As a restaurant chef with over 10 years of experience at my establishment, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many pizza ovens and fine-tune my craft. In this article, I’ll be comparing the Ooni Karu 12 and the Solo Stove Pi Prime—two impressive outdoor pizza ovens I’ve used in my kitchen. I evaluated these ovens based on quality and materials, temperature control, shape, first-time usage impressions, power source, size, ease of cleaning, and, most importantly, conducted a real pizza cooking test to measure their performance. If you’re curious about the full process of how I test pizza ovens, you can check out my separate article for more details.
The Ooni Karu 12 is a versatile oven known for its multi-fuel capabilities and portability, making it a favorite for pizza enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the Solo Stove Pi Prime boasts a sleek design and straightforward operation, perfect for those who value simplicity and efficiency in outdoor cooking.
This article features a thorough comparison between the Ooni Karu 12 and the Solo Stove Pi Prime based on my personal tests.
At the end of this comparison, I’ll share my final thoughts and provide referral links for purchasing either oven. These links help keep my blog alive by earning me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Stay tuned for the detailed breakdown!
Ooni Karu 12 VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Quality and Materials
| The Ooni Karu 12 boasts premium stainless steel construction, ensuring durability and high performance. It is designed to withstand high temperatures and tough cooking conditions, making it a robust choice for frequent use. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime also features sturdy stainless steel and efficient heat retention. However, its slightly lighter build may not match the rugged durability of the Ooni Karu 12.
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Ooni Karu 12 VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Temperature Control
| The Ooni Karu 12 excels in temperature control with its insulated chamber and precise airflow management, maintaining consistent heat for cooking pizzas. It requires some practice with wood-fired settings, but the results are rewarding. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime offers a straightforward temperature control dial, but it lacks detailed markings. While it heats efficiently with propane, it might need a separate thermometer for precision.б
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Ooni Karu 12 VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Shape
| The Ooni Karu 12’s dome-shaped design ensures excellent heat distribution and retention, allowing pizzas to cook evenly with a crispy crust and melted toppings. It minimizes smoke leakage with its sealed chamber. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime’s cylindrical shape supports even heat circulation and a user-friendly cooking process. Its flared opening allows easy maneuvering but may not retain heat as efficiently.
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Ooni Karu 12 VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: First-Time Usage Impressions
| Using the Ooni Karu 12 for the first time was seamless, and its rapid preheating made it quick to start cooking. The even heat distribution and consistent results impressed me right away. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime offered a positive first-time experience with a quick setup and intuitive design. Its propane power ensured steady heat, though the absence of detailed temperature controls added a learning curve.
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Ooni Karu 12 VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Power Source
| The Ooni Karu 12 offers unmatched versatility with the option to use wood, charcoal, or a gas burner (sold separately), making it suitable for both traditional and modern cooking styles. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime is propane-only, providing convenience and steady heat but lacking the flexibility to switch to other fuel sources like wood or charcoal.
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Ooni Karu 12 VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Size
| The Ooni Karu 12, weighing 26 pounds, is portable and easy to assemble, making it ideal for both home and camping use. Its compact yet functional size enhances its versatility. |
The Solo Stove Pi Prime weighs 30 pounds and features a cylindrical design. It is portable but slightly bulkier than the Ooni Karu 12, which might impact ease of transport.
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Ooni Karu 12 VS Solo Stove Pi Prime: Ease of Cleaning
| The Ooni Karu 12 requires regular ash removal for optimal performance. Its stainless steel exterior is easy to wipe clean, but soot buildup from wood use needs attention. |
Cleaning the Solo Stove Pi Prime is straightforward with its stainless steel body and removable stones. However, regular maintenance is needed to address residue and grease splashes.
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Pizza Cooking Test
The Ooni Karu 12 was ready to cook in just 15-20 minutes, showcasing its impressive preheating capabilities. Once the stone reached the optimal temperature of around 850°F, I placed a classic Margherita pizza inside. The pizza cooked beautifully in under 2 minutes, with the crust achieving a perfect balance of crispness and chew. The toppings were evenly cooked, and the cheese melted to golden perfection. The wood-fired option added a subtle smokiness that elevated the overall flavor, making it an exceptional pizza.
The Solo Stove Pi Prime heated up rapidly, reaching its ideal temperature of 750-850°F in 15 minutes, similar to the Ooni Karu 12. Once preheated, the Margherita pizza was ready in just 90 seconds. The crust was golden and slightly crunchy, while the cheese was perfectly melted with a slight char. While the pizza tasted fantastic, the propane fuel lacked the distinctive smoky flavor that the Ooni Karu 12 delivered with wood. However, the consistent cooking temperature ensured great results every time.
In this test, both ovens demonstrated excellent cooking efficiency and produced delicious pizzas, though the Ooni Karu 12’s ability to add wood-fired flavor gave it a slight edge.
How We Tested
To thoroughly evaluate the Ooni Karu 12 and Solo Stove Pi Prime, we conducted a side-by-side cooking test focusing on performance, efficiency, and the quality of the pizzas produced. The test took place at my restaurant, Dequte Restaurant LironBoylston, using consistent methods and a classic Margherita pizza recipe as the benchmark.
Both ovens were preheated to their recommended temperatures—850°F for the Ooni Karu 12 and 750-850°F for the Solo Stove Pi Prime. We monitored their warm-up times to gauge efficiency and stability, using infrared thermometers to ensure precision.
For consistency, we prepared identical Margherita pizzas with the same dough, sauce, and toppings. Each pizza was launched into its respective oven once the optimal temperature was achieved. We paid close attention to the cooking time, heat distribution, and ease of use during the cooking process. Regular rotation of the pizzas ensured even exposure to heat in both ovens.
After cooking, we evaluated the pizzas based on crust texture, topping uniformity, cheese melt, and overall taste. The Ooni Karu 12’s wood-fired capability added a unique smokiness, while the Solo Stove Pi Prime offered clean, reliable propane-powered cooking. Both ovens performed admirably, but subtle differences in flavor and usability became evident, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each model.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between the Ooni Karu 12 and the Solo Stove Pi Prime depends on your personal preferences and cooking style. Both ovens offer excellent features, whether it’s the Ooni Karu 12’s multi-fuel versatility and wood-fired flavor or the Solo Stove Pi Prime’s sleek propane-powered convenience.
If you decide to purchase one of these outstanding pizza ovens, I would greatly appreciate it if you use my referral links. It helps support my work at no additional cost to you. Here’s the link for the Ooni Karu 12, and here’s the link for the Solo Stove Pi Prime. Happy pizza-making!