Tefal grills: review of popular electric models

Modern people enjoy dishes cooked over fire. You can delight your household with kebabs or fried wings, baked vegetables, fish, and grilled meat steaks all year round if you use an electric grill to prepare your favorite dishes. A wide range of such equipment is offered. Models of this brand are popular among Russian buyers.

Advantages of Tefal electric grills

Electric appliances from a world-famous brand provide balanced heating and simultaneous frying of the prepared dish on both sides. Many models are equipped with several automatic operating programs, with which you can prepare dishes of varying degrees of roasting, reheat pies and pizza.

Most modern models of the Tefal brand are equipped with trays and removable plates with non-stick coating . These electrical parts can be cleaned and washed in the dishwasher.

The tefal grill is a good choice for a summer house or country house, and an excellent gift for any man who is interested in cooking.

The electric grill of this popular brand is compact, and it is easy to find a place for it in any kitchen.

Prices for models depend on their functionality. If your budget allows, then you can buy the most advanced and expensive device, otherwise choose a grill with basic functions at the best price. Below we will look at the 6 most popular models from Tefal, their advantages and disadvantages.

Review of Tefal OptiGrill with smart steak cooking sensor

At one time, a wonderful gadget appeared on the market with an external sensor that monitored the degree of readiness of steaks on the grill and sent messages to a smartphone. Tefal followed a similar path. The steaks come out just like a textbook: a fried crust that doesn’t allow a single drop of juice to leak out, and a juicy center at the right degree of doneness. We tried frying cutlets, a piece of tuna and many, many steaks. Oh yes, and zucchini too!

The Tefal OptiGrill grill is positioned as a device that allows you to automatically cook a steak to the ideal degree of roasting. At the same time, everyone defines “ideality” for themselves - some like it rare, while others prefer it drier, so Tefal engineers have developed a special sensor that determines the degree of roasting of meat and converts it into a color signal for greater clarity. And it works not only with meat. There are special programs for fish, burgers, sausages and in addition a pre-defrost mode.

This all sounds tempting and intriguing, and even more tempting is that the grill can fry everything without human intervention. Of course, you will have to put the food there and take it out, but you don’t need to constantly monitor and check the degree of frying, as happens when cooking a steak in a frying pan.

The grill is small in size. It doesn't take up much space on the kitchen counter, and at the same time its size is quite large enough to cook two large pieces of meat.

The fact that the grill doesn't take up a lot of space is good because it's quite heavy. This is not a device that needs to be taken out and put away often - it means it is constantly on the desktop and, of course, in use. And I want to use it often. And to a large extent this is due to the speed and ease of preparation - you can easily fry two kilograms of zucchini in it without oil in about 20 minutes. And most importantly, it will be delicious.

The grill handle, on which the control buttons are located, is made of heat-resistant plastic and is very convenient to wipe - there are no recesses there. The non-stick plates snap off and are easily removed for dishwasher cleaning. You can fry them without using oil, which is what we did. But if there are concerns, individual products can be lightly greased with sunflower oil using a brush.

The grill has several preset programs, for almost all occasions and for different types of products.

Hamburger

- for preparing a hamburger, i.e. a bun with a cutlet and other goodies.
Poultry -
allows you to grill juicy chicken meat.
Panini/bacon
- intended for toast and hot sandwiches.
You can fry ham and bacon using the same program. Sausages
- using this program you can cook sausages, sausages, kupats, pork chops, pork belly, lamb, nuggets, etc.
Meat
- this program is designed for cooking steaks of varying degrees of doneness.
Fish
- in this mode you can fry both whole medium-sized fish and steaks. You can fry other seafood using the same program.

Each of these programs can be modified using the snowflake button indicating pre-defrost. You can put a frozen chicken fillet in the grill, and it will defrost it itself, and then fry it, based on the sensor readings and the thickness of the piece.

Well, if you want something unusual (something that is not provided by the programs), you can use the manual program. True, the algorithm of its operation is somewhat different from the algorithm of built-in programs.

When using one of the preset programs (for example, cooking steak), you must first turn on the device, select the desired program and click on OK. The grill then enters preheat mode, during which the indicator light begins to flash purple. This takes about 7 minutes, which is quite a long time, especially when you don’t know in advance that you need to wait, and all this time you are staring at the flashing indicator waiting for completion. After the “violet flashing” has changed to “purple”, you can add food. As soon as meat is placed inside the grill, the indicator turns blue. This means that everything is going according to plan and preparation has begun.

