As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my restaurant, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the opportunity to test and use a variety of pizza ovens in a professional kitchen environment. In this article, I’ll compare the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Solo Stove Pi Prime, two versatile options I’ve thoroughly tested. To help you make the best choice, I evaluated these ovens based on quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and conducted a real pizza cooking test to see how long each takes to deliver delicious results. For a detailed breakdown of my testing methods, feel free to check out my separate article on how I test pizza ovens.
The Bertello Pizza Oven is a multi-fuel option that excels in portability and offers authentic wood-fired flavor, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced cooks. Meanwhile, the Solo Stove Pi Prime is a gas-powered pizza oven with a sleek, modern design and exceptional heat retention, crafted for effortless and consistent cooking.
I’ve compared the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Solo Stove Pi Prime in detail in this article, using my own test results.
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Bertello VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Quality and Materials
| The Bertello Pizza Oven is built with durable stainless steel and a refractory stone cooking surface, ensuring resilience and high-temperature cooking efficiency. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime features a sturdy stainless steel body that promises excellent heat retention and long-lasting durability for consistent performance.
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Bertello VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Temperature Control
| The Bertello Pizza Oven’s dome-shaped design optimizes heat circulation, ensuring even cooking and perfectly baked pizzas. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime’s cylindrical shape provides even heat distribution, with a flared opening for easy pizza handling and seamless use of a 12-inch pizza peel.
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Bertello VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Shape
| The Bertello Pizza Oven boasts a temperature range exceeding 900°F, with multi-fuel flexibility. However, the wood tray could be deeper for sustained fires. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime heats up to pizza-cooking temperatures quickly, but the absence of a built-in thermometer means external tools are needed for precise control.
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Bertello VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: First-Time Usage Impressions
| The Bertello Pizza Oven offers an intuitive setup and swift preheating, delivering even cooking and an authentic wood-fired taste. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime was easy to assemble and use, providing consistent results with a quick 90-second pizza cook on the first try.
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Bertello VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Power Source
| Multi-fuel (wood, charcoal, propane) capability makes the Bertello Pizza Oven highly versatile for outdoor cooking enthusiasts. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime runs exclusively on propane gas, offering convenience and steady heat but lacks the flexibility of alternative fuel options.
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Bertello VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Size
| The Bertello Pizza Oven is compact and portable, with a 12.5″ x 13.5″ cooking surface, weighing 34.6 lbs, making it suitable for outdoor gatherings. |
Slightly more portable, the Solo Stove Pi Prime is 15.5″ tall, 20.5″ in diameter, and weighs 30 lbs, though some competitors are lighter and easier to transport.
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Bertello VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Ease of Cleaning
| Cleaning the Bertello Pizza Oven can be challenging, particularly when accessing the pellet tray, but regular maintenance ensures long-term performance. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime is straightforward to clean, with a grill brush recommended for the stones and a simple soapy wipe-down for the stainless steel exterior.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Bertello Pizza Oven preheated to its optimal temperature of over 900°F in 10–15 minutes. It cooked a Margherita pizza in just 90 seconds, producing a perfectly charred crust and gooey, melted cheese with rich tomato flavor. Its dome-shaped design contributed to even heat distribution and an authentic wood-fired taste.
The Solo Stove Pi Prime heated up in 15 minutes, showcasing its efficient propane-powered design. It cooked a Margherita pizza in 90 seconds, with an evenly browned crust and well-melted cheese. The cylindrical shape ensured consistent cooking, though an external thermometer was necessary for precise temperature monitoring.
How We Tested
We tested the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Solo Stove Pi Prime under identical conditions in my professional kitchen at Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston. Both ovens were preheated to their optimal temperatures—over 900°F for the Bertello using multi-fuel options, and with propane for the Solo Stove Pi Prime.
We cooked identical Margherita pizzas, tracking cooking times and evaluating the texture, flavor, and evenness of the bake. Each oven was also tested for performance during extended use, including how quickly they reheated for subsequent pizzas.
Finally, we observed ease of use, handling, and versatility, noting any challenges like uneven cooking or maintenance requirements. This process ensured a fair and detailed comparison of their capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Both the Bertello Pizza Oven and the Solo Stove Pi Prime are excellent choices for outdoor pizza enthusiasts, each offering unique advantages. The Bertello Pizza Oven shines with its multi-fuel versatility and authentic wood-fired taste, making it a fantastic choice for those who enjoy experimenting with flavors and fuel options. On the other hand, the Solo Stove Pi Prime offers the convenience of propane gas and a sleek design, making it an efficient and user-friendly option for quick, consistent pizza-making.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to your personal preferences and cooking style.
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Thank you for your support, and happy pizza-making!