Solo Pi: Specifications
measuring: 20.5 inches (Dia), 15.1 inches long
Weight: 30.5 pounds
the above. Pizza size: 12 inches
Stone type/thickness: Cordierite / 0.5 inch
fuel type: wood / propane
The same company that makes one of the most popular smokeless fire pits applies their technology to something even more delicious. Solo Stove Solo Pi is an outdoor pizza oven that can cook pancakes in less than two minutes. Starting at $469, it’s affordable and works with both propane and wood. but is it Best pizza oven for your backyard? You’ll want to check out our Solo Pi review—and get a hungry read of all the pizza we’ve made—before making a decision.
Solo Pi review: Price and availability
The Solo Pi went on sale in the spring of 2022, and can be purchased in a few configurations. The oven with only the wood burning kit is $469; If you want it with a propane supplement, it will cost $645.
Solo also sells two packages: the Pi Starter Bundle, which includes a wood burning attachment, infrared thermometer, stainless steel peeler, and pizza cutter, priced at $554.99; Same package with propane attachment costs $729.99. The Pi Essential package, which adds an oven-proof shell and cover, costs $624.99 for the wood-only model and $794.99 for the wood and gas version.
You can also purchase these accessories separately, either through Solo or through a third party. At the very least, I recommend getting a pizza peel – those extra-large spoons you see in pizzerias – and it’s an absolute must if you want to get a pizza in and out of the oven safely. An infrared or laser thermometer is also useful for finding out how hot things are inside the oven. Each of these accessories will cost between $20 and $30.
Solo Pi review: Design
The Solo Pi is very similar to the company’s own fire pits. It is a large stainless steel circular oven that measures approximately 20 inches in diameter. A metal grille in the front, just below the furnace spout, makes it look like a relative of Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still.
However, its design is more modern than other pizza ovens, and definitely sets the Pi apart from the others. At 30 pounds, it’s fairly light, but not as portable as the Ooni Fyra, another excellent outdoor pizza oven.
There’s a nice big slit in the front; Unlike what we’ve seen in other pizza ovens, there is no door, so you get a clear view of the pizza while it’s cooking.
Around the back of the Solo Pi is a fuel hatch. The Pi comes with a wood-burning kit, but you can buy a propane fuel supplement for about $175. You don’t get that pleasant woody scent, but it does make things a lot easier to work with, especially if you’re new to pizza ovens.
Solo Pi review: Performance
Using a propane supplement, I was able to raise the internal temperature of the Solo Pi to around 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is not as hot as some of the other pizza ovens we tested; I managed to get the Ooni Fyra temperature up 900 degrees, but it was hot enough to make a Neapolitan pie in about two minutes. The cordierite pizza stone reheated half an inch in about 15 minutes, and it held the heat well as we baked half a dozen pizzas.
I used a pizza oven to make about a dozen pizzas, using a recipe for 60% hydration Napolitan dough. Each pizza has a variety of toppings, from a simple margherita to one with caramelized red onions, sausage, mushrooms, and more. Pi’s cute mouth wide open made it very easy to keep an eye on the pizza to make sure it wasn’t burnt, and it also made it easy to flip the pizza in the oven as well.
Even when ablaze inside, the outside of the Pi remained relatively cool. While it’s hot to the touch, it’s not so hot that you could instantly burn your hand if you accidentally touch it.
I’ve also tried the Solo Pi as a wood-fired pizza oven, to match its proportions. However, I found it cumbersome to use. In order to add wood to the furnace, you have to go around on its backside and remove a board. You cannot easily add wood through the front of the furnace, as there is a metal baffle between the firebox and the main part of the furnace.
Like fire pits, the Solo Pi is very effective at burning wood, so you’ll restock your Pi’s firebox every five to 10 minutes. If you’re trying to feed a crowd, and you have to keep going to the back of the oven to add more wood, this can tire quickly.
By comparison, Ooni Fyra uses wood pellets, which you feed into a chute at the back of the oven. The Fyra damper also makes it easy to control the oven temperature by limiting air flow; Solo Pi has no such mechanism.
Aesthetically, the interface of the Solo Pi also gets very hot if you use wood. Since there is no chimney like Ooni, an oven spout is the only way to escape the heat and smoke.
Solo Pi review: Verdict
The Solo Pi is a great looking and well designed pizza oven that can produce excellent pies in a matter of minutes. It’s also light enough that you can easily move it around when you’re not using it, and its wide mouth makes it easy to flip pancakes while they’re cooking.
However, the Solo Pi isn’t our first choice for wood-burning ovens—so, you’ll want to check out our Ooni pellet ovens, which are easy to feed and control. However, if you choose the Solo Pi propane stove attachment, you won’t be disappointed – nor will your guests.
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