Lincat PO69X

[Dave1]

I'm thinking of buying this oven, the Lincat PO69X.

Is it a good oven, can anyone provide any reviews or provide any useful info about this for cooking NY style pies?

[scott123]

Dave, countertop ovens are basically nothing more than toaster ovens with stones. Because these ovens tend to be so weak, I discourage most people from purchasing them, because of the high chance that their home oven will be more powerful.

This being said, the vast majority of European ovens this forum has seen have been woefully underpowered. As weak as this oven is, it might be a little better than your home oven. Before purchasing the countertop, I would look into the specs of your home oven, specifically the inner dimensions, peak temp on the dial and wattage. If you post those specs here, I can tell you if this countertop is a step up or a step down.

[DavidG]

Hi Scott,

My home oven is not that good at all. The internal dimensions are 40 x 40 x 40cm, the max temp is 230c and it is rated at about 1.5kw.

The lincat oven is 2.9kw and the wattage per sq in comes out at out to be 4.65W, but the max temp is 400c.

It sure looks like it would be a lot hotter on paper, and I assumed since it's not convection it should be better anyway?

[scott123]

Whoah, they've got a lot of nerve calling that an oven. 1500 W?

Dave, I think we're using different formulas for wattage per square inch. The lincat is 2900 W divided by 621 in.² which equals 2.33 W per square inch.

As you can see, 2.33 is the bottom of the countertop barrel.

http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,23610.msg239790.html#msg239790

I recommended an Italian countertop to Joe:

http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,23914.msg242864.html#msg242864

Do you have any kind of options for a more powerful home oven?

[Dave1]

I was just working out the wattage of the bottom deck that's why my figure was twice as much at 4.66. So you right there it would just be 2.33. Also what is the main advantage of higher wattage per sq inch, is it just faster warm up and recovery times?

It's still 400c compared to 230c and is cooking with the radiant heat rather than convection. I've never used this sort of oven before but I assumed it would be pretty good.

[scott123]

Dave, these kinds of ovens don't have thermostats, they have wishostats.   It's a little like taking a Ford focus and putting a speedometer in it that goes to 250 mi./h.– no matter what the speedometer says, a focus isn't hitting that speed. Even if this oven can reach 400C, it's both going to take a long time to get there, as well as take a long time to recover between bakes.

Members have purchased these kinds of ovens, tinkered with them, and successfully made one or two pies at a time, but with your aspirations, I don't think this particular oven is the answer. If, say, this oven could bake a pizza in 5 min., but then require 15 min. to recover, would a pizza every 20 min. work for your schedule?

I'm not necessarily saying that it will require 15 min. of recovery time, but, with this kind of wattage, it's quite possible.

[Dave1]

Ok, sounds fair, also is that all there is to consider when choosing a counter top oven or are there other things apart from the rated power that would be worth considering when choosing an oven?

Would the Sirman Stromboli be a better choice @ 4W per sq in.

http://sirman.co.uk/products/pizza-ovens/

[scott123]

Dave, I'm coming up with 3.5W per sq in.  It's better than 2.3, but it's still not anywhere near the 5W per sq in. that I feel a proper pizza oven should be. In addition, the shorter 14 inch dimension only allows for slightly larger than 13 inch pies, which, for New York style, is too small/too much rim.  If, after exhausting every possible avenue, this is the highest wattage per square inch that you can find, I'd opt for the larger Vesuvio.

[Dave1]

Yeh it is 3.5w actually, but it's 36cm wide so that's 14.17" so I should be able to cook a 14" pizza in there, although this is still on the small side for a NY pizza.

[scott123]

Dave, I just found out that I was looking at the wrong numbers for the Pizzamasters.

It won't be cheap, but the PM451ED will suit your needs- if you can track one down.

[Pizzakoning]

What is the price of the Lincat?

[Dave1]

Scott, the pizzamaster looks good but it's out of my price range. At this point all im really looking for is a pizza oven to cook great pizzas with for myself but something that would also work for the initial stages of a business plan until I could afford a proper oven. So if it could cook maybe 10 pizzas a night then great, that's all I'm looking for right now.

I can get one for £250 brand new, the list price is £900 so that was the only reason I was considering the Lincat, it seems a bargain at that price.