The 5 Best Raclette Grills of 2023 | by The Spruce Eats

Raclette is the name of a semihard cheese and dish using that same cheese. Like many of our favorite foods, raclette started as peasant food—cowherds would take a wheel of raclette out with them on their journeys and melt it over bread at the campfire for dinner.

Now, it’s a traditional party food melted over roasted vegetables, pickles, meat, and bread. In Europe, it’s often enjoyed with tea, but it’s lovely with wine or a favorite cocktail, as well. It’s warm and soothing in the winter and great in the summer when you don’t feel like cooking. Move over fondue—raclette is simple to prepare, easy to customize, and both a party and dinner all in one.

Here are the best raclette grills.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

The Rock by Starfrit Raclette 17-Piece Grill Set at Amazon

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Best Budget:

Swissmar Nordic Foldable Candlelight Raclette at Amazon

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Best Compact:

Boska Mini Raclette Cheese Melter & Grill at Amazon

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Best Large-Capacity:

Boska Raclette Party Set at Amazon

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Best Old-School:

Boska Copper and Concrete Raclette Melter at Food52

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
FAQs
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

THE ROCK by Starfrit 024403-002-0000 Electric Raclette/Party Grill Set, Black

Amazon

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What We Like

Dishwasher-safe nonstick plate
Reversible plate
Cool touch handle

What We Don't Like

Heavy
Could be bulky to store

The Rock by Starfrit Raclette is an electric 17-piece set complete with a detachable, dishwasher-safe plate. Its details and design aren’t hugely different from some of the other options on this list, but what makes this set standout are all the well-designed details that you only notice once you start using it.

Grill your veggies, meat, and bread on the top piece while you melt your cheese in the the four trays beneath. This allows you not one, but four different varieties of cheese flavored by various herbs, spices, and other tasteful combinations. Reviewers love that it heats up quickly and it's easy to control the temperature. It's even kid-friendly. Raclette night is for everyone.

Price at time of publish: $110

Cooking Power: 1500 watts | Cooking Surface: 16 x 9.5 inches | Material: Aluminum

Swissmar Nordic Foldable Candlelight Raclette, Black

Amazon

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What We Like

Good for camping or traveling
Stores easily
Doesn't need gas or electricity

What We Don't Like

Need to have tea lights on hand
May not work for large groups

If you’re not sure about this whole raclette thing or you want a portable option, the Swissmar Nordic Foldable Candlelight Raclette is a clear winner. It's lit with tea lights (so you don’t need a gas or electric power source), and folds down to half its already diminutive size. If not for yourself, it's a fun and thoughtful gift for any cheese lover in your life, and could be the makings of a romantic date night. At this price, the cheese will likely cost more than the set itself. Reviewers love its portability and how easy it is to wash.

Price at time of publish: $29

Cooking Power: N/A | Cooking Surface: 7 x 3 inches | Material: Alloy steel

Amazon

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What We Like

Dishwasher-safe grill plate
Two tiers
Portable

What We Don't Like

Doesn’t work for larger quantities

If you’re a food lover with a small kitchen, listen up. The Boska Mini Raclette Cheese Melter & Grill was made for you. Boska is known for its cheese products—especially the cheese knives it’s crafted for the past 100 years. This 2-tier electric grill comes with two dishwasher-safe enamel pans and spatulas, and takes up almost no room in your kitchen, but is well-designed and sturdy enough that you can use it for a date night or family dinner with no problem at all. If you need a small grill that you can count on, look no further.

Price at time of publish: $50

Cooking Power: 500 watts | Cooking Surface: 8 x 4 inches | Material: Metal

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BOSKA Partyclette XL, Tea Light Raclette Set with 8 pans, European Oak Wood

Amazon

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What We Like

Perfect for hosting
Pans and spatula are dishwasher-safe
Even though it's large, it's portable

What We Don't Like

Only individual small plates
Need to have tea lights on hand

If you’re looking for a larger set that can accommodate different people, the Boska Raclette Party Set comes with eight little scrapers and raclette pans. It's powered by tea lights, so you can set it up wherever is most convenient, regardless of whether it’s by a power outlet, which also makes it ideal for camping or a picnic. The design, featuring two rows of four pans, makes it easy to gather around, which will inevitably lead to people chatting and swapping their favorite flavor combinations. With this set, any dinner becomes a memorable event.

Price at time of publish: $100

Cooking Power: N/A | Cooking Surface: 18 x 7 inches | Material: Stainless steel

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Boska

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What We Like

Industrial design combines various materials
Centerpiece of the party
10-year warranty

What We Don't Like

Heavy
Expensive

Many raclette sets come with little grill pans and scrapers or a large flat grill, where you can melt your cheese with any herbs, spices, or additions, and then scrape it onto your plate of veggies, bread, or meat. This set takes inspiration from the cowherds’ raclette experience, holding a quarter-wheel of cheese on the sturdy concrete and copper grill with heat radiating from the white ceramic cap.

It makes a grand centerpiece or a great gift and is simple to use. Just scrape the top layer of melted cheese with a raclette knife from the wheel onto whatever you want covered in a gooey blanket of fromage. Though the top layer melts off with ease, the center of the cheese remains hard for later use.

Price at time of publish: $200

Cooking Power: 400 watts | Dimensions: 16.5 x 15.75 x 15 inches | Materials: Ceramic, concrete, copper, stainless steel

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Final Verdict

Have a fun night with the kids over melted cheese, meat, potatoes, and more using our top pick: the simple-to-use and easy-to-clean The Rock by Starfrit Raclette 17-Piece Set. If you want something that will get everybody talking, the stylish Boska Copper and Concrete Raclette Melter should be at your next party.

What to Look for When Buying a Raclette Grill

Size

The size of your raclette grill becomes an issue when you're feeding more people than the grill you purchased can handle. Decide what you're going to be using it for most, whether it be a romantic dinner for two or many guests. This will help you determine what size grill you need.

Shape

Circular, square, or rectangular, which shape is going to feel best and work best for you? It's a personal preference, but while deciding, picture how you and your guests will be gathered together cooking.

Power

Check the wattage before purchasing one of these grills to make sure it's going to be able to melt the cheese and cook what is on the grill portion, too. Some raclette grills are powered by tea lights rather than by power cords and will take longer to cook your food. If buying one with a cord, look at the cord length to see if you'll be able to place it on the center of the table so everyone can access it while seated, or if it will have to be placed on the counter near an outlet due to the shortness of the cord.

FAQs

What is a raclette grill?

This small, tabletop type grill provides the capability to melt cheese and grill meat, veggies, and even bread for dipping, all at the same time. Small individual portions are cooked so everyone can make their own.

What is the difference between a raclette grill and a fondue pot?

The idea of everyone making their own meal is the same, and both involve melted cheese. So what's really different? The basic fondue consists of melted cheese in a pot in which everyone is dipping bread, whereas the raclette not only melts the cheese but provides a grill to cook the meat, veggies, bread, etc. to go with the cheese.

Can you use other types of cheese besides raclette on a raclette grill?

Any Swiss cheese that melts well, such as Gruyère, Fontina, Emmentaler, or Appenzeller, can be used in place of raclette.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Writer and professional cheese eater Christine Clark teaches cheese and pairing classes throughout the United States and is especially fond of raclette, as it combines her two favorite things: cheese and potatoes. While raclette might sound like a fancy and complicated event to put together, Christine firmly believes that everyone deserves melty cheese over potatoes, meat, and good bread every once in a while. Her cheese adoration is so strong that she has a whole podcast dedicated to it. She is a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society.

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Additional reporting by

Sharon Lockley

and

Jacqueline Weiss