Presto Pizzazz recipes are the settings and cooking times printed in Presto’s own instruction book for the Pizzazz Plus rotating oven. The manual covers frozen pizza, fresh homemade pizza, quesadillas, cookies and more. Use those times as your starting point, then adjust for your crust and your kitchen. If you want a different style of countertop oven, see these Breville Pizzaiolo recipes.
Each Presto Pizzazz recipe has its own heat setting and timer length. Household voltage also changes how long food takes, so check it near the end of the range.
This is an electric appliance. Follow the manual’s safety rules, never leave the unit unattended, and unplug it before cleaning.
Presto Pizzazz Recipes: What the Oven Cooks and How It Heats
The Pizzazz Plus is a 120V rotating oven that needs no preheating and uses LOWER, DUAL or UPPER heat settings. Those settings control which heating element runs, and the manual gives a time for each Presto Pizzazz recipe on each setting.
The oven plugs into a 120V AC outlet only. The manual says to use the short cord that comes with it and never an extension cord. The instruction book is available on Presto’s instruction book page, which lists model numbers 0343003, 0343103 and 0343403.
The manual says no preheating is needed, unlike most ovens, where pizza oven temperature decides the bake. It also warns against preheating an empty baking pan, because that can damage the finish.
| Setting | What the manual says |
|---|---|
| LOWER | Choose it for a crispier crust. |
| DUAL | Uses both elements. Most pizzas need DUAL for part of the time, and it is the setting for reheating. |
| UPPER | Choose it for a browner top. |
Presto Pizzazz Recipes for Frozen Pizza
For a frozen regular crust pizza of 9 to 12 inches, the manual sets DUAL for 12 to 15 minutes. These are the Presto Pizzazz recipes for frozen pizza, and the times are approximate.
The manual’s pizza chart, printed on pages 3 and 4 of the English instruction book, lists these frozen pizza settings for 9 to 12 inch pizzas.
| Frozen pizza type | Setting | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Regular crust | DUAL | 12 to 15 minutes |
| Stuffed crust | LOWER for 7 minutes, then DUAL | 12 to 15 minutes on DUAL |
| Regular crust with extra toppings | DUAL, then UPPER | 15 minutes on DUAL, then 3 to 4 minutes on UPPER |
Rising crust pizza uses LOWER for 10 to 12 minutes, then DUAL for another 10 to 12 minutes. The manual adds that the amount of rise varies from pizza to pizza, and in rare cases a rising crust can touch the upper element. Turning the timer dial to 0 before that happens avoids scorching the crust.
For 7 to 8 inch pizzas, the manual says to reduce the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes. It also says higher household voltage shortens the time and lower voltage lengthens it.
Fresh Homemade Pizza Settings
Fresh homemade pizza of 9 to 12 inches uses DUAL for 11 to 13 minutes, according to the Presto chart. The manual also prints a Homemade Pizza recipe, so you can follow it for the build as well as the timing. If you prefer to bake a different style at home, making pizza at home covers the full process.
Follow these steps for a fresh pizza from the Presto Pizzazz recipes. Watch it near the end of the range, because the manual says pizzas generally cook faster than in a conventional oven.
- Form the dough into a ball in the center of the baking pan and stretch it to a 10 to 12 inch circle. The manual suggests a kitchen towel under the pan to keep it stable.
- Prick the dough lightly with a fork, spread 1/2 cup of pizza sauce, then add 1/2 cup of toppings and 1 cup of shredded part-skim mozzarella.
- Place the loaded pan on the oven and plug it in. Check that the pan rotates.
- Slide the selector to DUAL and set the timer to 11 to 13 minutes.
- Stop when the cheese is melted and bubbling. Lift the pan with hot pads, and slide the pizza onto a board before cutting, because the manual says not to cut on the baking pan.
The manual’s basic dough uses 1 cup of warm water at 105 to 115°F, one package of active dry yeast, 2 1/2 to 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. It rises for about one hour and rests 15 to 20 minutes after shaping, and the recipe makes two thin crusts or one thick crust.
Most pizzas should cook on DUAL for part of the time, according to the troubleshooting section. If you have a large amount of toppings and want a crisp crust, the manual says you can use LOWER for 4 to 6 minutes before switching to DUAL for 11 to 13 minutes. At the end of the cooking time, slide to LOWER for a crispier crust or UPPER for more done toppings, and add 1 or 2 minutes. If the toppings are uneven, let the pizza cook a little and then redistribute them with a fork.
