When choosing a tandoor, the most important thing is to understand how many people you will cook for and what dishes you plan to make.

The key factor is not litres, but the tandoor’s weight and wall thickness – the more mass it has, the more heat it stores
and the more portions (or “cooking rounds”) you can make without extra firing.

1) Why weight matters most

• In a tandoor, food cooks from the heat released by the walls, so more mass means longer heat retention.
• Thicker walls usually mean more efficient wood usage and the ability to cook longer.
• Even if you cook only once, food often stays warm for hours.

2) Quick choice by tandoor weight

• 45-55 kg – a travel-friendly tandoor, easier to take with you; cooking for about 2-5 people.
• 50-90 kg – suitable for about 2-8 people; usually enough for one cooking round.
• 90-120 kg – about 2-12 people; a second round may be possible (for example, vegetables or fish).
• 120-160 kg – about 2-14 people; 2-3 cooking rounds are possible.
• 160-220 kg – for a larger group (up to ~30 people); you can cook 3 rounds without additional firing.

3) Neck opening diameter – when it is critical

• If you plan to cook a whole chicken or fish, or large cuts of meat, choose a model with an opening of about 26-34 cm or larger.
• If the tandoor is mainly for skewers and portioned meat, the opening diameter is less critical.

4) What you can cook in a tandoor (not only on skewers)

• kebabs and meat on skewers
• vegetables and fish on a grate
• chicken on a special holder
• multi-level cooking with a “tree” rack, or with stones (depending on accessories)

5) Accessories that really help

• forged stainless steel skewers – meat holds better and is easier to turn
• grate / shelf – for vegetables, fish and multi-level cooking
• holders (for example, for chicken) – for whole products
• hook, tongs, ash shovel – for safer work with a hot tandoor
• cover – for storage and moisture protection

FAQ

• What is the best tandoor for a first purchase? Usually a “middle” weight that works for a family and sometimes a group – with good heat retention.
• Does a tandoor use firewood? Yes, most tandoors are fired with wood; thicker walls usually mean more efficient firing.
• Are accessories necessary? Not mandatory, but the right accessories make cooking easier and open more dish options.

Tip: if you tell us how many people you cook for and whether you plan 1 or 2-3 rounds, choosing the right tandoor becomes much easier.