The climate in Southern Africa is conducive to outdoor entertaining for most months of the year. Cooking an evening meal for friends and family on a patio or in the garden is entrenched in our lifestyles. Our Infiniti Fires Braai range caters for multiple cooking techniques, including roasting meat on a spit shaft or in a rotating basket, stir frying, or cooking breakfast and seafood on a braai plate. These have all become more popular as we modernise our braaiing culture. Ensuring you have a braai large enough for your catering requirements will ensure you have a more pleasant experience with your guests. Too small a braai could keep you cooking whilst everyone is enjoying their meal.
CHOICE OF GAS OR WOOD
95% plus of steak houses cook their food over a gas flame. Many of us frequent these places and walk away afterwards very satisfied. Provided the gas grill you are buying can achieve a decent temperature at maximum setting and has the ability to go right down to a simmer, you can cook anything you like over your gas grill, that you would have done over a wood fire. With a gas grill you switch the grill on to maximum setting and leave it running for about 10 minutes to warm up the rocks, or 2 minutes if you opt for the flame tamer plates. You can then turn it down to the heat you require and start cooking. Very easy, very quick.
With a wood or charcoal fire, it will take the fuel about 40 minutes to get going in the Ember maker or slightly longer if you are lighting in an Ember Tray. If you have a busy lifestyle and do not want to wait 40 minutes to braai, gas is the better option. If you have the time and don’t mind a little mess, then a wood/charcoal braai is better for you. If you would like to do both buy a combo braai, that comes with a charcoal and a gas section. You then have the best of both worlds.
CHOICE OF STEEL
Where you live and whether your braai is exposed to the elements will generally determine the material your braai should be made from. Live near the beach then you should buy a 316 St Steel braai for best corrosion resistance. 1km or further away from the sea and you could go down to a 304 St Steel. If the braai is further inland and exposed to the elements, your braai would last longer if it is made in 3Cr12 or better as opposed to mild steel.
The 3Cr12 can be polished if you want that stainless steel effect, alternatively painted black. The combination of the paint and the 3Cr12 is a good corrosion deterrent. Combinations of steel can also be used for aesthetic purposes.
FREESTANDING OR BUILT IN BRAAI
If you have a covered patio in your home this is your first choice for positioning your braai. This will either be a built in model with brickwork around it or a freestanding or wall mounted version with a steel flue through the roof to extract. Alternatively, a wheeled version that can be kept under cover and moved to the open air when cooking.
