Raclette grills are all about taking cooking out of the kitchen and directly onto the dining table, be it indoors or outdoors. It makes cooking and dining a completely social and participative experience, which is not something we all come across often in our busy lives. And since it involves cooking a wide variety of fresh ingredients, ranging from veggies to seafood, fish, meat cuts and meat products as well as cheeses with minimal oil, raclette grills are a very healthy proposition.
Our selection of the best raclette grills available in the UK market in 2018!
1 – Andrew James Traditional Raclette Grill
2 – Andrew James Rustic Stone Raclette Grill
3 – Tri-Star Gourmet Raclette Party Grill Set
4 – VonShef Raclette Grill with Natural Stone Plate
5 – Swan SP17030N Classic Stone Raclette Grill
A raclette grill is a fantastic addition to any modern kitchen. If you think that this is just another novelty nondescript kitchen appliance not worth your time, you are in for a surprise. At its core, a raclette grill is basically a traditional Swiss grill with multiple levels/surfaces for cooking different stuff like meat vegetables, seafood and cheese. It gets its name because cheese is at the centre of any raclette grilling experience. Think fondue, but taken to an all new level of social eating experience! Its quite simple really. You gather your family/friends and fire up the raclette grill and cook up some delicious cheesy grilled foods together. Trust me, it is a simple, fun and elegant part option. For the discerning customer, there are a number of fine raclette grills available various specifications. Here are the top 5 most popular raclette grills out there at the moment:
Andrew James Traditional Raclette Grill
This raclette grill may sport a traditional design aesthetic, but the technology is all modern with advanced thermostatic temperature control giving you full control to cook up anything from meat to seafood to veggies with the minimum of fuss. You get 8 pans and 8 spatulas to serve a maximum of, you guessed it right, 8 people; so this is a perfect grill for cosy parties involving close friends/family. Griddle lines on the cooking surface provides you with that authentic char-grilled effect. For those looking for delicious pancakes on the menu, there is even a pan cake making section! With cheese, meat and seafood all on the table, you would think that maintenance and cleaning would be a chore right? Well, with removable non-stick steel hot plates, cleaning is easy and hassle free. With its relatively light weight, you can even fire this grill up outdoors for a fun picnic. All in all, this is a great raclette grill.
Andrew James Rustic Stone Raclette Grill
This is yet another great option of a modern raclette grill from the dependable Andrew James brand stable. What truly sets it apart from the other Andrew James model in this list is the hot plate integrated into this model. Instead of a steel surface, you get a solid stone hot plate. Stone is a fantastic surface for all kinds of grilling and searing, imparting the food with a rich and rustic flavor. With the need for oil reduced to a minimum, you can cook up healthy and hearty grilled dishes with great flavor and texture. The stone surface is evenly heated by an advanced 1200W thermostatic temperature control. Though this grill is considerably heavier than its steel plate counterpart, it is still relatively manageable at under 10kg. That means that you can still take it with you on the road on caravan trips and the likes, which is a fantastic proposition. This model can serve up to 8 people.
Tri-Star Gourmet Raclette Party Grill Set
This is another stylish yet functional option from Tri-Star. With a large cooking surface measuring in at 43x30cm, this grill can comfortably feed a party of 8 people. Meats, seafood, cheese, sauces, bread, this grill handle them all. With thermostatic control mechanism, this is a simple plug and cook device that can be fired up with minimal fuss. It goes without saying that the cooking surface is non-sticky, removable and incredibly easy to clean. There is even a nifty 19cm fajita/crepe pan built into to the surface, providing you the option of cooking up crispy crepes or fajitas should you guests desire them!
VonShef Raclette Grill with Natural Stone Plate
This is yet another great user-friendly raclette grill that allows you to cook up a great party atmosphere right at your dinner table. As is the norm in most popular raclette grill models in the market, this one also has the capacity to entertain a maximum of 8 people at one time. You get two different surfaces for all your grilling and cooking needs. This includes a natural stone grill plate as well as a modern metal grill plate, both boasting of an advanced non-stick coating. While the metal surface is appropriate for vegetables and delicate seafood, the stone grill is an excellent surface for grilling all cuts of meat to absolute perfection. The best raclette grills boast of advanced temperature control and this VonShef model is no exception.
