Solo Stove Pi Prime

Should you buy the Solo Stove Pi Prime?

The Pi Prime is the pizza oven for someone buying their first one. It is the easiest oven in this category to set up and run: no assembly, no separate burner to attach, one knob that handles ignition and flame. It's also one of the cheapest ovens here that still reaches real pizza temperatures, which is why it sits at #2 behind the Roccbox.

Where it earns its score

• One-knob operation. A single dial lights the burner and sets the flame. There is no learning curve on the hardware side, which leaves you free to focus on the part that actually takes practice: stretching and launching dough.
• Ready out of the box. The Pi Prime ships assembled. Set it on a table, connect a propane tank, turn the knob. Most of the competition asks you to attach legs or a burner first.
• Fast enough. Solo Stove rates it for a 15-minute preheat and a pizza in about 90 seconds. That's a touch slower than the Roccbox's 60-second claim, but the difference is small in practice.
• Stainless construction. The stainless-steel body shrugs off weather better than painted steel, which matters if it's going to live outside under a cover.

What to know first

• Propane only. There's no wood-burning option on the Prime, so if wood-fired flavor is the goal, look at the Ooni Karu 2 or the Roccbox with its wood burner.
• No built-in thermometer. You'll want an infrared thermometer to check the stone; it's a $20 accessory worth buying with the oven.
• Demi-dome design runs the flame across the top. Rotate the pizza a quarter turn every 20–30 seconds for an even crust; that's true of every oven here but especially noticeable on single-burner designs.

Questions buyers ask