Rakhi is coming up next month, and this year I have been trying to find something meaningful for my sister. She recently moved into a new flat with her husband, a 1.5 BHK with a nice little modular kitchen that she’s slowly turning into her dream cooking space. She’s always had a thing for tandoori-style food; smoky paneer tikka, crispy garlic naan, stuffed kulchas but since they don’t have a gas tandoor or a big oven setup, I thought an electric tandoor would be the perfect Rakhi gift. I didn’t want to gift her just anything random off Amazon, though. I wanted something compact, functional, and stylish enough to fit into her neat, open kitchen without turning it into a smoke zone. So over the past week, I’ve been researching and shortlisting a few popular models. Below are the five that caught my attention one of them I believe is going to be the one.
1. Glen GL 5014 XL Electric Tandoor
This is the one that keeps coming back to me, the Glen GL 5014 XL. First of all, Glen is a brand I trust when it comes to kitchen appliances. We’ve had their chimney and hob for years, and they’ve been reliable. What I like about this tandoor is that despite the XL tag, it’s actually designed quite efficiently for smaller kitchens. It sits on the counter without taking over too much space and has a clean, brushed stainless steel finish that doesn’t look clunky. But the real charm? It cooks evenly without needing to flip constantly. Whether it’s tandoori mushrooms or homemade naan, the dual heating elements distribute heat so well, you get that golden crust without worrying about undercooked patches. It comes with a heat-resistant toughened glass window and includes an aluminum cooking tray, skewers, and even a grill so no need to hunt for accessories.
Also, the exterior stays cool while operating, which matters if you have a compact kitchen and kids around. It’s slightly more premium, but for gifting, it feels like a complete package.
2. Wellberg 3-in-1 Authentic Flavor Barbeque & Tandoor
This Wellberg 3-in-1 model immediately caught my attention because it claims to be a barbeque, oven, and toaster in one. For the price, it seemed like a steal especially for a couple that loves experimenting with food. It has top and bottom heating coils, which means it can be used for everything from making pizza to grilling chicken seekh kebabs. That said, I have mixed feelings about this one. The design feels a bit dated more like a small OTG than a tandoor. It also doesn’t quite scream easy to clean. The tray isn’t non-stick, and several reviews mentioned oil pooling at the bottom after grilling. Still, it’s a good fit for someone who wants versatility over speed. The flavour is good (I saw a YouTube demo where it grilled paneer beautifully), but I’m not sure my sister will love the cleaning process every time she uses it.
3. Sliceter 2200W Electric Tandoor
Now this one is raw power, 2200 watts means it heats up fast. If you are someone who wants to make quick tandoori meals without preheating for ages, this gets the job done. The Sliceter electric tandoor has a very basic box-like design, with thick handles and a standard sliding tray. It’s made of aluminum and has a matte black finish that doesn’t look premium, but also doesn’t scream cheap. What I appreciated was that despite the strong heating, it doesn’t overly char the food. The crust forms well, and it keeps things juicy inside. I’ve seen people use it for everything from grilling pomfret to making stuffed aloo parathas with that smoky edge. However, there are no temperature settings or timer just an on/off function which makes it slightly less user-friendly, especially for someone like my sister who prefers more control. If it had even basic heat adjustment knobs, this would have ranked higher. But it’s more of a solid budget performer than a refined appliance.
4. Wellberg 1500W Multi-Purpose Electric Tandoor
This is the slightly smaller and lighter version of the Wellberg 3-in-1. I actually liked the dimensions it fits easily into narrow kitchen counters and doesn’t weigh much. With 1500W of power, it’s not as fast as the Sliceter or Glen, but it does a decent job if you’re patient. Think of this more like a casual-use appliance. The body is powder-coated aluminum, and it comes with a cooking tray and skewers. The heat distribution is okay for things like garlic naan or toasties, but uneven if you’re trying to grill multiple skewers at once. You’ll need to keep checking and rotating.
For a beginner or someone who only cooks tandoori once in a while, this works. But if you’re gifting it with hopes of regular use, I suggest spending a bit more. My concern is that after a few uses, it might end up in the rarely touched appliance section.
5. Chefman Electric Tandoor (10-inch)
The Chefman 10-inch tandoor was one of the first options I spotted while browsing online. It’s clean and compact, perfect for single servings or couples. The design is basic but pleasant light metal body, simple switch, no unnecessary bulk. The heating coils do a good job of toasting, baking, and grilling, but the real downside here is capacity. At 10 inches, it’s not ideal if you want to make more than two tikkas or a medium naan in one go. Also, it doesn’t have a transparent lid or viewing window, which I feel is important if you’re experimenting with different recipes and want to keep an eye without opening the lid each time. I say it’s a good choice for bachelors or hostel cooking, not really for family-style tandoori meals. Still, for gifting around Rs 2000, it makes for a thoughtful gesture.
So, What Will I Choose?
After comparing all of these, I think I will go with the Glen GL 5014 XL. Yes, it’s a bit more expensive, but it checks all the boxes: modern look, compact size, even cooking, safer design, and includes all accessories. More importantly, it’ll feel like a complete gift something my sister will actually use without struggling to understand. And let’s be honest, giving a gift that brings food into someone’s life, especially something homemade and delicious, always feels good. Who knows, I might even get an invite for tandoori paneer rolls the next time I visit her place.
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