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If you’re cooking for a large family every night or you love to host get-togethers with friends and family, you’ve likely got a great collection of cookware and countertop appliances to help you get your food ready. And trust us, no collection is complete without a raclette grill. Especially if you’re a fan of melty cheese. And who isn’t?
Raclette grills are versatile countertop appliances that can cook a variety of foods on the upper plate while also heating individual-sized trays underneath full of cheese for melting or veggies for grilling. They’re quite easy to use (some only have an on/off switch!), can be used for a variety of foods (meat, veggies, eggs, etc.), and don’t usually cost too much.
If a raclette grill sounds like the right addition to your kitchen stash, but you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, we’re here to help. Raclette grills will vary in things like price, overall size, temperature control, dishwasher-safe parts, cooking surface area, and more. And every feature matters at the end of the day!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best raclette grills in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Premium Pick: Swissmar Classic 8-Person Raclette Party Grill
2-in-1 Pick: Giveneu Electric Fondue Pot and Raclette Grill
Large-Capacity Pick: Salton Party Grill/Griddle & Raclette
Budget Pick: Salton TPG315 6-Person Raclette Party Grill
There are lots of things working in favour of the Starfrit The Rock Electric Raclette Grill. One of the best things about it is the design of the plate. Not only is it quite large at 16” x 9.5”, but it’s also double-sided. With a ribbed side and a flat side, your options are almost endless. Since it comes with eight trays and scrapers as well, it’s perfect for serving groups as large as eight people all at the same time.
The plate is also dishwasher safe to save you time, but all of the pieces will wash in seconds by hand as well. There’s no hassle involved with this one! The added thickness of the plate also makes it one of the most durable options around. It’s great for frequent use. Throw in an adjustable temperature for precise control of your cooking and you’ve got a pretty perfect raclette grill on your hands.
Honestly, the only feature that could do with some improvement is the power cord. It’s pretty short, and if you like to serve your family or guests right at the dinner table, you’re going to need an extension cord to make it work.
Overall, the Starfrit The Rock Electric Raclette Grill was an easy, easy choice for our top pick this year. With an extra-durable reversible plate, great cooking area, adjustable temperature, and large serving capacity, it’s truly the best companion for every occasion.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are really happy with the Starfrit The Rock Electric Raclette Grill. Some people find the power cord is too short to use the grill without an extension cord, but that’s really their only issue with it. The cooking area is large enough to easily serve up to eight people, all of the pieces are easy to wash by hand, and all of their food cooks quickly and evenly. They love it!
Buy If…
You want to serve a large group of people with ease
You’ll be cooking a variety of foods on the top plate
Easy cleanup is important to you
You want a raclette grill that will last
Don’t Buy If…
A long power cord is necessary for your space
Dimensions: 9.5” x 19.7” x 5.1”
Weight: 10.1 lbs
Shape: Rectangle
Serving Capacity: 8 people
Cooking Surface: 16” x 9.5”
Reversible Plate: Yes
Dishwasher Safe Plates/Trays: Yes
Temperature Control: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
The Swissmar Classic 8-Person Raclette Party Grill has a lot of great things to offer. It’s one of the most durable grills in all respects, so you can be confident that every piece of the set will work flawlessly for years. It has a top-of-the-line heating element, too, so your plate and trays will heat up quickly and cook your food to perfection every time. No more trial and error!
The thing we love most about this grill, though, is how versatile it is. Not only is the top plate reversible and able to cook food at a variety of temperatures, but it’s also oven-safe! Is anyone up for some baked cheesy goodness? With all of the options open to you, you can be sure that everyone will be leaving the table full and happy!
One of the only things that you might not love about this option is the price tag. It’s more than double the price of the average raclette grill and almost four times as much as the cheapest options, so you’ll have to use it a lot to get your money’s worth. That shouldn’t be an issue, though, right? Also, the plate and trays are not dishwasher safe, so you’ll have to wash them by hand. Sorry.
