3CR12 OFFERS NEW SOLUTIONS TO AGE-OLD APPLICATIONS
Early humans made a breakthrough when the making and controlling of fire was invented. This was critical, not only for security and warmth but also provided new ways of preparing food. Since then, cooking has developed into a global industry and, as we all know, stainless steel plays an inherent part in this industry.
However, the original cooking style developed by early men is still very popular in the shape of what we know as a braai. Especially in South Africa where nearly every household has an area for fire making and cooking on coals or flame. We also find that virtually all participants in the art of braaiing have a design for the ultimate braai and finding the best design often leads to ‘heated’ arguments!
A METAL THAT KEEPS ITS COOL WHEN HOT
In the US there is also a trend towards portable camping braais and 4x4 enthusiasts in Texas seems to be very impressed by the latest South African braai export. This homegrown innovation is manufactured by a local entrepreneur and is made from another South African innovation, 3CR12 stainless steel. The product is designed to last a lifetime with a 100-year lifespan and creates a quality culinary experience. While the durability of 3CR12 is well known, this design makes use of 4.5mm thick 3CR12 material which is necessary to ensure even heat distribution throughout the cooking surface of the pan.
Thinner gauge pans often result in “hot spots” on the cooking surface leading to burning, and an unpleasant cooking experience, whereas stainless steel has a low level of thermal conductivity. 3CR12 also offers excellent strength retention and corrosion resistance at these high temperatures. A bonus is that this pan is strong enough to be inverted and could even be used as a base plate for a hi-lift jack when the owner gets his or her 4x4 vehicle stuck in sand!
The 3CR12 braai design also features a vertical rack for holding pans and gridsa bove the coals, a stainless steel grid with a foldable handle and a grilling pan made from 4.5mm 3CR12. The cooking utensils are suspended with friction and can hold a weight of 100kg should you wish to grill something of that size! Ideal for Texans!
FARMING
After inventing the controlled use of fire, humans moved on from being hunter gatherers and began domesticating animals and also learnt to start to grow crops.
This was the first human effort to ensure food security. Since then, farmers and gardeners have struggled to keep weeds out of the crops. In modern times this has been achieved with chemical solutions, but this approach also brought negative factors such an environmental impacts and the influence of these chemicals on human quality of life.
Globally, there is also a strong movement back to a more organic way of farming with less impact on the environment. At the wine farm Babylonstoren near Paarl in the Cape Winelands, a more environmentally friendly approach is being made possible with the use of stainless steel implements to farm the estate’s 3.5-hectare kitchen garden, which is modelled on the famous Company’s Garden in Cape Town.
In this garden, weeds are removed by traditional stirrup hoes. What is not so traditional, is that each of these hoes is completely made from 3CR12 and cleverly designed to have no welds. The swivel action of the blade makes it surprisingly easy to use, making weeding as easy as mopping a floor. The blade is self-cleaning and wear resistant since it is made of ‘workhorse like’ stainless steel! Old problem - new approach - Simply Brilliant!