Hamilton Beach Electric Indoor Raclette Table Grill, PFAS-Free Serves up to 8 People for Parties and Family Fun, Includes 8 Warming Trays, Black (31612MN-MX), 200 sq. in. Nonstick Griddle

I really wasnt sure what to expect with this Hamilton Beach raclette grill. The reviews made me concerned about the grill not heating or heating unevenly. I was ready for the worst with this because I didnt want to spend double for the grill people were recommending since I will only use the grill maybe once or twice a year. It turns out I was pleasantly surprised.I have only used the grill for raclette and so I can not write about cooking meats or anything on the top grill. There is one single heating element that winds its way around under the grill plate and so I cant imagine the grill gets that hot. But, boy did it melt the raclette cheese well. Even the slots on the ends cooked well (some reviews mention that the ends are problems). I used the top to keep some items warm and that worked well.So, if you are looking for a raclette grill from a brand you know, this is a good option. I am not a raclette pro in that I dont make raclette all the time. But, for what I needed, this grill worked very well. And it cleaned up quickly! I hand washed the top plate, but everything else went in the dishwasher. And everyone has had fun with the raclette meals over the holidays which was the point. Now if only raclette cheese wasnt so insanely expensive.....

Easy to use. Easy to clean with good heating. Good quality and good product for the cost it sells. Versatile. Awesome product to keep.

works very well. fun to have participant cooking

This is a great product, the family has had a great time using it over the holiday's. Just be careful about how close things are to the grill as it produces a great amount of heat.

This is a great table top electric grill. We've had several Racletter parties and everyone loves it.

Thanks

Hamilton Beach representative contacted me promptly after I sent an e-mail to them, explaining what happened. They requested the model number and serial number and told me that the damage was covered under the Limited Warranty and that they would be sending a replacement to me…fantastic customer service, and I look forward to enjoying raclette with friends for years to come. Huge shout-out to Hamilton Beach!I bought this Raclette after returning home from France to visit my son. Due to a death in the family, I didn’t immediately take it out of the box, as I normally would have. I finally unboxed it this morning as invited dear friends over for lunch. When it realized it wasn’t sitting evenly on the table and found that an entire ‘leg’ was broken. Imagine my dismay.I don’t know if this was something someone else returned, or if it was broken in transit; however, I was only able to find pieces of the missing leg, which was lodged up inside the body of the raclette..It’s too late to return it, and I don’t know how to fix it.

I own four different brands of this product, and my family has been using these raclette grills for 30 years. Although this grill has its merits, it is our least favorite of the four.Pros:1. The top grilling surface is the largest we have seen, and it accommodates four or even five diners relatively comfortably. There's plenty of grilling surface area for everyone--a big plus.2. This top surface is also easy to clean. Grooves are shallow enough and non-stick enough not to hold onto the little burnt particles that inevitably form during grilling. Everything washes off easily.3. The whole machine is lightweight, which is nice when you are packing it up for storage after dinner. If this feature matters to you, you'll be quite happy (and if you buy a different brand, you should definitely avoid the cast-iron options).4. Excellent price compared to other models. Great as a wedding gift, for example.Cons:1. It does not heat evenly or quickly. This is a major disadvantage of this machine. Over the holidays, we used it three different times, and we heard guests commenting quietly along the lines of, "Is this thing still on?" or "Should we turn up the temperature?" We had put this new machine within reach of the guests so that they would have the largest grilling surface, but after hearing such comments, we decided to test it out ourselves, only to discover that although the center seems to heat decently well, the heat does not get distributed well to the ends and sides. Anyone using this machine will have to wait longer for food to heat or cheese in the little trays to melt. Huge downside, in our opinion. We had four machines running at once, and the guests at this table were the last to start and finish eating, simply because the machine did not keep up with the others.2. Offsetting the advantage of the larger size of cooking surfaces on this model is the noticeable drop in quality. The little skillets/trays for melting cheese feel a little cheap. The other brands that we own have a slightly more substantial feeling to the metal edges and to the plastic handles. On this one, the metal edges are sort of rolled rather than neatly finished (and if you're not careful, you could cut your finger while you are washing them, as some edges are a bit sharp).3. The cord is too short. You'll probably need an extension cord unless your outlet is really, really close to the table.Overall, this is a decent machine. It isn't bad, and it will do the job. People who have not experienced raclette with a different brand (like the excellent Swissmar we've owned for 29 years) may not even notice the lower quality aspects that bother me. We will keep it and use it again, but we will keep our expectations low and probably make sure our guests are using the better machines.