Then you just need to monitor the color of the indicator, which will indicate the desired degree of frying, and at the right moment take out the ready and aromatic steak (or not steak). It’s good that you don’t need to sit next to the device and closely monitor the indicator - when you move to the next level of readiness, the grill emits a sound signal, which is very convenient to navigate. It squeaked, which means it’s still cooking, there were already three squeaks, which means it’s time to get it out.

When cooking in manual mode, everything is not so convenient, but you can fry whatever you want. For example, in order to fry zucchini, you need to use a key with a thermometer to set the desired cooking temperature, focusing on the color indicator (in this case, the redder the color, the higher the temperature is set) and fry, noting the required cooking time and focusing either on the second hand on clock, or your intuition.

In our case, we fried zucchini. The temperature was set to orange, at which one portion was cooked for a couple of minutes.

The zucchini turned out crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The main thing here is not to forget the sacred secret of ideal zucchini - the circles should be the same thickness. And so that users who are far from cooking do not go crazy and do not go hungry because they cannot guess how long to fry a particular product, the grill comes with a sign that indicates the recommended colors of the temperature indicator and cooking time.

The grill plates not only have traditional grill stripes, but are also coated with a non-stick coating, so you can grill without oil. In order for the juice to drain during cooking and frying not to turn into stewing, the plates are slightly inclined. A good find, the main thing is to see in time a special tray at the bottom of the box, which should be placed under the grill. And to prevent the meat from rolling off the inclined plates with a non-stick coating, they have small bulges that help the pieces stay on the surface.

When preparing several servings or different products one after another, there is a small nuance. In order for the sensor to work correctly, the plates must be cleaned each time before use. The instructions say that before cooking each serving of steak, you must perform a preheating procedure. But the grill can delay this process, and the remaining juices from the previous portion of steaks will begin to burn. Moreover, if you put a new portion of meat into the grill during the preheating stage, it will begin to cook.

Now a few words about the taste of what comes out on the grill. And it turns out delicious. What marketers call an “intelligent cooking sensor” works. The steaks are cooked according to the textbook and recipes from the best chefs - a fried crust that does not allow a single drop of juice to leak out, and a juicy center to the desired degree of doneness. We tried frying patties (on the burger program), a piece of tuna and many, many steaks. Everything turned out just fine - juicy, not overdried and evenly fried over the entire area.

And what is important in the modern rhythm of life is very fast. A couple of steaks are fried for no longer than five minutes. This means that you can come home from work in the evening, plug the grill into the outlet in five minutes and perform the preheating procedure, and in another five minutes you will have ready-made steaks. After that, fry the zucchini on it in 10 minutes and we will get a tasty, healthy and, most importantly, meaty dinner.

It’s a similar story with breakfast—you can fry toast or make warm sandwiches practically without opening your eyes and continuing to watch your dreams.

In short, it looks like this grill from Tefal will fit right into the kitchen and take the place of a food processor. And in this case, the statements of marketers about the “ideal degree of roasting” and “intelligence” can be trusted. It doesn't matter what it's called, as long as it gives good results

Tefal GC306012

This is a powerful device (2 kW) of a closed type. The grill surface area is 660 cm². The roasting temperature of the product varies in the range of 50 – 220 °. The product is made of heat-resistant durable material. The surfaces of the device do not absorb food odors, are resistant to deformation and are not susceptible to corrosion.

The design of the GC30601 is ergonomic, supports changing panels, has a heating level indicator and overheat protection. The temperature is controlled manually; the handle of the device is not heated. Using the grill is comfortable and practically safe.

The disadvantages include the lack of a countdown timer and thermal insulation of the case.

Tefal GC306012 on Yandex Market

Tefal GC450b32

This is a device operated in two versions: grill press and frying pan. Unit power 2 kW. The design of the model includes changing panels, a non-stick coating, an adjustable thermostat, a drip tray, handles with overheating protection, and a temperature indicator. The advantage of the GC450b32 model is its large work surface, 4 cooking programs and the ability to be stored in a vertical position. Among the disadvantages, users noted the heaviness of the device.

