Best Raclette Grill Raclette Machine in the UK | 2022 Beneficial Buyer’s Guide

The name Raclette means a thickly sliced semi-hard cheese that is used for grilling and melting. Such cheese is also available smoked or flavoured with garlic or pepper. Another meaning of this word is a Swiss dish that typically includes Raclette cheese, potatoes, and pickles.

How to Make Raclette

This favourite dish of Swiss peasants is easy to make — just melt a piece of cheese, serve it on boiled potatoes, and then add some pickles. But in fact, you can customize the dish to your taste and serve the cheese with tomatoes, mushrooms, marrow squashes, cured meat, or whatever you like. Personally, I prefer eating Raclette with potato, olive, tomato, and basil.

To make your raclette party enjoyable in every sense, you should better use a raclette grill designed specifically for preparing this kind of meal. Not only will this appliance let you easily prepare the dish in the right way but it will also turn the dinner into sheer entertainment. The thing is that raclette grills have sufficient space to cook, cheese, meat, and vegetables simultaneously, so several people can be involved in the process at a time.

How to Choose the Best Raclette Grill

A standard raclette grill has two layers: the roasting surface for vegetables and meat and the bottom part for melting cheese in separate small pans called coupelles. These appliances are categorized based on their design and the material used.

To begin with, they vary by the type of griddle, which can be made from metal, stone, or have both options. A metal ribbed plate is a standard option for grilling meat and fish, while a stone griddle is more suitable for grilling items with lots of oil and grease. Additionally, there are combi models that are equipped with two types of a griddle and are optimized for different cooking styles.

So which raclette machine is the best? When shopping for your raclette grill, you should first look for a trustworthy brand. One of the most trusted brands is Severin Elektrogeräte GmbH, a German manufacturer of electric home appliances that was established as a blacksmith shop as far back as 1892. Why German? It’s not just because of the world-famous German quality standards. Although raclette originates in Switzerland, it is highly popular in Germany. Actually, it is something that Germans eat on New Year’s Eve. This tradition traces back to the 1960s when German tourists going to Switzerland for skiing brought it home.

Now, let’s take a look at the most important features of a raclette grill. The first thing you need to consider is the power rating of a heating element. If you are going to cook for multiple people, you will need at least 1,500 watts of power. However, we do not recommend that you go with the minimum wattage to avoid slowing down the whole process. To prepare your raclette quickly, easily, and most comfortably, opt for models like the Severin RG 2348 Raclette Grill Fondue Combination that offers an impressive 1,900 watts and two heating elements.

Apart from being highly powerful, this model combines a raclette grill with a fondue set, giving you more options for melting cheese. It features a 13-cm hot stone for keeping your meal warm or gentle cooking of vegetables. Perfect for a large family or a party of people, the Severin features 8 pans with a nonstick surface allowing you to easily remove the cooked food. It is also an ideal option for one or two persons who like to have lots of vegetables with their food.

• Temperature control. Another essential feature of a raclette machine is variable temperature control, something that allows you to make a broader range of meals. Choosing the precise temperature gives you greater control over the cooking process and has a direct impact on the result. The Severin RG 2348 is built with two temperature controls for fondue and raclette functions that are adjusted separately. When I tested this device, I found this incredibly convenient, especially when cooking different types of food.
• Shape and size. The third criterion to take into account is the shape and size of the Raclette machine. Basically, raclette grills can be either round or rectangular. Although the choice largely depends on whether you have a round or elongated table, round raclette grills like the Severin are generally more convenient and compact. For example, you can effortlessly turn it over so that someone sitting at the other end of the table could easily reach it and get their meal. Made of stainless steel, the Severin raclette grill has a robust construction, good quality, and is very beautiful to put on the table. It is amazingly compact and measures 41 cm in length, 43 cm in width, and 22 cm in height.

Last but not least, consider accessories that come with the product as some of them are vital. Let’s take a look at what is inside the box of the Severin RG 2348. In addition to the pans, it includes eight wooden spatulas so that you could remove or turn the food without the risk of scratching the surface. Another accessory that I think is extremely useful is a long two-metre power cord that allows you to put the appliance in the middle of the table or any part of your kitchen countertop.