Hot delicious pizza is only minutes away with the Deni Pizza Oven 2300. This clever device is a domed countertop oven that provides a combination of upper and lower heating elements for superb crisping.

The 2300 consists of a 12-1/2-inch-diameter stainless-steel housing with four rubber feet that elevate the unit about 3/4-inch off the counter. The domed stainless-steel top has a raised control dial, so the overall height is 7-3/5 inches. The unit comes with a nonstick pizza pan that sits on a rotating platform inside the base. The heating elements occupy only half the oven, so the rotating pan carries the pizza over the heat in what amounts to an on/off cycle. This proves to be very effective in producing a crisp crust in about half the time of a regular oven.

Cooking a fresh prepackaged pizza crust with toppings takes about 5 minutes, while a basic thin-crust frozen pizza takes about 10 minutes. The secret is the rotating pan, which begins turning automatically as soon as you start the timer dial. The combination of upper and lower heating elements cooks the pizza evenly from above and below simultaneously. The pan holds pizzas up to about 11-1/2 inches in diameter, so some prepackaged pizza crusts like Boboli must be trimmed to fit in the oven. Frozen pizzas fit just fine. The pan can also be used to heat hors d'oeuvres or grilled sandwiches.

The 2300's controls are simple and straightforward. There is a function dial with settings for upper, lower, dual and off, and a separate 30-minute timer dial begins operation and automatic pan rotation. In most cases, pizzas are cooked in 10 minutes or less. The 2300's instructions recommend you spray the pan with a nonstick cooking spray, but we found this step to be unnecessary with frozen and prepackaged pizza items. However, if you're making a pizza using homemade dough, cooking spray or vegetable oil is helpful to prevent sticking.

The 2300 does not need to preheat, so you can start cooking a pizza in no time. The unit gives off surprisingly little heat, although this is partially due to its quick cooking cycle. A handy automatic shutoff keeps the oven from running longer than necessary. A convenient viewing window in the cover lets you check your food's progress without opening the lid, and you can adjust the timer as necessary.

Several homemade dough and topping recipes are provided in the instruction booklet. If you are looking for a way to quickly cook your favorite pizza, check out the capable Deni Pizza Oven 2300.


Pros: Quickly cooks your pizza, automatic shutoff, produces great crispy crust, no preheat necessary
Cons: Can't accommodate crusts larger than 11-1/2 inches

Warranty
1 year, limited