Tefal GC450b32 on Yandex Market

Types of electric grills

Electric grills are:

• Non-contact type.
  They are a grill with a heating element in the form of a spiral underneath it. The disadvantages of this type include a large amount of smoke during operation, since fat from food drips onto the heating element, which causes smoke. Not a suitable option for enclosed spaces. This type also includes vertical electric kebabs.
• Contact type.
  Are the most popular. The heating element in them is located under the working surface.

These grills are divided into two subtypes:

• Open (one-sided).
  These grills only have one heating panel. The advantages include a large surface for frying. But this also leads to the disadvantage of this type - it is quite large and takes up a lot of space. Since food is heated on only one side, it takes longer to cook than in a closed type.
• Closed (double-sided).
  These grills have 2 heating elements: bottom and top. Due to this, dishes are cooked faster, and meat steaks are more juicy. Some double-sided grills can open up 180 degrees to become single-sided. The most versatile option with the ability to cook a large number of dishes.

Tefal GC205012

A simple, compact barbecue grill is suitable for preparing dishes from meat, fish and vegetables without the use of oil. The non-stick coated panels are removable and easy to clean. The design of the GC205012 model provides an adjustable thermostat and a food readiness indicator. Device power 1.6 kW. Pros of the device:

• cooking without adding oil;
• Possibility of storage in a vertical position.

One of the minuses is the absence of an “ON/OFF” button and a tray.

Tefal GC205012 on Yandex Market

Tefal Optigrill GC702d34

This is an advanced electric grill with a hardware and software system for measuring the thickness of steaks and determining the optimal degree of frying . The 2 kW device is made using innovative technology: its design includes a sensor for measuring the thickness of meat and automatically adjusting the temperature, as well as 6 different automatic cooking programs and manual adjustment of the cooking mode.

The grill panels are placed at an angle of 7° to allow fat to drain evenly into the drip pan.

Like most models of the brand, the removable panels and tray of the Optigrill GC702d34 are protected by a non-stick coating and are easy to clean and rinse. The device is equipped with a convenient control panel located on a handle protected from overheating. There are also indicators for turning on and the degree of readiness of the dish. The device also notifies you when the dish is ready with a sound signal.

Tefal Optigrill GC702d34 on Yandex Market

Popular grill models: review of tested models

We recently released a guide to choosing a contact grill, thanks to which you can easily determine the main parameters that characterize these devices and choose the appropriate grill depending on the tasks at hand.

Now let's take a look at the models we have already tested and compare their advantages and disadvantages, especially since our readers always have the opportunity to look at the results of real tests.

Looking ahead, we will say that first of all we will pay attention to “smart” grills that automatically select the degree of roasting of meat - after all, they have aroused the greatest interest among users. Let’s not ignore traditional models that perform their assigned tasks efficiently. We will start with the simpler ones and end with the most complex ones.

Not quite grills

There are many devices on the market that are structurally similar to grills, but are not grills in the classical sense of the term. First of all, these are the well-known electric sandwich makers and all kinds of devices for preparing baked goods. Despite the fact that these gadgets are not directly related to the topic of our review, we believe that it would not be superfluous to mention their presence: after all, they are the closest “relatives” of full-fledged grills.

Redmond RMB-M713/1

“Multi-baker” RMB-M713/1 from Redmond is a classic representative of baking gadgets that can partially perform the duties of a full-fledged grill. A variety of removable panels will allow you to use the multi-baker to prepare not only waffles and cookies of various types and shapes, but also pizza, burgers, pies, omelettes and much more. We are especially pleased with the opportunity to use the multi-baker as a contact grill.

Our testing showed that the relatively low power of 1400 W was more than enough to cook not only waffles, donuts and hot sandwiches, but also more complex dishes, such as puff pastry pies.

Of course, such a device is not suitable for frying steaks, but we do not see anything criminal in frying medium-sized pieces of meat, chicken or vegetables in it, if necessary.

Standard panels Redmond RMB-M713/1, designed for preparing waffles

Budget models

Grills belonging to budget models are not much inferior to their more “advanced” counterparts in terms of their technical characteristics: in most cases, they fry no weaker and cope quite adequately with maintaining the desired temperature.

