Dum biryani cooked in a pressure cooker may not be as delicious as the one cooked in the traditional cooking vessel.
If you wish to cook an authentic dum biryani at home, then you need to keep your pressure cooker aside and cook it in the traditional vessel.
This utensil in which you get an authentic taste is known as Deg. If you are looking for one but do not have any basic information about it, we are here to help you.
In our biryani handi buying guide, we have mentioned the essential factors that you can consider to ensure you choose the right one. To make your search simpler, we have also researched the cooking vessels and reviewed them to help you make an informed decision.
Top Biryani Pots in India
1. Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Lid
This pot can be used on a stove, oven (up to 200 degrees celsius), barbecue and under a broiler.
This cast iron dutch oven can be used for making delicious biryani as well as other slow cooking food items like kadhi, sambhar, etc.
As you know, the pot is made of cast iron and thus it is super durable. The material is Food grade and has a heavy gauge with the weight of 8 kg which enables best possible slow cooking.
The pot is coated with a vitreous enamel finish that gives it a glossy finish. The finish prevent rust and you can enjoy cooking in it for years.
This cooktop can be used on a stove, oven (up to 200 degrees celsius), barbecue and under a broiler.
It has a bottom thickness of 4.5 mm and the capacity of of 7.7 litres which is ideal to cook a dum biryani. The pot comes with a cast iron lid that ensures the aroma is sealed in.
Make sure to use plastic or silicone spoons to make food in this pot as metal can be abrasive on the enamel finish.
2. Pigeon by Stovekraft Non-Stick Biriyani Pot
The pot has a non-stick coating from Germany and the triple layered scratch-resistant Greblon for longevity.
Pigeon is one of the most popular brands in India when it comes to kitchen appliances. If you are looking for a biryani pot with the use capacity, then this one is an ideal option to consider.
It has a large capacity of 11 litres and is enough to make biryani for a small family gathering. the study handles are cold to touch which means that it makes the cooking process comfortable.
With a spiral bottom and 3mm thickness, the pot is heated evenly and cooks faster. It has a non-stick coating from Germany and the triple layered scratch-resistant Greblon that ensures longevity.
There is no restriction of using any kind of spoon while cooking you can use a metal spoon if you like. The pretty red colour makes it ideal for serving as well.
3. Hawkins Futura Hard Anodised Cook-n-Serve Bowl
It is made of hard anodized aluminium which ensures longevity.
If you want to board in which you can cook and serve then this hard anodized pot from Hawkins Futura is a good option to consider.
This cook and serve bowl has a thickness of 4mm which is suitable for cooking dum biryani. The cookware is non staining which makes cleaning a lot easier.
It is non-toxic and cooks food faster and uniformly. It has a carrying capacity of 6 litres which is ideal for a small family and is made of hard anodized aluminium which ensures longevity.
You can use a metal spoon while cooking and it also comes with a warranty of 5 years.
4. Aluminium Biryani Pot
The glass lid helps you lock the aroma and you can also look through while the cooking process is on.
This aluminium biryani pot has a capacity of 21 litres which is great if you are the one who hosts party is regularly and love making biryani.
The glass lid helps you lock the aroma and you can also look through while the cooking process is on.
The non stick coating does not allow the food to stick and ensure even heat distribution. If you are looking for a part that is dishwasher safe, then this is the best one to go with.
The metallic finish exterior is durable and also scratch resistant. This Biryani pot comes with warranty of 1 year.
5. Hard Anodised Handi Sauce Pan
This Hawkins pot has a thickness of 4.06mm which cooks food evenly.
This hard anodised for span from Hawkins has a very unique design And it is the modern way of cooking traditional dishes.
The hard anodised coating is hygienic, healthy, non reactive and non toxic. The coating will not corrode or tarnish and thus it will last for years.
With a thickness of 4.06mm, it cooks food evenly. The heavy base retains heat and thus the food will stay a hot in there for a longer period of time.
The lid has specific design to hold water and th reverse tapering of the sloping side of pot allows the water drops to fall directly on the food inside. The cool to touch handles make cooking comfortable.
6. Non Stick Coated Aluminium Large Biriyani Pot
The glossy red exterior makes the pot ideal for serving as well.
This non-stick coated aluminium Biryani Pot is one of the most affordable options on this list. If you are looking for a biryani pot that is dishwasher safe then this one is the right choice.
It is made of high quality aluminium material which ensures durability. The three layer non stick interior make sure that the food does not stick to its bottom and supplies uniform heat.
This Biryani pot is gas stove and induction compatible. The glossy red exterior makes the pot ideal for serving as well.
The stay cool handle makes cooking comfortable. The pot comes with a lid which is one important factor for cooking dum biryani as it locks in aroma.
7. Small Biryani Handi for Couple
This pot has a 3 layer DuPont teflon non stick coating that is scratch and abrasion resistant
If you are looking for a biryani handi with less capacity that is suitable for a couple, then this one has 4 liters capacity and is an ideal option for you.
This biryani handi ensure durability as it is made from premium quality aluminium. This pot is compatible for gas stoves only. It has a bottom thickness of 3mm which is ideal to cook biryani as it will not let the food to stick.
It is ideal to go for a biryani handi with lid so that the aroma is trapped in and this pot comes with the lid.
