Gozney Arc Review

Most pizza ovens have a learning curve, but with the built-in temperature display, it was easy to use the Gozney Arc from the get-go. Gozney claims this oven can easily reach and hold temperatures of 950 °F, which is absolutely true, with peak temperatures well exceeding 1000 °F. At 47.5 pounds and with a footprint of 2.9 square feet, this 14-inch oven isn't the smallest one we tested, nor is it the most portable. However, consistent performance makes it well worth the space it takes up in the backyard.

Cooking Performance

The Gozney Arc delivered exceptional results across all our cooking tests, consistently producing pizzas that rival those from high-end pizzerias. What truly surprised us was that we were able to achieve near-perfect results on our very first attempt — something we rarely experience with backyard pizza ovens. Even though it's capable of reaching much higher temperatures, aiming for a stone temperature around 700 °F — which typically corresponded to about 850°F on the Arc's digital display — produced nearly perfect results. The Arc turned out pizzas quickly, while still affording us the control to cook them evenly.

The generous oven opening makes it easy to launch and rotate pizzas during cooking. Our pizzas came out of this oven with fully cooked bottom crusts, exhibiting the perfect balance of crispness and chew, while the crust edges puffed beautifully with just the right amount of char. The cheese melted evenly across the surface, developing those coveted golden-brown spots without burning. We particularly appreciated what we'll call the Arc's forgiving nature. Even when we left pizzas in slightly longer than intended, they were still perfectly edible. (Other ovens we tested would have turned those same pizzas into charcoal discs.)

The Arc can make pizzas up to 14 inches in diameter, striking an ideal balance between capacity and manageability. There are inherent challenges that come with launching and maneuvering oversized pizzas. In our experience, there's no need to make a big pizza — a few 14-inch pizzas are perfect for feeding a family or a small gathering of friends.

One aspect that sets the Arc apart from other high-end ovens we tested is its remarkably low learning curve. The user manual provides specific temperature recommendations for different pizza styles — offering advice on everything from Neapolitan to New York-style — which eliminated much of the trial and error typically associated with making pizzas at home. These surprisingly accurate guidelines helped us nail the perfect temperature settings right from the start. This user-friendly approach proved especially valuable when making pizzas for picky eaters — we had remarkable success creating pizzas that satisfied our children, who typically reject any hint of char on their food.

Output Power

During our tests, the Arc hit an incredible peak temperature of 1105 °F! (Even if average temperatures were a bit more reasonable) This intensity of heat creates the characteristic leopard-spotted crust on an authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, while keeping the interior light and airy.

The Arc features a lateral gas burner, a unique design that replicates the flame patterns of traditional wood-fired ovens, without the hassle of managing actual wood. This innovative burner configuration creates a rolling flame that sweeps across the oven ceiling, providing the intense radiant heat necessary to cook a Neapolitan-style pizza, while maintaining even heat distribution throughout the cooking chamber.

Similarly intense stone temperatures generate the bottom heat necessary for achieving that coveted crispy-yet-tender crust. This high stone temperature, combined with the radiant heat from above, creates the perfect environment for rapid moisture evaporation that produces the characteristic bubbling and blistering of artisanal pizza crusts.

We've learned that heat retention is nearly as, if not more important than, shear output power. The Arc features a 30 millimeter-thick pizza stone and oven walls that Gozney describes as built of “2-layer space-age insulation.” The well-insulated construction ensures the oven maintains consistent temperatures between pizzas, eliminating the frustrating wait times that plague lesser ovens. We easily cooked multiple pizzas in succession without significant temperature drops, which kept our pizza production smooth during dinner parties.

Control

Temperature control can make or break the pizza-making experience. The Arc features a thoughtfully designed control system anchored by a built-in digital temperature display. This feature alone sets it apart from many competitors by removing the guesswork about internal oven temperature.

The display provides real-time readings, though we noticed during testing that the built-in thermometer read slightly lower than our infrared thermometer when we measured at the stone's center. So we ran another accuracy test, and the discrepancy was minor. In fact, the consistency of the built-in thermometer meant we could ditch our infrared thermometer and rely solely on the digital display to determine when the Arc reached optimal temperature.

While smooth control of the dial makes it easy to fine-tune the flame, the lateral gas burner deserves special mention for its contribution to temperature control. Unlike conventional straight burners that create hot spots, this sophisticated design produces an even, rolling flame that distributes heat uniformly across the cooking surface. Compared to other ovens we tested, we rotated pizzas in the Arc fewer times with consistently better results. This is particularly important for beginners, because rotating pizzas in the oven isn't as easy as it might appear, and uneven cooking often results in one side turning to charcoal.

Ease of Use

This pizza oven arrives mostly pre-assembled, and it took us less than 30 minutes to fully assemble the Arc. You'll only need to install a few pieces, including a battery for the ignitor, which sits behind the digital display. The process was straightforward, and clear instructions should help even folks who are typically challenged by assembly projects. Running the oven on low to medium flame for at least 30 minutes helps cure the stone (to prevent cracking) and burn off any manufacturing residues.

The Arc is remarkably intuitive to cook with and exceptionally user-friendly. The oven's design prevents the all-too-common problem of burnt tops and undercooked bottoms — even on our first attempt, we produced perfectly cooked pizzas. Based on our testing, this oven is remarkably fuel-efficient, and we really liked that the propane hose attaches via a quick-connect. This isn't a requisite feature for a high-quality pizza oven, but it sure made daily setup that much smoother. Cleaning follows the time-tested self-cleaning method used by commercial pizza ovens: heating the Arc at high temperature for 45 minutes incinerates food debris and grease deposits, leaving only ash that you can easily brush away once the oven has cooled down.

Compared to other ovens in our review, we wouldn't exactly call the Arc portable. Similar to a gas grill, this oven works best as a permanent backyard fixture. While the flat-bottomed design means you can place it on a table, we strongly recommend investing in Gozney's purpose-built stand. The stand elevates the oven to a comfortable working height and includes convenient fold-out side tables that prove invaluable for pizza prep and tool storage. Since this oven will likely live outside, we also recommend purchasing the optional cover, mostly to protect the stone, which could crack if you try to fire the oven when it's wet.

While other ovens we tested claim versatility, the Arc is specifically focused on pizza perfection rather than multi-purpose cooking. Even though Gozney doesn't market it that way, the oven chamber is certainly large enough to accommodate cast-iron cookware for high-heat searing or roasting. Folks focused purely on pizza will appreciate the Arc's specialized design; buyers seeking a multi-purpose outdoor oven might want to consider other alternatives.

Should You Buy the Gozney Arc?

If you're serious about making restaurant-quality pizzas at home, then the Gozney Arc is an excellent investment. The built-in temperature display and helpful temperature guidelines make it accessible for beginners, while the professional-grade quality of the oven will satisfy experienced pizza makers. A user-friendly design makes it particularly well-suited for families who want to enjoy regular pizza nights. If you value consistent quality over portability, we wholeheartedly recommend the Arc.

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