For many people in South Africathe great outdoors is the first choice for a day out with family and friends. Any outdoor excursion, or even an opportunity for entertaining in the back garden, is the ideal time to enjoy the benefits of a charcoal braai. But first, let us discuss a few things about the South African braai and why it is that South Africans have been enjoying the unique taste of food prepared on a charcoal braai for generations.

Charcoal

Firstly, the preparation for the braaing process is extremely easy and will only take the cook and his or her helpers a couple of minutes. This process has become even easier in the past few years due to the fact that there is now a wider variety of choice of different charcoal briquettes and natural charcoal on the South African market. Each of the charcoal varieties has different burning times and the natural varieties lend the food a unique taste which many people enjoy.

Firelighters

Enjoying the benefits of a charcoal braai inSouth Africais today even easier than it has been in the past due to the many different types of firelighters on the market. There are both solid and liquid firelighters available, which makes the preparation for the braai almost hassle free.

The Charcoal Braaier and His Braai

One of the most important considerations when preparing to purchase a charcoal braai is to ensure that it is manufactured to the highest standards. This will allow the purchaser to be assured that they will be able to enjoy the benefits of this unique cooking method for many years.

The stainless steel charcoal braai, for instance, is well known, well liked and comes in numerous shapes and sizes. Stainless steel is highly weather resistant and with proper care a stainless steel charcoal braai will last many years. When purchasing a stainless steel charcoal braai always make sure that it has been produced by a manufacturer with a reputation for quality products, such as Cadac.

In order to fully enjoy the benefits of a charcoal braai, check to ensure that the model that you will be purchasing suits your individual lifestyle. There are a variety of different sizes and configurations of the charcoal braai and each is suited to the entertaining style and needs of individual households. Make sure that the braai has sufficient space to cook for large groups of people if you entertain regularly. If you are going to be moving the braai from place to place, for instance from the grass to the patio, always make sure that the model that you are purchasing is equipped with wheels which will make moving the unit that much easier.

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.

The summer holiday season is just around the corner and many children have already begun to think of variants on the “are e there yet” theme, while adults plan how best to fit everything that is required for a top notch holiday into the boot of the family car. Dads and Moms are also scouring the Internet for the best BBQ tips to make that first braai into an occasion to remember. There are a number of different common sense BB tips and hints that will not only make the summer braais more fun, but will also allow families to get the most out of their braais, without any extra mess and with a minimum of fuss and bother.

Firstly, when packing the braai don’t forget all the extras that you’re going to need to handle all that delicious food correctly. Make sure that you pack the braai tongs, spatula, long handled forks and other accessories that you’ll need to prepare that perfect braai. As far as BBQ tips go this one is possibly the single most important as it goes without saying that when you hire a fully equipped holiday home for the duration of the summer holiday you can be sure that at least one essential piece of kit will be missing from that kitchen draw.

Some other common sense BBQ tips include making sure that the gas cylinder is filled prior to leaving the house. Although you can always fill it when you get to your destination the amount of holiday makers at some of South Africa’s more popular destinations means that gas shortages can quickly become a reality. Also make sure that you’ve packed all the accessories that you need to use with the gas braai. Breakfast is not going to be a fun outdoor experience if you’ve left the skottle at home.

Each and every aspiring outdoorsman and woman fancies himself or herself as something of a gourmet chef. Very rarely ill you find a South Africawith access to a Cadac skottle and a gas cylinder willingly handing over the tongs to another aspiring culinary artist. Each and every one of these people has their favourite braai recipes which they ache to try out on a different group of family and friends when those long summer evenings settle onto the Highveld or hen the ocean breeze starts to sigh over the sands and the sun sneaks below the horizon. Give these braai masters half a chances and their interpretation of any one of the many classic braai recipes will find its way onto the gas BBQ.

Braai recipes today bear only a faint resemblance to those enjoyed only a few decades ago. Gone are the days he the most inventive braai recipes were those that called for Ostrich instead of the obligatory lamb chop and wors. Today braai recipes take in a wide variety of different foodstuff, including seafood, vegetable sosaties and even foods like pizza. In fact many of the braai recipes that can be found on the pages of the best selling recipe books would not even have been considered proper faire only a few years’ ago.

The braai recipes of today take into account the changing lifestyles of many South African’s ho are actively searching for recipes that feature leaner cuts of meat and more healthy options. Most of these outdoor enthusiasts know that there’s nothing wrong with a good steak, but might prefer that it b accompanies by a salad, or even some freshly cooked vegetables. Fortunately n cooking methods and the id availability of different fittings and accessories for today’s gas braai means that many chefs are choosing to cook delicious meals that will satisfy even the most health conscious or traditional guest.

If you had to approach any South African nature lover and ask him or her about the most essential piece of camping and picnicking equipment they possess it’s almost certain that they will answer that it’s the skottle and the unassuming blue gas cylinder that has allowed South African’s from every walk of life to enjoy the summer sun and evenings filled with the laughter of friends and family for over 60 years. A short history of the Cadac BBQ would encompass all the laughter and fun that have characterised the Cadac experience for generations ofSouth Africa’s.

The ubiquitous blue cylinder has become part and parcel of the South African fabric and it would be unthinkable to have an outdoor experience without the gentle hiss of a Cadac gas BBQ in the background. A history of the Cadac BBQ would tell of the many people who have memories of a childhood filled with long summer days and the smell of cooking ors or the sight of the sun peaking over the horizon as eggs and bacon sizzle on the skottle and the beach towels are packed for the days’ excursion and Mom calls to the kids for the daily application of sunscreen and hands out the peaked caps.

