Swiss Raclette: Three professional rules you should follow when enjoying raclette

Whether at Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or other occasions: Swiss raclette is simply part of the celebration in many households. If the raclette grill is taken out at least once a year, it is a major highlight in most Swiss families.

Raclette has a long tradition here. According to historians, the first sources already reported social cheese melting in the Valais region during the Middle Ages. Originally, people grilled the cheese wheel over an open fire and then scraped off the top layer of cheese. This was enjoyed on a plate or on a slice of bread.

Today, the process is a bit different. With the easy-to-use raclette grills from Stöckli, Swiss raclette can be prepared much more comfortably. Our range includes modern raclette grills in top brand quality for two, four, six, or eight people. The non-stick surface of the devices allows for easy cleaning.

For those who want to bring a touch of nostalgia to the dining table, our Swing raclette grill is a delight. It features a classic stainless steel cheese holder. As in the past, an entire cheese block can be heated and melted with it.

How to Make the Perfect Swiss Raclette?

From choosing the side dishes and raclette cheese to handling the device, there are many pitfalls when it comes to Swiss raclette. These can, in the worst case, drastically diminish the enjoyment of the cheese. However, many mishaps can be easily avoided if a few basic rules are followed.

Typically, people make the same mistakes over and over again when preparing Swiss raclette. By keeping these points in mind from the start, you can hardly go wrong. Nothing will stand in the way of a relaxed evening and a sociable gathering around the cheese grill.

A fundamental requirement for a successful Swiss raclette is, of course, a raclette grill. At Stöckli, we offer a comprehensive range of high-quality grill devices for every need. To make your Swiss raclette as energy-efficient as possible, the device should be the right size. For example, if two people want to enjoy raclette, it is not ideal to use an eight-person raclette grill. In that case, a Twinboard is more suitable.

Three Important Rules for Swiss Raclette

Are you expecting guests soon and can hardly wait to watch the cheese melt in the little pans? When it comes to Swiss raclette, preparation is everything! To ensure your planning goes smoothly, we have listed below three particularly common mistakes.

Handling the raclette grill should cause no problems. All our devices come with comprehensive instructions in four languages – including recipe tips!

The Cheese

Which cheese should go into Swiss raclette? In fact, there is no question that comes up more often in connection with melting cheese. Around the holidays, supermarkets often offer inexpensive raclette cheese. However, to enjoy authentic Swiss raclette, you usually have to spend a bit more.

According to tradition, classic Swiss raclette is prepared with Valais melting cheese. This cheese is made from cow’s milk and has a fat content of more than 50 percent. Before it is used in the raclette pans, it must mature for three to six months. In our experience, investing in Valais cheese is well worth it.

There are also more affordable alternatives. Full-fat cheeses with a fat content of at least 45 percent are primarily recommended. Further recommendations for suitable cheeses can be found online.

Beyond traditional Swiss raclette, other high-fat cheeses can also be melted on our space-saving devices with the addition of a little oil. Options include:

• Gouda made from cow’s milk
• Cheddar
• Butterkäse
• Goat Gouda
• Sheep’s cheese

Which Wine Pairs Best with Swiss Raclette?

The next step is choosing the right drink to accompany raclette. Melted cheese can basically be enjoyed without any alcoholic accompaniment. Water or tea is often sufficient. However, serving a good wine will provide your guests with a more intense flavor experience.

Unlike with raclette cheese, the guidelines here are not very strict. There is no traditional raclette wine, so you are free to choose a wine pairing of your liking. Many red and white wines complement the flavor of the melting cheese very well.

There is, however, one requirement: the wine served with Swiss raclette must not be too acidic. Wines with pronounced acidity, such as Riesling, do not pair well with the fatty raclette cheese. Low-acid wines, such as the Valais white wine Chasselas (Fendant), are particularly suitable. If you prefer red wine, a Swiss Pinot Noir is an ideal choice.

Completely unsuitable for raclette, on the other hand, are wines that have been aged in oak barrels. Their spicy-smoky notes clash with the smoked raclette cheese. A Californian Chardonnay, for example, is therefore a definite no-go.

Choosing the Side Dishes

Finally, the following question needs to be addressed: Which side dishes belong with Swiss raclette? Many people love raclette precisely because of the wide variety of options. Often, the dining table is filled with vegetables, meat, bread, seafood, and fruit, leaving hardly any space for the raclette grill itself.

Traditional Swiss raclette, however, follows a different principle. The motto here is: less is more! Meat and fish are completely taboo. Only boiled potatoes (Gschwellti), onions, and pickled cucumbers are allowed in the raclette pan. If desired, the melted cheese can be seasoned with a little pepper. Salt is usually unnecessary, as the smoked raclette cheese is already salty.

That’s all you need. Exotic ingredients do not pair well with the rich cheese. Its delicious flavor is best enjoyed in combination with simple side dishes. In particular, sweet fruits have no place on the raclette grill.

If you still crave something sweet, Stöckli recommends a generous chocolate fondue as a dessert. Our space-saving Choco-Cheese combo sets fit easily on the table alongside the compact raclette grills.

What Should Be Considered When Enjoying Swiss Raclette?

Preparing Swiss raclette is truly no rocket science. Ultimately, it’s all about one thing: simplicity. For a classic Raclette Suisse, you don’t need an extraordinary wine. As for side dishes, you don’t have to serve your guests anything exotic. The most important aspect of Swiss raclette is, and always remains, the choice of cheese. This is one area where it’s better not to skimp.

We have a small additional tip for your next Swiss raclette: The sturdy pans should be kept clean while grilling. Burnt spots gradually diminish the taste experience over the course of the evening. Moreover, burnt oil can sometimes even be harmful to health.

Ideally, the pan should be quickly wiped with a napkin or cloth after each round. It should be allowed to cool slightly beforehand. We recommend waiting a few minutes and placing the pan on the grill’s parking deck in the meantime.

Since long gatherings can quickly lead to messes, it’s worthwhile to have extra pans available for Swiss raclette. These and other accessories can be found alongside numerous raclette grills in our shop. Browse our selection and order your raclette grill now for the perfect Swiss raclette! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at any time.