Photo: Solo Stove/Matthew King
‘The Pi Prime offers a budget-friendly alternative to the company’s initial model.’
Solo Stove, known for its fire pit products, has expanded its product line with the introduction of the Pi Prime pizza oven. This new model, priced at $349, offers the same design and features as the original Pi oven, which was recognized as one of the best pizza ovens available. However, the Pi Prime operates solely on gas, making it more affordable than its dual-fuel predecessor.
Like the Pi oven, the Pi Prime features a “demi-dome” construction and a round shape similar to Solo Stove’s fire pits. The front of the oven has a panoramic opening, providing ample space for cooking 12-inch pizzas and other foods. The cooking chamber includes a two-piece stone that can be easily removed for cleaning or transport. The key difference with the Pi Prime is the built-in gas burner, making it a self-contained unit, apart from the need for a propane tank. The oven includes a flame control knob for ignition and temperature adjustment. Additionally, the Pi Prime has a black base, whereas the Pi oven has an all-stainless-steel construction.
Solo Stove has established a recommended temperature range for baking pizzas, indicated by two orange markers on the front knob. The startup guide for Pi Prime suggests a temperature of approximately 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which enables the cooking of a pizza in under 90 seconds. However, the oven is capable of reaching temperatures exceeding 950 degrees, and users can also go below 700 degrees if necessary. The full temperature range is not specified, but the orange markers are positioned just past the halfway point on the dial.
In addition to the new oven, Solo Stove plans to release a range of accessories for both the Pi and Pi Prime models by the end of the month. These accessories include a cover for the Pi Prime, a cast iron grill pan, a regular cast iron pan, a dough docker, a wire cleaning brush, a rocker pizza cutter, and a prep board with built-in toppings containers. Solo Stove also offers a cart for its pizza ovens, called the Pi Stand, which features side shelves, a peel rest, and space for a propane tank. The cart is equipped with four casters for easy mobility.
With a price tag of $349, the Pi Prime is $50 cheaper than Ooni’s most affordable gas-only oven, the Koda 12. Solo Stove has also reduced the price of its multi-fuel Pi oven since its initial launch, with the current price set at $400. Choosing the wood-burning option for the Pi oven requires an additional $100 when purchased together with the oven, or $130 if bought separately. Ooni’s cheapest multi-fuel option is the Karu 12G at $429, with an optional gas burner available for an additional $99. Another popular gas-only model is Gozney’s Roccbox, priced at $499, with the option to add a wood burner for $100.
The Pi Prime will be available for purchase on Friday, August 18th, through Solo Stove’s website.