Savings, as a rule, are manifested in the absence of a timer and a design that involves non-removable panels. Such nuances will not greatly affect the cooking process, but will somewhat complicate the process of operating and maintaining the device.

Such grills are more suitable for those who do not use the device too often. After all, the more often the grill is used, the more important the time it takes to clean it becomes. And, as we know, the panels need to be cleaned after each use.

Sinbo SSM 2530

This grill with non-removable frying panels impresses primarily with its low cost: with a very decent appearance and a power of 2000 W, its price is just over 3.5 thousand rubles. For this amount we get a full-fledged grill, which heats up quite quickly to maximum temperature (within five minutes). This way you can get the finished dish in 10-15 minutes.

Six temperature settings, the presence of a special compartment for collecting excess moisture, and an extremely low price, for which you can forgive the not very careful assembly and the inability to remove the panels to clean them. Moreover, the device performed “good” and “excellent” in all tests.

Sinbo SSM 2530 with fixed frying panels

Smile KG 1046

Another budget grill, similar to previous devices, is the Smile KG 1046, which has similar functionality, but differs in a feature that is usually inherent in more expensive models. We are talking about the presence of a “floating” top panel mechanism, allowing it to be positioned parallel to the bottom. Thanks to this, the products placed between the panels are compressed not at an angle, but in parallel, which, of course, cannot but have a positive effect on the quality of frying.

Otherwise, the advantages and disadvantages of this device are the same: the need to wash the panels directly on the body of the device, the grill does not have a timer, and the engineers clearly forgot to provide for the necessary tilt of the grill, which is why the height of the rear legs will have to be increased independently (for example, using stickers). Otherwise, fat and moisture will not flow into the tray actively enough.

Smile KG 1046 - budget grill with a “floating” top panel

Grills from the mid-price category

Grills from the mid-price category differ from budget models in the presence of a timer, which allows you to automate the cooking process (of course, only after the appropriate combination of optimal temperature and cooking time for the selected type of product has been selected experimentally).

The second (much more important, in our opinion) difference is the presence of removable panels, which significantly simplify the process of caring for the grill. Despite the fact that almost all contact grills have a habit of “spitting” oil and require timely wiping of the body, the presence of removable panels will significantly save time: if necessary, they can be soaked in water with detergent, and some manufacturers even allow you to wash the frying surfaces in dishwasher. Although we would not recommend this cleaning method unless absolutely necessary: ​​it is not a fact that aggressive household chemicals used in dishwasher tablets will have a positive effect on the service life of the non-stick coating of the panels.

Kitfort KT-1603

Kitfort KT-1603 is a typical representative of grills from the middle price category. This device is equipped with a simple mechanical control system, consisting of two knobs - a mechanical timer with a bell and a temperature control knob.

The panels on our grill are removable, but there is no mechanism for a “floating” top panel: the panels will open at one of the specified angles. Adjustment is carried out using a spacer switch.

Among the advantages, we also note the ability to open the panels 180 degrees, thanks to which the grill can be turned into two frying surfaces, one of which is flat, which means that you can fry regular fried eggs on the grill.

Kitfort KT-1603 with removable panels

Kitfort KT-1640

Another example of a grill from the middle price category (and with average capabilities) is very similar to the previous model Kitfort KT-1640. As we can see, the design of the device and its technical characteristics turned out to be exactly the same, with the exception of the presence of an electronic display on which the required temperature is set and the automatic shutdown timer settings are set.

The temperature setting knob in this case allows you to set a value from 160 to 230 °C in steps of 5 °C, and the timer allows you to set the time after which the heating will turn off - from 1 to 30 minutes.

Quite predictably, the price of such a device turned out to be slightly higher than that of the younger model. The choice in this case remains with the user: everyone can decide for themselves whether they need electronic control, and whether it is worth paying a little more for it.

Smart grills

“Smart” grills are by far the most technically advanced devices. Thanks to a sensor that determines the distance between the panels (that is, automatically measuring the thickness of a piece of meat placed on the grill), they allow you to cook steaks to the desired degree of doneness with fairly high accuracy. The only fly in the ointment here is the potential failure of the sensors responsible for measuring distance. It’s not that this problem is widespread, but if the device has an additional element, it may break sooner or later, as you can verify by reading user reviews on popular online resources.