Overall, raclette grills don’t get much better than the Swissmar Classic 8-Person Raclette Party Grill. No matter what types of food you want to cook or how you want to cook it, this grill has what you’re looking for. You’ll be able to enjoy it for years in pristine condition, too.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers really like the Swissmar Classic 8-Person Raclette Party Grill. It cooks all of their food perfectly, from shrimp to veggies to chicken. Cheese melts really quickly in the raclette trays, and the reversible top and oven-safe design of the plate let them cook almost anything on it. They would prefer that it was a bit easier to clean, though.
Buy If…
Versatility is your priority
You want to have control over how your food cooks
Fast and even cooking is important
You don’t want to worry about longevity
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a budget
You want an effort-free cleanup process
Dimensions: 16.5” x 9.5” x 5.5”
Weight: 13.3 lbs
Shape: Rectangle
Serving Capacity: 8 people
Cooking Surface: 14.2” x 9.2”
Reversible Plate: Yes
Dishwasher Safe Plates/Trays: No
Temperature Control: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
If versatility is your main priority while shopping for a raclette grill, the Giveneu Electric Fondue Pot and Raclette Grill is going to make you very happy. Since it comes with all the trappings of a standard raclette grill and a large fondue pot with its own temperature control, this single appliance can take care of your main dish, your side, and your dessert!
Plus, since it can serve as many as eight people, you’ll be able to feed a large family without anyone needing to take turns. And to make your life easier after all of those people have used trays and accessories, you’ll be able to throw everything in the dishwasher instead of washing each piece by hand. Thank goodness!
The main downside of this option is the lack of a double-sided grill plate. Most raclette grills come with a reversible plate that allows you to use it as a griddle as well as a grill, but the unique design of this one makes that impossible. The only other issue is the less-than-satisfactory durability of the thinner plates and trays and the low-quality spatulas.
Overall, the Giveneu Electric Fondue Pot and Raclette Grill is the best option for people looking for versatility in their group meals. With two unique functions and a great serving capacity, it’ll make a wonderful addition to every get-together.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers are really happy with the Giveneu Electric Fondue Pot and Raclette Grill. They absolutely love that they’re able to use the fondue pot to make a side dish or dessert at the same time their main meal is cooking. The temperature dials are really easy to use and they appreciate that everything can go in the dishwasher for an easy cleanup. The set’s durability isn’t perfect, though. The spatulas tend to break and the plates/trays aren’t as thick as they’re used to.
Buy If…
You’re a big fan of fondue as well as raclette cooking
You want to have control over the cooking temperature
A stress-free cleanup process would be nice
You’ll need to serve a lot of people at once
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t want to worry about replacing any pieces early on
You’d like to use your raclette grill as a griddle as well
Dimensions: 16.1” x 16.1” x 5.9”
Weight: 11.8 lbs
Shape: Round
Serving Capacity: 8 people
Reversible Plate: No
Dishwasher Safe Plates/Trays: Yes
Temperature Control: Yes
Warranty: 1 year
The Salton Party Grill/Griddle & Raclette has lots of excellent features to offer. Its main claim to fame is its serving capacity. This grill can easily keep up with the appetites of eight people thanks to the eight included raclette trays and the extra large surface area of the plate. And since the plate is reversible, it’ll be perfect for family breakfasts and large serve-yourself dinners with all kinds of dishes.
The safety features on this one are also something to appreciate. The non-slip feet on the bottom do an amazing job of keeping the grill steady even when multiple people are flipping food and removing or replacing the raclette trays. It also has stay-cool handles on the trays and plate to make sure handling won’t be a cause for concern. How thoughtful.
There aren’t many reasons that could dissuade you from choosing this option. One of them is if you like to cook outside when the weather is nice — the heating element is just a touch too far away from the plate for it to cook evenly on windy days. The second reason is if you’re short on storage space — this is one of the larger raclette grills and it needs more storage space as a result.
Overall, the Salton Party Grill/Griddle & Raclette is the best choice for folks who love to cook efficiently for larger groups. It has everything you could ask for — a great cooking area, high-quality accessories, an adjustable temperature, and a budget-friendly price.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are big fans of the Salton Party Grill/Griddle & Raclette. Many of them upgraded to this one from smaller machines and they’re really happy with their decision. There’s plenty of space for cooking different foods, and they love how versatile it is with the double-sided plate. The non-slip feet do a good job of keeping it in place even when multiple people are moving things around.
