BioLite BaseCamp PizzaDome Bundle review

Cons:

• pizza-making is a secondary feature
• temperature is not easy to regulate

Star rating: 3.9/5

Available from BioLite (£399 for barbecue and pizza accesories)

Read our round-up of the best pizza ovens

While primarily a portable barbecue and camping stove, the BioLite can be purchased with additional components, including a ceramic stone, for making pizza, and the bundle is priced at £399.99. It’s welI designed and would appeal to a gadget-loving, outdoor person.

While cooking, the heat generated can be used to charge devices like smartphones via a USB port, and there is also a handy LED light. It requires kiln-dried hardwood, which is energy efficient – using the wrong wood can leave you with bad results.

What were your first impressions of the BioLite Bundle?

The product came well packaged though not overly so – and mainly with cardboard, which can be recycled.

How easy was it to assemble?

The manual is small but clear to read with regard to assembly and getting started. There were virtually no instructions on using the pizza stone, however. What's needed here is a step-by-step guide. The stove itself was initially easy to construct in about 10 minutes. After that, it comes out of a handy rucksack and is ready in seconds.

Is it easy to use?

We didn't find this the most simple product to use. We did like the temperature gauge on the dome, which was easy to read. The generator/charger has several green LED Lights that need to be monitored. Feeding the fire at the right time is key to creating a good clean pizza. If you add wood at the wrong time (or use the wrong wood), then black smoke can taint the pizza base.

Is it easy to add fuel?

Yes, very easy, but the knack is to know when and what size fuel to add (instructions on the size of pieces to add are in the booklet). Once set up, the temperature can hit 500C. It was hot enough to use within 10 minutes and we found it to be very fuel-efficient.

How many pizzas does it fit?

You can only cook one pizza at a time. We felt this would be fine if you were sharing the pizzas and looking for an interactive experience. However, if you have a large family, there will be a lot of waiting around. Each pizza takes 5-6 mins to cook, so it took an average of 35 mins to cook all of our pizzas.

It's important that the temperature is consistently moderated. More wood must be added at intervals to keep it at the correct temperature, as recommended in the instructions, and ensure that the dough is properly cooked.

How easy is it to add a pizza?

We found it difficult to add the pizza as the bundle comes with no additional tools, like a pizza peel. Transferring the uncooked dough onto the boiling hot stone took some creative use of spatulas, kitchen paper and a piece of cardboard in lieu of an official tool.

How hot does the outside get?

The BioLite has a doom fitted on top to keep the heat nicely contained. It's small and compact and doesn't have any large, exposed flames.

Can you cook other things on the pizza stone?

No, you can only cook pizza on the stone (one at a time) or another flatbread-style dish. The barbecue grill itself is also small. It's not big enough for a roasting tray like some other pizza ovens are.

Is it all-weather or does it come with a cover?

No, it doesn’t come with a cover, but the dome will keep your pizza from getting wet.

How easily can it be stored?

The BioLite scores highly on this front. It's easy to dismantle and pack away in its own rucksack.

Does it double up as anything else?

The BioLite is primarily a barbecue and camping stove (so you can use the grill as a base to cook in a pot) with the pizza function being secondary. The USB charger and LED light are handy additional features.

How easy is it to move around?

It is very portable, so perfect for those who camp a lot, or enjoy the great outdoors. In its pack, it weighs around 10kg.

How is the finished pizza?

End results are good, though not perfect. Using a pizza stone on a barbecue is slightly better than cooking pizza in an oven. The base becomes nicely crisp and the edges puff up a little. You don’t get the charred blistered edges you would expect to get from using a pizza oven, however.

How many people does it serve?

Each pizza we made served one person. You could make them slightly bigger to feed two children.

How long does it take to cool down?

Because the fire pit is small, this device cooled down within 10 minutes after removing the ashes.

What utensils did you need to use to make the pizza?

None were provided with the barbecue so we made do with a large slice and spatula.

Who would the product be most useful for?

Being so portable, it would be ideal for hikers, campers and beach-goers.

What's your favourite thing about this product?

This is a stylish and well-functioning product that uses fuel efficiently. The portability and ease of set up appeals, but it takes at least two sessions to master the art of pizza-making with it.

BioLite BaseCamp PizzaDome Bundle scores

Ease of assembly 4/5
Overall build quality 4/5
Ease of use 3.5/5
Packaging 4/5
Value for money 3.5/5
Cooking results 3.5/5
Ease of storage 5/5

Overall star rating: 3.9/5

Available from BioLite (£399 for barbecue and pizza accesories)

Pizza recipes and tips

Best pizza ovens
Basic pizza dough recipe
All our top pizza dough recipes
Pizza sauce recipe
Sourdough pizza
10 tips for making next level margherita pizza
Video: How to make pizza

This review was last updated in June 2020. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at [email protected].