Of course, this process cannot be called completely automatic: you will have to familiarize yourself with the list of built-in programs and do a couple of “test” preparations to make sure that you and the grill understand terms like “medium rare” in the same way. However, after the first acquaintance and grinding-in with the device has taken place, the process of frying the same steaks becomes more than simple: select the desired program, wait for the grill to warm up, place the meat between the panels, wait for the sound signal. Ready!

Not every cook will get the same uniform frying in the “manual” mode without preliminary training.

Tefal Optigrill GC702D34

According to the results of our tests, Tefal Optigrill proved to be a full-fledged smart device. Depending on the thickness of the piece placed in it, the device recalculates the time it takes the product to reach different degrees of readiness, and therefore the user does not have to periodically look under the lid or use additional devices such as a probe thermometer.

Among the advantages, we also note the attractive appearance of the device and ease of use and maintenance. The design of the grill allows you to keep its body and the entire area around it clean. It is possible to cook frozen foods and achieve the desired results without requiring any effort on the part of the user. Even if something goes wrong (for example, the user leaves the grill on without food or open), the smart system will automatically turn off the heating of the panels.

Contact grill Tefal Optigrill GC702D34

Redmond RGM-M805

Redmond RGM-M805 belongs to the family of top models released under the Redmond brand. This device has absorbed, perhaps, all possible advantages. There is the ability to open the panels 180 degrees, turning the grill into a large frying surface, ease of maintenance, the presence of programs for various types of product, and, of course, control of the degree of frying.

The key advantage of such a grill is that it eliminates the need for the cook to stand nearby with a stopwatch and thermometer, personally monitoring the cooking process. After all, as we know, in the case of frying meat, a missed couple of minutes can turn a quality product into a “sole”.

Thanks to the built-in programs, simple dishes such as chicken fillet are perfectly prepared automatically, while more complex dishes (steaks) require a minimum degree of control, which frees up 10-15 minutes of time for the cook, which can be spent usefully. For example, for preparing a side dish.

Redmond RGM-M805 with automatic roasting time selection

conclusions

Summing up the review of popular grill models, we can draw the following conclusions, which are worth keeping in mind when choosing the right model for your home:

• Budget models are not always bad: if a budget grill has sufficient power (about 2 kW) and does not have obvious design flaws, then most likely it will cope with cooking food no worse than a model from the middle price category. The differences will lie in ease of use (presence/absence of a timer) and a more complex cleaning procedure due to the fact that in budget models the panels are almost always non-removable.
• Models from the mid-price category are suitable for those who are not afraid of the need to independently control the cooking process: the cook will have to monitor the accuracy of the choice of temperature mode and independently select the appropriate temperature mode. The presence of removable panels will greatly facilitate the maintenance of the device, and if the grill allows the panels to be folded out 180 degrees, then the functions of a regular frying pan can be partially assigned to it.
• “Smart” grills that control the cooking process using a product thickness sensor and built-in programs will simplify the cook’s work as much as possible, freeing him from the need to control the frying process (for example, steaks). This grill is suitable for lovers of modern gadgets, as well as for those who do not want to dive too deeply into issues of temperature control and understand what temperature corresponds to the desired degree of roasting. Note that such grills also perform well when frying meat for large companies: experience shows that in situations where you need to feed a lot of people, keeping a stopwatch on each of a dozen or two steaks turns out to be somewhat tedious.
• Finally, let’s not forget about the “little brothers” of full-fledged grills - sandwich makers and devices for preparing all kinds of baked goods such as waffles and donuts. In some cases, they can replace a full-fledged grill, taking on some of its functions. Thus, if you suddenly find out that the most popular dish you cook on the grill is a hot sandwich, you might want to think about purchasing a separate, more compact and highly specialized device.

Tefal Optigrill GC712d34

Powerful electric grill (2 kW) with an intelligent steak frying sensor, 6 automatic cooking modes for meat and fish, as well as a pre-defrost program. For vegetables, there is a manual choice of 4 cooking temperature options.

The Optigrill GC712d34's removable non-stick grill panels are positioned at a 7° angle so that grease flows evenly into the non-stick pan. All removable parts are easy to clean. The grill controls are intuitive.

