Collection: Versilia Oven

The Versilia nonstick oven is the classic version of the Neapolitan oven: a curved lid, a rim for the embers (now a structural rim for the fire), and the proportions used by generations of Italian cooks to bake cakes, bread, and pastries on the stovetop without an electric oven. Mamù produces it from Italian aluminum with a scratch-resistant, 7-layer PFOA-free coating. Made in Italy.

The Versilia oven: history and function

The Versilia oven, also known as the Neapolitan oven, originates from the culinary tradition of Southern Italy at a time when electric ovens were not yet available in homes. This metal container was placed on the stovetop: the flame heats the bottom, the heat spreads through the lid, and the food cooks from the outside in, replicating the principle of an oven.

The raised edge of the lid, in the original version, held the embers above for heating from above. Today, it functions as a structural element that distributes the heat throughout the lid and as a handle. The rounded shape of the lid creates a chamber with internal air circulation that cooks the entire dish evenly.

What is cooked in the Versilia oven

Neapolitan and Southern Italian cuisine has developed a rich tradition of oven-baked dishes:

• Neapolitan Pastiera: the Easter wheat and ricotta cake, baked in the oven in kitchens without an electric oven.
• Casatiello: the rustic Neapolitan bread with salami and whole eggs, which rises considerably during leavening.
• Struffoli and zeppole: traditional Neapolitan desserts prepared on the stove.
• Ricotta Cake: the Neapolitan cheesecake with ricotta and ricotta. Candied Fruit
• Homemade Bread: rustic loaves with a thick crust, cooked on the stove over low heat
• Jam Tart: the classic tart with shortcrust pastry

7-Layer Coating and Gas Cooking

Gas cooking brings the metal base to high temperatures. The 7-Layer Scratch-Resistant, PFOA-Free coating of the Mamù Versilia Oven withstands these conditions: cook without burning the base even at medium-high heat, and clean in one step after cooking.

The aluminum distributes heat across the entire base without hot spots in the center that would burn the base while the edges are still uncooked. This even distribution is the real difference compared to ovens made of inferior materials.

How to use the Versilia oven

The cooking technique follows the Neapolitan tradition:

• Preheat the empty oven on the gas for 3-4 minutes over medium heat.
• Reduce the heat to low or medium-low before placing the food in the oven.
• Close the lid and cook without opening it for the first 20 minutes.
• Towards the end, check the cooking by briefly opening the lid.
• Use the flame spreader if your stove has powerful burners.

Versilia oven, tall or short: which one to choose?

The Versilia oven is the traditional Neapolitan version with its classic shape and rounded lid. The tall and low ovens are the latest versions with a flat top and different heights for specific preparations. You want the authentic shape of southern tradition: the Versilia. You want to optimize for the type of preparation: choose between tall and low based on what you're cooking.