By Trisha Harinath
Over the recent years, the braai has evolved from a simple structure used together with wood or charcoal into a mobile kitchen found in most South African homes.
As the South African braai market expands at a rapid rate, the industry players are constantly looking for ways in which they can provide consumers with state of the art braais and accessories.
Many years ago, the only way to braai was by using a standard braai stand together with charcoal or wood. However, today the market has blossomed to such a degree that manufacturers of braais have found ingenious ways of designing and creating braais that operate using gas, wood, coal, combinations of gas and coal, built-in braais, freestanding units as well as portable braais.
With such an impressive range of units on the market, it can sometimes be rather daunting to find one that bests suits your lifestyle. Wood or charcoal braais take time to use and are perfect for entertaining guests and relaxing. However, if you prefer to get your braaing done in a speedy manner, gas braais are the way to go.
“Gas braais are becoming more like a mobile kitchen incorporating solid grilling plates, separate pot burners, complete with rotisseries and dome options,” advices MC Garrett of Multibraai.
Kevin Diamond, from Jetmaster, adds that some of the latest innovations regarding braais are the dual combination units that offer users the option of braaing with gas or wood or both. “The dual braai range offers you the advantage of traditional charcoal-cooked food with the added options of gas cooking without having to make any time consuming conversions.
When choosing the actual braai unit, consumers basically have three options – built-in braais, freestanding units and portable braais. According to Jo-Mari van Deventer, of Fire and Gas Lifestyles, built-in braais consist of braai boxes and flues that are bricked into a wall whereas freestanding units can either refer to trolley braais (on wheels), table braais with legs or units that can be put onto a table or slab. Portable braais on the other hand are normally easy to move around and allow for different braai areas, making them ideal for users that like to braai at various venues.
Pieter Mongie, of Hyper Lighting and Fires, explains that the longevity of a braai is directly linked to its maintenance and using it in the correct manner. “Things like making the fire in the ember-maker and not in the ashpan, having a high chimney, properly greased cowls and treated grills and units will undoubtedly ensure the longevity of your braai unit,” says Pieter.
In the case of a portable unit, it is handy to purchase a vinyl cover as this will protect the braai if it is exposed to harsh elements.
So whether you prefer a wholesome open-fire braai or a more state of the art one, the South Africa braai industry definitely has one that will suit your individual tastes and needs.
