Why Combo’s Braais Are So Popular

Great for flexibility and performance, a built-in combo braai offers a fantastic cooking experience. Blending the best of both charcoal and gas braai options, this multi-functional setup lets you choose your preferred cooking style or combine the two for maximum culinary creativity. Whether you’re searing a steak over gas flames, achieving a smoky char with charcoal, or doing both at once, a combo braai has become a very popular option to elevate your home entertaining.

Why a Combo Braai?

The combo braai gives you flexibility that’s hard to match with single-fuel braais. Here’s what makes it so popular among home chefs and entertainers:

Dual-Fuel Flexibility: It allow you to switch between gas and charcoal cooking in one convenient unit. Gas is ideal for quick cooking sessions, while charcoal offers the rich, smoky flavour of traditional braai cooking.

Versatile Cooking Techniques:  It lets you experiment with a range of techniques, including searing, grilling, slow-cooking, and even smoking. This versatility opens up endless possibilities for every meal or gathering.

Consistent Results: With the convenience of gas, you can maintain steady heat, ensuring even cooking, while the charcoal section lets you create more intense flavours and a rustic char that can’t be achieved with gas alone.

Year-Round Convenience: No need to wait for charcoal to heat up or limit yourself to only gas cooking; a combo braai is ideal for any weather and any occasion. It also integrates seamlessly into your home or outdoor area, ready to use at any time.

Choosing Between the De Luxe and Professional Models

Calore’s built-in combo braais come in two styles: the De Luxe and the Professional models. Each offers unique advantages:

De Luxe: The De Luxe model is ideal for everyday use, offering premium quality at an accessible price. Perfect for those who want a high-quality built-in braai with dual-fuel functionality for home cooking and entertaining.

Professional: The Professional model provides enhanced features and durability, designed for more frequent use and large-scale entertaining. If you’re a serious home chef or love to host large gatherings, the Professional model offers a step up in both quality and performance.

Both models are available in 1200 and 1500 sizes, allowing you to choose the setup that best fits your home space and cooking needs.

Built-In Combo Braai Sizes: 1200 vs. 1500

When selecting a size, consider the following:

1200 Size: Ideal for smaller spaces, the 1200 size is compact yet versatile enough to handle family meals and intimate gatherings. It’s perfect for those who want the flexibility of gas and charcoal without needing a massive cooking area.

1500 Size: The 1500 size is great for larger spaces and frequent entertainers. With a larger cooking area, you can handle multiple dishes at once, making it ideal for big gatherings. This model gives you even more room to experiment with different cooking techniques simultaneously.

Top 5 Tips for Combo Braais

1. Use Gas for Quick Cooking, Charcoal for Flavour: Gas heats up fast and is excellent for quick grilling of items like burgers, vegetables, or chicken breasts. For slower cooking or adding a smoky flavour, switch to charcoal, which provides that classic braai taste.
2. Combine Both for Maximum Flavour: One of the best things about a combo braai is using both gas and charcoal simultaneously. Start cooking meat on the gas side to sear it quickly, then move it over to the charcoal section to finish cooking and soak up the smoke. This technique combines the best of both worlds for flavour and efficiency. Once you have experienced cooking this way is hard to return to cooking as you had before.
3. Experiment with Wood Chips on Charcoal: For even more flavour, add wood chips to the charcoal side. Popular options like mesquite, hickory, or applewood impart unique aromas and flavours to your food, enhancing the smoky taste that’s a hallmark of the braai experience.
4. Control Your Heat Zones: With a combo braai, you have greater control over different heat zones. For instance, you can have a high heat area on the gas side for searing and a medium to low heat on the charcoal side for slow cooking. This versatility is perfect for cooking a range of items that require different heat levels.
5. Invest in High-Quality Charcoal: Because charcoal is all about enhancing flavour, choosing a high-quality, low-smoke option can make a real difference. Hardwood lump charcoal, for example, burns cleaner and provides a more intense, natural flavour compared to briquettes.

Maintenance Tips to Keep It In Top Condition

Maintaining it ensures it will deliver excellent performance and last for years. Here are some hot tips to maintenance you wish you had known sooner:

Clean After Each Use: Regular cleaning is key, especially since the braai has both gas and charcoal sections. Clear away grease, ash, and food particles after each cooking session. This helps prevent buildup and keeps the flavours fresh.

Check Gas Connections Regularly: Ensure all gas connections are secure and check for any leaks. A simple way to check is to apply soapy water to the connections; if bubbles form, there may be a leak that needs attention. Call a certified gas installation professional if you smell something that smells off to you and or you find bubbles after checking with a soapy sponge.

Empty Ash Trays: We know that the clean-up is not as fun as the braaing itself, but charcoal ash can accumulate quickly, so emptying the ash trays after each use to keep your braai operating efficiently. This also prevents clogging.

Cover When Not in Use: A high-quality cover protects your built-in braai from the elements, particularly if it’s located outdoors. This helps prevent rust and dust from accumulating, which can damage the unit over time.

Hosting Made Effortless

This addition to your home makes entertaining easy. Instead of switching between different cooking appliances or waiting for your charcoal to reach the right temperature, you have both options at your fingertips. Hosting becomes a breeze when you can quickly grill vegetables and sides on the gas side while slow-cooking meats over charcoal for that distinctive braai flavour.

Imagine a gathering where your guests enjoy the smoky aroma of grilling food while watching the flames dance. This culinary centrepiece creates such an inviting atmosphere that draws people together.

Why Is It The Ultimate Cooking Upgrade

Investing in this unit is about enhancing your entire entertainment experience, by creating a hassle free cooking and entertainment experience for everyone.  With Calore’s models, you’re getting a quality product designed for superior performance and reliability. It’s the ideal solution for those who love versatility in their cooking and enjoy hosting.

With this braai option you’re making an investment in quality time with family and friends, and creating a space where incredible meals and memories can be made.