As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the opportunity to test both the Gozney Roccbox and Blackstone pizza ovens in my kitchen. In this comparison, I’ll break down how these two popular models measure up in terms of quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and a real pizza cooking test. For a detailed overview of how I test pizza ovens, you can check out my separate article dedicated to the process.
Gozney Roccbox: The Gozney Roccbox is a dual-fuel, professional-grade pizza oven known for its precision and speed, making it a top choice for both home cooks and professionals.
Blackstone Pizza Oven: The Blackstone Pizza Oven is a gas-powered outdoor oven, praised for its rotating stone cooking surface, designed to deliver perfectly cooked pizzas with minimal effort.
I’ve put the Gozney Roccbox and Blackstone Pizza Oven to the test, and this article covers the detailed comparison.
Disclaimer: This article includes referral links that help support my blog. If you decide to purchase one of these ovens, using my links would be greatly appreciated as it helps keep my content free at no extra cost to you:
Gozney Roccbox VS Blackstone: Quality and Materials
| The Gozney Roccbox impresses with its premium construction, featuring dense insulation, a thick stone floor, and stainless steel exterior. It feels robust and well-built, designed to withstand professional kitchen use. |
The Blackstone Pizza Oven also boasts durable construction with a stainless-steel cooking chamber and a heavy-duty cast iron rotating tray. It’s built to last, especially in outdoor environments, though it is heavier and bulkier.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Blackstone: Temperature Control
| The Roccbox excels with precise temperature control, reaching up to 950°F quickly. The rolling flame and thick stone floor ensure even heat distribution, making it easy to achieve consistent results. |
The Blackstone is capable of reaching 900°F with its powerful high-pressure burner. However, its heat source placement can result in uneven cooking, requiring some adjustments during the baking process.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Blackstone: Shape
| The Roccbox’s dome shape enhances heat retention and airflow, resulting in even cooking. It is optimized for producing a perfect pizza crust with minimal effort. |
The Blackstone has a unique design with its burner positioned away from the pizza stone, coupled with a motorized rotating stone. This setup is ideal for ensuring even cooking but can lead to uneven top heat in some cases.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Blackstone: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Using the Roccbox was seamless right out of the box. It’s user-friendly and efficient, heating up quickly and cooking pizzas in just 60 seconds. Perfect for those who want high-quality results with minimal hassle. |
The Blackstone took longer to assemble (about an hour) and required some effort to get the burner started. However, once up and running, it delivers impressive heat output and is great for outdoor gatherings. The rotating stone is a helpful feature for beginners.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Blackstone: Power Source
| The Roccbox offers dual-fuel versatility, allowing users to choose between propane gas and wood. This flexibility caters to those who want both convenience and the smoky flavor of wood-fired cooking. |
The Blackstone is powered by a single, high-pressure propane burner delivering 60,000 BTUs. It produces intense heat but lacks the flexibility of using multiple fuel sources like the Roccbox.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Blackstone: Size
| At 49.9 pounds, the Roccbox is portable enough for outdoor use while still feeling stable. Its compact size is ideal for small patios or limited spaces. |
The Blackstone is significantly heavier and bulkier, especially with its stand and wheeled cart. It’s best suited for larger outdoor setups where portability isn’t a primary concern. However, it offers great cooking space and stability.
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Gozney Roccbox VS Blackstone: Ease of Cleaning
| The Roccbox is designed for easy maintenance. A quick brush for the stone and a simple wipe-down keeps it in pristine condition. The process is straightforward, making it ideal for frequent use. |
The Blackstone requires more effort to clean due to its larger size and the rotating stone. The burner area can accumulate grease, and the heavy stone needs regular maintenance. However, it’s still relatively simple to disassemble for cleaning.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Gozney Roccbox heated up impressively fast, reaching its maximum temperature of 950°F in about 15 minutes. For our test, I made a classic Margherita pizza, which cooked in just 60 seconds. The result was exceptional: a perfectly crispy crust, light and airy inside, with well-caramelized toppings and beautifully melted cheese. The intense heat and even distribution gave the pizza that authentic, wood-fired flavor you’d expect from a high-end pizzeria.
The Blackstone Pizza Oven took around 10 minutes to reach its peak temperature of 900+°F thanks to its powerful high-pressure burner. The Margherita pizza cooked in approximately 70 seconds on the rotating stone. The crust was nicely crisp with a slight char, while the rotating stone ensured an evenly cooked bottom. However, the top needed a bit of monitoring to get the cheese fully melted. The pizza had a delicious, smoky flavor with a slightly more rustic finish, making it a great option for outdoor gatherings.
Verdict: While both ovens delivered excellent results, the Roccbox was quicker and more consistent, delivering a perfectly cooked pizza in less time. The Blackstone added a unique, smoky flavor and offered a fun outdoor cooking experience but required a bit more attention for even results.
How We Tested
To compare the Gozney Roccbox and Blackstone Pizza Oven, we conducted side-by-side tests at my restaurant. Using the same dough, sauce, and toppings, we ensured a consistent approach for both ovens. We monitored temperatures with an infrared thermometer to get precise readings.
The Roccbox reached 950°F in about 15 minutes, while the Blackstone heated to 900+°F in roughly 10 minutes. Once preheated, we cooked Margherita pizzas in each oven. The Roccbox finished in 60 seconds with a perfectly crispy, evenly cooked crust, while the Blackstone took 70 seconds. Its rotating stone ensured a well-cooked bottom, though the top needed extra attention.
In terms of taste, the Roccbox delivered a lighter, airier crust, while the Blackstone offered a heartier, smoky flavor. Both ovens performed well, each excelling in different areas, catering to various pizza styles.
Conclusion
Both the Gozney Roccbox and Blackstone Pizza Oven have their unique strengths, catering to different preferences. The Roccbox is perfect for those who value precision, speed, and consistent, professional-quality results, while the Blackstone shines with its powerful heat output and unique rotating stone, making it ideal for outdoor cooking enthusiasts who enjoy a hands-on approach.
Ultimately, the choice is yours based on your cooking style and needs. Whether you prefer the versatility and ease of the Roccbox or the robust power of the Blackstone, both ovens deliver delicious, high-quality pizzas.
If you decide to purchase one, I would greatly appreciate it if you used my referral links below. It helps support my blog at no extra cost to you: