The Gozney Tread pizza oven is a portable powerhouse, redefining outdoor pizza-making. This review dives into the Tread's performance, ease of use, and key features, focusing on its suitability for camping and other outdoor adventures. We'll explore its setup, heating capabilities, cooking results with different pizza styles, and the value of optional accessories like the Venture Stand. Expect a detailed assessment of how this compact oven delivers impressive results despite its lightweight and portable design.From initial setup to final pizza slice, we put the Gozney Tread through its paces. We'll discuss its rapid heating and surprisingly quick cool-down times, as well as the impact of its intense heat on various pizza styles. This review will cover both the benefits and potential challenges, offering a balanced perspective on whether the Gozney Tread truly earns its place as a camping essential and a top contender among portable pizza ovens.
Pros And Cons
- Quick and easy to set up
- Lightweight (just under 30 lbs) due to aluminum steel frame
- Sturdy handles make carrying easy
- Heats up quickly (over 850°F in 15 minutes, nearly 1000°F in 25 minutes)
- Cools down quickly (exterior around 130°F in 20-25 minutes)
- Carrying handles don't get hot
- Cooks Neapolitan style pizzas well
- Portable
- Can cook hotter than ideal for New York style pizza requiring adjustments
- One review unit arrived with a manufacturing defect (unattached foot on the stand)
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Unboxing and Initial Impressions
The Gozney Tread is surprisingly easy to set up. Unpacking and getting it ready to use took mere minutes. There's virtually no assembly required beyond attaching a metal guard and inserting a battery for ignition. Its lightweight aluminum steel frame makes it incredibly portable, weighing in at just under 30 lbs, and the sturdy handles make carrying it a breeze.
The small rubber bumpers on the bottom are useful for tabletop cooking, but the optional stand (discussed later) elevates its versatility. In essence, the Tread feels like a smaller, lighter version of a conventional arc oven, making it ideal for portability without sacrificing cooking performance.
Heating Performance and Cooling Time
The Tread's lateral burner is a game-changer. It heats up astonishingly fast; in just 15 minutes, the pizza stone reached over 850°F, and within 25 minutes it soared to nearly 1000°F. This rapid heating is a significant advantage for quick pizza cooking.
Equally impressive is its cooling speed. The exterior cooled down to a safe 130°F within 20-25 minutes, making it easily manageable. Even the handles remained relatively cool to the touch, ensuring safe handling after cooking.
Cooking Performance: Neapolitan and New York Style Pizzas
I tested the Tread with both Neapolitan and New York style pizzas. The Neapolitan-style pizza with barrata and pork belly cooked beautifully, achieving a perfect crisp crust and delicious toppings. The results were equally impressive with a Spanish chorizo and caramelized onion pizza.
New York style pizza presented a slightly different challenge. The Tread's intense heat initially led to some over-charring, necessitating careful adjustments to the flame. With practice, however, I achieved excellent results even with this style, demonstrating its adaptability.
Optional Accessories: Venture Stand, Mantle, and Carrying Case
The Tread Venture Stand is a highly recommended accessory, providing stability and adjustability on uneven terrain. The integrated bubble level ensures a level cooking surface, even outdoors. The stand's quick-release latch and 360° rotation capabilities further enhance its usability.
The mantle and carrying case are more subjective. While the carrying case is practical for transporting the oven, the mantle's usefulness for rotating pans within the oven remains questionable.
Final Verdict
The Gozney Tread excels at making Neapolitan pizzas. It’s also capable of New York-style pizzas, though careful temperature management is key. The oven’s rapid heating and cooling are major advantages, allowing for flexibility in outdoor cooking locations. The Venture Stand is an essential addition, greatly improving stability and usability.
While the mantle’s value is debatable, the overall package is impressive. Considering its size, performance, and portability, the Gozney Tread is a strong contender for the title of best 12-inch pizza oven, especially for camping or outdoor cooking enthusiasts. A slight learning curve with the New York style is worth it for the versatility