The history of the Cadac BBQ is not one of dry days on a chalkboard, or pages in the history books. It is a history built from the memories of the millions of South Africans who have made the small blue Cadac gas cylinder part of their lives and the sound of laughter combined with the smells and tastes of potato salad and ors rolls. The history of the Cadac BBQ will not be found in any library, but rather in the memories of the long days of summer and the mist filled early mornings when each day as filled with the promise of an African day.

Hands Free Cooking With The Versatile Kettle Braai

Many people are of the opinion that we have Americato thank for a variety of ills that plague modern society; the best example being that of junk food. But every now and again the United Statesproduces a product that is just so good at what it does, so simple and yet so elegant in design that it becomes an instant classic. The kettle braai is one of these products. The kettle braai is an instant classic and is today sold all over the world where (weather permitting) the outdoors life is embraced. Using a kettle braai to prepare your favourite cut and type of meat, as well as vegetables and even treats such as pizza is so simple that it leaves one scratching ones head as to why this simple, yet effective device has not been part of our lives for generations, especially in a country as braai crazy as South Africa.

The beauty of a kettle braai is that by using only a few briquettes, placing the meat on the grill and closing the hood one can have a delicious meal in a very short time. By following some simple instructions the entire process can be hands free. The meat does not require turning because of the heat convection in the kettle and therefore the most laborious part of the process is lifting the lid and conveying the food from the braai to the table. The kettle braai is also perfectly suited to cooking large cuts of meat such as a leg of lamb or whole birds such as chicken or duck.

The kettle braai can also be fitted with a flat non stick griddle that makes it perfect for cooking breakfast treats such as eggs, bacon, sausage and beans without the lid on. Make up your favourite pizza, place it on this griddle, replace the hood and you’ve got a pizza oven which would bring a smile to Mario and Luigi if you invited them over for a meal.

For more information on the usefulness of a kettle braai contact us.

Take On the South African Summer With A Wide Variety Of Outdoor BBQ Products

If you go down to the woods today you would probably find a group of South Africans taking advantage of the warmer weather by breaking out the braai goods and enjoying the ambiance that can only be created by lots of fresh air, good company and food prepared over and open fire or using a portable gas braai. Whichever one of these approaches you prefer the fact of the matter is that South African’s are lucky enough to have both the weather and the natural surroundings that make a day trip to the great outdoors an occasion to be savoured. Fortunately nature lovers also have a large selection of outdoor BBQ products to choose from that make each trip a day to remember for all participants.

The outdoor BBQ products that are most popular with South African’s are those which can be used to makeeach trip both easier and more fun. There are not many households inSouth Africathat do not have a gas cylinder and at least one, often more attachments for the cylinder. The gas cylinder is the foundation of many a memorable day out. It is without doubt one of the most versatile outdoor BBQ products on the South African market. With a minimum of fuss and bother a new attachment can be fitted to the cylinder, turning it from a steakhouse style grill into a skottle suitable for stir fries or preparing breakfast and even into a gas lantern for those summer nights.

For those who prefer their experience of nature to be more intense and who want to spend a few days camping in the great outdoors there are a number of outdoor BBQ products such as extremely light camping stoves that can be used on extended camping and hiking trips. These gas BBQ products feature disposable gas cylinders that simply screw onto the gas ring and can discarded once the hikers and campers reach civilisation once more.

The Joys Of Outdoor Cooking

Many people who spend a lot of time outdoors claim that sun and fresh air are the two most delicious spices that are available to whet the appetite. Outdoor cooking definitely lends a whole new dimension to any camping or hiking trip. Add to this the possibility of fresh fish or meat and vegetables and you have a firm foundation for creating a delicious meal. Outdoor cooking requires a little forethought if the chef is to provide those treats that will satisfy a hunger that has been sharpened by outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking or even simply family games in the South African sun.

Firstly there is the choice of just how to cook that delicious breakfast, lunch or supper. Many people prefer gas braais for this purpose as they are easy to assemble and do not require that the person who is responsible for the braai check on the fire every few minutes to ensure that it is at the correct heat for cooking. Outdoor cooking using a gas braai is as simple as twisting a valve, lighting the fire and placing your meat, fish or poultry on the braai. With a gas braai the temperature of the cooking surface can be altered simply and this ensures a meal that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

By using a gas braai for outdoor cooking the mess associated with using wood or briquettes is avoided and cleaning the braai surface is accomplished by using some household detergent. If the cook chooses to use the skottle attachment that is available for most gas braais this cleaning process is simplified even further as a quick wipe is all that is required to clean the non-stick surface of the skottle attachment.

The skottle attachment is one of the most useful additions to any gas braai. It can make the preparation of breakfasts a simple undertaking and can even be used to whip up a delicious stir fry or paella for those who want some variety in their outdoor cooking diet. The skottle is only one of the many attachments that can be purchased for a gas braai. There are also attachments that will allow the cook to produce an authentic potjiekos or a steak that would not look out of place if served at the very best steakhouses in the country.

No matter what your alfresco cooking requirements always insist on the best gas braai and accessories that you can obtain. Look out for recognised brand names such as Cadac that will ensure that you are getting outdoor cooking equipment that has been made with South African conditions in mind. Once you have what you need get out there and enjoy the sunshine.

The variety of outdoor BBQ products available in South Africa is enormous. If you would like some help in choosing the right product for your lifestyle then contact us.