Comparison Tefal Optigrill+ XL GC722D stainless steel vs Russell Hobbs Grill and Melt 22160-56 stainless steel

Rated power of the device — that is, the maximum power consumed during normal operation. With a low intensity of heating, energy consumption may be lower, but it is worth focus on this indicator.

The larger the surface area of the electric grill, the more energy is required for its efficient operation. In addition, for different cooking tasks, the intensity of heating (and, accordingly, the required power) will also be different. Therefore, only devices of the same type (see above) with a similar size of the working surface (see below) can be compared by this indicator. And in such a comparison, it is worth proceeding from the fact that higher power provides faster heating and more stable temperatures, but significantly affects the cost of the device. In addition, appliances more than 2 kW can create problems for old, “weak” wiring.

However, more than 2 kW is a high power for modern electric grills. Most of them have power consumption of 1,5 – 2 kW, quite a few models are in the range of 1 – 1,5 kW, and in the most low-power devices, this figure does not exceed 1 kW at all. At the same time, it is worth emphasizing separately that low power in itself does not mean low efficiency — often it turns out to be quite sufficient, taking into account the type and capacity of the grill.

The maximum heating temperature of the electric grill panels supported by the device in normal operation. It is desirable that its optimal indicator is about 230 — 240 ° C. Electric grills with such a heating temperature threshold will be able to fry any food with high quality. A high temperature may only be needed for some specific types of cooking, and a lower temperature will not ensure proper grilling for home use.

Electric grill control panel design.

— Control knob. Mechanical control is carried out using rotary knobs and switches. Most parameters in such devices are set and controlled manually. In this case, the control elements are connected to the working parts of the electric grill directly, without additional electronic circuits. This option is simple, reliable and low cost; however, it is only suitable for the most basic functions, but electric grills usually do not require more.

– Push-button. Push-button control is based on electronic circuits. Such systems are more accurate than mechanical ones (for example, the timer in such electric grills can usually be set with an accuracy of up to a few seconds), and more options and modes are provided. On the other hand, such control is more complex and more expensive than mechanical control.

– Touch. A type of electronic control with touch switches. Compared to push-button models, it provides a high level of comfort in operation, and looks more modern and aesthetically pleasing. Touch control is found mainly in top models of electric grills.

Nowadays, among electric grills, you can find models with metal, ceramic and stone surfaces, as well as devices using both metal and stone. Here is a detailed description of each of these options:

— Metal. Metal is the most popular plate material used in electric grills across all types and price ranges. It is cost-effective and can be easily molded into smooth or corrugated shapes. Metal surfaces are known for their durability, reliability, and minimal thermal inertia. They heat up and cool down quickly, responding rapidly to temperature adjustments. To enhance convenience, metal plates can be coated with a non-stick coating. While these coatings require careful handling and should avoid contact with metal utensils, they make cleaning easier and often enable cooking without the need for oil. Moreover, metal surfaces can be designed as removable, adding to their convenience and practicality.

— Stone. Stone work surfaces are found mainly among barbecue grills and raclette grills (moreover, they can be square, round, rectangular, oval); there are other types of devices with this feature, but there are very few of them. In general, metal is a durable, reliable, and practical material for electric g...rills. It possesses inherent non-stick properties and can tolerate contact with metal utensils like spatulas and forks. On the other hand, in open grills and raclette grills, stone plates are often used. These plates are massive and have high thermal inertia, which can be both disadvantages and advantages. The significant weight adds stability and reduces the risk of the grill moving or tipping. The ability to retain heat after turning off the grill can be beneficial in certain situations, such as in raclette dishes where the food on the top plate can remain warm throughout the meal. However, there are some drawbacks to using stone plates. They are more complex to produce and relatively expensive.

— Metal and stone. Grills equipped with two types of work surface at the same time — metal and stone. Almost all such devices are raclette grills (see "Type"). These devices offer the versatility of both materials, as described in detail above. The combination of metal and stone surfaces can vary in format. The most popular configuration is a combination surface with a part made of stone and another part made of metal. In this case, the stone surface is typically smooth, while the metal surface can be either smooth or corrugated (see "Surface of the plates"). This combination allows for simultaneous frying of different types of food. After cooking, the food can be placed on the stone surface, which cools slowly and effectively keeps the contents hot. Another variation is raclette grills with two interchangeable plates, one made of metal and the other made of stone. These grills are similar to the first type but do not allow for simultaneous use of different materials.

— Ceramics. Ceramics and glass-ceramics can be found in contact grills, although there are some other devices with plates made from these materials, including barbecue grills. Ceramics offer good non-stick properties and are resistant to sharp objects. However, they are susceptible to damage from impacts and temperature changes, which can result in chips and cracks. Additionally, ceramic surfaces tend to be more expensive. Due to these factors, ceramics and glass-ceramics are relatively rare in modern grill designs.

