Gear

How to Get Started Cooking on Pi Fire

May 21, 2024

Pulling up a chair and gathering around the fire with friends and family is sure to warm you up. But what if you want to harness the heat from your fire to do even more? Say hello to Pi Fire.

While the Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven uses propane to cook tasty pizzas, and the original Pi Pizza Oven uses small chunks of wood, you can also cook excellent wood-fired pizzas right over your Bonfire, Yukon, or Ranger fire pit.

Ready to get started? Below, find tips and tricks to cook your first pizza (and each one after that) on Pi Fire.

Out of the Box

If you’ve just received your Pi Fire, there are a few quick steps for assembly before you can start making pizza. The three legs need to be screwed into the body of the pizza oven, and the pizza stone needs to be set inside the oven. From there, you’re ready to get going.

Place Your Oven and Light a Fire

Place the Pi Fire pizza oven on the fire pit before lighting a fire. Lift the oven up by the handle on top, place it on the fire pit, and make sure the legs of the pizza oven fit into the grooves on top of the fire pit.

Get a fire going in your fire pit. Continue to add wood and keep the flames dancing just below the oven. Allow the fire to heat up the pizza stone for 30 to 45 minutes.

Gather Your Toppings

While Pi Fire is preheating, it’s time to set up for making pizza! Grab your dough and gather your toppings. Set up a station with all the ingredients and tools you need for a seamless pizza-making experience.

Check Your Temp

Once you’re ready to make pizza, use an infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the pizza stone. Point the thermometer at the center of the stone. When the stone reads between 500 to 650 degrees Fahrenheit, you’re ready to launch.

Top, Launch, and Bake

Stretch your dough, add sauce, and top your pizza with your favorite topping combination. Use a pizza peel dusted with flour, semolina, or cornmeal to launch your pizza into the oven. Allow the pizza to cook for 5 to 10 minutes, turning as needed. Timing will vary based on the heat of the stone, along with the type of pizza dough. Keep an eye on your pizza, and when the cheese is melted and the toppings are cooked, it’s ready to pull! Retrieve your pizza and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and digging in for a bite around the fire.

Other Pizza Making Tips

Keep in mind that Pi Fire reaches between 500 to 650 degrees Fahrenheit, rather than over 950 degrees Fahrenheit like Pi Prime can. Neapolitan-style pizza with a thinner crust typically needs a higher temperature. New York-style pizza cooks beautifully in Pi Fire at a lower, steady bake.

To keep from having soot make its way to your pizza, use hardwoods such as oak firewood to fuel the fire. It’s also helpful to time when you add another log. Don't add another log right before you plan to launch a pizza.