Buy If…
You want to serve a large group at once
You’d like a raclette grill that can cook a variety of foods
Safety features are a priority for you
You don’t want your food to be crowded while cooking
Don’t Buy If…
You don’t have a lot of storage space available
You want to use your raclette grill outdoors sometimes
Dimensions: 20.3” x 9.6” x 5.9”
Weight: 8.7 lbs
Shape: Rectangle
Serving Capacity: 8 people
Cooking Surface: 18” x 9”
Reversible Plate: Yes
Dishwasher Safe Plates/Trays: Yes
Temperature Control: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
We really like the Salton TPG315 6-Person Raclette Party Grill. Our favourite thing about it is the price, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. As one of the most affordable grills currently available, it should fit into almost everybody’s budget. And since it operates with a simple on/off switch instead of a temperature dial, it’s also very simple to use, especially if you’re new to raclette cooking.
As a 6-person grill instead of the usual 8-person style, this grill is also much more compact and easier to store than a larger alternative. And it doesn’t demand as much power, either, since it’s feeding fewer people. Bonus! The effective non-stick coating and immersible design guarantee cleanup will only take a few minutes.
As our budget pick, it should also come as no surprise that there are a few things that don’t quite meet expectations. Unlike most raclette grills, this one doesn’t have a reversible plate, so you won’t be able to cook breakfast foods like eggs or pancakes with it. It also demands hand-washing instead of a run through your dishwasher. And of course, the capacity is smaller than the 8-person grills you’ll see most often.
Overall, the Salton TPG315 6-Person Raclette Party Grill is our favourite choice for shoppers on a budget, people low on storage space, raclette newbies, and groups of six or fewer. No matter which category you fall into, this grill has everything you need for a great time on any occasion.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Salton TPG315 6-Person Raclette Party Grill. The size is perfect for 4-6 people, and most of them like that it’s a plug-and-go machine instead of one that requires you to adjust the temperature — other people would appreciate that control, though. The plate and trays also wipe down easily in some soapy water, although some people would prefer the pieces to be dishwasher-safe.
Buy If…
Simplicity appeals to you
You want a raclette grill that’s suited for smaller groups
Affordability is your priority
Don’t Buy If…
You like to entertain more than six people at a time
You don’t want to be forced to wash things by hand
You want to make breakfast foods as well
Dimensions: 14” x 12.5” x 5.6”
Weight: 4.7 lbs
Shape: Round
Serving Capacity: 6 people
Cooking Surface: 10” x 10”
Reversible Plate: No
Dishwasher Safe Plates/Trays: No
Temperature Control: No
Warranty: 2 years
The price of a raclette grill will tend to fall somewhere between $45 and $200. Generally, the more expensive units will be larger, more durable, and offer better temperature control than the competition.
Believe it or not, not all raclette grills offer a temperature control dial. Some of them are simple machines that only have an on/off switch, and those are great for people who prefer a more basic machine for ease of use. If you’ll be cooking a wide variety of foods and you want the ability to adjust the temperature accordingly, you’ll want to prioritize this feature.
Many raclette grills come with a reversible plate, meaning one side is ribbed for grilling and the other is smooth like a griddle. We strongly recommend only looking at machines that have a reversible plate if you want to make breakfast foods as well as dinner foods — if that isn’t a desire you have, a single-sided plate (and therefore a more affordable machine) will work just fine for you.
The cooking surface area is another thing to pay attention to while shopping for a raclette grill. It will increase as the serving capacity goes up, but certain models will offer more cooking space at the same serving capacity — if you’re serving people with big appetites, you should look for the largest possible surface area to cook on.
Most raclette grills are designed to serve eight people, and of course, they can be used for smaller group sizes as well. However, if you’ll never be serving that many people, you would benefit from choosing a smaller, more affordable, and less power-demanding machine with a lower serving capacity.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.