Hot or Not? Gozney Arc XL pizza oven on test

When it’s this simple! The Gozney Arc XL is exceptionally hot – reaching up to 500°C! But seriously, do you really need a pizza oven at home? Here’s a sneak peek: the Gozney Arc XL has completely redefined our idea of homemade pizza.

British manufacturer Gozney has created quite a buzz in the pizza oven scene, which is partly due to their smart marketing and the huge amount of helpful tips and tricks they offer on their website. The Arc XL model we tested is striking at first glance: part UFO, part oversized French macaron – the sweet meringue-based confection, not the president – there’s an additional “A” in that one.

According to the manufacturer, the Gozney Arc XL is easy to use for both beginners and professionals, guaranteeing consistently high quality. It’s designed to reach up to 450°C within 20–30 minutes, promising restaurant-quality pizzas: crispy, authentic, and with perfectly browned crusts. However, since we don’t get easily swayed by marketing claims, we wanted to put the oven through the wringer ourselves, and test it in all possible scenarios, from family dinners to birthday parties and even an office pizza bash.

Gozney Arc XL review: is the hype justified?

The Gozney Arc XL is surprisingly easy to assemble, even if you have no prior experience with gas-powered appliances. For the first use, or after a long break, the oven should run on low heat for about 30 minutes to remove residual moisture from the stone. Otherwise, you can crank it up straight away, and get it to the stated 450°C operating temperature in roughly 30 minutes – at least according to the display. But more on this later.

Our first test took place on a home balcony. Since the Gozney Arc XL doesn’t use an open flame, balcony use is not an issue in purely legal terms – assuming your rental agreement or house rules don’t forbid it explicitly. What’s impressive is the oven’s insulation: even at over 450°C, the outer wall is only warm to the touch a few centimeters away. Nevertheless, it’s best to stick to the minimum clearance distances specified in the manual.

Equipped with a dough recipe from the Gozney website, we managed to achieve impressively high-quality pizzas during this initial test – essentially an Italian restaurant experience, but on the balcony. However, take note: the pizza only stays in the oven for about two minutes and must be constantly rotated due to the lateral flame burner to prevent burning on one side. That said, we see this more as an advantage, as it allows for deliberate temperature control.

Relatively quickly, however, a weakness of the oven becomes apparent: the temperature of the pizza stone lags behind the reading on the big digital display, which shows the internal temperature. This is especially noticeable with the first few pizzas and when baking multiple pizzas in quick succession, as the top of the pizza finishes cooking faster than the base.

Having mastered the basics on the balcony, we wanted to see how the Gozney Arc XL handles a larger group. So, we hosted a garden party at our 41 Publishing headquarters with 15 hungry editors, accompanied by Italian classics on Spotify. Expectations and appetites were high, and the atmosphere was tense. Thanks to our prior experience, we started baking 20 minutes after the oven reached its stated target temperature of 450°C, allowing a few minutes between pizzas. The waiting paid off: the dough was properly cooked, though not always super crispy, which is likely due to our team’s lack of practice.

A key takeaway: It’s best to roll out and top the pizzas just before baking, as the dough and the table surface can develop an unbreakable bond if left too long. Despite minor hurdles, the experience was a highlight: everyone got involved, the vibes were bombastic, and by the end, the entire group was well-fed and unanimously impressed.

For those looking to make their lives easier, Gozney offers a wide range of accessories in their webshop. A pizza peel (from € 40) for handling and placing pizzas is, in our opinion, indispensable. A handy turning peel (€ 80) is essential for rotating the pizza in the oven. The cover (€ 60) effectively protects the oven from the elements if, as in our case, it’s stored on a balcony or in a garden. For garden use, the Gozney Arc + Arc XL stand (€ 250) is a great addition too, allowing you to move the oven and work at a comfortable height. For fans of traditional wood-fired baking, Gozney also offers the DOME, which can be operated with both wood and gas.

Do You Need the Gozney Arc XL?

The Gozney Arc XL impresses with a stylish design, high-quality craftsmanship, and user-friendly operation, which makes it a perfect match for pizza-newbies. At the same time, the lateral gas burner recreates traditional wood-fired rolling flame, giving advanced users excellent control over the baking process, and allowing them to refine their pizza-making skills. The highlights include outstanding insulation and a wealth of recipes, tutorials, and tips available on Gozney’s website, which make it easier to get started, help avoid mistakes, and enhance the joy of pizza baking. With a bit of practice, the Gozney Arc XL can even produce pizzas that surpass restaurant quality. Almost automatically, it becomes the centerpiece of any social gathering. The interactive nature and creative possibilities make pizza baking a true event, offering significant added value for shared meals – whether in small or large groups.

That said, the Arc XL has its shortcomings. The promised 20–30 minute preheating time for the pizza stone didn’t hold up in our tests – 45 minutes is more realistic. Additionally, the temperature difference between the stone and the internal display is unintuitive and could be made clearer by the manufacturer. We also found that the pizza stone doesn’t maintain a stable temperature when baking multiple pizzas in quick succession, contrary to the marketing claims. A more realistic communication of these points wouldn’t diminish the oven’s strengths but at the same time it would help manage user’s expectations and improve overall satisfaction.

Would we buy the Gozney Arc XL?

At € 899 without accessories, the Gozney Arc XL is no bargain – a portion of the price likely reflects the hype. That said, you can’t go wrong with this pizza oven: it’s well-built, beginner-friendly, and stylish. With a bit of practice, it also delivers excellent pizzas! A major plus is the wealth of professional and comprehensive resources on the Gozney’s website, which inspire users to try new things while helping to avoid mistakes, and with it, unnecessary frustration.

For more info, visit www.gozney.com

Words: Jonny Grapentin Photos: Julian Schwede