There are four things you should know when looking to buy a built-in-braai
1 SIZE
Size really does matter. Well when it comes to built-in braai’s, at least. Most braai’s will indicate their length as part of their name. This built in braai guide will hopefully help on your way to your next outdoor space adventure!
700-800cm
Good for a small family or group of friends.
5+ people
1000cm
Good for a slightly larger family and those who entertain some friends on occasion.
8+ people
1200cm
Ideal if you are close with the in-laws and there are more hungry mouths at the table.
11+ people
1500cm
You often have large gatherings and braai is always on the agenda.
14+ people
2 COMPONENTS
Why settle for a knife when you can have a Swiss army knife? Depending on what built in braai range you purchase you can get additional accessories that make your life more complete. Here are some of the important accessories to be aware of including in our built in braai guide. Hover over the plus signs to see what they are!
- Ember Maker
- Collar
- Ash Pan
- Flue Pipe
- Spit Arm & Motor box
- Potjie Hook
- Light Fitting
- Spade
- Heating Tray
- Grid
- Warming Rack
- Bread oven
- Cowl
3 WOOD, GAS or fUSION BUILT IN BRAAI OPTIONS
This will all depend on your cooking style and if you have a need for ease of use, speed or the traditional long form process of building a fire, or both!
Wood only built in braais
This takes more prep work but you have a very large grill size and can really cook for a large group of folks. The Jetmaster 1000 entertainer is a high quality option.
Gas built in braais*
Ideal for mid week braai’s where time is limited. Just remember to add smoking planks to flavour your food correctly. These are great to create different temperatures too depending on how many grills they have. The Chad-o-chef entertainer is a great example.
Fusion built in braais
These are great if you often cook a large variety of foods in one go and don’t need to flavour everything. Just remember you have two smaller grill surfaces now. Homefires are known for their awesome fusion built in braais, including this one.
*Remember you also get built-in table top braai’s for gas version.
4 FLUE PIPES
Flue pipes are essential to the built-in braai system. They attached to the top of the built-in braai and guide noxious smoke away from you and your home. See below to understand the anatomy of a flue pipe. When buying a built-in with us, we provide the available options specific for each braai. So you just have to click the drop down to ad them.
FLARE
These are attached to the top of the built-in braai. This is where the flue can be attached. If the built-in don’t come with a Flare then a Base flue pipe is used which comes with a Flare attached.
FLUE PIPE
are the main components used to drive smoke away from eh house. Ensuring healthy ventilation and can help against accidental fires. They can be rectangular or round.
COLLAR
Collars enable you to extend the flue pipe by attaching another one to it one. Some flue pipes come with collars while other need to be purchased separately.
COWL
These are hood shaped coverings on-top of the flue pipe. The protect the built-in from rain and prevent down drafts. Most have the ability to rotate according to the wind to further ensure no down drafts.
4 FINAL THOUGHTS FOR YOUR BUILT IN BRAAI GUIDE
When buying a built-in braai, the most important considerations are durability, fuel type, size, ventilation, and how it complements your lifestyle. A stainless steel or cast-iron build ensures long-lasting use, while choosing between gas, wood, or a combination depends on whether you value convenience, flavour, or both. Proper airflow and flue design are crucial for safe and efficient cooking, and the unit should fit seamlessly into your space. For example, I chose a built-in braai that combines gas and wood, giving me the efficiency of quick weekday grilling on gas with the rich, smoky flavour of wood for weekend gatherings. To end this built in braai guide, here at Braai Culture we have a ton of great options for you to choose from!
If you need any assistance, contact us, we love talking braai and helping you design your perfect outdoor living experience!*
