TL;DR
Why 3-Leg Pots Don’t Work Indoors
A 3-leg potjie is designed for fire — the legs lift the pot above coals, heat reaches the entire bottom evenly. On a flat stove the legs sit on the burner pan, heat reaches only a small contact ring, and most of the pot bottom is suspended in air → severe heat unevenness, burn at the centre.
The Big5 Bon Voyage 3-Leg Cast Iron Potjie Range
Big5 manufactures the full traditional South African potjie range right here in SA. 8 sizes from family-of-2 to event-of-50:
| Size | Capacity | Best For | Price (ZAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1/4 | ~1 L | Side dish for 2–3 | R249 |
| No. 1/2 | ~2.5 L | Family of 4 | R419 |
| No. 2 | ~6 L | Family of 8 | R699 |
| No. 3 | ~9 L | Family of 12 | R749 |
| No. 4 | ~14 L | Event of 20–25 | R1,399 |
All sizes are cast iron, requiring seasoning before first use. See our step-by-step potjie seasoning guide.
When To Buy Each
| Cooking Setting | Best Pot |
|---|---|
| Indoor gas hob | Flat-bottom heavy aluminium |
| Indoor electric coil | Flat-bottom heavy aluminium |
| Indoor induction | Sandwich-bottom SS only |
| Outdoor fire / braai | Bon Voyage 3-Leg Cast Iron Potjie |
| Outdoor gas burner | Either flat-bottom Al or 3-leg cast iron |
A Common SA Setup
Many SA households own both: a 3-leg cast iron potjie in the garage for braais, and a flat-bottom heavy-aluminium 10pc set indoors for daily pap, samp, stew. Trying to use one for both leads to compromises.
Recommended SKUs
FAQ
Where can I buy a 3-leg cast iron potjie pot in South Africa? Big5 Cookware manufactures the Bon Voyage 3-Leg Cast Iron Potjie locally in 8 sizes (No. 1/4 to No. 4). Buy direct at big5cookware.co.za, on Takealot, or in Pick n Pay / Checkers / Makro.
What size potjie do I need? No. 1/2 (~2.5L) for family of 4. No. 2 (~6L) for family of 8. No. 3 (~9L) for 12 people. No. 4 (~14L) for events 20–25. See our complete potjie pot size guide with full chart.
How do I season a new potjie pot? Wash once with soap, dry completely, heat on fire until very hot, rub oil inside, burn off. Repeat 3 times. See our full seasoning guide.
Related Reading
Lovely cutlery set. Recommended 100%
the don't burn food easy to wash.price is affordable
Excellent quality and easy to install. The castors are incredibly big and strong, 2 have brakes. Perfectly to place my counter top braai on, and the gas cylinder underneath. As elegant as the picture.
It doesn't burn my food, I love the product, I can recommend it to anyone
