitchen, but this much was obvious from the stated dimensions, so no complaint on this score. However, the internal dimensions are only sufficient for quite a small pizza and it is very fiddly to slide a pizza in on the peel, as the way the oven door opens means you have to do so at an angle. You cannot slide the uncooked pizza in with gusto as you can with a full-sized over, not unless you want it to hit the very hot back wall of the Pizzaiolo and end up as a concertinaed mess. It's also a nightmare to clean. All that might be worth putting up with if the results were outstanding. They're not. The funny thing is that the manufacturer's pictures of finished pizzas are really pretty accurate, as they show well-browned bases and appealingly charred crusts with pizza toppings that look decidedly uncooked. This has been my experience. So, if you want a large and expensive single-use item that delivers sloppy pizzas, albeit with nicely cooked bases, then the Pizzaiolo very much for you.

Was hoping that this product would deliver on its promises, and - like all other Sage products - it really has. The results are superb - even first time out with store-bought fresh dough - it remains hard to believe that this is an electric oven. Like it claims, on the “wood-fired” setting, the pizzas are literally like you’d get from a good wood-fired oven - especially if you’re faithful to the Neapolitan style pizza, as the crust-setting can dial in the perfect leopard-spotted crust whilst the base element cooks from underneath and it still doesn’t burn the toppings. You need to monitor it carefully and the pizzas benefit from turning, like in any pizza oven - all the tips for recipes, loading and unloading the pizzas worked like a charm. Sure, it may miss some of the romance and authenticity of the traditional wood oven, but this thing is so easy to use - indoors, with zero set-up or messing and year-round - and produces such great pizza, that it really is an absolute winner. Perfect, clever and easy to manage - this thing is amazing.

Superb! Fabulous! Worth every penny. My family now want nothing other than their 2 minute Neopolitan pizzas at every opportunity lol. The unit has earned a permanent home on our kichen worktop. I have only good things to say about our Pizzaiolo.

Sage’s new Pizzaiolo pizza oven entered my life. which was SOLD OUT on Sage's website but AO.com came to the rescue ordered it and it came within two days with a very friendly delivery driver While you may not ordinarily see this as the most essential piece of kitchen tech, according to Google, searches for pizza ovens went up 300 per cent this year – and it’s clear why. As the winter weather closed in and BBQs were covered and wheeled away, this indoor oven has answered the call of our hungry bellies and bored minds, offering delicious restaurant-quality pizza no matter the weather. I’ve been trialling the device for around a month and, let me tell you, it is no exaggeration to say it has become the single most important cooking apparatus in my life. I have had pizza for every meal since. It’s just too easy. The look When you first see the oven in the box, you will wonder how on earth it will fit in your kitchen – even if you have one of those open-plan kitchens with acres of space. In my small North London flat, I didn’t think it was going to be possible to house such a beast - thankfully once all the packaging is removed, it’s actually a compact piece of kit. And anyway, who needs counter space when all you’re eating is pizza? The device sits atop my kitchen counter with a sleek stainless steel design looking super stylish and fitting seamlessly among my décor – a modern aesthetic with retro appliances. The settings When you first turn the oven on, you’ll need to leave it running for around 20 minutes. During this time, it emits an unpleasant aroma (so crank open a window) but it passes quickly and then the true magic begins. The device comes complete with snazzy stone deck for ease when loading in and to optimise performance as well as the brand’s specifically designed pizza dish. The latter is a professional forward-thinking saucepan where the handle is removable. This ensures it slips perfectly into the oven and allows you to remove the dish once cooked without any fear of burning your fingers. There’s also a restaurant-ready pizza peel. Setting-wise, this pizza oven is unrivalled. It comes with a magnetic strip that sits on top of the device to give you more information on the possibilities and what you need for manual mode, but on the face of the machine, there are three dials. On the far left, you have the timer that automatically sets based on the Style (more on that later) and beeps once your pizza is cooked – just push to begin the countdown. On the far right, you have a darkness dial that increases or decreases the level of char on your pizza and the crust, and in the middle, is a temperature dial. When the magnetic strip is affixed on top, it details the exact degrees. When removed, the central dial has something much easier – Style – you simply turn it to the kind of pizza you are after between; frozen, pan for a crunchy base, fluffy dough and a plethora of toppings, thin and crispy, thick crust or authentic Italian-style wood fire (with no wood necessary). Each setting has a designated amount of time to cook ranging from 18 to just two minutes for the latter setting. Two minutes. Beat that Deliveroo. Prep and cleaning It takes around 20 or so minutes to heat up with temperatures of up to 400 degrees and once it’s ready, the light on the front will stop flashing. The cool down is a fairly quick process and you simply wipe it clean with a cloth when you’re finished – no product necessary. When it comes to the dough itself, this can take a few hours to prep yourself. For the lazy among you (me), Waitrose sells a delicious pre-made variety or you could always try and convince your local Italian to part with a ball or two. Tomato sauce couldn’t be quicker or easier to create if time is not of the essence – I used this recipe here and it took around a minute once all added to my blender. Verdict All in all, Sage’s pizza oven has been my lockdown saviour – and when life returns to normality, pizza nights will be the first thing on the agenda.

Superb pizza oven. This is not cheap but it allows you to produce professional quality results beyond the capabilities of most domestic kitchens. The wood fired setting produces fantastic light Neapolitan style pizza complete with leopard spotting. Other settings allow for deep pan, thin or to thick crust variations. I used to own an Ooni outdoor pizza oven. This produces more consistent results without the hassle. 20 minutes to warm up and away you go. This oven has exceeded my expectations!