Ovana Portable Pizza Oven Sponsored Review
Looking to purchase a pizza oven? These have been growing in popularity in recent years. According to Pizza Ovens Australia, 15% of Australian households now have one. They like the convenience of making it at home. They want to save money on takeaway and eating out. They just like pizza.
I always wished we had one. It was one of those things that felt a bit extravagant. We didn’t need one. We didn’t have room for it. We couldn’t justify the cost.
When Thermomix Australia reached out to ask if I would like to review some products, I was torn. The allure of free items was attractive. Who doesn’t want stuff for free?
I also felt like I shouldn’t. I have always said that I’m not affiliated with Thermomix. I wanted to write about their products from an unbiased angle. I wanted to be a trustworthy voice in this space.
After a few days of consideration, I decided it was okay. I wasn’t committing a crime. It wasn’t that big of a deal. I love our Thermomix and genuinely talk about it all the time. I’m not going to start selling them but the occasional sponsored review is probably okay.
I was over the moon about getting to try a pizza oven! Now we’ve finished our front alfresco area, we have space to put it (and the option out the back too). Hubby was pretty stoked. Our boys wanted to keep watching the promo videos and kept asking when it would arrive.
What Did We Order?
We ordered the Ovana Portable Pizza Oven from The Mix Shop. At the time of writing, it retails for $589.
What Is Included?
- Pizza Oven
- 20cm Turning Peel
- 30cm Turning Peel
- Gas Regulator
- Baking Stone
- Screws & Screw Driver
- Instruction Manual
- Recipe Booklet (includes how to make gluten-free dough)
Setup
The setup process seemed pretty easy. In full disclosure, my husband is good with this sort of stuff.
I opened the box and saw some parts and the instruction manual. I didn’t want to mess with that. Imagine if I put it together wrong. Not ideal. Bad idea.
We sat on the floor together in front of the cricket, once the boys were asleep. I assisted but let him run the show. I don’t think it was all that complicated in the end but I just didn’t want to stuff it up somehow.
Once it was set up, we carried it outside to store in the shed until our stand arrived.
Connecting To Gas
We opted to buy a new gas bottle that complied with the current rules. We made sure that it had a safety collar and certified gas regulator.
We tested for gas leaks with soapy water, following the instructions in the manual.
Burn-In
Once our stand arrived, we looked for the right spot in the yard. We made sure that it was on a stable surface, away from trees and any other hazards.
After wiping the pizza oven inside and out, we fired it up for the burn-in. I felt a little nervous about how it was going to work. The instructions seemed easy to follow and it was pretty straightforward.
We let the oven run at the highest heat for 30 minutes, let it cool and wiped it down again.
Pizza Dough
I prepared the dough in the Thermomix. I found this so fun!
I made a double batch of the ‘normal’ pizza bases and gluten-free versions. Both versions were smooth. They rose and rolled out well.
I have tried both the gluten-free pizza dough and substituting the normal recipe with gluten-free flour. Personally, I found the first version too thick. I preferred the normal recipe with gluten-free flour. It almost looked like the normal dough. I even had to label it so we didn’t get confused. (That’s a nice change!)
Cooking
This was the exciting part! Our boys were super keen to get the pizzas in their belly.
We tested for any gas leaks, turned it on and heated it up for about ten minutes. We monitored the temperature with the gauge.
It was pretty impressive to see it in action. We reminded our boys not to get close as it was ridiculously hot. We made sure that one person was always managing the pizza oven and the other with the kids.
We used the turning peel to put the gluten-free pizza into the oven first. We loved that with the door off, we could see it cooking and know when to take it out. It was amazing to see the coloured flames.
The dough was bubbling and puffing up. Compared to our regular oven, this was incredible. It made hot, delicious pizza. Our boys loved it. It turned the most basic of pizzas into a mouth-watering delicacy.
In less than a minute, we carefully took out the pizza and used the turning peel to push it onto a wooden board. We repeated the steps with the remaining gluten-free pizzas, and then the normal versions.
We used our kitchen scissors to cut them, thanks to a hack my hubby heard about. It worked a treat! I’d like to get the fancy Ovana pizza knife one day but was sold out.
Taste
I was impressed! There’s something special about cooking food from scratch and eating it outdoors.
I’ve always found pizza tricky to make and it never looked or tasted as good as a restaurant.
These pizzas were amazing. I only tried the gluten-free versions but they were hot, crunchy, tasty and mouth-wateringly delicious. We kept the toppings simple (mainly because we hadn’t been to the shops). It didn’t seem to matter. It tasted like the real deal.
My coeliac son even ate the crusts. His plate was clean. This is not a normal thing.
Our other boys had seen the gluten-free ones come out first and were jealous. It may have only been a few minutes of cooking time to wait but this was too long. They devoured their pizzas.
They have been asking for pizzas every night since.
Next Time
As always, there are some things I’d try differently. Next time, I would:
- make the gluten-first dough first as we put those in the oven first (to avoid contamination).
- buy bakers flour to try rather than the plain flour we had in the pantry. It wasn’t bad dough but I wonder if it could be even better if we had the correct ingredients.
- not flour the stone before heating it up. We did this before realising our mistake. It burned and turned black. It was tricky to remove this safely.
- bring out the dough and top the pizzas outside on the table. It took hubby a long time to prep everything inside while I watched the boys outside. It would be nice for everyone to make theirs outside before we cook it. Would give them ownership, save time and keep the mess outside too.
Preparation was the time-consuming part: making the dough, waiting for it to rise, chopping everything up and getting things set up.
Due to the super high temperature, it worries me that children could get burned. One person really does have to watch them closely while the other adult manages the pizza oven. Obviously, once they have grown, it won’t be as difficult.
