Solo Range Bonfire Assessment

Right here at Severe Eats we love outdoor cooking—when the climate is good, you may wager we’ll be on the market priming our gasoline traces and scrubbing our grill grates. However live-fire cooking? I all the time thought I’d depart that to the Francis Mallmann’s of the world (he’s a famend Argentine chef with a penchant for live-fire cooking). Certain, I’d stick a marshmallow or a sizzling canine on a twig and toast it over a campfire, however that’s the extent of it—till now. 

After seeing tons of advertisements for the Solo Range—a metallic hearth pit that appears vaguely like these dryer drum pits individuals make when their machine kicks the bucket—I made a decision to see if it was price all of the fuss (and cash…is it price getting even when you have already got a grill?). However I didn’t simply need to gentle a fireplace and toast a number of marshmallows; I wished to cook dinner entire meals on it. 

So I set myself up with the Solo Stove – Bonfire Fire Pit (the mid-sized mannequin) and paired it with the Bonfire Cast Iron Grill Top + Hub, which consists of a riser platform and 17.5-inch spherical forged iron grill high. I additionally used a 16.75 x 9-inch Lodge Reversible Grill / Griddle with the hub and range to see if I might cook dinner with out the proprietary grill grate (I nonetheless used the hub as a result of I wanted one thing to raise the Lodge from the flames, or else the meals can be scorched). 

Then, I obtained cooking to see if this fancy hearth pit plus accoutrements might make a Mallmann out of me (or anybody). 

The Testing

• Carry the Solo Range (in its bag) 100 ft and be aware if it’s tough to hold. 
• Arrange the Solo Range Bonfire and light-weight a fireplace in it. 
• Clear the Solo Range Bonfire after use and retailer in its bag. 
• Prepare dinner quite a lot of meats, greens, and a flatbread on the Solo Range Bonfire with the Forged Iron Grill High and Hub. 
• Prepare dinner quite a lot of meats, greens, and naan on the Solo Range Bonfire with a Lodge Reversible Grill / Griddle
• Use the Solo Range Bonfire as a fireplace pit and roast marshmallows with it. 

What We Discovered

The Solo Range Bonfire is Truly Fairly Moveable

First, I assessed the range’s portability, since that’s one in every of its huge claims to fame. The range weighs 20 kilos and comes with a carrying bag that slips over it, which labored fairly properly; I discovered it to be total fairly moveable and the bag made it straightforward to hold. That mentioned, it’s cumbersome (the range measures 22 x 22 x 17 inches), and I wouldn’t need to stroll miles carrying it, however it’s moveable sufficient to deliver to a campsite or a good friend’s yard (or to simply haul out of the basement when the climate is good).

Setting Up the Range Was Straightforward (Even for a Hearth-Beginning Beginner Like Me) 

Now, there’s one thing you will need to learn about me earlier than we dig into these outcomes: I might name myself a reasonably outdoorsy individual; I like climbing and tenting, and in a previous life even examined tiny backpacking stoves. However I’ll be sincere—beginning a fireplace has all the time intimidated me. I often depart that a part of tenting to my accomplice whereas I wander across the campsite pretending to be helpful. May the Solo Range be dummy-proof? Would we have now some burnt meat on a stick that was nonetheless uncooked inside? Honestly, that’s what I anticipated.

However it was surprisingly easy to get a fireplace going; I simply arrange the range per directions (which is as straightforward as placing the bottom on the bottom and placing the range on high, then putting the rim on high of that), then began a fireplace utilizing some scrap wooden (my father-in-law is a carpenter), a few torn up LaCroix containers, and a lighter. I piled on two small-ish logs and earlier than I knew it, I had myself a fireplace. 

Solo claims that their hearth pits are smokeless, and this was true as soon as the fireplace cleared up a bit and obtained going. The holes on the underside stabilizer piece and on the high helped with airflow and directed the flame upwards. (Be aware: the perimeters of the range do get very popular, so watch out.) 

The trickiest half about organising the Solo for cooking is placing the hub and grill grate on high; I waited till the fireplace had calmed down a bit and the wooden began to get that coal-like scaly crust as a result of I didn’t need to 1. Singe my eyebrows and a couple of. Overheat the forged iron.

I used some oven mitts to guard my palms when placing the hub and grill grate on the range, and it took some adjusting to get it centered. That mentioned, as soon as it was centered over the opening, it was very sturdy (probably as a result of it’s 17 kilos).  

Cooking Over the Bonfire Forged Iron Grill High + Hub Was Straightforward and Enjoyable

Subsequent, I obtained cooking. For my first cooking take a look at, I began straightforward (and I did have a frozen pizza available, simply in case). I cooked up a number of Italian sausages, some small candy peppers, and some rounds of pink onion brushed with olive oil. I additionally grilled some pre-baked Mrs. T’s pierogi in the direction of the top, once I was a bit over-excited that it wasn’t a complete catastrophe.  

One factor I discovered was the forged iron grill grate obtained hotter on one aspect due to the best way the wooden matches within the range, so paying attention and shifting meals helped guarantee an evenly-cooked finish end result. I additionally discovered that it’s price investing in a very good pair of log tongs and a poker; readjusting the logs or giving the coals a poke helped regulate and management the warmth. 

Sausages are additionally a really forgiving meals; since they’re fatty, it’s laborious to overcook them. The peppers and onion had been mushy and properly charred, and even my oddball grilled pierogi turned out properly, with a faint smoky wooden taste. 

