Smeg Launches 1950s-Style MultiGrill for Waffles, Paninis and BBQ

The MultiGrill has two heating plates and can be used either open or closed, depending on the dish. In Contact mode, heat comes from both sides and the grill is designed to cook quickly and evenly for foods such as burgers, sandwiches and grilled meats. In Oven mode, the upper plate can be set to four adjustable heights, allowing more delicate foods such as fish to cook without direct contact from the top plate. In BBQ mode, the grill opens completely flat to double the cooking space, with heat coming only from below.

The appliance also includes three preset modes: Panini, Waffle and Burger. Each preset has customizable times and temperatures. Smeg supplies four plates — one smooth, one grill and two waffle plates — along with a measuring cup for pouring waffle batter.

All plates are made of aluminum with a non-stick ceramic coating, making them dishwasher-safe. The grill also has a removable fat-collecting drawer to make cleanup easier after cooking.

Each plate can be adjusted between 60C and 230C. A dedicated Sear mode provides an intense burst of heat above 250C for 30 seconds, intended to brown and caramelize the outside of meat quickly while keeping the inside tender. Temperature and cooking mode are shown on an LCD display, and all functions are controlled with two dials.

TechRadar said it will test the Smeg MultiGrill soon and is interested in how it performs against other multi-function countertop cookers, as well as Ninja's new Belgian waffle maker. The publication noted that the MultiGrill is available for £299.95 direct from Smeg in black or cream.