Sih (Tandir Bread Hook)

A long metal hook used to reach into a clay tandir oven to retrieve baked flatbread from the hot inner wall without the baker having to reach in by hand.

Material & Construction

A single length of steel rod, bent into a hook at the working end, long enough to reach the full depth of a standing clay oven.

Traditional Uses

Lifting finished non (bread) off the tandir's inner wall once baked, and occasionally repositioning loaves mid-bake for even color.

Modern Availability / Equivalents

Long-handled tongs or a wooden peel serve a similar retrieval function where a dedicated hook isn't available, though neither matches the hook's precision for wall-baked bread.

Care & Maintenance

Wipe clean of ash and dough residue; being plain steel, it benefits from a light oiling if not used frequently, to prevent rust.