Tandoor in the countries of the Caucasus or Central Asia has been used for cooking since ancient times. In the European part of Russia, it is only gaining popularity, replacing barbecues or grills. Perhaps the process would have gone faster if not for the rather high prices for clay products and the large size of the tandoors themselves. But today manufacturers have learned to make compact models of the middle price category. And many Russians have acquired country houses, where there is a place for a device with which you can pamper yourself and guests with oriental cuisine. Consider what trade offers today and determine which tandoor will be the best.
Content
Principle of operation
Before you go to the store for a new product, you should understand why it is intended, how it works and whether it is needed at all. Still, the cost of products is far from the budget.
Tandoor is intended for cooking meat and other dishes over an open fire. It is a large clay pot with thick walls and a wide mouth.
Unlike barbecue, heat treatment takes place not due to frying, but due to languor. All dishes are incredibly juicy, evenly baked. At the same time, the products retain all the beneficial properties.
The classic tandoor is heated with wood. They are placed in the lower part of the container through a special flap. After the firewood burns out, and the walls of natural clay are heated, the prepared products are placed inside. After 20-30 minutes, the finished dish can be served. Be it kebabs, baked meat or poultry, pilaf, bread or flat cakes. Ceramics, giving off heat, heats them from all sides. Today, the process in modern ovens or multicooker is called 3D.
Currently, the production of electric tandoors has been established. According to buyers, culinary products lose some of their taste, they do not have a slight aroma of smoke. But, such devices are powerful, and they can be installed indoors.
Benefits
Many are wondering why to buy an expensive tandoor when there is a barbecue. The difference in heat treatment was mentioned above. Without a doubt, culinary products from the oven are much tastier and healthier than those cooked on the grill. But, there are also a number of advantages.
- The volume of cooked dishes. In the tandoor, you can cook up to 20 kg of barbecue at a time. Bake a leg of lamb, whole poultry and even a suckling pig without much difficulty.
- Speed. Even large cuts of meat are baked in half an hour. It will take 10 minutes to bake the fish.
- The tandoor does not require the skills of a chef. Due to the even distribution of heat and the absence of food contact with the heating elements, nothing needs to be stirred or turned over, fearing that the food will burn.
- Profitability. One firewood load is enough for at least 2 cycles.
- Versatility. Thanks to the lid and metal supports under the bottom, no one will be hungry in the rain or cold. A closed flame will not be extinguished by moisture ingress. And the legs and thick walls will allow you to cook outdoors in winter.
- Food in such an oven remains warm for 5-6 hours.
But, it was not without a fly in the ointment. Tandoors require installation space. It is not always convenient to carry them, and you should not leave them on the street in a summer cottage unattended.
Criterias of choice
There are many models on sale today.Key differences worth paying attention to.
- Type of fuel. Clay wood-fired ovens are purchased for summer cottages or country houses, as well as for outings into nature. It is not recommended to install them indoors. An exception may be a catering facility with a large room and a good ventilation hood. For those who want to cook in the tandoor all the time, electric ovens will be used.
- Wall thickness. The thicker the walls, the faster the food is prepared and the longer the heat remains inside the container. So the wall thickness of 4-5 cm allows you to cook for 1.0-1.5 hours. With an increase in thickness to 6-7 cm, the time increases to 2.5-3.0 hours. The question is whether it is necessary. Indeed, the weight of the product and its cost directly depend on this parameter.
- Dimensions and weight. If the brazier is supposed to be installed permanently in the country, then it is worth choosing massive models weighing more than 100 kg. They are the most productive. If you intend to cook in the oven at picnics, hunting or fishing, you should pay attention to products weighing 50-70 kg with comfortable handles.
- Equipment. As a rule, the kit includes skewers, a stand for them, a grate or grate, a poker and a scoop. You should definitely pay attention to the presence of forged legs. They will give the brazier stability, speed up the cooking process in winter and protect the products from moisture. You may need an additional grate, a support for stewing vegetables or cooking porridge.
All other parameters depend on the purposes for which the tandoor is bought.
