What Is a Raclette Grill?

Raclette cheese is available at specialty cheese stores and some markets.

Snacks that involve guests in tabletop preparation promote interaction and usually add interest to social gatherings. A raclette grill, which is usually used to make a cheese product, falls into this category of cooking.

Raclette History

Raclette cheese was developed centuries ago in the Valais region of Switzerland. According to RacletteCorner.com, there are differing opinions on who started the practice. Some stories claim it was local shepherds and others say it was grape harvesters. The group congregated around a communal campfire at the end of workdays and gently pressed cut surfaces of the cheese into the hot coals to make it melt. They scraped the melted cheese onto pickles and potatoes. The French word for scrape is raclet, hence the cheese's name.

Types

Electric raclette grills are available in various styles and sizes. They typically have non-stick surfaces for easy removal of the melted cheese. Some models have a top grill with trays underneath. Food cooks on top while the cheese melts below.

Considerations

Treated stones come with some raclette grill sets. They heat on top of the grill and melt the cheese in a more rustic manner. Raclette grills are appropriate for cooking almost any food amenable to quick searing like fresh vegetables, boneless poultry, fish, beef and pork.

References

• TrudeauCorp: What Is a Raclette Grill?
• RacletteCorner: What Is a Raclette Grill?