We didn’t have much in the way of ingredients but didn’t let that stop us. I figured that often the best pizzas have simple toppings. We had leftover BBQ chicken from the night before. We used this to make a BBQ chicken pizza (bbq sauce, chicken, onion, grated cheese). Boys preferred extra simple (tomato paste, herbs and grated cheese). We added basil from the garden.
Features
The Ovana Portable Pizza Oven has the following features:
- Portable – can take it anywhere!
- Heats up quickly
- Very hot temperatures (up to 500C) to create delicious pizzas
- Cooks within 60 seconds
- Safety features
- Everything you need, comes in the box (except for the gas bottle!)
- Can cook bread, meats and veggies
- 12-month warranty
- Free shipping
What Else Would I Still Like To Get?
I like that you can use the pizza oven as is. The accessories can make your life easier but aren’t necessary to purchase.
I have a wish list.
Would I Recommend It To Others?
Yes, I would absolutely recommend it. In fact, I’m always showing people. I can’t help it.
- I loved the quick delivery and how easy it was (for hubby) to put together.
- I found the instruction manual handy (not too long). I appreciate the safety features.
- I like how hot it gets, how quickly it cooks pizzas and how well they turn out.
- I love the gluten-free recipes and how delicious they tasted,
- I like that it takes hosting to a whole new level. These pizzas far outweigh those I tried to make in an oven. It’s a conversation starter. Like a BBQ, it can be an activity for blokes to do outside while chatting (of course, women can too).
- The pizza oven and stand fit perfectly and look good together. It’s a brilliant addition to any outdoor space.
- Thermomix offer excellent customer service. Any questions or issues, reach out to the team.
Any Downsides?
We haven’t owned our pizza oven long. There aren’t many downsides in my opinion but here are a few to keep it balanced:
- I wish that the warranty was longer. For an expensive product, a 12-month warranty feels a bit short. (I’d recommend following the instructions closely and be in touch with Thermomix if you have any issues).
- When we opened the box, the knob at the front seemed slightly crooked. I think it was a small manufacturing fault. We thought it looked a little strange, but it wasn’t worth following up. It didn’t affect the use. If we had purchased this ourselves, it might have been worth a phone call to check.
- After our burn-in, we noticed that it removed some of the powder coating. This was a bit annoying. We weren’t sure if we had done something wrong or if it was just what happens. (We read a post on the Ovana Pizza Oven Facebook Group about this. Some suggested to close the flap and burn on high temps then brush it off. Others said this wasn’t an issue with their two-year-old oven but it might have been a faulty batch where the bonding material is defective. Recommended putting in a warranty claim. Others said it was nothing to worry about.) We haven’t done anything about this yet but I would like to see if this is a normal thing or not.
On the Facebook Group, there are regular posts with questions and issues. Sometimes, there are simple solutions and other times, it seems like there might be reoccurring problems. If you do buy, I think it’s worth joining to gain support and help from other users.
Why So Expensive?
Pizza ovens must be made from materials that can withstand very high temperatures, have specific design features and are safe to use.
Like anything, there is a range of products on the market with varying prices. Some are far cheaper than the Ovana version.
In my experience, you generally get what you pay for. In recent years, I have moved away from impulse buys and cheap items. I found that:
- They were frustrating to put together
- They didn’t work as well as I thought
- They could be dangerous to use
- They had a shorter lifespan
- They ended up in landfill
- I wasted money on the cheaper item only to buy the better version down the track
I want to be a more mindful consumer, purchasing higher-quality items less often. I’m not saying you should go out and buy this pizza oven.
Here are some questions to consider:
- Is this something that you have wanted for a while or more of an impulse buy? How often would you use it?
- Where would you put it? Do you have space?
- Is it safe to use around your children and pets?
- Would you prefer to buy a cheaper one now or save up for a higher-quality one later?
Do some research. Ask other people what they have. Have a look at some in person and watch how it works.
If you decide that you do want a pizza oven, buy the right one for you. This is better for your hip pocket and a sustainable way of shopping.
Do You Need To Buy The Stand?
Not necessarily. We didn’t have a spot to put the pizza oven and were worried that if could fall off a table or makeshift bench. We wanted it to be safe and have the ability for storage underneath.
We decided to purchase the Ovana Pizza Oven Stand with our own money. This currently retails for $299. We bought it during the Black Friday sales for a big discount. We used a $15 Mix Shop welcome voucher too, simply for signing up.
How To Get The Best Price
If you’re interested in purchasing the Ovana Portable Pizza Oven, you can save big bucks by simply buying at the right time.
- Look out for sales. The Mix Shop offers amazing deals on the pizza oven and accessories.
- Subscribe to their newsletter to keep track of sales and new products.
- Join MyMix Rewards to receive a $15 voucher.
- Connect with your local consultant to find out more. Add their details at checkout (this won’t save you money but will earn them a small commission – it all adds up!).
- Consider becoming a consultant to earn your own. It’s not for me but there are some pretty sweet perks.
Want More Information?
Want to find out more? Head to:
- The MixShop Website
- Thermomix Website
- Thermomix Instagram
- Thermomix Facebook
- The Mix Shop Instagram
- The Mix Shop Facebook
- Customer Reviews
- FAQ
Looking for more inspiration and community? Search for:
- Ovana Pizza Oven Facebook Group for tips, advice, sharing ideas, recipes and community.
- #ovanapizzaoven
- Thermomix consultants. Many post videos, photos and recipes on their social media pages. You can access our directory here.
Do you have a pizza oven? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Leave a comment below or connect with our community on Instagram or Facebook.
Melanie Wegener
Please note this product was gifted by Thermomix Australia. I purchased my Thermomix and accessories at full price. Previous articles have been unsponsored.
