Cozze pizza oven 13” review

• Read our full review of the best pizza ovens

What were your first impressions of the Cozze pizza oven 13”?

This is a stout little pizza oven. It has short legs and an equally short body, making it an ideal choice if you don’t have much space to play with in your outdoor area.

It arrived in a moderately sized box that was easy to unpack. Unfortunately, there were some large pieces of polystyrene packaging and other bits of plastic.

The oven has a robust body and feels built to last. It’s sturdy and remains anchored to the table top.

As expected with gas pizza ovens, this model doesn’t come with a door. In order to combat too much heat loss, the Cozze has a very small opening for pizzas. If you’re confident when it comes to launching pizzas, this should pose no real issue. But, if you’re taking your first tentative steps into the world of pizza ovens, the small opening may prove a little challenging.

How easy is the Cozze pizza oven 13” to build?

There was very little that needed building, as the Cozze was nearly ready to go straight out of the box. All that needs doing is inserting the pizza stone and adding an AA battery to the ignition button.

Given its diminutive stature, this pizza oven can be easily set up by one person.

This model can be used with either propane or butane, and the hose is easy to attach.

Does it come with any additional tools?

No tools are included with this model. A pizza peel is essential, and will need to be bought separately. Cozze sells a range of accessories for the oven.

How easy is the Cozze pizza oven 13” to light?

This oven is very easy to ignite: simply connect the hose to the gas canister (propane or butane) and click the ignition button as you turn the temperature dial – similar to lighting a gas hob.

It took around 25 minutes to heat up, which is long considering its size.

How easy is it to cook a pizza in the Cozze pizza oven 13”?

The less-confident testers found the small opening of this pizza oven a little intimidating; you need to be direct, as there’s not much room for error. Testers who were well-practiced at using pizza ovens didn’t struggle, but you do need to ensure you’re very precise.

Our test pizza required just one turn to evenly cook it. Unlike some of the other models we’ve tested, we weren’t able to turn it inside the oven cavity – we had to remove it completely, turn it 180 degrees, then pop it back in. This wasn’t a real issue, however.

How many pizzas does it fit?

One 13-inch pizza.

How hot does the outside get?

The outer surface became very hot. Keep kids and pets away.

How long does it take to make a pizza?

It took just under 2 minutes to produce a beautifully leopard-spotted pizza.

How was the finished pizza?

The finished pizza had a leopard-spotted crust, nicely melted cheese and a crisp base. We used a particularly active pizza dough, meaning the crust puffed up quite a bit. The crust was almost as tall as the opening of the oven, which is notable.

Can you cook anything other than pizza in this oven?

Cozze sells two cast iron skillets suitable for using in this oven. You could easily cook steak or veg, but the oven cavity isn’t big enough for something like a chicken.

How easy is the Cozze pizza oven 13” to clean?

The Cozze cooled down very quickly. Very little cleaning was required, short of wiping the stone clean after use. Overall, it’s very easy to clean.

Can you keep the Cozze pizza oven 13” outside?

Cozze sells a cover for the 13-inch model that keeps the pizza oven safe from wind and rain. To ensure the lifespan of your model, we’d recommend keeping it away from the elements in a shed or garage when not in use.

Who would the Cozze pizza oven 13” be most useful for?

This pizza oven is suitable for those short on outdoor space, but want to make good-quality pizzas. The small opening requires precision, so it’s better suited to those who’ve used an oven before and feel confident when launching pizzas.

This model comes with a two-year warranty.

Cozze pizza oven 13”: the verdict

Despite some initial reservations about the petite nature of this pizza oven, we were thoroughly impressed with its performance. It’s slow to heat up, so for efficiency’s sake, we think it's one to use when you’re cooking a lot of pizzas in quick succession.

It’s not as versatile as some of the other models we’ve tested, but overall it’s easy to set up and ignite. The pizzas we cooked were very impressive, too. As mentioned, we think it's better suited to those who’ve used a pizza oven before, but if you’re up for a challenge, then it’s well worth a go, too.

Available from:

• StovesAreUs (£209)
• Lazy Susan (£239.95)
• Amazon (£292.47)

Specifications

Dimensions (cm): ‎53 x 53 x 29cm
Weight: 15kg
Fuel: propane or butane
Accessories included: no

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