When it comes to outdoor cooking, pizza enthusiasts face a dilemma: how to achieve that perfect, crispy, wood-fired taste without investing in a full-sized pizza oven? If you live in the city (as we do) it’s likely you have a balcony or a tiny courtyard of space which we call a garden. Enter the Gozney Roccbox, a portable pizza oven designed to deliver restaurant-quality results in the comfort of your backyard. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
The Unboxing
I was expecting/dreading a ‘Temu’ style DIY hour long experience with complex instructions, parts and items – ultimately leading to leading to a glass of wine. This is experience is the opposite. I open the box and the pizza peel and a bottle opener (did these people read my mind??) is on the top layer. The second layer is the portable stone floored body of the oven, already wrapped in its travel holder and a detachable gas burner featuring an LCC27 appliance connection and pipes.
Assembly & Instructions
Super easy.The oven comes fully assembled, so all I need to do is attach the gas burner and you’re ready to go. Well, theoretically… I carry the main body out to the garden and pop it onto the table. I pull out the legs, then try to connect the gas chamber from underneath. Doh, I can’t because there is no room. It’s then I understand my mistake, the legs need to be double folded out. I shift it onto its side and then pull down the final sexy layer. The gas chamber then is an easy lift and connection and it’s in. Our Weber BBQ is connected to a gas bottle. But I find out the connectors are different and dash out to our nearest petrol station hoping they have the alternative gas adapter, and they do.
Design and Look – First Impressions
The Gozney Roccbox makes a strong first impression with its sleek, modern design and robust build. It is available in two colors (green and grey), the stainless steel body is not only aesthetically very MAFS style attractive but also built to withstand the elements. The oven has a retractable stand for easy portability, and its compact size makes it perfect for smaller outdoor spaces. You do need to ensure it has enough ventilation and a handy guide helps to guide you through this.
Ease of Use
The dual-fuel capability is a standout feature, allowing us to switch between gas and wood, which is awesome if you are wanting to get a more smoky finish. The integrated thermometer ensures precise temperature control, taking the guesswork out of cooking. I push the ignition switch at the back and it clicks straight away to high and the flame. The whole oven lights up. It’s a whoa moment I am looking into the belly of the oven as the flames lick upwards. We wait 30 mins on our fist cook, but after that 15 mins will do. Cleaning is a breeze as its so hot everything turns to dust, so a quick brush out and its ready to go again.
Performance – The Pizza cook off
The oven heats up to an impressive 500°C (932°F) in just 15 minutes. We test it out with a pre made Toscano Pizza base as I am a bit concerned my home made base could be a first class flop.
I opt for a ‘blanco’ style with provolone, pecorino, mozzarella, chard and crispy garlic. I pop it on the peel and then tentatively shove it in. It would be better if I had more forcefully shoved it in with a sharp whack. Within 30 seconds the cavo nero is curling up and the cheese is melting so I pop in the peel, scoop it up, turn and pop it back into the oven. The whole thing is over in 90 seconds. If you are feeling adventurous more recipes are here.
The char is awesome. The combination of high heat and the oven’s design produces a perfectly crispy crust and evenly cooked toppings with the exception of user error not turning it enough. It has a safe-touch silicone jacket that reduces the risk of skin burns that can often occur with metal bodied ovens.
Next up my own house made sourdough. I use a 3 day prove in the fridge and leave the balls out to prove on the bench before shaping and layering with chili, prawns, ricotta, rocket and olive oil. This is actually my favourite, and the sides puff up nicely though its a more challenging base to get on and off the peel and into the oven. The trick of spinning the pizza to get an even base is one of ‘put the peel under, tip to one side and then turn…I have a few ‘oops its stuck’ moments but that’s the fun of this new toy, another week and more skills to gain.
Versatility – Fish, Veggies and more!
While the Roccbox is marketed primarily as a pizza oven, its versatility doesn’t stop there. The oven’s high temperature and consistent heat make it perfect for cooking a variety of dishes. We test it out next with a tray of roasted vegetables which is done in minutes. The char is delicious and the red pepper is sweet and red onions crispy skinned. The real winner is Humpty Doo Barramundi. I layer thin slices of zucchini, onion and lay the barra, skin side down. In minutes the skin is crispy and the flesh cooked with a slight smokey flavour. The thickest part needed a little more and the great thing is.. A little more is about 30 seconds! I also create a papaya salad with Barra – see recipes here
Price & Value
The Gozney Roccbox is priced at the higher end of the portable pizza oven market, but its performance and build quality justify the investment. When compared to other portable pizza ovens, the Roccbox offers superior heat retention, quicker cooking times, and a more authentic wood-fired taste.
What we are Addicted to😕 The Gozney Roccobox is a game-changer for pizza lovers who want to bring the restaurant-quality experience to their backyard. Its combination of ease of use, performance, and versatility makes it a standout choice in the portable pizza oven market. While it may come with a higher price tag, the investment is well worth it for those serious about their pizza-making.
What we need to be more Addicted?: Integrated transportation features and a more accessible temperature control dial would enhance convenience.The temp control/on off dial, is all the way at the back, which pending where you have set it up can be a bit of a challenge to reach around and change settings
Gozney
Roccbox RRP $799 on sale now 20% off save $160!