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OnlyBraais
📝 The comprehensive library of braai

Tips & tricks

The Basics & Etiquette

  • At what time should guests expect to eat at a braai?
  • How does a braai differ from an American barbecue?
  • Is a gas braai considered a real braai?
  • Is it acceptable to give advice to the Braaimaster?
  • What does 'chop 'n dop' mean?
  • What is a 'braai pie'?
  • What is a 'bring and braai'?
  • What is a 'tjoppie'?
  • What is a braai?
  • What is the role of the host at a 'bring and braai'?
  • When is National Braai Day in South African culture?
  • Who is the 'Braaimaster'?

Equipment & Tools

  • Can I use an onion to clean the grid?
  • How do I clean a braai grid?
  • How do I season a brand-new cast iron braai grid?
  • How do you prevent a steel braai grid from rusting?
  • Should I use a fork to turn meat on the braai?
  • What is a 'baster' brush used for?
  • What is a 'potjie' and do I need a separate stand?
  • What is a smartphone meat thermometer used for at a braai?
  • What is a turn-grid used for?
  • What is the essential 'Braai Kit'?
  • What is the etiquette regarding the person holding the tongs?
  • Why are heavy-duty leather gloves useful for a braai?
  • Why is a hinged grid superior for a traditional braai?
  • Why should you keep a spray bottle of water or beer near the braai?
  • Why shouldn't you wash hot cast-iron cookware with cold water?

General tips

  • How do you instantly lift grease from a braai grid?
  • What are the most popular cuts of meat?
  • What is 'Sosaties'?
  • What is the golden rule of hosting a braai?
  • Why should I 'rest' the meat after cooking?
  • Why should wooden skewers be soaked before use?
  • Why should you oil the grid before cooking delicate foods?

The Fire & Fuel

  • How can coarse salt minimize fat-induced flare-ups?
  • How can you inject a quick burst of intense smoke into your braai?
  • How do I build the perfect fire?
  • How do you put out a braai fire when finished?
  • How do you test coal temperature using your hand?
  • How long should I wait for the coals to be ready?
  • How should you manage coals that are too hot or cooling too quickly?
  • What does a 'kontakie' refer to in fire lighting?
  • What is the best wood for a braai?
  • What is the difference between using lump charcoal and briquettes?
  • What is the hand test for checking coal temperature?
  • When should I use briquettes instead of lump charcoal?
  • Why do some people add wet wood chips to charcoal?
  • Why is it important to use bone-dry wood for a braai?
  • Why is Sekelbos wood so popular for braaing?
  • Why should you allow the walls of a built-in brick braai to warm up?
  • Why should you clean your ash pan before starting a new fire?
  • Why should you never use petrol or mineral turpentine to start a fire?
  • Why should you use high-quality, paraffin-free eco-firelighters?
  • Why shouldn't you fan charcoal aggressively before placing meat down?

Wood

  • Can I use pine wood to build my braai fire?
  • How should wood be packed for optimal airflow and ignition?
  • What type of wood adds a sweet smoke profile to pork or poultry?
  • What type of wood is best for a long-lasting bed of coals?
  • When is the wood ready for braaing?
  • Which wood is best for braaing on windy days?
  • Which wood is ideal for a quick braai?
  • Why should you avoid using treated wood, pine, or softwoods?
  • Why should you keep a small stack of extra wood burning on the side?

Beef

  • Can I braai a whole fillet of beef successfully?
  • How can I enhance the crust on my braaied beef?
  • How do I cook the perfect thick-cut rump steak?
  • How do you braai a beef brisket without it becoming tough?
  • How do you braai beef short ribs so they don't become rubbery?
  • How do you prevent homemade beef patties from doming up on the braai?
  • How long should beef be rested after braaing?
  • How long should steaks be left at room temperature before braaing?
  • How should a beef ribeye steak be braaied?
  • How should a T-Bone steak be positioned on the braai grid?
  • How should beef fillet be braaied to prevent it from drying out?
  • How should beef sirloin be prepared and braaied?
  • How should beef sosaties be prepared and cooked on a braai?
  • How should beef wors be cooked on a braai?
  • How should raw beef ribs be prepared and braaied?
  • How should rump steak be cooked on a braai?
  • How should skilpadjies be braaied to avoid burning?
  • How should steak be cut after cooking?
  • How should the fat cap on rump or sirloin steaks be rendered?
  • How should thick steaks be seared on a braai?
  • Should boerewors be pricked with a fork before cooking?
  • Should I oil the meat or the grid when braaing?
  • What are the ideal core temperatures for braaied beef?
  • What is a good finishing touch for rested steaks?
  • What is the best way to braai a whole beef fillet?
  • What is the difference between rump and sirloin on a braai?
  • What is the ideal heat for braaing boerewors?
  • What should you do if a steak is sticking to the braai grid?
  • When and how should steaks be seasoned for a braai?
  • Why are thick-cut steaks better for braaing than thin ones?
  • Why is boerewors the 'king' of the braai?
  • Why is marbling important when selecting beef for a braai?
  • Why should boerewors be kept in its coiled shape?
  • Why should you never prick boerewors with a fork?
  • Why should you press a dimple into homemade burger patties?
  • Why should you use tongs instead of a fork when braaing steak?

