Can I use a charcoal chimney to light a tandoor?

[gorkreg]

As a tandoor is not a regular BBQ but an oven which walls need to be hot in order to cook I was wondering if I could use a charcoal chimney to light it. Firstly, I don't know how long it would take for the walls to heat up (I guess quite quick) but secondly (and most important) will the walls crack because of the sudden change in temperature? Any experiences here?

[rotuts]

curious to ring out what tandoor model you have

 

and Welcome Aboard !

[gorkreg]

It is one of the models sold by puri in the UK http://www.puritandoors.co.uk/

[Duvel]

Yes.

[gorkreg]

Thanks @Duvel. Yes, I can use a charcoal chimney or yes, the walls will crack? I guess the first but want t be sure just in case ;-)

[Duvel]

10 minutes ago, gorkreg said:

Thanks @Duvel. Yes, I can use a charcoal chimney or yes, the walls will crack? I guess the first but want t be sure just in case ;-)

Yes, you can introduce heated coals into the tandoor, provided that the amount compared to the total volume is reasonable. It will not bring the entire tandoor to working temperature immediately, but will heat gradually via convection and radiation.

[rotuts]

if you are in the UK

 

why not ask them ?

 

they must have a recommended way to get the tandoor

 

fired up ?

 

the only issue I can see if the heat from the charcoal chimney gets too hot

 

so the gizmo itself does not have enough time to expand as it heats up

 

if the Chimney fits in the bottom

 

and you start everything cold

 

Im guessing you will be fine

 

do you have the Gizmo or are you thinking about it firwst

 

call them 

 

ask them

 

h0owever

 

for such erudition and fine advice

 

you will bee required to Post your work w the tandoor !

 

 

[Duvel]

The tandoori on the website look pretty large. I have a Weber chimney and would struggle to imagine that the amount of heated coal from the chimney starter would be able to impact a heat shock to that size of tandoor. I would also be surprised if it is sufficient to prime the tandoor for cooking ...

[gorkreg]

@Duvel It is the medium size (you can put inside 8 skewers) but it probably looks bigger in the photograph. In the manual they recommend using 1.5-2 kg so I think that the Weber chimney will be sufficient.

 

@rotuts, I don't have the charcoal chimney yet (that is why I was wondering if I could use it before I bought it). They do have instructions and a video on how to fire it up (and I have done it with mixed results ;-) but I love how easy it could be to do it using the chimney. I am not in the UK but I can send them an email with the question (never thought of that :-P)