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.

Since the Covid lockdowns and restaurant restrictions of the past few years, people have been cooking and entertaining at home more than ever and, with that, demand for more outdoor cooking options and more stylish equipment has increased dramatically.

Cooking techniques such as roasting meat on a spit shaft or a in rotating basket, stir frying, cooking breakfast and seafood on a braai plate, slow cooking joints of meat and even smoking food have all become more popular.

There has also been increased demand for higher quality and more aesthetically appealing braai finishes. 3Cr12, 304 and 316 St steel braais have grown in popularity, not only for the quality and style, but also because they solve corrosion issues near the coast.

Purchasing or specifying the right braai for your application is crucial to it meeting your needs in future.

First, consider the size of the braai you will need. Start with how many people you typically have at a braai and size your purchase for that number plus two. Then consider whether to choose a charcoal/wood or gas braai. Both options will provide great-tasting food.

• A gas braai heats up enough to start cooking 10 minutes after lighting it, which is great if you have a busy lifestyle. If you have lots of guests, gas braais also allow you to keep cooking for longer periods.
• A charcoal braai typically takes 30-40 minutes after lighting before it is hot enough to cook on. If you are buying a charcoal/wood braai, select a model with an ember maker. This will decrease the amount of time it takes to get wood/charcoal hot enough to cook on, and you can keep feeding hot embers to the cooking area for as long as you need to carry on cooking.
• A dual braai (gas and charcoal/wood) gives you the best of both worlds.
• Decide what steel your braai should be made from for good looks and long lifespan.
• Consider the options the braai gives for different types of cooking.
• Remember, a braai requires a chimney to operate well.
• Add a cupboard or storage space below the braai to keep your charcoal or gas bottle in.

Braais SA