Subsequent, I cooked up some thinly sliced, marinated beef chuck. The small, skinny items of beef cooked shortly, about 1 minute per aspect (sooner than our Galbi recipe probably as a result of I reduce the meat into roughly 4-inch lengthy, skinny items), so once more, attentiveness was key. I additionally used the new grill to heat some pitas and char some steamed broccoli. All the things was scrumptious. 

The Lodge Reversible Grill / Griddle Was Nice for Making Flatbreads

I additionally wished to see if you happen to might use a special grill floor with the Solo range, and the closest factor was a flat-top griddle/grill made by Lodge. It’s smaller than the Solo grill grate (it’s 16.75 inches lengthy by 9 inches extensive), making it a bit trickier to cook dinner on, since meals might fall off the sides into the flames. It’s additionally thinner than the Solo grill and heated up in a short time. I used it with the Solo hub to keep away from direct flame-to-cast iron contact.

I began with Kenji’s recipe for grilled naan, utilizing the griddle aspect of the Lodge.

It was a bit sizzling proper out of the gate; the primary two pitas obtained a bit extra burn on them than I might have appreciated, however after letting the fireplace die down and the forged iron cool off a bit, the naan overvalued properly and obtained a crisp golden crust. I tossed the final naan on the Solo grill grate to see how it could evaluate. The naan didn’t cook dinner as properly because it did on the sleek griddle floor, and it was a bit soggy. I additionally cooked some merely seasoned lamb loin chops on the Lodge (utilizing the grill aspect), and after cooking them for a couple of minutes on all sides, they had been superbly seared. 

However when it got here time to cook dinner the corn, rooster souvlaki skewers, and eggplant, I switched again to the bigger Solo grill grate—the Lodge labored properly for the naan and fatty lamb, however was small and skinny (it heated up VERY quick), and I wished to have extra management over the quantity of warmth hitting the meals (particularly for the rooster). So I put the Solo grill grate again on and grilled the rooster skewers for a couple of minutes on all sides, rotating them across the grill to make sure even cooking; I did the identical for the eggplant (which I tossed in an agrodolce sauce after) and corn. 

The decision: All the things was not solely edible, however scrumptious. Whereas I did just like the Lodge grill/griddle for making the naan (the flat griddle aspect cooked the naan extra evenly and obtained hotter, which helped with the fast rise wanted), it was simply too small and skinny to cook dinner finicky meats like rooster; I fear they might simply burn. 

The bigger Solo grill, which had slats, was nice for all method of cooking (save for flatbreads, which sagged via the slats); the big floor space meant there have been cooler spots that you could possibly transfer meats or greens to in case they began to get a bit too charred. So, if you happen to actually need to cook dinner on a Solo range, I might counsel investing within the forged iron grill high and hub.

The Solo Bonfire Was Additionally Nice as a Hearth Pit

Organising the Solo range as a fireplace pit was equivalent to setting it up for cooking, besides I didn’t must placed on the hub and grill grate. As soon as the fireplace was actually going, my accomplice and I sat round it and toasted marshmallows. The flames had been directed upward by the air flowing via the holes on the backside and the highest, and it was an altogether straightforward and nice expertise. 

Cleansing the Range Was Straightforward (if a Bit Messy)

Once I completed utilizing the range both for cooking or as a bonfire, I let the setup quiet down in a single day (Solo recommends ready between 2 to 4 hours to disassemble, so I used to be being additional cautious). Cleansing it was soiled, and I discovered tipping all the container on its aspect was one of the best ways to comb out the ash. The metallic on the hub and contained in the range did discolor after a number of makes use of—however that was to be anticipated and didn’t have an effect on utilization.

The Verdict

It was actually enjoyable cooking over the Solo Range Bonfire. Certain, you could possibly simply use a grill (be it charcoal or gas), however if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing totally different (and need to impress your mates), live-fire is a enjoyable cooking medium. 

The range was straightforward to arrange, and the double-walled siding and air vents at high and backside made beginning a fireplace fast, straightforward, and sans smoke. The grill hub and grate had been additionally nice to cook dinner on, and we didn’t have any points with burnt or uncooked meals. That mentioned, if you happen to’re seeking to cook dinner a number of flatbreads in your Solo range, we do advocate utilizing the Lodge grill/griddle or one other flat, forged iron floor with out slots. And even if you happen to’re not seeking to cook dinner over a fireplace, the Solo Range Bonfire additionally made for an amazing hearth pit; it burned clear and centered the flames upward. 

General, whereas live-fire cooking might sound intimidating, I can truthfully say that with some considerate planning about what you’re going to cook dinner (and a few confidence, and a few good, dry wooden), you too generally is a Mallmann. 

FAQs

Can a Solo Range be used on a deck?

You possibly can safely use the Solo Range on a deck if you happen to use it with the stand, which elevates it from the deck’s floor. We additionally used the Solo Range Bonfire (plus stand) on a stone patio with success.

What are you able to burn within the Solo Range?

Hardwood, kiln-dried firewood is completely superb to burn within the Solo Range. Simply don’t over-fill it or it’ll get actually sizzling and also you’ll have extra of a large number to scrub on the finish. The model doesn’t advocate utilizing charcoal briquettes.

How do you have to retailer the Solo Range?

Solo Stoves include a carrying/storing bag. We advocate storing it someplace the place it gained’t be uncovered to water for a protracted time period, although if some rain will get on it, it is going to be superb.

How quickly after utilizing are you able to clear the Solo Range?

We advocate ready till it’s utterly cool earlier than cleansing it; this will take wherever between two to 4 hours. It is also okay to let it cool in a single day, in case you have a late-night hearth.

How do I snuff out a fireplace?

Solo recommends utilizing sand to snuff out a fireplace; they do not advocate utilizing water, as it will possibly deform the metallic and trigger it to rust.