I've been making homemade pizzas in pizza ovens with my husband for the past four years, and we are learning new things all the time. And not just in our efforts to make the tastiest pizza, but in deciphering what makes certain pizza ovens have the edge over others. Are they stylish? Are they easy to use? And do their features justify their price tag? So I was keen to find out how the newly-released Arc Lite Pizza Oven by Gozney fared — the compact extension to its Arc series, designed for smaller spaces.
If you're a pizza oven lover, you will likely be familiar with the Gozney brand, but if you're new to the world of homemade pizza-making, Gozney is one of the main contenders in premium, design-led pizza ovens, along with Ooni. And it was testing the Arc XL that first turned my head from the Ooni oven I'd owned for years. Gozney's signature lateral rolling flame is a game-changer for even cooking, and they're incredibly stylish ovens too.
But how would the most compact, lightweight model compare to Gozney's larger ovens? (I've also tested the Dome Gen 2 — more on that to come.) Gozney's founder and CEO says, “It’s compact, powerful, and easy to use. You can place it on a balcony or take it to your mate’s, and it still kicks out the same flame and heat as our bigger ovens." And I would have to agree. Here's how testing went, from unboxing to tasting.
External Dimensions: Width 43cm (16.9“) x Depth 48.1cm (18.9”) x Height 29.7cm (11.7”)
Internal Oven Dimensions: Width 32.5cm (12.8”) x Depth 35.5cm (14”) x Height 15cm (5.9”)
Oven Mouth Size: Width 32.5cm (12.8”) x Height 8.5cm (3.35”)
Weight: 12KG (26.4 Lbs)
Fuel type: Gas
Capacity: 1 12" Pizza
First Impressions
When I first unboxed the Arc Lite, I have to say I was instantly impressed. It looked really, really good. I loved the Bone color of the Arc XL I tested, and thought I would prefer it to this Off-Black colorway, but there's something about this hue that gives it an even sleeker look, particularly in the flesh (in my opinion).
And, as I found with other Gozney ovens, it was expertly packaged, with clear instructions — not that you need them, as it really is very easy to use. And, as it's designed to go from unboxing to professional-grade live fire in mere minutes, I can confirm that it does what it says on the tin.
With a fixed hose for a fast, tool-free setup, my husband and I were ready to get testing straight away.
Testing the Pizza Oven
We don't have a dedicated outdoor kitchen, so we simply set the pizza oven on top of our soon-to-be-replaced outdoor table, but any suitable surface would suffice (to accommodate its 43cm width and 48cm depth).
It was a cold day when we first tested the oven, but it only took 18 minutes to reach the recommended 450-degree cooking temperature, which I thought was pretty good. And it took probably closer to 90 seconds for our first pizza to be ready, and it tasted delicious.
We were impressed by the crisp, even pizza base, but we decided to reduce the cooking temperature to 425 for a slightly less crispy, but extremely tasty base. Like the Dome Gen 2, the Arc Lite retains heat well, arguably better than the Arc XL, which we found a bit more of a yo-yo process trying to get the temperature right, which also added time.
The dial control on the front of the oven makes for streamlined flame management, and you can cook flame-grilled steaks and vegetables whenever you don't fancy pizza, too.
Should You Buy Gozney's Arc Lite Pizza Oven?
If you're new to homemade pizza-making or have a small garden or balcony, the Arc Lite is an excellent choice. The compact, lightweight design makes it portable and easy to store — or even bring it with you on an outdoor adventure.
For larger outdoor spaces or for larger families, a bigger oven might be more suitable, with the capacity to cook 14" and 16" pizzas (or two 10" pizzas) — it really depends on your home, lifestyle, and preference.
But if you're looking for elevated homemade pizza-making from a premium brand at an affordable price point, that's compact, portable, and design-forward, Gozney's Arc Lite is hard to beat.
Helpful Gozney Pizza Accessories
If you're starting out on your homemade pizza-making journey, these are the accessories I wouldn't be without.
Arguably one of the most important tools in the pizza-making process (bar the semolina — something like this il Molino Chiavazza Semola on Amazon would do the trick), a balance turning peel is vital for turning the pizza in the oven for an even bake, and the slim design of this Gozney option is incredibly easy to use.
My husband and I hadn't tried a dough tray before this one, but I have to say, it is a total game-changer. It massively helps with the proofing process, feturing an easy-to-read temperature gauge on the front and proper suction lid — we just haven't mastered the art of removing the dough from each pocket yet... (though it hasn't impacted the taste of our pizzas)!
An infrared thermometer is super important, particularly with the Arc Lite which does not come with an in-built thermometer, to ensure you know the temperature of your stone for the perfect bake. This thermometer is really to use and, as far as infrarerd thermometers go, it's pretty stylish, too.
I would ordinarily have opted for a rocker pizza cutter, like Gozney's Pizza Rocker, but actually, this cutter wheel cuts really well and the wood handle makes it comfortable, and stylish, too.
This placement peel is so good — the thin tip makes it easy to work under the pizza dough and carefully gets rid of excess semolina (to stop the pizza from sticking to the pizza stone in the oven) through the grooves; this one is a must.
While I haven't tried these particular dough balls, I have vast experience with frozen dough balls on time-poor days, and they are a game-changer, too, and so like the real thing, without any of the effort. And just think how much 24 pizzas would set you back if you weren't making them at home...
It's also important to buy an Arc Lite Cover if you intend on leaving the oven outside — which we have done, in horrific weather, too, and it has worked an absolute treat in protecting the oven from the elements.
Still wondering, is a pizza oven worth it? You can see what the experts have to say about it — but, ultimately, if you often entertain, or like to spend time outdoors cooking food, and you and/or your family like pizza, it's worth it.
For more design-led shopping and style inspiration for your garden and beyond, sign up to the Livingetc newsletter, and all the latest will be delivered straight to your inbox.
