Braai 101
Everything you need to know to braai like an ou toppie. Fire setup, the golden order, Klippies ratios, and a shopping list for your whole crew.
🔥 Fire Setup
The fire is the most important part of the braai. Get this wrong and everything else goes wrong with it. Here's what you need to know about wood vs coal and how to build a proper fire.
🪵 Wood
Traditional SA braai
FlavourSmoky & lekker
Heat up time45–60 min
Coal time60–90 min total
DifficultyMedium
Best forFull spread, low & slow
⬛ Charcoal
Faster & easier
FlavourMild smoky
Heat up time25–35 min
Coal time35–45 min total
DifficultyEasy
Best forQuick braai, steaks
🪵 How to build a wood fire
Step 1 — Firelighter base. Place 2–3 firelighters at the bottom of the braai. Do not use petrol. Ever.
Step 2 — Kindling tent. Stack thin dry sticks in a loose tent shape over the firelighters. Leave gaps for air — fire needs to breathe.
Step 3 — Bigger logs around the outside. Add your hardwood logs (sekelbos, rooikrans, or applewood for best flavour) around the kindling. Not on top — around.
Step 4 — Light and leave it. Light the firelighters and do not touch it for at least 15 minutes. Stop fanning it with your braai apron. Stop blowing on it. Leave it.
Step 5 — Wait for white ash. Only when the coals have a white-grey ash coating are they ready. Orange flames mean wait longer. This takes 45–60 minutes. Go have a Klippies.
Step 6 — Spread and lower the grid. Spread the coals evenly. Lower the grid to about 10–15cm above the coals. You are now ready to braai.
⬛ How to use a charcoal chimney starter
Step 1 — Stuff newspaper or a firelighter in the bottom of the chimney.
Step 2 — Fill the chimney with charcoal. No gaps needed — pack it in.
Step 3 — Light the bottom and place the chimney in your braai. It takes 20–25 minutes.
Step 4 — When the top coals glow orange and white ash appears, tip the coals into the braai and spread them. Done. Shap shap.
⏱️ How long before I can braai?
Wood: 45–60 minutes before the coals are ready. Start your fire as soon as guests arrive.
Charcoal (chimney): 25–35 minutes. More forgiving.
Charcoal (no chimney): 35–45 minutes.
The number one braai mistake in South Africa is starting the fire too late. Your guests are hungry. The fire is not ready. You are putting boerie on orange flames. Start the fire first. Then pour the drinks. Not the other way around.
👑 The Golden Braai Order
This is non-negotiable. Different meats need different heat and different time. Follow this order and everything comes off the grid at roughly the same time. Deviate and some people are waiting while others are done.
🍗 Chicken Pieces & Ribs
Low heat
45–60 min
These need the longest time and cannot handle high heat — they will burn on the outside and be raw inside. Start them when the coals are still building up heat. Turn every 10–15 minutes. Ribs can be pre-cooked in the oven for 45 minutes first to cut grid time in half.
🌭 Boerewors
Medium heat
15–20 min
The wors goes on when chicken has been on for 30–40 min. Medium coals, not too hot. Do not press the wors with tongs — you lose all the juices. Do not poke it. Do not cut it while it is cooking. Turn it once, gently. It is ready when it has colour all round and is firm to the touch.
🥩 Chops (Lamb & Pork)
Medium heat
12–18 min
Chops go on at the same time as wors. Lamb chops need about 6–8 minutes per side on medium-high heat. Season with salt only just before they go on — salting too early draws out moisture. Let them rest for 3 minutes after coming off the grid.
🥩 Steak
High heat
6–12 min
Steak goes on last because it needs the hottest coals and is served immediately — it does not sit and wait. High heat, sear for 3–4 min per side for medium rare. Only flip once. Rest for at least 3 minutes before cutting. If someone asks for well done, do it on a cooler edge of the grid.
🥪 Braaibroodjies
Dying coals
4–6 min
Braaibroodjies go on last while all the meat is resting. The coals are dying down — perfect gentle heat. Butter both sides of the bread, fill with cheese, tomato, and onion. Press on the grid. Flip once. They are done when golden brown and the cheese has melted. This is not optional.
🥃 The Klippies Guide
Klipdrift brandy and Coke is the unofficial drink of the South African braai. There are rules. They are not suggestions.
The Golden Ratio: 1 Part Klippies : 2 Parts Coke
Always a double. A single Klippies is an insult to the occasion. Standard pour at any respectable braai is a double (60ml) in a highball glass.
Ice first. Fill the glass with ice before you pour anything. The ice dilutes slightly and keeps it cold without watering it down too fast.
Brandy before Coke. Pour the Klippies over the ice first, then top with Coke. Never the other way around. Nobody knows why. Just do it.
Klipdrift Premium vs Export. Premium (the red label) is slightly smoother and better for mixing. Export (the gold label) is for when you want everyone to know you mean business.
How many to buy: Budget 3 doubles per person for a full braai session. For a big crew, one 750ml bottle of Klippies does about 8 doubles.