Solo Range Pi Pizza Oven Assessment

I pleasure 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 check each the wood-fired burner and fuel burner to see if both might ship like a real Neapolitan oven. 

The Assessments

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

What We Realized

It Acquired 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 fireplace with a couple of extra items of wooden, these temps climbed to 600ºF on the stone and 800ºF within the dome—scorching sufficient to cook dinner a pizza in round 4 minutes. 

The following day, once I swapped out the ashtray within the again for the fuel burner, the temperatures have 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 actually 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 may see what they name the demi-dome development. Whereas the ceiling within the entrance of the oven is pretty parallel to the stone, the again of the oven slopes extra aggressively in 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 might 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 made from double-walled chrome steel the way in which their fire pits are, it was capable of maintain warmth very nicely. For instance, even when the wooden fireplace died down and the stone started to chill, the oven stayed fairly scorching—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 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 just a little tough 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 Straightforward To Flip Pizza

One more reason why it was tough 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 frequently have openings which can be the width of the stone. So whereas it was tougher 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 Straightforward (and Quick) to Swap Gasoline 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 switch 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 gas supply greater than the opposite and park it in that mode. However with the change being that fast, I might 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 seashore. 

It Was Compact and Light-weight

Okay—perhaps tenting and the seashore 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. As compared, one among our favorite outdoor pizza ovens, the Gozney Roccbox, weighs 50 kilos. Nevertheless, the Pi is just a little heavier than the Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Oven, which is simply 26 kilos. And despite the fact that the all-weather cowl is completely 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 tough to launch pizzas, it additionally made them extraordinarily straightforward to drag out for cleansing—which was an enormous aid 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 straightforward to take away and the stones could possibly be pulled out and scraped clear with out problem. Since the remainder of the oven is chrome steel, you may wipe it clear with a moist fabric. 

You Might Style The Distinction

And at last, to the completed product: the pizzas themselves. I invited some associates over to style pizzas made within the Solo Range Pi, and it was unanimous: the Pi’s pies have been phenomenal. With an excellent excessive temp and quick cook dinner time, the Solo Range Pi’s pizzas have been tender, gentle, 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 larger temperatures. These pizzas have been cooked in half the time (two versus 4 minutes), and the distinction between the comfortable crust inside and crisp exterior was extra noticeable. 

The Verdict

In the event you’re on the lookout 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 straightforward to retailer or transport), cooks scrumptious pies, and will be cleaned with little effort. 

Execs

The Solo Range Pi can simply change between its wood-fired and fuel burners in simply 5 minutes, and its compact dimension and lightweight weight makes it straightforward 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 straightforward to show pies mid-cook. Its dual-wall chrome steel development retains warmth nicely and cleans up simply, and above all else, it cooks scrumptious pizza.  

Cons

The largest concern with the Solo Range Pi is the oddly formed pizza stone. It may be tough to middle pizzas accurately, although that’s straightforward to repair with follow. The stone additionally loses warmth shortly if the wooden flame dies down, so managing temperature requires your full consideration. I additionally wished there was a bigger possibility: this mannequin can solely match a 12-inch pizza, which may sluggish issues down for those who’re cooking for a crowd. And whereas the worth is corresponding to different out of doors pizza ovens, it’s costly.

Key Specs

• General dimensions: 20-inch diameter; 15 inches excessive
• Weight: 30 kilos
• Supplies: Chrome steel; cordierite stone
• Opening dimensions: 13 inches large
• Stone dimensions: 12-inch diameter cooking floor
• Stone thickness: 13 millimeters
• Appropriate cowl: Pi Shelter
• Value 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 Be aware 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 preferred Solo Stove attachments, so we needed to do this one too. Whereas we have been capable of cook dinner a couple of good pizzas on the Pi Hearth, they have been corresponding to utilizing a stone in a house oven and extra pale on high than we would have preferred, because the ceiling was too vented and constantly 100ºF cooler than the stone itself. Nevertheless, for those who already personal a Solo Range and need a moveable pizza oven attachment for tenting, tailgating, and many others, it’s possible you’ll just like the Pi Hearth.

FAQs

Is the Solo Range Pi price it?

The Solo Range Pi Pizza Oven is priced equally to different out of doors pizza ovens and affords glorious warmth distribution together with unimaginable warmth retention. It’s additionally smaller and lighter than another out of doors pizza ovens, making it extra moveable. It’s an excellent selection for individuals who need a pizza oven they’ll carry to a pal’s home and might cook dinner some actually glorious pies. 

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

Solo Range does provide an over-the-fire-pit attachment known as the Solo Stove Pi Fire Pizza Oven. In our testing, the stone acquired scorching sufficient for a crisp crust, however the dome vented an excessive amount of warmth, leaving the highest aspect of every pizza pale. We favor the Solo Stove Pi Pizza Oven, which has a twin warmth supply, and a demi-dome development that cooks the tops of pizzas completely. If you have already got a Solo Range and have an interest within the attachment, nevertheless, it does work and could also be price trying out. 

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

As soon as it’s absolutely 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 simply round 600ºF with an 800ºF dome, we discovered it took nearer to 4 minutes for a pizza to completely cook dinner. Whereas it was straightforward to know when a pizza was completed cooking, utilizing an infrared thermometer (that’s included in some bundles) was key for understanding the proper time to fireside your pies. 

How scorching 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 doubtless that cautious fireplace constructing and higher timing might get these temperatures just a little larger. 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.