Clay Oven |
Baking and cooking in clay ovens date
back to ancient civilizations. Even though various types of cooking equipment are
available in today’s market, nothing can beat the delectable taste of food that
is achieved through a clay oven. Clay
ovens are worldwide popular to produce evenly cooked food and admired
for making the finest bread, naans, and pizzas. In fact, meat and poultry can
be best cooked in these ovens only. Why?
It’s because clay ovens utilize
residual heat. They are versatile and you can always depend on them for quick
cooking when the fire is hot and slow heating for hours as the temperature goes
down slowly. So, how does that work? Let’s check out.
Clay Ovens for Fast Cooking
It takes a while when it comes to
heating a clay oven. If we talk about a wood-fired clay oven, the temperature
inside a clay oven reaches up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit after three hours of
the initial firing. At this point, it is said that a pizza can be baked in just
about 30 seconds. However, an hour later, it may take 1 to 1.5 minutes to bake
a pizza. So, if you are looking forward to preparing food that benefits from
fast cooking, this is the time when you should put it in the oven and enjoy the
advantage of high temperatures.
In case you are using a gas clay oven, you don’t have to wait so
long to reach that high temperature. Gas clay ovens usually take about 15
minutes to reach the temperature between 325 degrees and 375 degrees. So,
preheat the oven with care depending on its type.
Clay Ovens for Slow Cooking
Well, not everything is made to be
cooked quickly. Some delicacies demand time. Food like meat, poultry, and bread
can be prepared with perfection only if you have patience. They benefit from
gentle cooking at lower temperatures. Clay ovens have the magic of creating
just the right environment for slow cooking.
For such recipes, close the oven
tightly when the initial firing slows down. This way the heat will last for
hours and maybe even overnight. This is the time when you should bring in your
meat and poultry to shred for other meals. Let them take their time to bring
out the natural flavors and get soft. Only this way, you can have the joy of
eating scrumptious, juicy, and moist meat and cuisines made with similar
ingredients.
A Few Take Away Tips
- Use open pans to cook veggies and meats. But, for stews and savory mixtures, it’s best to cook in covered pots.
- Cooking time for any dish varies with
the temperature of your clay oven. So, check the temperature to determine
how long it would take to cook a particular food item.
- To measure temperature, stand-up
thermometers are available for high-heat clay ovens.
So, when are you going to cook an amazingly
delicious tandoor recipe? A clay oven is something that can make cooking
an adventure. All you need to have is a clay oven in your home, no matter if
you are in the USA or another corner of the world.
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