In short: the Princess Raclette Purify 162660 is for people who love raclette but not the smell of melted cheese clinging to the curtains until next Tuesday. Key points: 1500 W, two 20 x 23 cm grill plates, 8 pans, an adjustable thermostat and, above all, a built-in fan with a filter and two speeds.
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At a glance: Princess Raclette Purify 162660
| Feature | Princess Raclette Purify 162660 |
|---|---|
| Type | 8-person raclette grill with built-in ventilation and air filtration (Princess) |
| Item number | 01.162660.01.001 (Princess) |
| Number of people | 8 (Princess) |
| Power | 1500 W, 230 V (Princess) |
| Plates and coating | 2 cast aluminium grill plates, 20 x 23 cm each, non-stick (Princess); ceramic coating according to a retailer |
| Controls | Adjustable thermostat up to 210 °C (Princess); 3-position fan: off, low, high (Princess manual) |
| Odour filter | Replaceable filter, sold for €4.95 on the Princess website (part 901.162660.001); the manual allows an activated-carbon cooker hood filter cut to 16 x 4 cm max |
| Accessories included | 8 non-stick pans and 8 wooden spatulas (Princess manual) |
| Cleaning | Grill plates dishwasher-safe once cool; pans hand-wash only (Princess manual) |
| Safety and comfort | Overheat protection, non-slip feet, 2 m cord (Princess) |
| Dimensions and weight | Not stated by Princess |
| Warranty | 2 years, according to a retailer |
What we take away
The Purify starts from a simple and frankly welcome idea: pull some of the smoke and smell into the machine instead of letting it tour the whole house. The central block houses the fan and the filter, with a cooking module on each side: a 20 x 23 cm cast aluminium grill plate on top and the pans underneath. Princess quotes 1500 W in total and a thermostat that goes up to 210 °C, while a second knob sets the fan to off, low or high. A tester whose review appears on the Princess website says the house smelled far less than with a regular raclette grill. That is the whole selling point, and it seems to hold up.
The flip side is the two-wing layout, which takes up a lot of table length. The same tester found eight people a bit cramped, while four had plenty of room. Two reviews also say the lower pans get less hot than the plates on top, a classic with stacked raclette grills. For cleaning, the manual allows the dishwasher for the plates but not for the pans, which are hand-wash only. The filter can be replaced: Princess sells it for €4.95 as a spare part, and the manual says an activated-carbon cooker hood filter cut to size will also do.
Strengths
- Built-in fan with odour filter and two speeds
- Two 20 x 23 cm cast aluminium grill plates
- Adjustable thermostat up to 210 °C
- Plates are dishwasher-safe according to the manual
- Cheap replacement filter sold by Princess
Things to consider
- Pans are hand-wash only
- Lower pans run cooler than the plates, according to two testers
- A bit tight for eight according to one tester, more comfortable for four to six
- No official dimensions or weight
Who is it for?
For flat dwellers, open-plan living rooms and anyone who has slept next to a jumper that smelled of cheese. The Purify suits groups of four to eight who want to grill meat and vegetables while the cheese melts, without turning the lounge into a cheese cellar. If you want a cooking stone, a crêpe plate or a fondue pot, this is not the one: it does raclette and grill, full stop, but it does it with a filter.
Alternatives
- Princess Raclette and Fondue 162670: same brand, a 31 x 31 cm plate and a 1.3 L fondue pot with two independent thermostats, but no air filter.
- Lagrange Element 179601: 1200 W, natural stone and a grill plate that doubles as a crêpe plate, made in France according to Lagrange.
- Tefal Colormania RE310401: 8 pans, 1050 W, grill and crêpe plate, no ventilation.
To see how the Purify compares with other models, read our guide to the best raclette grills. To fill it, browse our recipes.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Princess Raclette Purify get rid of smells?
It reduces them. Princess describes a built-in air filtration system designed to limit cooking smells at the table, with a fan that has three settings: off, low and high.
Is the Raclette Purify dishwasher-safe?
Partly. According to the Princess manual, the grill plates can go in the dishwasher once cool, but the pans must be washed by hand in hot soapy water.
How do you replace the Raclette Purify filter?
Princess sells the replacement filter (part 901.162660.001) on its website. The manual also says an activated-carbon cooker hood filter cut to a maximum of 16 x 4 cm and 1 cm thick will fit.
