In short: the Tefal brand is French, born from the non-stick frying pan, and it has earned its spot on raclette tables. At Raclette Club you’ll find it in four appliances, from the 8-person raclette-and-crepe maker to the electric fondue set, with one common thread: easy to use and easy to clean.
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The Tefal brand in a few lines
It all starts with a fishing rod. According to the story Tefal tells, engineer Marc Grégoire was working on a non-stick material for his fishing rods when he had the idea of using it in the kitchen. He filed the patent for the non-stick frying pan in 1954, then founded Tefal in 1956 and made the pans himself in a workshop in Sarcelles, at a rate of 100 pans a day in the first year. In 1963, the brand threw a giant “Crep’Party” to give Candlemas a boost: crepes have been part of its DNA long before the 3-in-1 raclette grills.
In 1968, SEB bought Tefal and its five European subsidiaries, and the brand has belonged to the SEB group ever since. Its historic site in Rumilly, in Haute-Savoie, about twelve miles from Annecy, is nicknamed the “world capital of the frying pan” and employs more than 1,600 people, according to Tefal. The brand then branched out into small appliances, and the 2000s brought the Thermo-Spot, that indicator that changes color when the pan (or the raclette plate) is at the right temperature. Today, Tefal highlights a 2-year warranty and 15 years of repairability on its products.
Watch
Video: TefalFrance on YouTube. Official Tefal video about its industrial know-how in the Alps, the brand’s birthplace.
Video: TefalFrance on YouTube. Official Tefal video: how the pans are made at the Rumilly factory (Haute-Savoie), frying pans rather than raclette grills.
Video: 8 Mont-Blanc on YouTube. Report by the local channel 8 Mont-Blanc (2017) at the Tefal factory in Rumilly.
Video: TefalFrance on YouTube. Official Tefal video on the Raclette Pierrade Gourmet (raclette and grill stone, 1350 W according to Tefal), to see the brand’s raclette range in action.
Its appliances at Raclette Club
| Model | Type | Who it’s for | Review | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colormania RE310401 (ASIN B07X5F3DFR) | 3-in-1 raclette, grill and crepes, 8 people, 1050 W | Families who want to finish with crepes | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
| Pierrade RE45A812 (3-in-1 Raclette Pierrade) (ASIN B07GC6SNZC) | Raclette and stone grill, 10 people, 1350 W, stone and grill plate | Big, meat-loving tables | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
| Cheese N’Co 6 in 1 (ASIN B07FW37DZZ) | Multifunction raclette, fondue, tartiflette, crepes, 6 people, 850 W | Fans of cheese in all its forms | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
| Easy Fondue EF261800 (ASIN B0B9SNFHLZ) | Electric fondue, 6 people, 800 W | Those who alternate between raclette and fondue | Review coming soon | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
What we think
On paper, Tefal’s strength is the appliance you can take out of the cupboard without a second thought. Thermo-Spot to tell you when it’s hot, non-stick coatings, plates and pans that go in the dishwasher on most models in our selection: the brand thinks about the morning after, that moment when there’s melted cheese everywhere and nobody left to scrub. Another concrete argument: the Colormania RE310401 and the Cheese N’Co are said to be made in Haute-Savoie, and the brand sells spare pans, spatulas and power cords in its online shop. When you break a pan while scraping up the last bit of reblochon, that counts.
The limit is temperature control. According to Tefal, the Colormania RE310401 and the Cheese N’Co have no adjustable thermostat: it’s on or off, period. For a classic raclette that’s plenty; for searing a rib steak, you’re left a little hungry. The power ratings also stay reasonable, from 800 to 1350 W depending on the models listed here. Tefal makes appliances for friendly evenings, not chef’s machines, and that’s perfectly fine as long as you know it before you buy.
Which model should you choose?
- For 8 with crepes for dessert: the Colormania RE310401, with its half-grill, half-crepe plate and its 8 pans. Our comparison of 3-in-1 raclette and crepe makers pits it against its competitors.
- For 10 and plenty of meat: the Pierrade RE45A812, with its stone and grill plate, but no crepe maker. See also our selection of raclette grills and stone raclette grills.
- For 6 who want to do everything with cheese: the Cheese N’Co 6 in 1, which goes from raclette to fondue to tartiflette. Compare it in our selection of 2-in-1 raclette and fondue machines.
- For a flameless fondue: the Easy Fondue EF261800, 800 W and 6 forks, to be set against our comparison of fondue pots.
Frequently asked questions
What warranty do Tefal raclette machines have?
Tefal states a 2-year warranty and 15 years of repairability. The official pages for the Colormania RE310401 and the Cheese N’Co repeat both commitments.
Where can I find Tefal spare parts for a raclette grill?
In Tefal’s online shop, in the accessories and spare parts section: you’ll find pans, spatulas and power cords in particular, to look up with your appliance’s reference.
Where can I buy a Tefal raclette grill?
The models on this page are sold on Amazon.fr, at major appliance retailers and on Tefal’s website. Always check the exact reference before ordering, because several color or plate variants have similar names.