The size of the work surface installed in the grill — that is, the surface intended for the cooked products.

The amount of food that can be cooked directly depends on this indicator at a time. On the other hand, a large work surface requires high power, and also directly affects the overall dimensions of the grill. Therefore, when choosing according to this indicator, it is necessary to take into account the expected volumes of cooking and the amount of space available for installing the device first of all.

Note that this parameter is indicated by the length and width of the working surface, regardless of its shape. Therefore, the same dimensions — for example, 30x30 cm — can mean both a square and a round device, while the usable area in the first case will be noticeably larger than in the second. So in such cases, it will not prevent clarify the specific shape of the working surface.

Additional features of the electric grill.

Features such as thermostat, off timer and < a href="/list/43/pr-21604/">auto-cooking, can be found in all types of grills (see “Type”); removable plates are also very popular, they are not found except in electric frying pans; and here is fixing the height of the top plate, opening 180° and separate temperature control are relevant mainly for pressure grills (with rare exceptions). Here's a more detailed description of each of these features:

— Thermostat. Regulator that allows to automatically maintain the set temperature of the working surface. To do this, a special sensor monitors the temperature of the grill, turning off the heating when it reaches the desired value and turning it on again when it cools down by a few degrees. This allows to maintain the required cooking mode without any extra effort. Thermostats are very simple in design and inexpensive, and therefore are found in most modern electric grills.

— Timer. The timer that turns off the heating after a specified time. This feature saves the user from having to keep track of time: it is enough to set the desired value on the timer. Among other things, due to this, the risk of overcooking or “burning” the cooked dish is significantly reduc...ed: such a nuisance can only occur if too much time was chosen for cooking. Note that the capabilities of the timer depend on the type of control (see "Control"): with mechanical control, the time, usually, is set quite approximately (sometimes with an accuracy of up to a minute or two), with electronic control — with an accuracy of up to a second.

— Autocook. The presence of auto-cooking programs in the grill — one or more. This feature differs from the timer described above in greater convenience and functionality. So, the user does not need to manually set the grill temperature for the operating time — usually, it is enough to select the type of product and the desired degree of roasting/warming up. A specific set of auto-cooking programs may be different, it should be specified separately; among the most popular options are “meat” (often with a choice of degree of roasting), “poultry”, “fish”, “burgers”, “sandwiches”, “sausages”, as well as a defrost mode.

— Removable plates. Possibility to remove the grill plate(s). The main purpose of this function is to make it easier to wash and clean the work surface after use. So, removable plates can be washed without problems in a kitchen sink, and often even in a dishwasher, while such features are not available for a non-removable design. In addition, some devices with this feature can be equipped with interchangeable plates of different types (see "Plates included"); and if the removable plate is damaged, it is enough to buy a similar part for a replacement — you do not need to change the entire grill or take it to repair.

— Plate height auto-adjustment. In grills with this feature, the top plate is mounted on a special hinge, which allows it to automatically adjust to the height of the food to be cooked. In this case, you do not need to make any additional settings — just lower the lid, and it, clinging to the contents, will itself take the optimal position. This height auto-adjustment differs from another similar function — manual height adjustment (see below). The disadvantages of this design, compared with the manual height adjustment, include the fact that the top plate must necessarily be in contact with the contents, there is no possibility to heat the products from above in a "non-contact" way. However, this moment is not so often critical; in addition, there are a fairly large number of models where the hinge is combined with manual adjustment.

— Fixation of the height of the plates. Possibility to manually adjust the height of the top plate. The user can select the position of the plate below which it should not fall. This complicates the setup somewhat, but provides some advantages and additional capabilities. First of all, this is the possibility of “contactless” cooking - when the top plate is not adjacent to the food, and heating from above occurs only due to thermal radiation.

— Opening 180°. A feature found primarily in contact pressure grills, as well as individual pizza makers (see “Type”). When the lid is opened 180 degrees, such a device actually turns into a barbecue grill with two separate working surfaces. Thus, this feature allows you to grill not only in a “closed” but also in an “open” way. And some similar models provide separate temperature control (see below), further expanding the functionality.

— Separate temperature control. In grills with this feature, the work surface is divided into two parts, and the temperature of each of them can be adjusted independently of the other. Most of these models are contact grills with the ability to open at 180° (see above) — they can separately adjust the temperature of the main surface and the lid. In the "open" format of work, this allows you to simultaneously cook dishes that require different temperature conditions; and when the grill is closed, due to separate adjustment, it is possible to provide different intensity of processing from above and below — for example, to brown the bottom half of the burger and only slightly heat the top. There are also open grills, in which the working surface is divided into two independent temperature zones; however, this possibility significantly complicates the design and increases its cost, so that very few such models are produced.