The pot has a 3 layer DuPont teflon non stick coating that is scratch and abrasion resistant and ensures uniform heat distribution. The coating also allows you to use metal spoon while cooking.
The Bakelite riveted handles are firm to hold while cooking and are long lasting.
8. Biryani Handi with Stainless Steel Lid
The handi has a non stick coating that does not let the food to stick and distributes heat evenly.
This biryani handi has a capacity of 2.5 liters and is suitable for a bachelor or couple. Cello has designed this pot especially for all those who love biryani.
The spiral bottom of this biryani handi ensures even distribution of heat which is important for uniform and faster cooking.
The non stick coating does not let the food to stick, distributes heat evenly and is very easy to clean. The coating is non toxic and non staining.
The handles are designed ergonimically for comfort, control and balance. The handles are cool to touch which makes cooking super comfortable. This biryani handi is compatible on gas and induction.
The beautiful design of the pot makes it ideal for serving as well. The stainless steel lid ensures keeping the aroma trapped in and the cool to touch knob makes using it easier.
How to Choose a Biryani Cooking Vessel in India?
Before you purchase a biryani cooking vessel, it is wise to go through the factors mentioned below that will determin the decision you make.
The essentials mentioned below will help you make the right purchase and enjoy delicious biryani.
Material of Biryani Pot
Dum Biryani vessels are made with different materials. The low cost options are made with aluminium and the high cost ones are made with ceramic and hard anodized options.
We recommend you to go with stainless steel and hard anodized options as they are the most popular ones for dum biryani. When you go shopping you may also come across brass vessels but we wouldn’t recommend them for cooking Dum Biryani particularly.
Capacity (Size) of Pot
The Biryani cooking vessel is available in varied capacity and sizes. This mainly depends on the size of the family you are cooking for. There are other factors as well that determine the capacity you use like your budget.
The Biryani cooking vessels have a different range of capacities from 0.5 litres to 5 litres. You can buy the one based on your family requirements.
If you are the one who hosts parties usually, then you would require a vessel with a capacity of 5 litres. On the other hand with regular family dinners a capacity of 1.5 litres is enough.
Thickness of Bottom
As you know, dum biryani is slow cooking and you require a cooking vessel that has a thick bottom.
A thick bottom ensure that the food ingredients inside the vessel does not stick and can be cooked uniformly even with less water.
Shape of Biryani Pot
The shape of the Biryani vessel is one of the most important factors that you need to consider but it is also something that most people ignore. The unique shape of the pot Helps in increasing the convection currents that ensures faster cooking.
Make sure that the cooking vessel you purchase comes with a lid because it ensures that the aroma of the food ingredients are sealed in.
Ease of Cleaning
Dishes like biryani and pulao require a generous amount of oil and ghee. Thus, there are chances of stains.
Before you purchase a cooking vessel, ensure it is easy to clean and simple to work with. If you have a dishwasher, then you can look for the one that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. Also, you can opt for the one that has a non-staining feature.
Other Points to Consider
There are some factors that you ned to consider, though minor, but makes a huge difference in cooking and maintenance.
A lid : A lid with a cooking vessel will help ensure that the flavourful aromas are sealed in.
Versatile to cook and serve : The cooking vessel that you intend to purchase should be such that it is appealing enough to be used as a serving bowl as well.
Ideal for gas, induction and oven : Before you purchase the dum biryani vessel, ensure its compatibility, especially if you have cooking options like induction and oven.
Now before you go and buy the best briyani vessel, dont forget to read the following tips that will help to add an extra oomph to you biryani.
10 Awesome tips to cook the best biryani
A cooking vessel plays an important role in cooking a delicious dum biryani and we have plenty of other tips to amp up the level.
- If you want the rise to be fluffy with every grain separate, then make sure to presoak the rise before you start cooking. When the rice is ready to cook add clarified butter to a pan, followed by the rice, and sort it for a few minutes. after 3 to 4 minutes of sorting add water, cover and let it cook.
- Instead of cooking oil, use ghee to make the Biryani more flavourful.
- If you are cooking the non vegetarian biryani, make sure to marinate the meat with spices, salt and yoghurt for more flavours.
- Put sliced tomatoes at the bottom to avoid the biryani from sticking.
- To add more authentic flavours to your biryani, it is wise to grind the dry spices at home rather than depending on store purchased spice mixes.
- Before adding saffron to the biryani, soak it in a small quantity of warm water for about 15 minutes. Later, add the strands and water to the biryani.
- When you are making Dum Biryani in a clay or copper vessel, use pastry sheets to cover the top.
- One of the biggest mistakes that people make while cooking dum biryani is overcook it. Make sure to turn off the heat at the right time, which depends on your recipe and also the food ingredients. For example non vegetarian Biryani takes a lot of time when compared to vegetarian biryani.
Conclusion
One of the most popular authentic and traditional dishes in India is dum biryani. When you are trying to recreate the flavours at home, apart from the recipe, you also need to focus on the cooking vessel because it makes a lot of difference too.
We have mentioned some essential factors that you need to keep in mind while buying Dum Biryani cooking vessel like its shape, capacity, the material it is made out of, etc.
We have also done the research for you and reviewed some of the best vessels that you can consider buying to cook and enjoy lip smacking biryani.