- If the main goal is to cook barbecue, then you should choose high models. Preferably with holes in the lid for skewers. In this case, you do not have to open the broiler completely to load the meat.
- For baking large pieces of meat, uncut poultry or fish, preference is given to products with a wide neck, at least 30 cm. They are also suitable for baking cakes or bread.
- Decorative qualities. The tandoor is not just a clay oven, it is almost an object of art. But, many decorative elements are of practical importance. Forged rings, as if tightening the container in a circle, protect it from cracks. The enamel applied over the ceramic prevents the formation of chips and microcracks. The leather wrapping around the handles and lid will protect the chef's hands from burns.
There are no strict selection criteria. You should not rely only on the advice of friends and ratings. After all, the owner of the brazier will have to cook. And he is the one who should enjoy the process. Before buying, you need to think about how and where you plan to use the tandoor, how many guests need to be fed, what dishes will be the main ones on the menu. And based on this, select a model.
Top 6 best tandoors
Below is a small rating of popular models. It's hard to say which one is better. All are good for a specific purpose.
Wood-fired braziers
The choice of classic tandoors is very large today. They are divided into small, weighing 30-50 kg and 60-80 cm high, medium, weighing up to 80 kg, large, weighing from 80 to 120 kg. There are also premium models for cafes and restaurants. Their weight is 120-160 cm, and their height is about 1 m.
Sarmat Hunter
The Russian company "Amphora" has long established the production of original ceramic products. There are also tandoors among the assortment. The "Sarmat" line is compact, often portable models at relatively affordable prices.
"Sarmat Okhotnik" is the second largest representative of the lineup. It weighs about 70 kg and reaches 72 cm in height. The working height of the inner container is 52 cm. The wall thickness is 5 cm. The brazier fits easily into the trunk of a car. And it is suitable for use as a stationary for a summer residence or a country house, if it is not planned to receive more than 10-15 guests at the same time.
Advantages:
- Compact. Suitable for carrying. For what it is equipped with handles-rings.
- Keeps warm well. In one cycle, you can cook 2-3 servings of meat.
- Ideal for barbecue. There are special slots in the roof where skewers are inserted.The cover itself does not need to be removed, just turn the small valve.
- Nice set with 8 skewers.
- Stylish design.
Disadvantages:
- The neck with a diameter of 24 cm will not allow baking whole poultry or large pieces of meat;
- Will not be able to feed a large company;
- No legs. Instead, a forged rim covering the bottom is used. In frosty weather, it will clearly not be enough to maintain the heat for a long period of time.
However, the cost of 12,000 rubles allows you to forget about minor flaws. The product clearly has fans.
Signature with a table
Premium model from the Ecotandyr company with a table. Production is located in the Republic of Bashkortostan. And they know a lot about cooking meat dishes. The tandoor is made of natural clay. The outside is covered with a layer of glaze with ornate patterns. The model is positioned as portable. But, it is not suitable for transportation. The brazier weighs 105 kg. Height - about 80 cm.
What distinguishes the product from the usual range is the presence of a removable table. It attaches to the side and expands the capabilities of the cook. After all, he does not need to hold a skewer or think about where to put cooked meat or vegetables. In addition, the product is initially equipped with high legs, which, if necessary, can be stuck into the ground.
Advantages:
- An excellent set with 10 skewers 40 cm long. This will allow you to cook up to 8 kg of fragrant barbecue at a time.
- The presence of clamps for skewers included. They prevent the portions from sliding off during frying.
- The walls, thickened up to 6 cm, ensure high temperature maintenance for a long time. For one ignition, you can cook 3-4 servings.
- The 30 cm neck allows to bake the leg of lamb and whole poultry. And also pamper your guests with delicious homemade cakes.
- An original design, where all the decorative details have practical use.
Disadvantages:
- Buyers have no special comments on the tandoor.
There is a clay oven in the range of 26,000-28,000 rubles.
