Archive for December, 2011

For many South Africans the taste and experience of outdoor cooking using a braai makes this method of preparing food extremely popular. There are just as many different types of braais, from gas to wood and charcoal variants as there are places to enjoy a braai experience. One of the attributes that most braais share is that they are constructed from stainless steel. A stainless steel braai is weather resistant and with correct care will continue to make an important contribution to any meal held out of doors for many years.

The variety of different stainless steel braais available inSouth Africais simply staggering and for the first time buyer the choices can be bewildering. There are some common sense precautions to take when selecting the braai which will ensure that the buyer purchases a quality product.

Firstly it is important to make sure that all the components of the braai are in fact manufactured using stainless steel. Many of the entry level or less expensive braais can feature aluminium in either the construction or in the fastenings used to hold the braai together. These aluminium components can deteriorate over time especially when exposed to sea air, so if the braai is going to be used at a holiday home on the coast the buyer should always ensure that all parts of the braai are constructed from stainless steel.

If the buyer will be purchasing a gas braai, care should be taken to ensure that all fittings are either manufactured from stainless steel or other high quality materials. The portable gas braai should feature stainless steel as one of the main construction materials, as the wear and tear of transporting, disassembling and reassembling the braai can put a lot of strain on the various components. The high tensile strength of stainless steel braai components will ensure that the braai is robust enough to survive the knocks and bumps of transportation and constant handling.

In South Africathere are two very definite schools of thought when it comes to the outdoor barbecue or braai as it is colloquially known. First you have the traditionalists who claim numerous benefits of charcoal braais, such as the flavour that the burning wood lends to the finished food and then you have the new breed of outdoor cooking enthusiast, those who prefer gas braais.

Those who prefer gas are enthusiastic about the cleanliness of cooking with gas, as well as the ability to make fine adjustments to the cooking temperature. The many braai enthusiasts who make use of gas barbecues rather than wood fired or charcoal braais also appreciate the fact that cooking can commence when the cook and guests prefer, rather than waiting for the fire to be ready.

There are a variety of different charcoal braais that are available inSouth Africa. The smaller models can be broken down for transport and erected when they are required for cooking. One of the benefits of the most popular models of charcoal braais in use today is that they are designed to offer the cook a hands free experience during the braai process. This is made possible by replacing the lid of the kettle braai once the charcoal is ready and the food that is being prepared has been placed on the grill surface. These kettle braais can be used to prepare a variety of different meals. Kettle braais can also use different types of wood shavings that will lend the meat, poultry or seafood that is being prepared a smoky, distinct flavour.

The taste that is imparted to the food by placing wood shavings in the charcoal kettle braais can also be achieved through a similar process that can be employed with gas braais that have a lid that can be closed during the cooking process. By using this process the users of gas braais can enjoy the benefits of charcoal braais without the mess or extensive preparation of the wood or charcoal fuelled fire.

Every aspiring outdoor cook wants to be able to control the temperature of the cooking surfaces that they are using to create the perfect meal for friends and family. With the simple BBQ gas burner this control is as simply as turning a knob on the gas cylinder which regulates the flow of gas to the BBQ gas burner, no more chuck keys to get lost and ultimate ease of use.

Many of the larger gas barbecues allow the user to set the heat of each individual gas burner. The Meridian BBQ range from Cadac for instance, can be purchased with a number of gas burners. The modular nature of these larger gas barbecues also allows for the use of attachments such as a wok or even a cooking stone for pizza. The heat supplied by the gas burner to each of these attachments is individually adjustable and it is therefore possible to cook a variety of different foods at the same time using adjustable temperature controls.

The smaller portable gas barbecues that have only one BBQ gas burner can also make use of a variety of different attachments to make the cooking experience both more fun and more productive. These units are perfect for use during a camping trip or even a day spent on the beach. The attachments that are fitted to the BBQ gas burner can include skottle that makes cooking breakfast fast and hassle free, or a solid iron attachment that is perfect for producing mouth watering steaks.

The choice of whether to purchase a patio style barbecue that uses multiple gas burners or a portable model that relies on a single BBQ gas burner to produce delicious meals depends on the requirements of the individual cook and their preferred lifestyle. The addition of a variety of different attachments for use on the BBQ gas burner has made it possible to enjoy a gourmet cooking experience while still taking advantage of the clean and easy to use qualities of a gas barbecue.

During South Africa’s long hot summers, the outdoors is one of the best places to entertain both family and friends. For many homeowners the patio is the ideal place to enjoy the weather while still having access to all the comforts of home. These homeowners often choose a patio gas BBQ as the solution to providing delicious meals during the summer.

There are two choices when it comes to selecting which patio gas BBQ would suit the individual lifestyle requirements of the individual homeowner. The first of these is the built in patio gas BBQ. The built in models of gas BBQ are useful for entertaining large amounts of visitors due to the fact that the different models can be purchased in almost any configuration. This means that the homeowner / entertainer can choose the number of gas burners and other accessories to make each opportunity for outdoor cooking into a real occasion.

The outdoor patio gas BBQ can be purchased with gas burners that can be individually controlled, making the cooking of various types of meat, poultry and seafood much easier than would be the case with the traditional wood or charcoal burning BBQ variants. The patio gas BBQ can also feature warming drawers, a rotisserie and multiple cooking surfaces which are set at different levels allowing each different food to be cooked at a different rate. This is especially useful in those models which feature a stainless steel lid which can be closed to provide a hands free cooking experience.

A patio gas BBQ set can also consist of a small, portable gas cylinder and attachments, allowing the BBQ unit to be used both at home and packed up and used during daytime excursions and even during camping and hiking excursions. The portable gas BBQ units are extremely attractive and versatile, allowing then to be used both on the patio and elsewhere with a minimum of set up time.