Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven Review

I satisfaction myself on being a dough aficionado, making pizza on a near-weekly foundation. And whereas I’ve mastered cast-iron pan pizza, al taglio-style rectangular pies, and home-oven hacks, I used to be intrigued by the Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven and its marketed high-temperature vary—the primary standalone pizza oven from firm behind the drum-like Solo Stoves. 

Neapolitan pizza requires extraordinarily high-temps (over 1000ºF within the dome), and the multi-fuel supply Solo Pi had the potential to ship these crust-blistering blazes proper in my yard. I got down to take a look at each the wood-fired burner and fuel burner to see if both may ship like a real Neapolitan oven. 

The Checks

• Wooden-Fired Pizza Checks: I adopted the recipe for Outdoor Pizza Oven Dough and made a number of sausage and olive pizzas utilizing wooden because the gasoline supply. 
• Gasoline Burner Pizza Checks: I adopted the recipe for Outdoor Pizza Oven Dough and made a number of sausage and olive pizzas utilizing the fuel burner because the gasoline supply. 
• Usability and Cleanup Checks: I took notice of how easy the oven was to arrange and swap between gasoline sources, how simple it was to mild and cook dinner pizzas, and the way simple it was to scrub when pizza launching went awry. 

What We Discovered

It Bought Actually Sizzling—Particularly in Gasoline Mode

Round 20 minutes after I lit the oven utilizing a small pile of wooden and a few newspaper, the stone within the Pi hit 500ºF, whereas the dome registered round 650ºF. After stoking the hearth with a number of extra items of wooden, these temps climbed to 600ºF on the stone and 800ºF within the dome—sizzling sufficient to cook dinner a pizza in round 4 minutes. 

The subsequent day, once I swapped out the ashtray within the again for the fuel burner, the temperatures had been much more spectacular: in round 25 minutes, the stone hit 750ºF whereas the dome was close to 1000ºF—proper within the range we recommend for Neapolitan-style pizza, and better than the 900ºF max temp Solo Range advertises. It was really a formidable warmth generator, and fast, too. After it cooled barely, I cooked pizzas in about one-and-a-half minutes with a pleasant char on the floor and crust.

The Demi-Dome Building Directed Warmth Properly

Trying contained in the Pi, you’ll be able to see what they name the demi-dome building. Whereas the ceiling within the entrance of the oven is pretty parallel to the stone, the again of the oven slopes extra aggressively in the direction of the flames. When the flames get excessive sufficient, this slope truly curves them up and over the stone itself, giving a direct warmth supply over the pizza. That is key: whereas the stone speedily bakes the underside of the crust, the overhead flames cook dinner the highest of the pie on the identical price. With out this directional warmth, it will take for much longer for the cheese to soften, and the highest of the crust to char. 

It Had Unbelievable Warmth Retention

What was actually mind-boggling was how well-insulated the entire pizza oven was. As a result of it’s product of double-walled chrome steel the way in which their fire pits are, it was in a position to maintain warmth very nicely. For instance, even when the wooden fireplace died down and the stone started to chill, the oven stayed fairly sizzling—the dome charted 800ºF temperatures even when the stone had dropped to 350ºF.

The Flame Barrier Was Tough to Work Round

The stone for this oven is available in two items and is a barely odd form: whereas the entrance is spherical, the bottom is flat the place it meets the stainless barrier that directs flames up in the direction of the dome. The primary pizza I launched within the oven had an excessive amount of momentum and squished itself up towards that wall. It may be somewhat difficult to eyeball precisely the place the middle of its 12-inch cooking floor is, however with some follow, I acquired completely spherical pies. 

The Panoramic Opening Made It Simple To Flip Pizza

One more reason why it was troublesome to gauge the middle of the cooking floor was the oven’s 13-inch panoramic opening, which opens outward and wider than the diameter of the stone itself. Whereas it created a wider impression of the cooking floor, it additionally helped me flip the pies a lot simpler than different outdoor pizza ovens, which regularly have openings which are the width of the stone. So whereas it was more durable for me to evaluate precisely the place to launch the pizzas, it was simpler to get the peel again in there and proper the positioning. 

It Was Simple (and Quick) to Swap Gas Sources

On day two of testing, it was time to swap to the fuel burner. The Pi comes with a deal with that slots into the insulated again panel for straightforward burner elimination, and the ash can pops out for straightforward disposal. After that, the fuel burner attachment slots in to exchange the again panel, and is secured to the oven with two thumbscrews. Join the hose to a propane tank, and the entire swap took lower than 5 minutes. Earlier than I began testing the Pi, I assumed I’d get pleasure from one gasoline supply greater than the opposite and park it in that mode. However with the swap being that fast, I may see myself swapping within the fuel burner for yard pizza events once I want longer, sustained warmth, and switching it again to the wood-fired mode if I needed to carry the oven to a campsite or the seaside. 

It Was Compact and Light-weight

Okay—perhaps tenting and the seaside are a stretch, however the Solo Range Pi is compact and light-weight in comparison with different out of doors pizza ovens. At simply 20 inches in diameter and 30 kilos, it’s not unattainable to see myself packing it in my automobile’s trunk for a visit. Compared, one among our favorite outdoor pizza ovens, the Gozney Roccbox, weighs 50 kilos. Nonetheless, the Pi is somewhat heavier than the Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Oven, which is just 26 kilos. And though the all-weather cowl is totally efficient towards rain and snow (our yard acquired dumped on the day after testing), having a smaller, light-weight pizza oven is nice for transferring into the basement for the colder months.  

Cleanup Was A Cinch—Fortunately!

