Figuring out what to make for dinner every night is one of life’s biggest slogs. Trying to come up with fast, uncomplicated meal ideas is even tougher. And with the weather getting warmer, spending less time cooking and more time eating is the goal. Few meals are as easy as pizza, and you can save a ton of money by making it at home instead of calling for delivery. The Betty Crocker Countertop Pizza Maker is discounted to $43 (from $54) at Amazon, and fans say it’s easy, efficient and versatile.
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This gadget works kind of like a waffle iron, only the nonstick surface is flat. It can accommodate a 12-inch pizza — frozen or fresh — and cook it in 10-25 minutes. Dinner conundrum solved!
Why is it a good deal? 💰
If you make pizza a lot, this handy little kitchen gadget will save you money on your energy bills — no need to turn on the oven. Other pizza makers can cost $500 or more, and this gadget doesn’t go on sale very often, making this the ideal time to pick one up. (It’s rarely dipped lower than this in years.)
Why do I need this? 🤔
If you don’t like waiting for your oven to preheat, this little guy can help you get dinner on the table pretty darn quickly. Not only is its preheating time short, but the pizza maker can cook a fresh or frozen pizza faster than a conventional oven (10 to 25 minutes, buyers report). And it’s not limited to cooking pies, either. You can make cookies, frozen French fries, onion rings, cookies, cinnamon rolls, biscuits — the list goes on, and who doesn’t love a multitasking appliance? It’s also slim and compact, so when you’re done with dinner, you just tuck it away. If you have a small kitchen, its size makes it more convenient than a toaster oven.
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P.S. Yahoo Senior Home Writer and culinary school grad Lisa Schweitzer has tested it out. Check out her full review for more. (Spoiler: She says, “It would be an asset to a kitchen without a working oven, or if you don’t love using your oven for any reason.”)
If pizza is your love language, this little gadget will make you swoon. (Getty)
What reviewers say 💬
Over 6,000 enthusiastic pizza lovers have given this device a five-star rating, and many say they use it daily.
Pros 👍
“Way better than [the] oven,” shared a rave reviewer. “We put the dough directly on the cooking surface and then added sauce and toppings. Way easier and didn’t have any issues, even though instructions suggest to put [the] pizza together first.”
“Love this machine!” gushed another happy shopper. “It is not just another kitchen gadget to take residency on the kitchen countertop. It has earned its place. It is used at least 3-4 times a week or more. Cooks our pizzas quickly and evenly. We also use it for omelettes, pancakes and quesadillas.”
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“This pizza oven makes frozen pizza so much better than a regular oven,” wrote a third fan. “The crust is crispier and the cheese [is] better melted. Homemade pizza is also great in this oven. It does not have temperature controls like some more upgraded models, but cooks pizza perfectly anyway.”
Cons 👎
“Heats up very fast,” said a generally pleased pizzaiolo. “The inside is sturdy and the material is easy to clean. [The] only problem I have is that it should have had a better handle, because when this gets hot, it’s piping hot.”
“Easy to use; however, the handle gets hot and the cord is short,” noted a final buyer. “Aside from that, it’s amazing at crisping up quesadillas, pizza, etc.”
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How popular is this compact cooker? Hundreds of people have ordered it from Amazon in the last month.
Want to round out your pizza-making prowess? North of 36,000 Amazon shoppers rave about this pizza cutter, currently 40% off.
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This ergonomically designed slicer will cut through even the crispiest pies quickly.
“I love this,” gushed a besotted buyer. “[It cuts] like butter! I will confess that I am a klutz, so [I] was concerned at the sharpness of this cutter, but no worries as long as you are careful.”
And if you want to make cleanup a snap, these parchment paper circles fit the pizza maker perfectly.
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Cut to fit 12-inch round pans, these round parchment sheets take the headache out of doing dishes. They also fit the Betty Crocker pizza maker perfectly, and $9 buys you 100 of them, so you won’t run out anytime soon.
“Tremendously useful for lining the pizza pan,” shared a happy home cook. “It makes cleanup a cinch! I primarily use them when reheating pizza, so it’s perfect for catching any cheese that melts over the crust. They also absorb much of the oil/grease. If you like easy, these pre-cut sheets are great.”
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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