Aladdin
Another premium oven. This time from the Amphora company. Model for a large country house and a large company. With it, you can easily bake a whole suckling pig or cook several lamb legs with spices. After all, the diameter of the neck is 35 cm. The height of the container is about 90 cm. However, a brazier with walls made of refractory ceramics weighs at least 200 kg. Due to the special treatment of the walls, the maximum temperature inside the container reaches 1000 degrees.
Advantages:
- Powerful tandoor with high performance;
- 7 cm thick walls make cooking quick and easy;
- The kit includes 20 skewers for preparing 18 kg of barbecue at the same time, and in one kindling you can fry 3-4 parties;
- The complete set is complemented by graceful stands for the brazier and lid.
Disadvantages:
- The high cost of 40,000-42,000 rubles. But, given that the tandoor is almost professional and is suitable for use in cafes with open verandas or terraces, the cost is quite justified.
Electric braziers
Electric tandoors are bought for use in apartments. In this case, compact devices with low energy consumption are chosen. They fit perfectly into the interior. They can act as a gift for a significant date.
Most of the buyers of high-performance equipment are cafes and restaurants. The main point to pay attention to is the type of heating element. Models with spirals located at the bottom of the container are much inferior in the quality of prepared dishes to models in which the heating elements are located in the walls.
Grapes
The Russian company "Tandur" produces compact electric ovens in a beautiful design. A small brazier decorated with an ornament of bunches of grapes is popular with housewives due to its compact size and relatively low weight. Its height is about 50 cm, weight is 25 kg.But, one bookmark of food is enough to feed a family of 3-4 people.
Advantages:
- Small size;
- Relatively lightweight;
- Powered by a standard 200 W network;
- It will take no more than 50 minutes to warm up and prepare a portion;
- Low power consumption of 1.5 kWh;
- All products are perfectly baked, retaining juiciness, softness and aroma.
Disadvantages:
- There are no skewers included.
Accessory cost: 9500-10000 rubles.
ELITE 12
Another model for home use. The company operates in Armenia, where the most delicious kebabs are fried. Natural clay is used for production. All products are specially treated with high temperatures. This helps to avoid cracking during use. The tandoor has a stylish design with a brown glaze coating. Its height is 70 cm, which is ideal for loading skewers.
Advantages:
- Decent performance for a home model. You can cook up to 5 kg of meat at a time;
- Energy efficiency;
- Fast cooking due to the location of heating elements in the walls of the device;
- The set includes 6 skewers with wooden handles;
- Elegant decoration. The device will decorate any kitchen.
Disadvantages:
- According to buyers, the cost of 17,000-18,000 rubles is somewhat overstated.
Flatbread
It is difficult to say whether there will be a tandoor with such an interesting name from the Russian company "Kovkagrad" a place in the kitchen in the apartment. Nevertheless, its height is more than 90 cm, and its diameter is 50 cm. However, the model is positioned as semi-professional. According to the developers, it is suitable for a summer residence or a private house. But this is really one of the few multifunctional and ergonomic devices for use in everyday life.
The shape of the barrel and the wide throat with a diameter of 37 cm allow not only to cook barbecue, but also flat cakes, samsa, bake large pieces of meat or whole poultry.
Advantages:
- High productivity, up to 8 kg of meat can be loaded at the same time;
- Convenient to use;
- Warms up quickly;
- Excellent set with 12 skewers and two lids, one can be used for stewing vegetables;
- Long lasting;
- It can work in intensive mode.
Disadvantages:
- The owners of the cafe have no complaints about the device. For private use, the price of 45,000 rubles is considered by many to be too high.
According to buyers, the Lepeshnik tandoor is not very suitable for an apartment. For a summer residence or a country house, most prefer to purchase classic wood-fired models.
Tandoor is gradually becoming a good substitute for barbecue. It has broader functionality. It is environmentally friendly. The dishes cooked in the brazier retain all vitamins and microelements. And at the same time, they do not contain carcinogens, because the products are not fried, but baked. Summer evenings are pleasant to spend around the ceramic stove with a sophisticated design. And a winter trip to nature with the preparation of aromatic meat will bring a lot of positive emotions.
