Let’s be honest, there’s probably a frozen pizza in all of our freezers. On those days when thinking up an easy dinner is just too much work, a frozen pizza takes care of family dinner. But which supermarket frozen pizza is actually worth the freezer space? Is it extra cheese or a sprinkle of basil that makes the difference between a good and average pizza?
The Better Homes and Gardens team, led by senior food editor Sarah Murphy, set out to discover the best supermarket frozen pizza. We blind-tasted 6 different pizza samples from Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA. The winner was considered the most authentic and ‘fancy’ for frozen pizza.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The overall winner of our supermarket frozen pizza taste test was Dr Oetker Ristorante Pizza Mozzarella. It was considered to be the most authentic, with toppings of fresh tomatoes and basil.
- Our expert winner was Aldi’s La Numero Uno Margherita Pizza, which is the second cheapest option.
The Verdict
Frozen margherita pizzas definitely divided our panel of taste-testers. Some preferred the extra cheesy, ‘kid-like’ samples that felt comforting, but most agreed that fresh tomatoes and basil made the experience much tastier, resulting in a clear win for Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Mozzarella. Our food expert, Sarah Murphy, decided Aldi’s Italpizza La Numero Uno Margherita Pizza was the best choice for the crispy and chewy base, and the potential to hold additional homemade toppings.
Italpizza La Numero Uno Margherita Pizza
For the chewy, crunchy crust and good balance of cheese
Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Mozzarella
Fresh tomato topping and extra crispy pizza base.
Australian supermarket frozen pizza taste test results
| Ranking | Name of product | Overall score out of 10 | Expert score out of 10 | Price per 100g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Mozzarella | 7.2 | 8 | $2.24 |
| 2 | McCain Pizza Margherita | 6.57 | 6 | $1.76 |
| 3 | Destination Italy Margherita Pizza | 6.55 | 7.5 | $2.89 |
| 4 | Coles Simply Margherita Pizza | 6.26 | 6 | $0.89 |
| 5 | Italpizza La Numero Uno Margherita Pizza | 5.83 | 9 | $1.70 |
| 6 | La Napoli Wood Fired Italian Pizza Margherita 375g | 5.09 | 8 | $1.87 |
Panel winner
Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Mozzarella
Expert score: 8
Panel score: 7.2
A sturdy, solid base and ‘fancier’ toppings are what the panel loved about Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Mozzarella, so much so that they declared it the winner! The standout features were the fresh cherry tomatoes that topped the margherita pizza, which many were amazed could be on a frozen pizza in the first place. The pesto-like herb drizzle and fresh basil were enjoyed, although some mentioned it took over the cheesy flavouring.
For Sarah, this one was thoroughly enjoyable, with nothing standing out as negative or detrimental. She loved the stronger flavours, commenting that it was uncommon for a frozen pizza to have that much taste.
NB: If you were wondering about the, ahem, depth of colour in the above picture, Dr Oetker did unintentionally have a few extra minutes in the oven – could this be what helped it clinch the win?!
Best for
- Fresh cherry tomatoes
- Crispy, ‘biscuit-like’ base
- Herb-forward with a pesto sauce on top
Price: $7.50
Available at Coles, Woolworths and IGA
Expert winner
Italpizza La Numero Uno Margherita Pizza
Expert score: 9
Panel score: 5.83
Sarah’s winner was Aldi’s Italpizza La Numero Uno Margherita Pizza. With a classic frozen pizza crust that sits between chewy and crunchy, this seemed like the most solid option to our expert. She loved the chewy edge and said it would be the ideal pizza for adding your own homemade toppings to. “You could jazz it up and top with pepperoni or other toppings if need be.”
Our panel didn’t enjoy this sample as much as Sarah. They too loved the crust, but the sweeter tomato base felt a little off for them.
Best for
- Good balance of cheese
- Chewy, crunchy crust
- Juicy, sweet tomato base
Price: $6.99
Available at Aldi
The rest
McCain Pizza Margherita
Expert score: 6
Panel score: 6.57
McCain Pizza Margherita reminded our panel of several nostalgic memories, including the cheese and tomato roll from Bakers Delight and ‘a pizza I would’ve loved as a kid’. Simplicity was where this pizza shone, with the perfect balance between cheese, tomato and a thick, doughy base.
Sarah also enjoyed this sample, but did comment that it would be difficult to have more than a couple of pieces, due to the ‘very bready base’.
Best for
- Classic frozen pizza flavour
- Doughy base
- Good cheese to sauce ratio
Price: $8.80
Available at Coles and Woolworths
Destination Italy Margherita Pizza
Expert score: 7.5
Panel score: 6.55
A light crust and herb toppings were the favourite features on this supermarket frozen pizza. Destination Italy Margherita Pizza scored well, with our panel enjoying the crust that ‘tasted like sourdough’. Points were taken off for the sparse amount of toppings – most felt like it needed more cheese.
Our food expert Sarah Murphy agreed with the panel, saying the lighter crust made it a memorable sample. She also mentioned the cheese was lacking.
Best for
- Crispy, light crust
- Extra herb topping
Price: $11
Available at Coles
Coles Simply Margherita Pizza
Expert score: 6
Panel score: 6.26
On the lower end of the taste test ranking is Coles Simply Margherita Pizza. The ‘especially strong’ cheese flavour was divisive for our panel, with a few enjoying the taste, but most finding it too much to handle. The crust didn’t hold up either, with many commenting that it was doughy, dry and a little too tough to chew.
At the lowest price point – only $4.20! – it would do in a pinch.
Best for
- Strong cheese flavour
- Solid oregano taste
Price: $4.20
Available at Coles
La Napoli Wood Fired Italian Pizza Margherita 375g
Expert score: 8
Panel score: 5.09
Finally, La Napoli Wood Fired Italian Pizza Margherita came in last place. Unfortunately, this sample was described as bland by most tasters. The base was labelled as too crispy, and one panellist said it was a ‘pizza travesty’.
On the flip side, Sarah enjoyed this sample immensely. Giving it a much higher score than the panel, she explained that it was similar to her favourite (Aldi’s La Numero Uno Margherita Pizza) and is a solid, family-friendly option. She did mention that it was heavy on the tomato flavour, which could be distasteful to some.
Best for
- Strong tomato flavour
- Very crispy base
Price: $7
Available at Woolworths and Coles
How we tested the supermarket frozen pizzas
We blind taste-tested 6 different supermarket frozen pizzas from Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA. All samples were placed on identical trays, cut into 16 slices and tasted without any accompaniments. Pizzas were cooked as closely to the package instructions as possible, all done in the oven.
Samples were numbered from 1 to 6 to avoid bias. Taste-testers shared their responses via an anonymous online form, ranking each pizza sample out of ten for three criteria: taste, texture, and overall satisfaction. Taste-testers were also encouraged to leave constructive comments on what they liked and disliked about each sample.
How we selected which supermarket frozen pizzas to test
To be included in our frozen pizza taste test, products had to be widely available in supermarkets nationally. This meant choosing the most common brands available in a wide range of stores and the largest size possible to cater for our taste test panel size. All the frozen pizzas chosen were in stock at the time of purchase. We decided to only include margherita pizzas, to help with the sample size, and ensure that it was appealing and available to all of our readers. There was no Woolworths brand pizza that was a close enough match to the rest of the margherita pizza options. Products are chosen at the discretion of the Better Homes and Gardens editorial team, and no payment was received from brands or retailers to be featured in this taste test.
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