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.
