Best Raclette Grills

Buying guide for best raclette grills

A raclette grill is a unique type of appliance that brings a more social aspect to food preparation. Named after a popular melted Swiss cheese dish, raclette grills can cook more than just melted cheese. In fact, you can prepare many different foods on these versatile grills.

A typical raclette grill has two tiers with separate cooking areas. One area melts the cheese, while the larger top surface cooks other foods to add to the dish. The grills come in different sizes, so it’s important to think about how large a raclette grill you want or need.

Raclette grills are common at gatherings where preparing the food is meant to be a social experience.

Key considerations

Style

Many raclette grill manufacturers make different styles. Quite often, a grill’s size and style are interconnected, meaning some styles are better suited for large groups of people than others.

• Basic: Basic and standard models are great for homes or apartments where space is limited. These grills have a smaller cooking surface, typically with a nonstick coating, are best for beginning grillers and small families.

• Tabletop: Tabletop and party-style raclette grills are better suited to larger groups. In addition to a larger cooking surface, many of these models have a more powerful heating element and a higher-quality cooking surface.

• Premium: A few advanced raclette grills come with unique features. In addition to a larger cooking surface, these grills can include deeper pans, fondue attachments, or accessories for different desserts.
   

Size

Since the style of the raclette grill partly depends on the size of the cooking surface, it’s easy to find a grill that suits your needs. First, give some thought to the number of people you want to cook for. The size of the surface determines how much food you can prepare at one time.

• Small: Smaller raclette grills can handle enough food for two to four people. This family-size grill is a good pick for indoor use if you have limited table space. The smaller cooking surfaces also tend to have specialized designs, such as a flat spot cooking crepes.

• Large: The larger cooking surface on the biggest raclette grills can accommodate food for up to a dozen people. Given the size, these grills are intended to be used outdoors or in a larger home. In addition to the larger size, some of these raclette grills have a partitioned cooking surface that makes it easier to cook different foods at the same time.

Raclette grill features

Heating element

Most raclette grills have electric heating elements underneath the cooking surface. The power of the heating elements influences how quickly the grill can cook the food. If you’re looking for a capable grill, you need to pay attention to the type and power of the heating elements.

• Watts: The heating elements are measured in wattage. The size and design of the raclette grill largely influences the power of the heating element. Most grills meant for eight or more people have heating elements within the 1,000- to 1,500-watt range.

• Temperature control: One luxury feature on many raclette grills is variable or adjustable temperature control. Since some grills can take a while to heat up, variable temperature control makes it easy to set a precise temperature. Different temperatures also expand the grill’s ability to cook different foods.
   

Cooking surface

The surface of a raclette grill is where the real magic happens. The right cooking surface makes it easier to prepare different types of foods. More importantly, the surface can also make cleanup quick and painless.

• Nonstick: Nonstick grilling surfaces are the best choice for simple cleanup after grilling. Teflon and ceramic are the most common non-stick surfaces on raclette grills.

• Granite: You’ll commonly find a granite cooking surface on more expensive raclette grills. Granite is efficient because the heat spreads evenly across the entire surface. But while the heat is uniformly distributed on granite, these grills don’t heat up to as high a temperature as Teflon or ceramic surfaces.
   

Extras

Like other types of grills, there are plenty of accessories and tools you can use to make your raclette grilling experience better. Many grills come with extras and add-ons to make your grilling quicker and more efficient.

• Pans: Most raclette grills come with a number of pans or paddles for the bottom tier. These pans or paddles are for melting cheese and heating up other liquids or sauces while the food grills on the top surface.

• Tools: Some extra tools are perfect if you’re using a raclette grill for the first time. For example, a high-quality spatula comes in handy for moving and flipping food on the grilling surface.

• Reversible grill top: A reversible grill top is also convenient if you need multiple cooking surfaces, such as a flat side and a grill side.

Raclette grill prices

Given their size and power, raclette grills are more budget-friendly than regular grills. It's easy to find a small or large raclette grill for around $100.

Inexpensive

Below $50, you’ll find small raclette grills good for cooking food for two to four people. Some of these grills have a more compact round or oval shape that fits better into smaller spaces.

Mid-range

Standard and tabletop raclette grills cost between $50 and $150. Most of these models are small enough for home use, with some able to cook food for as many as eight people.

Expensive

Party and advanced raclette grills cost more than $150. You can easily find a raclette grill capable of serving a dozen people in this range. Extra accessories and features expand the capabilities of some of these higher-end grills.

Tips

• Oil the top cooking surface before use. Allow the oil to sit for about 30 minutes for the best results.

• Clean off your raclette grill as soon as it’s cool. Melted cheese and other foods can stick to the cooking surfaces if they're allowed to sit for several hours.

• Get creative. Melted cheese left over from a meal prepared on a raclette grill can be used in sandwiches, sauces, and pasta.

• Combat the odor of burned cheese. Use a scented cleaner or add a drop of lemon or orange oil to the soap and water.

• Cook an authentic Swiss dish. Add some Swiss cheese to your meal on the raclette grill.

Other products we considered

Given the growing popularity of raclette grills, there are many options available to check out, all with different sizes, top plates, features, and accessories. Best of all, many are designed for special occasions. If you want a grill for large gatherings, the MasterChef Dual Cheese Raclette Table Grill is hard to beat. Featuring a unique dual-sided design, this grill makes a great centerpiece that people can reach from both sides, and it cooks enough food for up to eight people. For smaller gatherings of two to four people, the Milliard Raclette Grill has four melting paddles accessible from either side of the grill, nonstick cooking surfaces, and adjustable temperature control.

Many people use a raclette grill to cook more healthful foods at home. It's easy to find recipes using fresh ingredients you can prepare on your grill.

FAQ

Q. Is a raclette a grill or a dish?

A. Both! A raclette is a Swiss dish with melted cheese and other assorted additions that is popular in many countries. A raclette grill is a cooker that can prepare this type of dish in addition to other foods.

Q. Can I use liquids like oil on a raclette grill?

A. Most raclette grills require some type of cooking oil. You can use other cooking liquids depending on what the dish requires.

Q. How does the cheese melt on a raclette grill?

A. The cheese melts in a pan near a heating element or lamp. With a two-tier raclette grill, you can melt cheese and cook other foods at the same time.