Tefal Optigrill GC712d34 on Yandex Market

Rating of the TOP 15 best electric grills for 2021

Tefal XL health GC600

Powerful contact grill XL health GC600 (2.4 kW), operating in three temperature modes:

• grill;
• B-B-Q;
• bake.

The device is equipped with removable corrugated panels, protected by a non-stick coating, and has a tray for collecting fat. A special feature of this model is the ability to adjust the height of the product and open the lid 180°, thereby increasing the frying surface. The device can be stored in a vertical position.

The brand's products presented in this review are distinguished by their build quality and stylish design.
In its developments, the manufacturer takes into account customer preferences and fashion trends. The versatility of devices, simple operation and maintenance, coupled with ease of storage have brought Tefal brand grills to a leading position. Tefal XL health GC600 on Yandex Market

Contact electric grill Tefal Ultra Compact Health Grill Comfort GC306012

This is the name of the Tefal kitchen appliance. The naming of the model leaves no room for imagination; everything immediately becomes clear: this is a grill, it is compact, and it is convenient to cook healthy dishes on it.

The electric grill comes in a white box with full color printing. On the front of the box there is a picture of healthy food, on the back and sides there are drawings that focus attention on the distinctive features of the model: a grease trap, corrugated metal frying plates, the ability to remove them and put them in the dishwasher, the ability to store the grill vertically.

Table of contents

1. Specifications
2. Equipment
3. Preparation for use
4. Cooking
5. Caring for the device
6. Ease of management
7. General impressions

The model is small in size, 22x30 centimeters, made in black and metallic colors. The design of the device is unremarkable and simple; most of all, the experimental grill resembles a Soviet waffle iron in a new fashionable dress. The model operates in three temperature modes and can be used in three positions: “grill”, “barbecue” and “oven”.

Specifications

Equipment

• electric grill assembly
• instructions
• warranty card

Preparation for use

Quite a simple task. You need to place the grill on a stable surface (preferably under or near the hood), wipe the grill plates with a soft cloth and connect the device to a power source. It is possible, but not necessary, to wash the plates thoroughly before first cooking, either by hand or in the dishwasher. The frying surfaces are metal, so there is no unpleasant plastic smell when heating.

Cooking

The tested model has three modes:

• Vegetables - 100 °C
• Hot sandwiches - 200 °C
• Meat - 250 °C

It is worth mentioning that on some pages of online stores we saw slightly different temperature indicators for modes (for example, indicating an upper limit of 240 °C). We did not find official information about the exact operating limits of each mode either in the instructions or on the company’s website. We determined the data we indicated for each mode manually, using an infrared pyrometer.

There is an indicator light on the control panel of the electric grill, which lights up when the device is turned on and goes out when the frying surface reaches the temperature required for the selected mode. You need to place food on the grill after the indicator goes out. During operation of the device, the heating elements periodically stop heating the plates, so the indicator lights up again and goes out when the set temperature is reached again. When cooking, you should not pay attention to this slow light music.

The device operates in three positions: “grill”, “barbecue” and “oven”. In the “grill” position, both plates are in contact with the product, that is, frying occurs simultaneously on both sides. The “barbecue” position allows you to flip the top plate 180°, turning the grill into a large roasting pan. In some models of electric grills from other manufacturers (for example, in the Steba PG 4.4 model), this mode is called “grill party”. The oven position works with the help of a metal support piece, which, when positioned, holds the top plate parallel to the bottom at a distance of about 10 cm. This way you can prepare a hot sandwich or reheat a slice of pizza.

Mode 1 - vegetables

For testing, we took tomatoes and sweet peppers. Cooked in the “grill” position for even cooking on both sides (assuming that the tomato and pepper have two sides). The plates were heated for 5 minutes, the indicator went out at a temperature of 100 °C. The vegetables were fried for about 6 minutes until they acquired a characteristic “burnt” color crust. The inside of the tomato was just warmed up, the pepper remained slightly crunchy. The degree of frying of vegetables is a matter of taste and recipe; for ajapsandali, the products we received were not fried enough, so we invented an appetizer of grilled tomatoes and peppers, herbs, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice.

Mode 2 - hot sandwiches

We made the first batch in the “oven” position; these were open sandwiches with meat and cheese. The grill heated up to 209 °C for 5 minutes, then the indicator went off. The sandwiches were ready in 10 minutes. We determined the degree of readiness by completely melted cheese and toasted bread.

