Best Tandoor Oven for Home: Complete Guide to Choosing a Home Tandoor

A tandoor brings something special to home cooking. The intense heat, smoky charcoal flavour and traditional clay cooking surface can transform simple ingredients into restaurant-style naan, kebabs, tikkas, rotis and grilled dishes.

But choosing the best tandoor oven for home can be confusing. There are different sizes, fuel options, materials and designs available, and the right choice depends on how often you cook, how many people you usually serve and the type of food you want to prepare.

In this guide, we explain what to look for when choosing a home tandoor oven and why a traditional clay tandoor can be an excellent option for outdoor cooking, family gatherings and BBQs.

What Is a Home Tandoor Oven?

A home tandoor is a compact version of the traditional Indian tandoor used to cook food at high temperatures.

Unlike a conventional BBQ grill, a tandoor cooks food using a combination of intense radiant heat, hot air and the heat retained by its clay interior. This creates the distinctive charred and smoky flavour associated with traditional tandoori cooking.

A good home tandoor can be used to prepare:

• Naan
• Garlic naan
• Roti
• Tandoori chicken
• Chicken tikka
• Seekh kebabs
• Paneer tikka
• Fish tikka
• Vegetables
• Lamb and meat kebabs
• BBQ dishes
• Pizza

This makes a tandoor much more versatile than many people expect.

Why Choose a Clay Tandoor for Home?

The clay interior is one of the most important characteristics of a traditional tandoor.

Clay can retain and distribute heat efficiently, helping food cook at high temperatures while developing the characteristic texture and flavour associated with tandoori cuisine.

A stainless-steel outer casing can also provide a practical exterior while protecting and supporting the clay oven inside.

For example, the PURI Tandoors SS1 Ultima combines a stainless-steel outer casing with a handcrafted clay oven and is designed specifically for home use.

Charcoal Tandoor vs Gas Tandoor

One of the biggest decisions when buying a tandoor is choosing between charcoal and gas.

Charcoal Tandoor

A charcoal-fired tandoor is an excellent choice if authentic smoky flavour is your priority.

Charcoal provides:

• Traditional cooking experience
• Smoky BBQ flavour
• High cooking temperatures
• Excellent results for kebabs and tandoori dishes
• A traditional outdoor cooking experience

A charcoal tandoor is particularly attractive for people who enjoy weekend BBQs, garden cooking and entertaining guests.

Gas Tandoor

Gas tandoors provide a different experience.

They can be convenient when you want controlled heat without handling charcoal. Gas-fired tandoors are particularly useful for restaurants and professional kitchens where the oven may be used frequently.

The choice ultimately depends on your cooking style.

If authentic charcoal flavour and the traditional tandoor experience are important to you, a charcoal tandoor may be the better choice.

What Size Tandoor Do You Need?

Size is another important consideration.

A tandoor that is too small may become inconvenient when cooking for larger groups, while an oversized oven may take up unnecessary space.

Think about how many people you normally cook for.

Small Tandoor

A smaller model can be suitable for couples or small families and for people with limited outdoor space.

Medium Tandoor

A medium home tandoor is a good all-round option for families, BBQs and small gatherings.

The PURI Tandoors SS1 Ultima is designed for gatherings of up to approximately 15 people. It measures 56 cm high, has a 40.6 cm diameter and a 25.4 cm mouth diameter.

Large Tandoor

If you regularly host larger parties or family gatherings, a larger home tandoor may be more appropriate.

PURI Tandoors offers different domestic models, including the SS1 Ultima, SS2 Ultima and SS3 Ultima, allowing customers to choose a size according to their cooking requirements.

What Can You Cook in a Home Tandoor?

One of the biggest advantages of owning a tandoor is its versatility.

Naan and Flatbreads

A tandoor is particularly well known for naan.

The dough is traditionally placed against the hot clay wall where it cooks quickly at high temperature. This produces the characteristic blistered surface and lightly charred edges.

You can experiment with:

• Plain naan
• Garlic naan
• Butter naan
• Cheese naan
• Tandoori roti
• Stuffed naan

Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori chicken is another classic.

Marinated chicken can be cooked on skewers inside the tandoor, producing a smoky exterior while retaining moisture inside.

Kebabs and Tikka

A home tandoor is also ideal for:

• Chicken tikka
• Paneer tikka
• Seekh kebabs
• Lamb kebabs
• Fish tikka
• Vegetable skewers

Different skewer sizes can be used depending on the ingredients.

BBQ Food

A versatile tandoor doesn't have to be limited to traditional Indian dishes.

With an appropriate grill, you can also prepare burgers, sausages, fish, chicken and other BBQ foods.

PURI Tandoors offers a stainless-steel BBQ grill designed to convert compatible tandoor models into a conventional BBQ cooking surface.

What Should You Look for When Buying a Home Tandoor?

Before buying a tandoor, consider these important factors.

1. Clay Interior

Look for a properly constructed clay oven if traditional tandoori cooking is your priority.

2. Strong Outer Construction

A durable stainless-steel outer casing can make the tandoor practical for regular outdoor use.

3. Heat Retention

Good insulation and a well-designed clay interior can help the oven retain heat efficiently.

4. Cooking Capacity

Choose the size based on the number of people you normally cook for rather than simply choosing the biggest model.

5. Accessories

Check what is included with the tandoor.

Useful accessories can include:

• Stainless-steel skewers
• Naan rods
• Naan cushion or gaddi
• BBQ grill
• Stainless-steel lid
• Weatherproof cover
• Side tables or skewer stands
• Repair clay

Buying a model with useful accessories included can make it easier to start cooking immediately.

Is a Home Tandoor Worth It?

For people who regularly enjoy Indian food, BBQs and outdoor cooking, a home tandoor can be a worthwhile investment.

Instead of relying on a restaurant for authentic tandoori dishes, you can prepare them at home and experiment with different recipes.

A tandoor can also become the centrepiece of outdoor entertaining. Guests can enjoy freshly cooked naan, kebabs, paneer, chicken and BBQ dishes straight from the oven.

Why the PURI Tandoors SS1 Ultima Is a Popular Home Option

The SS1 Ultima Medium Home Tandoori Clay Oven is designed for home cooking and gatherings of up to 15 people.

It combines a handcrafted clay cooking oven with a stainless-steel outer casing and charcoal-fired operation.

The model includes several useful accessories, including stainless-steel skewers, naan rods, a naan cushion, BBQ grill, weatherproof cover, side tables and repair clay. It also includes the recipe book Tandoor: The Great Indian BBQ.

The oven measures 56 cm in height, with a 40.6 cm diameter and a 25.4 cm mouth diameter, making it a practical option for home outdoor cooking.

For customers who want additional flexibility, PURI Tandoors also offers accessories such as a gas kit and BBQ grill.

How to Choose the Best Home Tandoor for You

Before making your decision, ask yourself five questions:

How many people will I normally cook for?

This will help determine the size of the tandoor.

Do I prefer charcoal or gas?

Choose charcoal if smoky flavour and traditional cooking are important to you.

Where will I use the tandoor?

Consider your garden, patio, outdoor kitchen or other suitable cooking area.

What food do I want to cook?

If you mainly want naan and kebabs, a traditional clay tandoor is an excellent option. If you also want BBQ dishes, look for a model compatible with a grill.

What accessories are included?

A complete package can provide better value and make your cooking experience easier.