The 9 Best Raclette Grills
Updated by · How we research
Electric party grills, a granite stone top, a tea-light set and a wheel melter compared on heat, cleanup and group size. The Swissmar Classic leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
An electric raclette grill is two cookers stacked: a hot top for meat and vegetables, and small pans below where each guest melts a slice of cheese to scrape over potatoes. Give it a full preheat, because slow heat is the most common complaint about these grills. These sets suit slow winter dinners where everyone cooks at the table.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Swissmar Classic stays on top. It has been sold for years, Swissmar's manual for it is thorough, and nothing newer beat it on build or record. The Hamilton Beach 31612, Swissmar Stelvio and Boska Partyclette To-Go stay too.
Four old picks are gone from sale: the Techwood 2-in-1, Artestia Electric, NutriChef 1200 Watt and Milliard 8-Person, which also drew complaints about peeling coating. We couldn't confirm the Salton Party Grill or Boska Holland Milano is still sold new, so they're out. The new arrivals cover what readers search for: the Swissmar Geneva for value, the HBN CP-HB-506 on a budget, the Swissmar Verso for patios, the Boska Raclette Party with a ceramic top, and the Louis Tellier Alpage for scraping cheese straight from the wheel.
Raclette grills get little lab attention. Swissmar's manuals gave us preheat times and care rules for each plate type, and owner feedback on heat and cleanup did the rest. We left out the four-person version of the Geneva, since it's the same grill with half the pans.
November 11, 2020:
Raclette grills, for the most part, use the same general design, so one of our priorities during this update was to ensure each of our selections had differentiating or distinctive features to help suit many needs. That meant including options that come with granite stone cooktops, like the Milliard 8-Person, Swissmar Stelvio, and NutriChef 1200 Watt, as well as those with reversible surfaces like the newly-added Techwood 2-in-1 and the Swissmar Classic. Each of these is basically a raclette grill and electric griddle in one.
We also wanted small models for personal use and those unwilling to give up storage space, which is where options like the charming Boska Holland Partyclette To-Go and compact Boska Holland Milano come in. If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck, the Milliard 8-Person is a good choice that comes with three cooking surfaces, while the Hamilton Beach Indoor provides eight people with the Swiss dining experience at a budget-friendly price. This one has a 1300-watt heating element though, whereas the standard for this size tends to be 1400 or 1500.
To make way for our new selections, which includes the attractive Artestia Electric, we removed the Gourmia Electric Vertical and King of Raclette 2-in-1, both of which became unavailable. The Artestia model is one of the few out there that is genuinely aesthetically pleasing, using housing that looks like wood but in reality is convincingly-patterned polypropylene. This one is pretty generously sized and looks good enough to leave out on the table, making it a solid choice for raclette lovers who plan on using it often. It also sports small touches that make using it easier, like raised ridges on the paddle handles to ensure they don't slip during removal and grooved edges to keep juices from spilling off the granite top. As with anything that is granite, be aware that this natural stone can easily and quickly stain, so you'll likely need a special cleaner to keep it looking its best.
May 23, 2019:
In the world of raclette grills, Swissmar remains a solid, popular choice, with the Classic arguably the best model they offer. The reversible grill top extends the overall usefulness, helping to justify both the space it requires for storage and the price. And because it is amply sized and has trays with stay-cool handles, it's simple enough to use. We did decide to remove the Swissmar Swivel, however, as its design is interesting but perhaps too gimmicky and occasionally frustrating to use. But if you want something a little different, we still think the Gourmia Electric Vertical is a fine option, since it allows you to boil broth, cook meat, and melt cheese all at once. It's a little tougher to clean than traditional flat models, though. And for anyone who wants to cook off-grid, we selected the Boska Holland Partyclette To-Go, which heats and melts with candles. But, unlike most, it only has one moderately sized tray instead of many small ones. Of course, this also means less to clean.
Special Honors
Raclette Corner This U.S. shop sells raclette cheese by the slice, block and wheel, from Swiss makers such as Emmi and Mifroma and French dairies, plus a truffle raclette and an American-made wedge from the Ozarks. It's a handy source for the real thing when the local store only stocks Swiss cheese in general, and it also carries raclette and fondue gear. raclettecorner.com
What Raclette Is And How The Grill Works
Tea-light sets, like the Boska Partyclette To-Go, melt a portion or two with no cord at all.
