The warmer months are here, which means you can bring out your beloved braai stand again! It’s time to pillage your garage or storage room and wipe the dust off your braai stand, or maybe just wipe off your already installed grill so that you can set up your braai area and stay prepared for those fun spring and summer chillas with friends and family.
Here’s how to set up your braai area:
1. Build your dream braai from scratch
If you don’t have a braai stand or would like to install an outside braai, you can opt to build your braai from scratch. Outside braais are usually made out of brick, stone, slate, granite or clay.
Whatever you choose, make sure you choose the best possible space to build your grill, keeping in mind the potential dangers of fires and smoke.
2. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher or a bucket of sand
House fires seem like an occurrence we only see in movies, but they happen in everyday life too, at a more common rate than we know.
It’s always good to be prepared for any potential emergencies by storing a fire extinguisher or a bucket of sand nearby.
3. Make sure your braai area has storage for utensils and charcoal/firewood
Add some practicality to your braai area by creating storage space nearby. This is where you can store utensils like tongs and also charcoal, firewood, gas or whatever material you’ll be using to light your grill.
4. Add a workspace nearby
Adding a workspace will make it easier for you to prepare food, so that you aren’t constantly walking back and forth to the kitchen to prepare your meals.
5. Consider making your braai eco-friendly
Although charcoal, firewood and gas are popular ways of braaing, they’re also the most pollutant. Grilling food in this way releases harmful gasses into the atmosphere and can be detrimental to the environment and your health.
Consider making your braai eco-friendly by using a pellet grill which runs on recycled wood pellets. Wood pellets are made from compacted sawdust and they are highly combustible.
Remember, it’s possible to have a great time while still prioritising your health and the environment.
6. Decorate your braai area according to your style
Setting up your braai area also includes adding your personal touch to it. It doesn’t have to look generic and boring, so get creative! Add some colour, add a deck if you’d like, and definitely grow some herbs and flowering plants nearby for use and aesthetic reasons.
Keep the above 6 tips in mind for creating your dream braai area, so that you can host friends and family with ease.
