Is the ALDI wood-fired pizza oven worth the money? Here's the expert verdict
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A freshly cooked pizza is one of the best things in life. There's nothing quite like the smell of a pizza baking in the oven, and the taste of a hot, cheesy pizza is even better. Whether you like your pizza with pepperoni, sausage, or just plain cheese, there's nothing like a good pizza.
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to artisan-grade pizza (we can dream). For most of us, the nearest pizza shop is Dominos. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a good pizza (no offence Dominos). With a little effort, you can make a delicious pizza at home!
Speaking of preparing your own pizza, it is important to have an oven that can cook the pizza evenly. An oven that doesn't cook evenly can result in a pizza that's burnt on the bottom and barely cooked on the top, or vice versa. No one wants a half-cooked pizza.
And while it's tempting to purchase the budget-friendly ovens being sold in the market right now, it's best to step back and examine these items. Are they worth our hard-earned money?
ALDI's latest Special Buy offer is a woodfire pizza oven for just $149 – a tempting offer for budding pizza chefs on a budget. However, there are a few things to think about before you nab one...
Experts from CHOICE reviewed the Coolabah pizza oven from ALDI, giving consumers insight into the use of the item. Credit: CHOICE.
The ALDI Coolabah pizza oven comes with several features that might be ideal for some people who are looking to make pizzas at home, including a removable ashtray (no, not that kind of ashtray), a built-in temperature gauge, and a damper for the chimney. It also includes a pizza stone, cooking grill, and charcoal grate.
The downside of its design is that it is a bit heavy, weighing in at 25.3kg. However, this should not be a problem for most people, as long as you have someone to help you lift it. It also comes with a one-year warranty, which is on par with other models on the market.
Fiona Mair, the chief pizzaiolo and culinary expert for CHOICE, tested eight of the newest pizza ovens last year, including the ALDI pizza oven sold under the Coolabah brand.
The woodfire pizza oven and charcoal BBQ combo that is currently part of the latest Special Buys range appears to be the same product.
However, it was revealed that on 'both counts', the ALDI pizza oven fell short in the categories being tested.
The expert explained: 'Although this is a very cheap pizza oven that performed adequately in our cooking performance tests, I wouldn't recommend anyone purchase it due to the fact it can be a safety hazard.'
'The unit is flimsy and becomes dangerously hot, and it's just not great to use.'
'To get a perfectly cooked, slightly charred, crisp and browned pizza base, you need intense heat of at least 400°C.'
'Which means that safety should really be a priority when you're choosing a pizza oven. It's also important that the oven can maintain a consistent temperature.'
The testers also discovered that there were numerous problems with how safe it was to use, that it was very difficult to manage the temperature and that it arrived with few instructions on how to use it.
They also pointed out that there aren't many instructions for building the oven yourself, which makes it dangerous if it's not put together properly.
'This unit is flimsy and becomes dangerously hot. It is difficult to control the temperature and flames can lick up and out of the door, melting the paintwork, causing a toxic smell and black smoke,' Fiona added.
'Although it does have a temperature gauge, it was difficult to read and wasn't found to be consistently accurate, and there were no hot surface warnings on the exterior which you would typically expect to see on a product like this.'
Fiona also noted that since using a pizza oven requires practice and a lot of trial and error, clear instructions are essential to ensure the greatest outcomes. So, do not anticipate using this oven to produce flawless pizza by dusk after purchasing it on Saturday.
The ability to cook additional food besides pizza in a larger woodfired pizza oven can be advantageous, according to the CHOICE testers. Examples of such meals that you can prepare include full roast chickens, pig loins, and beef or lamb roasts.
The ALDI oven won't be suitable for this, however, due to frequent heat loss and difficulties maintaining the constant heat needed to cook meat thoroughly without burning.
When it comes to appliances, it's important to do your research and read product reviews before making a purchase. With so many options on the market, it can be tough to know which one is the right fit for your home.
That's why you should take the time to read reviews from other consumers. Seeing what others have to say about a particular product can help you make a more informed decision. Plus, it's always helpful to get an idea of what you're getting yourself into before you make a big purchase.