Lamb

  • At what internal temperature should pork chops be removed from the fire?
  • How are lamb tails (skaapstertjies) braaied?
  • How do I stop lamb chops from flaring up on the fire?
  • How do you braai lamb ribs to properly render the fat?
  • How do you prepare and braai a leg of lamb?
  • How do you use a hinged grid to crisp the fat on lamb chops?
  • How long should a leg of lamb rest before carving?
  • How long should lamb sosaties be marinated?
  • How should ingredients be cut when making sosaties?
  • How should lamb loin and rib chops be braaied?
  • How should lamb riblets be braaied?
  • How should lamb sosaties be braaied to prevent the marinade from burning?
  • How should lamb wors be braaied?
  • How should pork or lamb roasts be sliced?
  • How should pork ribs be prepared before braaing?
  • What herbs are best used as a basting brush for lamb?
  • What is 'Skaapstertjies' and how are they prepared?
  • What is a traditional seasoning mix for lamb chops?
  • What is the best heat level for braaing lamb chops?
  • What should you do if lamb chops cause rapid flare-ups?
  • Why should lamb never be served ice-cold?

Chicken

  • How can brining make braaied chicken juicier?
  • How can you successfully braai a whole chicken?
  • How do I get the skin on my braai chicken completely crispy?
  • How do I prevent chicken from burning on the outside while staying raw inside?
  • How do you flatten a whole chicken for the braai?
  • How do you get maximum crispiness on chicken skin?
  • How do you prepare and braai a spatchcock chicken?
  • How do you prepare and braai chicken sosaties?
  • How should chicken thighs and drumsticks be braaied?
  • How should chicken wings be braaied?
  • Should chicken be braaied skin-side up or down first?
  • What is the best heat level for braaing chicken?
  • What is the safe internal core temperature for braaied chicken?
  • Why is a flatty (spatchcock) chicken ideal for a braai?
  • Why should chicken pieces be basted continuously?

Braaibroodjies & Breads

  • How do I bake a 'Potbrood' (pot bread) on the braai?
  • How do you bake potbrood on a braai?
  • How do you make and braai the perfect braaibroodjie?
  • How do you make garlic bread on a braai?
  • How is a traditional potbrood baked on a braai?
  • What ingredients go into a traditional braaibroodjie?
  • What is a 'braaibroodjie'?
  • What kind of cheese is best for a traditional braaibroodjie?
  • When is the best time to cook braaibroodjies?
  • Why do people butter the outside of a braaibroodjie?
  • Why should you butter the outside of a braaibroodjie?

Pork

  • How can you cut through the richness of pork chops during a braai?
  • How do I braai pork ribs so they are tender?
  • How do you braai oepsies without burning the bacon?
  • How do you braai pork rashers for a golden-brown crunch?
  • How do you get perfect crackling on pork belly slices?
  • How do you prepare and braai pork spareribs?
  • How should pork bangers be braaied?
  • How should pork chops be braaied to prevent drying out?
  • How should pork rashers be braaied?
  • What types of wood are good for adding smoky flavor to pork?

Potjie

  • How do you execute a traditional potjie?
  • How should a potjie sound while cooking?
  • How should ingredients be layered in a traditional potjie?

Rubs & spices

  • When should dry rubs and wet bastes be applied to meat?
  • When should sugary basting sauces be applied during a braai?

Salads & Slaws

  • When should side salads and slaws be dressed?

Sauces & Marinades

  • What makes a good Greek-style splash marinade for lamb chops?
  • When should a rich BBQ glaze be applied to chicken legs?
  • When should I apply marinade or basting sauce to my steak?
  • Why should you avoid marinating lamb in acidic marinades for too long?

Seafood

  • How can mayonnaise prevent fish from sticking to the grid?
  • How can you prevent delicate line fish from breaking on the grid?
  • How can you steam delicate white fish on a braai?
  • How can you use charred lemons with fresh fish?
  • How long should Snoek be braaied on the skin side?
  • How long should whole prawns be braaied?
  • How should a whole trout be stuffed and braaied?
  • How should calamari be braaied?
  • How should prawns be prepared and braaied?
  • How should traditional Snoek be glazed and braaied?
  • What is a 'Snoek' and how is it traditionally braaied?
  • Why does seafood need to be watched closely on the braai?
  • Why shouldn't you crowd fish on the braai grid?

Sides & Accompaniments

  • Can I cook mushrooms on a braai grid?
  • Can I cook vegetables directly on the coals?
  • How can you roast whole sweet potatoes or butternut in the embers?
  • How do I prepare 'Mielies' (corn on the cob) on a braai?
  • How should whole sweetcorn (mielies) be braaied?
  • Is pap (maize porridge) a staple side?
  • What is 'Chakalaka' and how is it served?
  • What is 'Krummelpap' and how does it differ from normal pap?
  • What should be served with hot maize porridge (pap)?
  • When should side salads and starches be prepared for a braai?

Vegetarian & Vegan

  • How do you prepare and braai stuffed mushrooms?
  • How should vegetarian items be handled on a braai?

Venison

  • How do you prevent a venison roast from drying out on the braai?
  • How should venison steaks be braaied?
  • How should venison wors be braaied?
  • Is venison (game meat) good for a braai?
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