Topic: Just got my Tandoor Oven

[Unclefrank]

Picked this up the other day from one of my local pubs, the "coals" are clay, that's what i have been told, anybody got any ideas how to clean them. Also any tips on cooking with the oven.
Thanks.

[haldi]

Is this a charcoal tandoor or a gas one?

I have these "coals", that I never take out, in my gas tandoor
They heat up with the flames, along with the clay walls
I never have to clean them
Any dirt just burns off

My gas tandoor takes an hour and a half to heat up properly

Maybe I misunderstood and you mean clean the actual insides of the tandoor
If you do, then I use a damp cloth to clean any soot of the walls
When you properly fire it up, a lot of dirt will burn away
It will be sterilised even if it looks a bit mucky

I would leave that heating for a couple of hours, it is a bit black, isn't it?

[Peripatetic Phil]

I would not recommend even trying to clean the clay coals.  450

[Unclefrank]

It's a gas one it just need a good clean on the outside, the inside really isn't that bad it's just on the bottom of the oven that really needs a good clean just need a few tips on how/what to clean it with.
The clay coals can't seem to find any info on them.

[Peripatetic Phil]

The clay coals can't seem to find any info on them.

I would suspect they are similar to these, Frank.
** Phil.

[chewytikka]

Hi UC
Good find. Did you get it cheap.?
Their called Lava Stones, where I live  never heard of 'clay coals' before.
A good old fashioned yard brush, should take care of all the loose dirt before you fire it up.
Joining the elite now, with a commercial size Tandor.

Naans, three for a quid.

cheers Chewy

[Unclefrank]

Not much info about them on that site Phil but they look the same, Hi CT these are really heavy and solid like a small cannonball lava rocks i know of but never seen these before.
Paid 100 GBP for it with two skewers and the naan bread things too.

[Unclefrank]

Cleaned the outside, got burner out now just need some idea how/what to clean the inside of the oven with not the clay pot itself the bottom of the oven, it is caked on pretty good.
Thanks.

[mickdabass]

Hi UF

Excellent purchase. Bargain Buy I think!

Do you really need to clean it at the bottom? The soot needs removing though. As Haldi says; it will clean itself when you fire it up and leave it for a couple of hours - Im sure

Regards

Mick

[Micky Tikka]

Hi Uf
I must admit Ive had mine a couple of years now and not cleaned it 
I would say there is a couple of portions of mixed grill at the bottom somewhere  ;D
I suppose I will give it a hover at the bottom one day
All skewered stuff will obviously not touch the sides or bottom . In my tandoor Ive worked out that the meat I put on the skewers is about 8 inches up on the skewer so it just clears the flames
Also get 2 sets of skewers it saves time once the first lot is cooking you can prepare the next
I put the tandoor on a good 15 mins before cooking to heat up but be carefull once on for a while it does get very hot and the cooking time starts reducing
Good luck you wont regret your purchase