Braaiing and Recipes

[Richprins]

Old school, okie!

[Dzombo]

I do not clean out the old wood-ashes from my braai . I prefer to leave the ash to remain , and build up a nice thick layer in the braai , and I make my fire on top of that .

To recap......
When my braai was first built, I tried lighting the fire (with charcoal) directly on the base slabs. But it didn't really get as hot as I wanted. So I got some mini grills and raised the coals about 1cm off the base. Good airflow underneath. So the coals burn well now. Maybe too well.
After the fire has died, I clean out the ash from underneath the grill.
Been doing the same with the wood.

So now.....
Should I have the wood directly on the base?
On the layer of ash?
Will airflow not be a problem?

[Dzombo]

@okie ....your input on my thoughts above please.

Do you think I can burn the logs on the base of the braai?
Or will I need to continue to need to use the mini grid as I have been?

[RobertT]

You should be able to burn them on base, we make fire on floors and in fire pits, even the braai’s in kruger have 3 or 4 small holes in them, but I think those are more so water doesn’t collect in there and cause them to rust. I would personally clean the ash after as it can blow onto meat if disturbed and also if braai is outside and can get wet.

[Dzombo]

You should be able to burn them on base,

My braai is quite enclosed.
Scroll back a few pages, and you will see I struggled with it initially.
Couldn’t get charcoal to burn properly until I started raising it on the mini grate.

[Dzombo]

You should be able to burn them on base, we make fire on floors and in fire pits,

This is my braai.
Charcoal didn't burn nicely if I put it straight on the base.

IMG_1882.jpg (111.47 KiB) Viewed 714 times

So I had to get these small grids for the bottom and it works fine now. Raises the coals so there is an airflow below.

IMG_2007.jpg (126.99 KiB) Viewed 714 times

My question is.
Would I be able to burn wood on the base and get decent heat?
I suppose only 1 way to find out

[Richprins]

Maybe drill a couple of air holes through the back wall right at the bottom?

[Lisbeth]

and get the wall of the house nicely black? There is already all the air that you want from the front. The problem is that it needs airflow underneath.

The wood is less compact than the charcoal, the air passes between the various layers, so it will probably work without the grill, especially if built up like a pyramid.

[Dzombo]

Dzombo , my friend .
You have a beautiful big braai there , and the size , about 3 ft wide , is almost big enough to spitbraai a whole lamb in it , but the large size also causes a lot of heat-loss for a small fire .

With hindsight I probably went a bit over board with the size.
Anyhow.....a bit late for that now.

[Dzombo]

Hey , nothing wrong with that You just have to manage it . And plan a great spitbraai for your next birthday

Yup, it's learning to manage it......

No braai for my bday - it's in November