3 days ago 5

'Better than the oven': Snag the Betty Crocker pizza maker while it's just $40

For many of us, the only homemade meals being prepared during the week are the ones that can be thrown together as quickly and easily as possible. Otherwise? That's why we've got the local pizza parlor on speed dial. But speaking of pizza, it's actually a cinch to get a pie on the table without shelling out for delivery — if you've got the Betty Crocker Countertop Pizza Maker, that is. You won't have to wait for your full-size oven to preheat, and even more enticing? It's on sale for just $40 (down from $54) at Amazon.

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.

$40 at Amazon

Why is it a good deal? 💰

If you make pizza often, this handy little kitchen gadget will save you money on your energy bills — no need to turn on the oven! Other pizza makers like this can cost close to $200. Not only that, but this gadget doesn't dip this low very often, making it the ideal time to pick one up. (It's also available in silver and white, though prices vary by color.)

Why do I need this? 🤔

If you don't like having to wait for your oven to preheat to get your pizza cooking, this little guy can help you get dinner on the table pretty darn quickly. Not only is the preheating time short, but the pizza maker can cook your pizza (frozen or fresh!) faster than a conventional oven and won't make your kitchen feel like a sauna during the summer. And it's not limited to cooking pizza. You can make cookies, french fries, onion rings, cinnamon rolls, biscuits — the list goes on and on. 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.

Pizza pie with toppings and a slice cut out.

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 👍

"Better than putting a pizza in the oven," shared a rave reviewer. "Because your pizza is in direct contact with a heated surface, and because you add a little oil to the surface before you bake the pizza in this cooker, your pizza comes out with a browned crust every time. Make a whole 12-inch pizza, or cut a larger pizza and bake what you need. Either way, it's perfect. And we've used it to create cinnamon rolls and other baked delights. It's a whiz to clean, and you don't heat up your kitchen and waste a bunch of electricity every time you make a pizza. My favorite small appliance (other than the toaster oven/air fryer) for sure."

"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 omelets, pancakes and quesadillas. It is easy to use and keep clean. So, we bought one for our 34-year-old autistic nephew, who uses it daily."

"I read a million reviews before I bought this thing and I’m so glad I finally just ordered it because it's great," wrote a third fan. "This pizza maker is so awesome, I highly recommend it. We’re also truck drivers and have limited space, so the fact that it’s not very big makes it easy to store away when it’s not in use."

Cons 👎

Some shoppers say the design could be improved to make it dishwasher-safe.

"It’s fairly easy to clean, although I wish it could be disassembled to throw the large metal pieces in the dishwasher sometimes," wrote one shopper.

A second agreed: "Wish the plates came off for cleaning, but you find a way to get it clean."

This pizza (or omelet, or ... you get the idea) cooker heats up with a 1,440-watt heating element and can get as hot as 400°F.

$40 at Amazon

Want to round out your pizza-making kit? More than 36,000 Amazon shoppers rave about the Kitchy Pizza Cutter, which is currently 35% off.

This ergonomically designed pizza cutter will cut through even the crispiest pizzas quickly.

"My new favorite kitchen utensil," gushed a reviewer. "Cuts like butter, [it's] easy to use and take apart for cleaning. Didn't get all gunky like my other pizza cutters have in the past. Pizza, quesadillas, grilled cheese ... It cuts it all so easily!"

$13 at Amazon

And if you want to make clean-up a snap, these top-selling parchment paper circles fit just right in the pizza maker (so you'll have a whole pizza set).

Cut to fit 12-inch cake pans or pizza pans, these sheets of round parchment take the headache out of doing dishes.

"These 12-inch round parchment sheets are tremendously useful for lining the pizza pan," shared one of over 6,100 five-star fans. "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 precut sheets are great."

$9 at Amazon

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.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.