Customer Reviews

Swissmar KF-77041 Gourmet 8-Person Raclette Grill, Black

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had been looking for a good raclette grill for sometime, after using several different styles at friends and families homes, I saw this one on Amazon. It arrived intact with all the necessary parts and is very easy to use. The grill top reverses to a crape grill which is also fun.

I recommend this particular grill above others I have used for several reasons. First, it can accomodate 8 people, while many grills max out at 6. Second, it has an adjustable temperature. We generally start out at a higher temperature then when everyone has slowed down and wants to eat slowly and talk I adjust the temperature down. Third, the grill is easy to clean. Its non-stick surface easily wipes off. I would advise to only use the included scrapers on the non-stick surface, if it gets scratched it will not be as easy to use. And fourth, it is very sturdy. This is a solidly built grill and looks great on the table. It is a little more money than some other models, but if you want to use it for years I would definately invest in the better grill.

I purchased this grill a couple months ago and have used it about 8 times.My family and I have enjoyed the novelty of cooking our dinner together at the table. I have noticed that waiting for the food to cook, both the time and the effort required, has been a very enjoyable stimulus for conversation. It lends a leisurely mood to dinner instead of the usual rush to get on to other activities. It also has made getting a healthy dinner on the table easier for me after a day at work.

The night before I will usually slice some veggie's, thaw some shrimp or marinate some beef or lamb. I just grab the bowls out of the fridge and set them on the table for cooking.Everything we have prepared so far has turned out great. The kitchen stays clean and cleanup amounts to some dishes and utensils to put in the dish washer.

The only reason I didn't give this product 5 stars was that the grill itself is hard to clean. I have had to soak it overnight to clean off the marinades. The grill had also begun to lose its coating surface after just a few times of use.

All in all, its a good product and the benefits of slowing down for a meal with family or friends is well worth the purchase price.

We are having a lot of fun with this grill.
This grill is great fun for dinner parties. I have now thrown 4 dinner parties using it - from basic grilling to fajitas. I plan to try the round side of the grill next for dessert crepes. Traditional raclette is cheese melted in the drawers, with pickles and cold meats. I also use it as a party activity for more healthy fare - by offering a variety of marinated vegetables - portobello mushrooms marinated in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil, garlic and red pepper is my favorite. I've grilled shrimp, asparagus, onions, chicken, tofu, bell peppers, sausages, sliced potatoes (I boil them a bit first.) Then I put out sauces for people to dip into as well.

I find it helps break the ice with guests who don't know one another so well, as they can talk about the grilling, etc.

My one complaint is that it would be hard for eight people to use, the most I have used it for now is six, but it worked really well for six. The adjustable heating works really nicely.

If you're looking for something new and fun, I highly recommend it. It is great for dinner parties and book club meetings (everyone can bring something to grill.)

I know and love raclette dinners from my home country Germany, so I was happy to find some that will work in the US. I tried to find out what the dimensions of the raclettes offered are, but without success. There was no answer to get anywhere. The dimensions listed on this page are obviously bogus, Amazon can not be contacted and Swissmar doesn't answer to emails. So finally I decided to just order one and was really disappointed: this raclette is much smaller than the raclettes I'm used to from home. The size of the grill plate is just 24 cm x 36 cm. The dishes are just 8.5 x 8.5 cm. The dishes are all lined up to the two sites, you can't turn the handles of the ones at the end to the front sides. If you sit around a rectangular table, the guests at the front ends of the table will have trouble to reach theirs. This raclette might work for 4 persons but is not suitable for 8 as normal European raclettes are.

I have a love for swiss food ever since I came back from Australia and missed my favorite Swiss Restaurant called Kellers. I heard about these Raclette grills from an officemate who used to live in Switzerland. Let me tell you it might seem like a complex item but it truly isn't. It is good for so many uses because it is a grill and broiler in one. On Saturday I go to the store and buy different fresh veggies, french bread, and meats. I marinate the meats and put them in the freezer and fridge. I usually do this in no more than an hour. Then every night after work my husband and I and any guests that might be visiting pull all of these out of the fridge and freezer and grill up whatever we want. Everyone can have the same thing or they can fix their own dishes using all the items you have out. Your options are limitless. We have made kabobs, sandwhiches, stir fry's, potatoes, omlettes, garlic bread, pizza, pretty much everything. Clean up is very simple you just clean the top grill plate and any raclette dishes you used. We keep the grill out on our table for every meal and saves me from standing on my feet all afternoon over a hot stove. Which can be very hard when you have come home late from working a long day! I also have a picky husband and this is a great way for us each to have whatever we want cooked the exact way we want it cooked.

My parents bought this product so we could make raclette (melted cheese) at home.
Pros: 1) It is easy to clean.
2) While cooking the raclette you can grill scallops,
vegetables, shrimps, etc. on the plate above.
3) Sometime when my parents don't feel like cooking, they
use this, because you only need to cut some
vegetables and some meat and just put them on the grill.
4) It is also a great to use when you have
guests over, because the food is easy to prepare and
while it's cooking you can have a wonderful
conversation with your guests.

My husband and I have used one many times with family and finally purchased our own an an anniversary gift to each other. This model is fantastic because it has two sides, one for crepes and other other for grilling. The grill is a really nice size - you can easily fit 6 people around it. I love that the instruction book includes a few recipes as well. The unit is very easy to clean and takes up very little closet space. Also included are the 8 cooking trays which go below the grill top and 8 spatulas so you don't scratch the non-stick surface with you silverware. I would recommend finding plates that have sections for your raw meats, sauces, and vegetables.

Our favorite thing about our raclette is the great memories we will have from using it. We spend hours cooking dinner with friends and family, drinking a little wine, and talking. In a world where people are working so many hours and running around like crazy, this is such a nice way to relax and enjoy good food and good company.

It's worth investing in a GOOD raclette grill, and this one is really the top of the line of home raclette units. Its solid and made of heavy materials that will last a lifetime. PLUS, it has a reliable temperature control knob (unlike the cheaper models) -- that means you don't have to be bothered by plugging in and unplugging the unit throughout the evening to control the cooking temperature. Its reversible heating surface makes it useful for a variety of cooking jobs.

I bought this Raclette grill for my wife thinking that it would just be another kitchen gadget that we never used. Wow, what a great way to have an intimate dinner. It's perfect to enjoy a relaxing meal with 2-4 adults. I guess you could entertain a larger group if you don't mind getting your fixins close to each other! If you're use to eating a fast meal in front of the TV then you should try raclette. It really makes you slow down and enjoy the meal.

We bought some very inexpensive miniature wooden tongs from a Chinese supply store that work very well for taking your food on and off the grill surface. I had to subtract a star just because calling it an 8 person grill is a bit of a stretch.

My mother inlaw brought me one home from Switzerland. We use it for small get togethers. All my friends love coming over for a raclette party. I get different kinds of melting cheeses, they do sell raclette cheese at some stores. We boil potatoes and melt the cheese on the little trays and pour over the potatoes. Of course we have our variety of meats to cook on the grill. Everything cleans up really nice and it is fun to use. Great for a winter holiday party.