A braai debate to clear the air.
There are many things South African agree about.
Kway jackets, Toyota Fortuners, Windhoek draught, Springboks, bushveld in the winter and beaches in the summer, Woolies rotisserie chickens and Seven Colour Sunday lunch. We all hate loadshedding and we all feel guilty when we need to wave and smile at the car guard instead of reaching out with that R5.
BUT – there is one thing we just can’t seem to agree on…
Kettle braai or Built-in braai?
Mzanzi loves a good debate, and this one has been raging ever since Weber and Big Green Egg came to town.
We can all at least agree that, if you have the time and access to good wood, real woodfire braai-ing beats charcoal every day. But this doesn’t solve our problem. Both Kettle- and built-in braais work fine with real wood.
What is the science behind kettle braais?
A kettle braai retains its heat well by building up heat under the lid. And circulating it through convection.
“The lower chamber that holds the charcoal is shaped like a kettle. The kettle shape is designed to distribute heat evenly, also reflecting heat off the curved lid back onto the food and restricting oxygen flow through the coals.”
This keeps your heat higher for longer, allowing for tricky braais like chicken or pork, which has a longer cook-time. Kettle-braais are also a bit more forgiving to novice braai-ers who don’t have the skills yet to gauge and manage heat and coals.
Kettle braais can also work wonders as a slow roasting space for larger cuts like whole filet or cuts of lamb.
Benefits.
- A kettle braai keeps heat, has a cover, and works well for smaller spaces. You can get tiny braais which fit on a balcony.
- Kettle braais are portable and ideal for renters, students or people who are planning on moving house. It’s not the commitment and expense of a massive built-in setup.
Downside:
- Unless you’re buying a bathtub sized braai you’ll never be able to serve church basaar numbers of people at once.
- The outside of the kettle also heats up and is unfortunately exactly at toddler head and hand hight. This means you need to keep an eye on the little ones.
How do built-in braais measure up?
Built-in braais come in many shapes and sizes. They’re usually counter high, with a fixed chimney and easily adjustable grill height. Other than that, they work exactly like any other type of braai.
Benefits:
- A built-in braai is, by definition, sheltered from the elements, and allows for year round braais.
- Built in braais are also (mostly) bigger than even some of the big kettle braais and give you space to have a constant fire on the one side and then rake the hot coals under your grill. This gives great heat control and variation.
- Big built in braais have enough space to prepare that one other thing we all love: Potjiekos!
- Built in braais are generally safer for kids and pets.
Downside:
- If you’re chimney and flue setup isn’t perfect, you could end up with a smoke-filled home.
- Unless you custom make something, built in braais don’t have the option of a tight fitting cover like a kettle braai, which means chicken and sosaties require much more management.
In the end. Your choice of braai depends on your lifestyle, space and budget.
If you have the resources, why not get both. Its more about the people you share your braaivleis with than the braai itself.