Quesadillas, Sandwiches and Snacks
Quesadillas take 6 to 10 minutes on DUAL, and grilled sandwiches take 8 to 9 minutes with a turn halfway through. Among the Presto Pizzazz recipes for snacks, the manual notes that quesadilla time depends on the type and amount of filling.
- Grilled sandwiches: DUAL, 8 to 9 minutes, turn halfway.
- Breaded, precooked chicken nuggets: DUAL, 10 to 11 minutes.
- Pizza Rolls: DUAL, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Pretzels: DUAL, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Taquitos: DUAL, 11 to 12 minutes.
- Potato skins: DUAL, 13 to 14 minutes.
The Presto Pizzazz recipes in the convenience food chart are built for precooked and frozen products. The manual says the oven is not designed for raw fish, poultry or meat, and that cooking them may damage the unit.
Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls and S’mores
Among the Presto Pizzazz recipes for baked treats, refrigerated chocolate chip cookies take 6 minutes on UPPER, then 4 minutes on DUAL. Cinnamon rolls take 3 minutes on UPPER, then 6 to 7 minutes on DUAL, according to the manual.
- Cookies: flatten the dough slightly and keep each cookie off the center of the pan. Leave them on the pan for 3 minutes after baking.
- Cinnamon rolls: keep each roll off the center of the pan.
- S’mores: the chart says UPPER for 6 minutes or until the marshmallow browns.
The s’mores preparation steps in the Presto Pizzazz recipes say DUAL for 6 minutes, which does not match the chart. The manual does not explain the difference, so watch the marshmallow and stop when it browns.
Timing Rules and Safety Limits
For Presto Pizzazz recipes, the manual says to turn the timer dial past the 4-minute mark and then back whenever you want 4 minutes or less, and never to operate the unit when the pan is not rotating.
- For 4 minutes or less, turn the dial past 4 and then back to your time.
- Never wrap the baking pan or any part of the oven in aluminum foil.
- Use nylon, plastic, wooden or rubber utensils, because metal can scratch the nonstick finish.
- Do not use the oven outdoors, and keep it away from curtains and paper towel holders.
- After removing the pan, let the unit run 60 to 90 seconds before unplugging it.
- Wash the nonstick pan after each use in warm, sudsy water. The manual says not to put the oven in the dishwasher.
Cleaning after Presto Pizzazz recipes follows the same order every time. Unplug the oven and let the whole unit cool completely first. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth and dry it thoroughly. If food residue builds up on the outer rim of the element trays, the manual allows a nylon mesh pad, but not steel wool or abrasive cleansers.
Always remove the baking pan when your Presto Pizzazz recipes are finished. The manual warns that an empty pan left on a unit that has not cooled can damage the pan finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to preheat the Pizzazz Plus?
No. The manual says the Presto Pizzazz recipes need no preheating, and it warns against preheating an empty baking pan because that may damage the finish.
Why does the baking pan not rotate?
The pan hub may not be seated over the drive shaft. Reposition the pan as the manual describes. If the pan has dents or wobbles on a flat surface, the manual says it needs replacing.
Why is my food not cooking?
If Presto Pizzazz recipes will not cook, the timer may not be past the 4-minute mark, or the selector may sit between two settings. Slide it fully to LOWER, DUAL or UPPER and set the timer again.
Can the Pizzazz Plus cook raw chicken?
No. None of the Presto Pizzazz recipes cover raw chicken, and the manual says not to cook or grill raw fish, poultry or meat, because this may damage the unit. Use only the precooked products listed in its convenience food chart.
Does Presto include a pizza dough recipe?
Yes. The instruction book prints a Homemade Pizza recipe and a Basic Pizza Dough recipe. Fresh 9 to 12 inch pizzas bake on DUAL for 11 to 13 minutes, and the Presto Pizzazz recipes for large topping loads add an optional 4 to 6 minutes on LOWER first.
Start with the Presto Pizzazz recipes row that matches your food, or compare it with these Ninja Artisan pizza oven recipes if you own both, then adjust by a minute or two based on the cheese and crust. The times are approximate and depend on your voltage, so treat the manual as a starting point and watch the food near the end of the range.