Whereas the oddly-shaped stones made it difficult to launch pizzas, it additionally made them extraordinarily simple to tug out for cleansing—which was an enormous reduction when the final pie flipped face down immediately onto the stone once I tried to launch it. After letting cheese and sauce burn off and the oven settle down, the again panel was simple to take away and the stones might be pulled out and scraped clear with out trouble. Since the remainder of the oven is chrome steel, you’ll be able to wipe it clear with a humid fabric. 

You May Style The Distinction

And at last, to the completed product: the pizzas themselves. I invited some pals over to style pizzas made within the Solo Range Pi, and it was unanimous: the Pi’s pies had been phenomenal. With a brilliant excessive temp and quick cook dinner time, the Solo Range Pi’s pizzas had been tender, mild, and chewy with out sacrificing the depth of taste that comes from deep caramelization within the crust. Whereas the wood-fired pizzas had a tinge of smoky taste that added some character, the gas-fired pies benefited from greater temperatures. These pizzas had been cooked in half the time (two versus 4 minutes), and the distinction between the delicate crust inside and crisp exterior was extra noticeable. 

The Verdict

In the event you’re searching for a multi-fuel pizza oven that may hit high-temperatures with glorious warmth retention, the Solo Range Pi Pizza Oven matches the invoice. It’s light-weight (which makes it simple to retailer or transport), cooks scrumptious pies, and may be cleaned with little effort. 

Professionals

The Solo Range Pi can simply swap between its wood-fired and fuel burners in simply 5 minutes, and its compact dimension and lightweight weight makes it simple to retailer when not in use. Its wooden burner can warmth the oven to 800ºF, whereas the fuel burner is ready to hit over 1000ºF and cook dinner pizzas in beneath two minutes. The demi-dome ceiling directs the flame excessive of the pies for glorious char, whereas the wide-opening makes it simple to show pies mid-cook. Its dual-wall chrome steel building retains warmth nicely and cleans up simply, and above all else, it cooks scrumptious pizza.  

Cons

The largest situation with the Solo Range Pi is the oddly formed pizza stone. It may be difficult to heart pizzas appropriately, although that’s simple to repair with follow. The stone additionally loses warmth rapidly if the wooden flame dies down, so managing temperature requires your full consideration. I additionally wished there was a bigger choice: this mannequin can solely match a 12-inch pizza, which may sluggish issues down when you’re cooking for a crowd. And whereas the value is similar to different out of doors pizza ovens, it’s costly.

Key Specs

• General dimensions: 20-inch diameter; 15 inches excessive
• Weight: 30 kilos
• Supplies: Stainless-steel; cordierite stone
• Opening dimensions: 13 inches huge
• Stone dimensions: 12-inch diameter cooking floor
• Stone thickness: 13 millimeters
• Appropriate cowl: Pi Shelter
• Worth at time of publish: $440 for the wood-fired option ($175 so as to add the gas burner on later), $710 for the dual fuel bundle that additionally features a peel, an infrared thermometer, and a pizza cutter

A Notice About The Solo Range Yukon Pi Hearth 

We additionally examined the Solo Stove Pi Fire Pizza Oven, a pizza oven attachment that matches over all three sizes of Solo Stove fire pit. We’ve beforehand actually favored Solo Stove attachments, so we needed to do this one too. Whereas we had been in a position to cook dinner a number of good pizzas on the Pi Hearth, they had been similar to utilizing a stone in a house oven and extra pale on prime than we might have favored, because the ceiling was too vented and persistently 100ºF cooler than the stone itself. Nonetheless, when you already personal a Solo Range and need a moveable pizza oven attachment for tenting, tailgating, and so on, chances are you’ll just like the Pi Hearth.

FAQs

Is the Solo Range Pi value it?

The Solo Range Pi Pizza Oven is priced equally to different out of doors pizza ovens and provides glorious warmth distribution together with unbelievable warmth retention. It’s additionally smaller and lighter than another out of doors pizza ovens, making it extra moveable. It’s a fantastic selection for individuals who need a pizza oven they will carry to a good friend’s home and may cook dinner some really glorious pies. 

Are you able to cook dinner pizza on a Solo Range fireplace pit?

Solo Range does supply an over-the-fire-pit attachment referred to as the Solo Stove Pi Fire Pizza Oven. In our testing, the stone acquired sizzling sufficient for a crisp crust, however the dome vented an excessive amount of warmth, leaving the highest facet of every pizza pale. We want the Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven, which has a twin warmth supply, and a demi-dome building that cooks the tops of pizzas completely. If you have already got a Solo Range and have an interest within the attachment, nonetheless, it does work and could also be value testing. 

How lengthy does it take to cook dinner pizza within the Solo Range Pi?

As soon as it’s totally preheated the pizza stone to 700ºF pizza and the dome to 900ºF, the Solo Range Pi can cook dinner a pizza in one-and-a-half to 2 minutes—that’s quick! If the stone is just round 600ºF with an 800ºF dome, we discovered it took nearer to 4 minutes for a pizza to totally cook dinner. Whereas it was simple to know when a pizza was completed cooking, utilizing an infrared thermometer (that’s included in some bundles) was key for understanding the appropriate time to fireside your pies. 

How sizzling does the Solo Range Pi get?

In wood-fired mode, we discovered the Solo Range Pi dome reached 800ºF with the stone at 600ºF, although it’s probably that cautious fireplace constructing and higher timing may get these temperatures somewhat greater. In fuel burner mode, the Solo Range Pi dome simply hit over 1000ºF and the stone hit 750ºF—proper within the range we recommend for Neapolitan-style pizza.