The second batch was cooked on the “grill” mode, and these were sandwiches - that is, sandwiches with meat and cheese connected with bread on the outside. This time the cooking took 6 minutes, and the result was more interesting than in the “oven” position. With double-sided contact, the cheese melts and bakes more evenly, and we understand that in hot sandwiches, melted cheese is the crown of the dish.

Mode 3 - steaks

For testing, we took a New Zealand ribeye from Metro. Cooked in the “grill” position. We traditionally measured the heating rate of the fryer from the moment it was turned on to the maximum heating temperature of the device. We took measurements with an infrared pyrometer once a minute.

Once the roaster reached 250 degrees Celsius, the light went off and we placed the pre-cooked meat on the plate. The following table shows the relationship between cooking time and internal temperature of the steak.

After the last measurement, we removed the steaks from the broiler. Despite the fact that the temperature inside the steak was within the temperature range for the “medium rare” degree of frying, the meat on the bottom had already turned gray. Contact with the top plate was intermittent as we opened the grill for measurements, so the top half of the steaks were the expected gray-pink color. Here, most likely, the error in the thermometer readings or the seconds after the last measurement during which the steaks remained on the grill played a role. According to the experimenters, four minutes would be enough to achieve the desired degree of roasting.

The device has a grease trap, which actually works as intended: all the meat juice ends up in a container under the lower heating surface. Once cooked, hobbyists can use this liquid to make a sauce or gravy.

Caring for the device

The plates and grease tray can be placed in the dishwasher, as the device packaging, instructions and the official website of the manufacturer tell us about this. The remaining surfaces of the device can be wiped with a soft soapy rag or wet wipes, and then with a paper towel (the second method requires more consumables, but you don’t need to wash the rag after cleaning). Thanks to the grease trap and the fact that heat treatment occurs practically without oil, the environment and the grill itself (except for the plates and tray) have a chance to remain clean during cooking.

Ease of management

Controlling the grill is extremely simple: a power button and a rotary knob with three numbers corresponding to three cooking modes. Above the panel there are pictograms for each mode number: 1 - mushroom and bell pepper, 2 - sandwich, 3 - meat and fish. Everything is clear and familiar, just like in kindergarten. Next to the power button there is a plate heating indicator. It turns off without a sound signal, but with a characteristic relay click. You won’t hear it from another room, but being nearby, the user can tell by the sound that the light has gone out.

Instructions

The instructions for the device are very bad. This is a thick A5 book with thermal adhesive, containing a manual in 31 languages ​​and explanatory drawings. “The explanatory drawings are the final pages,” the instructions tell us, and we immediately understand how the text has been translated. In addition to the difficulties of translation, the spread allotted to the conventionally Russian text is two-thirds filled with prohibitory descriptions (“It is prohibited to manipulate hot plates”) and official statements from the developer (“For your safety, the device complies with existing norms and regulations”).

The remaining third of the text is a rather dry and peculiarly presented description of the method of interaction with the device and the rules of care. The pictures at the end of the brochure are a little more informative, but due to the size and print quality they leave much to be desired. Despite the fact that the control of the tested model is very simple, the neophyte would like to have clear instructions at hand. Questions about how the positions of the device change, what the temperature value of each mode is, how the grease trap is removed are easier and more realistic to solve on your own than with the help of instructions.

A recipe book is not included with the device, and it is of no use for the use cases suggested by the model being tested. There are enough recipes online for everyone.

General conclusions

So, let’s check whether it matches the name: Ultra Compact Health Grill Comfort.

Ultra Compact

Yes, indeed, the device is quite small, 22x30 cm. In addition, there are legs at the rear end of the grill, which allows you to store it vertically when folded. The prefix “Ultra”, of course, gives the name an overly enthusiastic superlative degree, but the tested model cannot be called a dimensional object.

Health

This is about a method of heat treatment without oil. Grooved plates with non-stick coating allow this.

Comfort

We did not find any inconveniences of use, other than poor instructions and the absence of a sound signal. The device is extremely easy to use, and caring for it is also not difficult.

The tested grill has a relatively low price, which for most buyers is one of the first most important criteria when choosing. If you need an inexpensive contact electric grill that doubles as a sandwich maker, then this model is worth a look.