What Is Tandoor Oven And How Do They Work?

People have been using tandoor ovens for over 5000 years. The Punjabis in India and Pakistan mostly use these kinds of ovens in their kitchen. Tandoor ovens are made of clay. They are also vertical and cylindrical. They withstand extremely high temperatures.

Unlike the horizontal oven in the Western Kitchen, vegetables and meat are lowered and threaded onto skewers into a tandoor oven. Generally, tandoor ovens are made into an enclosure or under the ground. Thus, a cook can protect himself from the hot surface. On the other hand, it can lock the temperature to prepare an authentic tandoori meal.

You need to lock the heat in a Tandoor oven. This is the key process of cooking in a Tandoori oven. Tandoor ovens feature only one opening at the top of it. A tandoor oven can produce intense heat just like a convection oven. When you skewer vegetables and meats and place them vertically in a Tandoori oven, juices drop on the flames. It makes the tandoor oven act like a smoker as well. This adds a fine flavour to the food.

There are many benefits of using a tandoori oven. When they are heated up, they can resist the heat for hours. No extra fuel is required. As a tandoori oven can produce extreme heat, you may cook beef in this oven within 20 to 30 minutes. A tandoori oven is just perfect for hosting an outdoor party.

All can be done in a tandoor oven, from mushrooms and zucchini to fish, meat, and lamb. All food is cooked perfectly in a tandoor oven. However, a few dishes are called the mainstays of a tandoor oven. Here they are-

• Tandoori lambs
• Naan
• Tandoori momos
• Tandoori chicken

People also cook parathas and stuffed naan in a tandoor oven without too much trouble.

Tandoor ovens and barbecues share little similarities. However, the appliances and cooking methods are different. Here are the differences between a barbecue and a tandoor oven.

• You need indirect and lower heat and smoke to cook on a barbecue. However, convection, smoke, and high heat are required to cook in a tandoor oven.
• Barbecue is only for cooking meat. However, a variety of food can be made in a tandoor oven (meats, vegetables, and bread).
• Barbecue can’t resist heat for long. However, a tandoor oven can produce extreme heat and resist it for a long time.
• Extra fuel is required in a barbecue. On the other hand, a tandoor oven is eco-friendly.

I would rather advise using clay tandoor ovens over metals.

• Clay can make more heat than ovens made of metal. Clay tandoor ovens also give a fine flavour and scent to the food. Clay tandoor ovens have been used for over 490 years. So, they ensure effectiveness.
• Clay tandoor ovens are aesthetically appealing. They are also a functional choice. Handcrafted clay tandoor ovens can give your home a decorative touch.
• You may add crushed stones and chamotte clay in a clay tandoor oven to enhance the heat retention. Clay is more pressure-resistant. The better chemical reaction and heat result in a more trustworthy and durable cooking process.

N.E.- You can use metal tandoor ovens when budget is your main concern.