Swan SP17030N Classic Stone Raclette Grill
To round off our top 5 list, we have this classic raclette grill manufactured by Swan. Along with its peers on this list, this grill also sports 8 pans to serve a maximum of 8 diners. Sporting an industry standard 1200W heating element, this classic grill has an elegant oval-shaped stone top. The non-stick stone surface is ideal for cooking all kinds of meats. Despite the stone surface, this highly portable raclette grill weighs a mere 7kg, making it a fantastic choice for those looking for a raclette grill that can be taken outdoors for camping trips or caravan holidays. With cool touch panhandles, this raclette grill incredibly safe to handle. The grill comes replete with a set of 8 wooden spatulas to go with the pans.
Things to consider when buying a raclette grill
When making a purchase of any product, ones’ intention is to have the best investment for the value of your money. The same applies to someone when buying a raclette grill as you have to take into consideration various factors. The list below will help you know the factors to consider when buying a raclette grill.
1. Price
When shopping for raclette grill, there are various factors to consider. You would want to get an affordable and high-quality grill that serves your primary need.
There are several types of grill; we have the stone grill -most people prefer it because it gives food a fantastic taste. The grill is good for cooking seafood and meat. Your food will be prepared to perfection. The moisture and flavor are both locked in. You can also grill your vegetables and accompaniments.
You can also choose to settle for a metal grill. It is also great, unlike the stone grill, meat does not stick so much on the grill. To prepare a raclette metal turn on the unit and let your top grill get hot enough to cook your meat. When buying a raclette grill, it is essential to buy a grill that fits your budget. Most people are worried when they are unable to afford the expensive raclette though most customer reviews on the internet show that the most expensive is not the best so far.
When buying a raclette grill, it is important to shop around for a fair bargain. Apart from a reasonable price you get to ask questions and see the types of raclette grill available for your need. Some grills have advanced features making them more expensive as compared to others this includes raclette grill with the gas feature or the Swissmar KF-77080 8 Person Stelvio Raclette Party grill wit Reversible Grill Top.
2. Size of the Grill
When shopping for a raclette grill, it’s important to keep in mind the number of people you will be hosting for your get together. With this in mind, it makes it easier for you to determine the size suitable for your needs. Apart from the number of people you are hosting you also need to assess the space available for storing your new equipment. The space available in your house will dictate the type of grill you will have to settle with at the end of the day; because buying a big grill will not make sense if you lack storage to place for it.
3. Grill Wattage
When it comes to choosing a raclette grill while considering the grills power consumption, it is important to keep in mind a few things. You will need a grill that consumes around 1200- 1700 wattage. A high wattage makes it easier for you to preheat. Plus the grill proves to be more efficient and helps keep the surface temperature stable in case you place a lot of food on the adequate for you to cook your steak or pork or other cuts of meat. The higher your wattage, the faster you foods get done.
4. Material
The material used on your raclette impacts the durability. With this in mind, it is imperative to invest in a quality one. For this, it is advisable to invest in an appliance that has cooking stones which add flavor to your meat. Or better still you can invest in granite cooking surface.
Stone Raclette Grill
Pros
- When using the stone raclette grill, it gives your excellent meat flavor
- Its material I durable and long lasting.
Cons
- You have to preheat it 30 minutes before cooking time
- The meat usually tends to stick to the stone.
Metal raclette grills
Pros
- Heats up easily
- Best at distributing heatCons
- If not washed well the grease dripping from the meat can hurt the grill.
5. Maintenance
When buying a raclette grill, you should buy a grill that is easy to maintain. You can invest in grills that are machine wash friendly and have removable parts. If you’re wondering which materials are best to buy, you can buy a granite raclette grill, when roasting your meat cuts, the granite usually stops the juice from flowing below the trays which makes your work easier while cleaning.
You can also buy machine washable nonstick raclette grills this type allows the food to slide off rather than stick on the grill giving you a hard time scraping off the leftover foods. Teflon and Ceramic are best when it comes to machine wash friendly and nonstick component. It is not rocket science you can just hand wash or machine wash your grill depending on the material.
Conclusion
Raclette grills are all about taking cooking out of the kitchen and directly onto the dining table, be it indoors or outdoors. It makes cooking and dining a completely social and participative experience, which is not something we all come across often in our busy lives. And since it involves cooking a wide variety of fresh ingredients, ranging from veggies to seafood, fish, meat cuts and meat products as well as cheeses with minimal oil, raclette grills are a very healthy proposition. You can entertain both vegans as well as dedicated carnivores with this great device. Since cheese is the central binding factor in any raclette meal, this gives you a great chance to try out and experiment with a wide variety of exotic as well as common cheeses available in the market today. For starters, we would suggest raclette (the Swiss cheese after which this grill is named), or any other Alpine varieties like Gruyere, Beaufort or de Savoie.