Raclette Grills

This is how a raclette works

A raclette is a type of electric table grill that can be used at a table and is somewhat similar to fondue, but with a frying pan instead.

Typically, the raclette has two levels, where the top is the actual grilling plate and the bottom is a plate where you can place small pans like mini frying pans.

The top plate is used, for example, to fry meat and vegetables, while the bottom is used somewhat like an oven, for instance for things that need to melt, such as cheese or marshmallows.

Additionally, the bottom plate can also be used to make omelets, pancakes, or dishes that just need to be warmed up but don't necessarily have to be grilled.

Some raclettes come with different grilling plates, so you can more easily make different dishes that require different coatings for preparation.

While some raclette plates have grooves like a grill, others have a completely smooth surface, or even round depressions for example for pancakes or omelets, allowing you to easily control the size and shape.

There are also plates that are divided into two or more parts, so you can prepare different dishes on the same plate.

For example, you can grill meat or vegetables on one part and make pancakes on the other.

The raclette needs to access a power socket, as it is electric and therefore uses electricity.

The raclette can even be used outdoors if you have an outdoor power socket or an extension cord and if the weather permits it.

It can be a cozy way to grill, where everyone grills their own food, so there isn't any one person who has to run back and forth between the grill and the table.

You must not use a raclette outdoors if it is raining or there is any kind of moist and hazardous weather, where the raclette or the power socket can come into contact with water.

Dishes for every taste

If, for example, you have guests or have a picky family, a raclette is a super good way to ensure there is something that almost everyone can like without you having to make all the food yourself.

Raclette makes it possible for everyone to just take what they like and prepare it how they like it.

If there is, for example, beef for raclette, everyone can decide individually whether it should be well-done, medium, or rare.

Additionally, you can let people take whatever items they can tolerate or that are part of their diet.

So if you have guests or family members who are allergic, vegetarian, vegan or anything else, you don't have to worry too much about finding dishes that they can tolerate or must eat.

Raclette is also smart for gatherings where some want to maintain a slim line while others don't care and just want good food.

It provides a good reason to prepare both vegetables, meat, fish, and all sorts of things, so everyone can participate.

Easy food

As such, you do not have to handle the preparation of the food, only to prepare the different ingredients.

This also means that you do not need to time when the food should be ready, like you would have to if you were responsible for preparing the food when you have guests.

With a raclette, you can make appetizers, main courses, and desserts on the same machine without you needing to stand long in the kitchen.

Instead, you can enjoy your guests' or family's company and postpone kitchen chores until after they have left.

6 Raclette features and specifications you should know about

#1 Size and capacity

If many people are to use the raclette, you should pay attention to how many people the raclette is designed for.

A good indicator of capacity is often the accompanying small pans that come with it.

Typically, there are about 6-8 smaller pans, corresponding to about as many people who can participate, so there is at least a small pan for each person.

However, the size is also a good factor to consider in your calculations, as some of the smallest raclettes are also designed for 8 people, but may not necessarily seem large enough for 8.

It also depends on how long you plan to sit with the raclette and wait for the food, as the larger the raclette is, the more food it can also hold.

#2 Power

The power of the raclette affects how well your raclette heats up and thus how high a temperature you can reach and how quickly you can reach that temperature.

#3 Temperature

Most raclettes allow you to set the temperature of the raclette, so you can either fry the food at the highest setting or turn it down to keep the food warm.

#4 Grilling plates

There are different grilling plates for raclettes, and some raclettes come with several different grilling plates.

The different grilling plates are:

• Grill stone
• Non-stick
• Cast iron

Avoid using metal utensils to flip and move things on the grilling plate, as you can easily scratch the plate.

Instead, use wooden or silicone utensils to place items on the pan, even if it would be easier if everyone used their own cutlery.

Many raclettes come with wooden cutlery, which can be used to flip and remove food from the pan, as wood is gentle on the coating.

You can see the pros and cons of the different plates below:

Granite plate

Advantages:

• Heats evenly
• Durable
• Does not rust
• Can develop color stains over time (from marinades and vegetables)
• Relatively easy to clean

Disadvantages:

• Takes long to heat up
• Can crack
• Often expensive

Cast iron plate

Advantages:

• Very durable
• Builds flavor over time

Disadvantages:

• Heavy
• Difficult to clean
• Can rust
• Not a non-stick surface

Non-stick plate

Advantages:

• Easy to clean
• Non-stick
• Can tolerate high heat
• Distributes heat evenly

Disadvantages:

• Can easily get scratches in the coating
• Cannot use metal on it

#5 Design

When it comes to design, you can find them in everything from small and round to larger oval and rectangular raclettes.

Additionally, the design also depends on the type of coating and which plates the raclette uses.

#6 Accessories

With some raclettes, you will also find wooden knives, forks, or other wooden accessories included.

This is because metal can damage the raclette's coating, and wood is more gentle so that you can remove food from the raclette without damaging it.

Sometimes extra accessories are included, and in other cases, you have to purchase them separately if you want specific accessories.

What you should know before you make raclette

The raclette can easily create smoke in the room where you use it, so it is a good idea to ensure proper ventilation in the room.

You should be aware that if you make raclette near a smoke/fire alarm, it may be triggered by the smoke.

Therefore, you should never use a raclette in buildings where the fire department should be called no matter what, if a fire alarm sounds, or places where there are sprinkler systems.

We therefore recommend that raclette be used only in private homes where you can control smoke alarms and ventilation.

Furthermore, you should not leave a lit raclette unattended and should therefore turn it off if everyone leaves the room.

You must also not use the raclette outdoors if it is raining or it's wet and hazardous weather, where the raclette or the power plug could come into contact with water.

This is how to use a raclette

Some raclettes may take some time to heat up, so you can advantageously turn on the raclette a little before you need it.

Especially the granite plate can take a long time to heat due to the thickness of the plate.

Newer raclettes with thin plates can typically heat up quite quickly, but it's good to try things out the first time you use the raclette so you know how long it takes for next time.

If your raclette has temperature settings, you can also set the heat to what you want.

Depending on what type of raclette you use, remember to use a bit of oil or other frying fat, so the food doesn’t stick.

If you use a non-stick surface, you don’t need to use much frying fat, but a little will still be helpful for you.

Make sure to continuously add oil, butter, or other grease as you place new food on, so that the food continues to release easily.

You can advantageously use a brush to apply a thin layer of grease to the raclette, so you don’t put too much oil on the pan.

Then place your food on the raclette and cook it until you think it’s enough.

If there are accompanying wooden utensils, use these to remove the food from the raclette.

If the raclette is non-stick or has other delicate coatings and no utensils are included, you must be careful not to use metal or other hard materials that can scratch.

When you are finished using the raclette, you should let it cool down and follow up with cleaning that is appropriate for the raclette's coating.

You can see how to properly clean your raclette's plate in the section below.

Cleaning the raclette

To achieve the absolute easiest cleaning, you can choose plates with a non-stick coating so that food doesn’t stick to the plate.

However, with non-stick, you should be careful not to use cleaning tools that scratch the coating on the pan, as scratches can allow food to easily burn onto it.

Some plates can tolerate the dishwasher, which makes cleaning some raclette parts a bit easier, so you don’t have to wash them by hand.

Non-stick pans should never go in the dishwasher, as the coating can be damaged.

If the pan is made of cast iron, you should not use soap to clean the pan, as it can damage the plate.

Here, you should only wash it with a dish brush and warm water and may oil your cast iron pan with a little cooking oil afterwards.

If it is instead enameled cast iron, the pot should just be cleaned with dish soap and water, as the enamel can withstand soap.

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