Solis 3 in 1 table grill: raclette for ten tested
13.12.2024
Translation: machine translated
For the first time, Solis has a raclette oven for ten people on sale. That sounds great on paper. But does it work in practice?
The other day I wanted to invite myself to a raclette evening. But because that's frowned upon, I wanted to win the host's favour with half a wheel of organic raclette cheese from Goms. Quid pro quo. The attempt at bribery failed. "Unfortunately I can't, my oven only has six pans and there are already six of us," was the reason given for the cancellation. This would not have happened if the host had been in possession of the "3 in 1 table grill for 10 people" from Solis.
But the next raclette usually comes sooner than expected. Shortly afterwards, I was able to test the 10-person Solis oven with my team. The results were mixed. My biggest problem: five pans on each side are too many.
Sealing stress in the raclette oven
The oven has no indentations to accommodate the pans. This makes sense if not all the pans are in use at the same time. But if all five are in the oven on one side, you'll be pushing each other out of the oven, that's how tight the space is. That is frustrating. What's more, it's impossible for everyone at the table to reach their pans comfortably while sitting down.
Source: Simon Balissat
At least four out of ten people don't get their pans. This results in constant enquiries and discussions. "Is my raclette done yet"? "I don't know how you like it"! Et cetera. This is a good task for a team-building seminar, but not for a cosy evening with the family. The unique selling point of the oven (for 10 people) becomes a farce. If you really want to feed ten people at a long table with raclette, you're better off with two conventional six-seater models.
Source: Simon Balissat
Nevertheless, the Solis raclette oven has its uses. For when there are six or fewer people at the table. Then there is enough space for everyone. "Heavy users" like me can put two or even three pans in the oven at the same time and melt cheese at the same time. This works very well, as the oven provides decent heat after a long heating time of around 15 minutes. It even got so hot that we had to switch it down using the stepless dial. The dial is located at the narrow end of the oven. On the other side is a standard appliance plug. This is commendable, because with many ovens the cables are unfortunately permanently connected and cannot be replaced. It's great that the oven has a "garage" for used pans. I can store my hot pans under the heating zone without burning a hole in the table.
Table grill and crêpe plate
In addition to the raclette, a non-stick plate for the table grill and a crêpe plate with eight cut-outs for pancakes are included. I have not tested these in detail, even though the appliance is called "3 in 1 table grill". The appliance was advertised to me as the first raclette oven for ten people and not as a table grill or table crêpes for eight people.
Source: Simon Balissat
In a nutshell
Designed for ten, makes a maximum of six happy
More is not always more. Sure, in theory the Solis oven can make raclette for ten people at the same time. In practice, the endeavour fails, as at least four people do not have convenient access to their pans. This is a shame, as the oven otherwise offers great features such as the pan garage or the stepless heating.
Pro
- Heats evenly
- Pans can be moved freely
- Grill and crêpes plate on top
- Standard plug
- Hot, used pans can be stored under the oven
Contra
- Far too narrow for ten people at one table
- Too little space with five pans per side
Header image: Simon Balissat
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
Cooking
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