Difference Between Tandoor and Oven

Key Difference – Tandoor vs Oven
 

Tandoor and oven are two appliances that are used for cooking food. An oven is an enclosed, insulated chamber that is used to heat food. A tandoor is a special type of oven made of clay; this oven is specially used in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. An oven doesn’t expose the food to the outside since it is fully enclosed; however, tandoor has an opening at the top which allows ventilation. This is the key difference between tandoor and oven.

What is an Oven?

An oven is an enclosed insulated chamber that is used to heat and cook food. It is conventionally used for heating, baking and roasting food. Foods such as casseroles, meat and baked goods such as bread, cake, pudding, and biscuit are prepared using ovens. However, there are also other types of ovens which are used in pottery, masonry and metal work.

Oven is a commonly used appliance in many households. There are several types of ovens based on their function and power source. Some examples include electric oven, gas oven, brick oven, microwave oven, etc. But, all these types of ovens control the temperature of the inner chamber.

Ovens cook food in a variety of ways. The most common way is providing heat from below. This method is used for baking and roasting. Some ovens can also provide heat from the top which is needed for grilling. When food is cooked in a regular oven, the temperature is distributed evenly.

What is a Tandoor?

Tandoors are a special type of ovens used in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. These ovens are cylindrical in shape and have an open top to allow access and ventilation. They are made of clay and consist of an insulating material like mud or concrete on the outside. Traditionally, a fire was built in the bottom of the tandoor, exposing the food to live-fire. The temperature of the tandoor can go even up to 900° Fahrenheit (≅ 480° Celsius). A tandoor can be a large, permanent structure in the kitchen or a small portable oven.

Foods like flatbreads, alochi aloo, tandoori chicken, samosas, kalmi kababs, and peshwari seekh can be cooked in a tandoor. Flat breads like naan, lachcha parathas are slapped against the sides of the oven whereas meat is usually cooked in long skewers that are cooked over the mouth of the oven or inserted directly into the oven.

What is the difference between Tandoor and Oven?

Definition:

Tandoor is a special type of oven used in Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

Oven is an enclosed insulated chamber that is used to heat and cook food.

Openings:

Tandoor has an open top.

Ovens have fully enclosed chambers.

Foods:

Tandoor is used to make flatbreads, meat, samosas, etc.

Ovens are used to prepare meat, casseroles, and baked goods.

Materials:

Tandoors are made of clay.

Ovens used in modern kitchens are usually made of metals.

 Image Courtesy: “Cornish Pasties in the Oven” By Visitor7 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia “A clay tandoor” by Aashish Jethra (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

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