Heritage Day is quickly approaching which means it’s time to dust off those braai tongs and ready your Weber because the best way to celebrate our shared South African heritage is with a good old-fashioned braai. Just in case the long winter, and the lack of good braai weather has caused you to forget the recipe for a good shisa nyama we’ve got you covered with this list of braai day essentials.
PriceCheck tip: Browse a range of braais and braai essentials online with PriceCheck now and make this a Braai Day to remember.
Braaing may be a time-old South African tradition, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the latest braai technology at your disposal for an epic braai come Heritage Day. There’s nothing wrong with a classic braai, but if we’re being honest, some of our most loved braai tools are looking a little dated. So, why not up your braai game with these gadgets designed to bring the much-loved past-time into the modern era?
PriceCheck tip: To find exactly what suits your needs, check out our PriceCheck Buyer’s Guide for Braais, highlighting everything you need to know about buying a braai in SA.
Check out our list of 8 must-have braai gadgets and gizmos to splurge on this Heritage Day:
A killer braai
It goes without saying that to have a cracker of a Heritage Day you will need a braai. Whether it’s a built-in braai, a kettle braai, or a gas braai, it’s essential to have a good-quality braai come 24 September. To get you started on your search for the best braai for your needs, we’ve put together a handy guide to the best braai options on the market.
For a universally good option, we love the Weber One-Touch Original & One Touch Premium:
PriceCheck tip: Outdoor lighting around the braai area is a crucial element of having a fantastic evening braai. Find the best deals on outdoor and garden lighting on PriceCheck.
The revolutionary Weber One Touch at the very centre of the whole kettle braai movement was recently updated to include Weber’s revolutionary Gourmet Braai System. This clever system has a grate with a removable centrepiece to which you can add a sear grate, wok or pizza stone.
The right tools
Just like any good chef needs a decent set of knives to get things done in the kitchen, a pro braai master needs a good braai set with all the right tools. Whether you’re looking to braai the perfect steak, flip those chops with ease, or keep a handle on the boerewors, a braai set will have just the utensil for the job.
PriceCheck tip: Find the best deals on tongs, thermostats, grid-tops, and other braai accessories and essentials on PriceCheck.
To get the job done right, we love the MegaMaster 3-piece Braai Set:
This affordable set includes all the braai utensil essentials in one convenient set. Including a 4-in-1 spatula, fork and tong, all with a stainless steel mirror finish and comfortable gripping handle, this set is a braai master’s best friend.
A braai chimney starter
Why bother struggling with getting your coals just right when you can have a little help? A simple gadget that makes a big difference, a braai starter is designed to help you get a fire going quickly. Just fill it with charcoal or briquettes, light it up with some fire-lighters, and you’ll have roaring flames in minutes.
The Weber RapidFire Chimney Starter gets the coals red-hot and ready in no time. The hollow metal cylinder design makes the tool super easy to use; simply fill the Chimney Starter all the way to the top with charcoal, place firelighters on the grill and then place the canister with the charcoal on top of the firefighters. When you’re ready to get cracking, light the firelighters and in 10 to 15 minutes you’ll have coals ready to roast. Easy as that!
“Ons gaan nou braai’ jokes aside, starting your braai three hours later than planned is the South African way, but if you have a hungry gang to feed and need coals in a jiffy, then the Weber RapidFire Chimney Starter is a great accessory to have on hand.
This chimney tube from Weber keeps the charcoal held close together in the tube, so you can start a fire from below using a firelighter cube or a few balls of scrunched up sheets of newspaper. As the fire burns upward, the stacked fuel becomes very quickly lit.
A Jaffle iron
No good braai is complete without braai sarmies. While you might think the secret to a successful braai is the meat, every South African knows the success of your braai is determined by the quality of toasties. If you’re serious about your toasties, you’ll want to invest in a good Jaffle iron that will get them done right every time.
For the perfect toasty we love the Oz Trail Jaffle Iron.
This jumbo Jaffle Iron is just the thing to get the perfect braai sarmie every time. Deep base and thick walls allow for uniform heat distribution while a secure wooden handle grip helps to reduce heat transfer and a long handle allows for easy placement into the coal bed.
Digital Meat Thermometer
Having a thermometer handy while you braai takes the guesswork out of cooking meat on the grill. A meat thermometer enables you to cook roasts, fillet and poultry at the correct temperature so you and your guests can enjoy succulent, moist meat cuts cooked to perfection.
If you’re looking for a fancy toy to up your braai game this Heritage Day then check out the Weber Audible Meat Thermometer. This high-tech meat thermometer speaks to you in five different languages and offers a visual and audible indication of the ‘doneness’ of your meat.
Another great digital option is the Weber iGrill 2 Thermometer. The Bluetooth-enabled thermometer makes it possible for outdoor cooks to monitor up to four different temperatures at the same time, which makes cooking all sorts of meat on the braai lot easier and more fun.
Beverage Chiller
PriceCheck tip: While the braai should always be hot, your drinks should be cold. Find the best deals on mini fridges and ice-makers on PriceCheck.
We’ve all been there; it’s time to crack open a cold one as you light the braai, but then it dawns on you; you forgot to put the beers in the fridge to cool! Fear not, a fast-acting beverage chiller can ensure you have ice-cold drinks in no time. Forget a wine or drinks fridge, this little gadget should be top of your must-buy list.
Check out the Cooper Rapid Beverage Chiller. This nifty little gadget makes sure you’ll always have ice-cold drinks at your braai. Anything from a 340ml can to a 740ml bottle of wine in under 7 minutes. Simply add ice and water, and the Cooper Rapid Beverage Chiller will do the rest.
A Good Grill cleaner
Of course, once the braai is done you’ll need something to make the cleanup that much easier. A good grill or oven cleaner will make light work of cleaning your grill.
For an easy way to clean your grill, we love Dr Beckmann Oven Cleaner.
This easy-to-use gel-based cleaner gives you the freedom to braai whenever the mood strikes. The powerful, fast-acting odourless Oven Cleaner Active Gel works to removes stubborn burnt-on food residues, encrustations, dirt and grease reliably. The powerful formula also clings to vertical surfaces, cuts through even tough baked-on food and is gentle to the material. Without aggressive or harmful vapours. It’s quick, convenient and perfect solution for braais, ovens, cooker tops, pots, grills, baking trays and fireplace panels too.