So, next time you're in the market for a new appliance, be sure to take your time researching the item before making your final decision. It could save you a lot of time, money, and headaches in the long run.
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to artisan-grade pizza (we can dream). For most of us, the nearest pizza shop is Dominos. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a good pizza (no offence Dominos). With a little effort, you can make a delicious pizza at home!
Speaking of preparing your own pizza, it is important to have an oven that can cook the pizza evenly. An oven that doesn't cook evenly can result in a pizza that's burnt on the bottom and barely cooked on the top, or vice versa. No one wants a half-cooked pizza.
And while it's tempting to purchase the budget-friendly ovens being sold in the market right now, it's best to step back and examine these items. Are they worth our hard-earned money?
ALDI's latest Special Buy offer is a woodfire pizza oven for just $149 – a tempting offer for budding pizza chefs on a budget. However, there are a few things to think about before you nab one...
Experts from CHOICE reviewed the Coolabah pizza oven from ALDI, giving consumers insight into the use of the item. Credit: CHOICE.
The ALDI Coolabah pizza oven comes with several features that might be ideal for some people who are looking to make pizzas at home, including a removable ashtray (no, not that kind of ashtray), a built-in temperature gauge, and a damper for the chimney. It also includes a pizza stone, cooking grill, and charcoal grate.
The downside of its design is that it is a bit heavy, weighing in at 25.3kg. However, this should not be a problem for most people, as long as you have someone to help you lift it. It also comes with a one-year warranty, which is on par with other models on the market.
Fiona Mair, the chief pizzaiolo and culinary expert for CHOICE, tested eight of the newest pizza ovens last year, including the ALDI pizza oven sold under the Coolabah brand.
The woodfire pizza oven and charcoal BBQ combo that is currently part of the latest Special Buys range appears to be the same product.
However, it was revealed that on 'both counts', the ALDI pizza oven fell short in the categories being tested.
The expert explained: 'Although this is a very cheap pizza oven that performed adequately in our cooking performance tests, I wouldn't recommend anyone purchase it due to the fact it can be a safety hazard.'
'The unit is flimsy and becomes dangerously hot, and it's just not great to use.'
'To get a perfectly cooked, slightly charred, crisp and browned pizza base, you need intense heat of at least 400°C.'
'Which means that safety should really be a priority when you're choosing a pizza oven. It's also important that the oven can maintain a consistent temperature.'
The testers also discovered that there were numerous problems with how safe it was to use, that it was very difficult to manage the temperature and that it arrived with few instructions on how to use it.
They also pointed out that there aren't many instructions for building the oven yourself, which makes it dangerous if it's not put together properly.
'This unit is flimsy and becomes dangerously hot. It is difficult to control the temperature and flames can lick up and out of the door, melting the paintwork, causing a toxic smell and black smoke,' Fiona added.
'Although it does have a temperature gauge, it was difficult to read and wasn't found to be consistently accurate, and there were no hot surface warnings on the exterior which you would typically expect to see on a product like this.'
Fiona also noted that since using a pizza oven requires practice and a lot of trial and error, clear instructions are essential to ensure the greatest outcomes. So, do not anticipate using this oven to produce flawless pizza by dusk after purchasing it on Saturday.
The ability to cook additional food besides pizza in a larger woodfired pizza oven can be advantageous, according to the CHOICE testers. Examples of such meals that you can prepare include full roast chickens, pig loins, and beef or lamb roasts.
The ALDI oven won't be suitable for this, however, due to frequent heat loss and difficulties maintaining the constant heat needed to cook meat thoroughly without burning.
When it comes to appliances, it's important to do your research and read product reviews before making a purchase. With so many options on the market, it can be tough to know which one is the right fit for your home.
That's why you should take the time to read reviews from other consumers. Seeing what others have to say about a particular product can help you make a more informed decision. Plus, it's always helpful to get an idea of what you're getting yourself into before you make a big purchase.
So, next time you're in the market for a new appliance, be sure to take your time researching the item before making your final decision. It could save you a lot of time, money, and headaches in the long run.
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