Raclette is a Swiss cheese and the meal built around it. The name comes from the French racler, to scrape, and the dish comes from the canton of Valais, where cheese was melted by a fire and scraped onto boiled potatoes, with cornichons and pickled onions on the side (Wikipedia). Raclette du Valais has protected AOP status in Switzerland.
Most home sets are electric party grills. A heating element runs between two levels: a grill top above for meat, vegetables or crepes, and a tray below that holds small pans, often called coupelles. Each guest lays a slice of cheese in a pan, slides it under the heat for about five minutes, then scrapes it over potatoes and whatever came off the grill. Swissmar's manual suggests Tilsit, Appenzeller and Emmental as stand-ins when raclette cheese is hard to find (Swissmar Classic manual).
Two other styles are worth knowing. A wheel melter, like the Louis Tellier Alpage, holds a half or quarter wheel under a heating bar and is the restaurant way to serve it. Tea-light sets, like the Boska Partyclette To-Go, melt a portion or two with no cord at all.
Choosing A Top, A Size And Enough Power
The top decides how you cook. Nonstick aluminum is light and quick: Swissmar's manuals call for 8 to 10 minutes on high before cooking (Swissmar Geneva manual). Cast iron holds more heat for searing but needs about 15 minutes, and granite stone needs about 20, according to the Swissmar Classic manual. Stone sears steak well, but it's heavy and can crack from a sudden temperature change.
Count pans, not the number on the box. Eight pans feed eight people cheese, but the grill top on most eight-pan sets is shared, so four to six hungry adults is a more comfortable table. Power on the sets here runs from 900 to 1,700 watts, and owner complaints about slow cooking show up across nearly every brand, so thin-sliced meat and vegetables matter more than the wattage label.
Cleanup is the other big split. Hamilton Beach says every removable part of its 31612 can go in the dishwasher (Hamilton Beach), while Swissmar's Classic manual asks for warm water and mild soap. Several newer sets advertise coatings made without PFAS; those are makers' claims, not independent findings.
Using It Safely And Keeping It Clean
Set the grill on a heat-proof table, route the cord where no one will catch it, and keep it away from curtains and paper napkins. Swissmar's manual says to never use nonstick cooking spray, which burns onto the plate, and to oil the top lightly only before marinated foods (Swissmar Classic manual). The same manual says not to use its party grills outdoors, so take a raclette outside only when the maker certifies it, as Swissmar does for the Verso.
When the meal is over, unplug the grill and let it cool before lifting off the top. Wipe the base with a damp cloth and never put it in water. Skip steel wool and harsh cleaners on any coating, and dry cast iron right away so it doesn't rust. Tea-light melters are an open flame: use them on a stable, nonflammable surface out of children's reach.
We checked every brand on this page against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls (SaferProducts.gov) and found no recall of any raclette grill. Hamilton Beach has older recalls on other appliances, none on this grill.
How we researched this
We compared 17 raclette grills and cheese melters, read Swissmar's Classic and Geneva manuals and Hamilton Beach's product page, reviewed a Food & Wine roundup and a raclette fan site, analyzed patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Sources (8)
- Swissmar: Classic 8-Person Raclette Party Grill manual
- Swissmar: Geneva Raclette manual
- Swissmar: FAQ and product manuals
- Hamilton Beach: Raclette Party Grill 31612
- Wikipedia: Raclette
- Food & Wine: The best raclette grills (via Yahoo, 2022)
- Raclette Club: best raclette grills
- CPSC SaferProducts.gov recall search
Frequently asked questions
What is a raclette grill used for?
It melts cheese in small pans for each guest while meat, vegetables or crepes cook on the top. Everyone scrapes the melted cheese over potatoes, bread and pickles.
What cheese is best for raclette?
Raclette cheese itself, a Swiss-style semi-firm cheese that melts smoothly. Raclette du Valais is the protected Swiss original. Swissmar's manual names Tilsit, Appenzeller and Emmental as substitutes.
How many people does an 8-person raclette grill feed?
Eight people can melt cheese at once, but the shared grill top is small, so four to six is more comfortable for a full meal.
How long does a raclette grill take to heat up?
Swissmar's manuals say 8 to 10 minutes on high for a nonstick top, about 15 for cast iron and about 20 for a granite stone.
Can you use a raclette grill outdoors?
Only if the maker says so. Swissmar's party grill manual says not to use them outdoors, while Swissmar sells the Verso as certified for indoor and outdoor use.
Where can I buy raclette cheese in the U.S.?
Many cheese counters stock it, especially in winter. Online shops such as Raclette Corner sell Swiss and French raclette by the slice, block or wheel.
