Host a Delightful Dinner Party with the Best Raclette Makers

As you shop for small electric appliances to help make entertaining with friends and family a little easier, consider raclette makers. Raclette means "to scrape" in French. It refers to a type of cheese and a traditional Swiss dish that involves heating cheese and serving, or scraping, the melted cheese on foods like meat, fish, potatoes and other vegetables.

This specialty kitchen appliance is a must for casual meals with family and friends. Explore the different types of raclette makers available to find the one that's right for you.

What Does a Raclette Maker Do?

Essentially a type of indoor grill, a raclette maker is designed to fit on top of your tabletop or counter for ease and convenience. It melts individual serving sizes of cheese. With some raclette machines, you can grill your favorite meats and vegetables on top while you melt the cheese underneath. Place the melted cheese on your grilled food or enjoy it with bread. Make sure you put out placemats to keep your tabletop free from spills and splatters.

What Are the Features of Raclette Makers?

As you prepare to host a dinner party, consider some of the key benefits of a raclette maker.

Look for raclette makers with a durable granite surface where you can place pre-cooked foods. Broiling trays go underneath the granite surface. These broiling trays are what you melt the cheese in. Guests can dip all kinds of foods into their individual serving portions of cheese, including sausages and potatoes. Raclette makers come with eight non-stick raclette dishes and spatulas. The spatulas are great for scraping cheese onto food or flipping foods over.

Some raclette grills feature a reversible cast-iron grilling plate with a griddle on one side that allows you to cook meat and vegetables. Flip it over to a smooth side and make crepes or pancakes, or warm flatbread to enjoy with your melted cheese. Heat the cheese underneath the grill in the individually sized raclette dishes. Raclette machines come with variable temperature control, making it easy to adjust the temperature as needed.

Set the party atmosphere before you bring out the raclette maker with other appetizers like our cheese, fruit and nut selection. We've taken the guesswork out of selecting and pairing the perfect cheeses with other nibbles so you don't have to. Treat your guests to a one-of-a-kind cheese and charcuterie board with a large, pre-packaged spread with enough food to serve up to 12 people. Or enjoy handmade potato chips infused with your favorite cheeses, like Smoked Gouda, Manchego and Asiago.

While you're setting up your appetizers and getting the cheese ready to be broiled in your new raclette maker, don't forget to choose your serveware essentials, too. Serve your appetizers with elegant platters and serving bowls made from porcelain or marble. Take the party to the backyard with vibrant -- and durable -- melamine dishes. The possibilities for serving and entertaining abound at Williams Sonoma.