Smeg has expanded its countertop appliance lineup with the launch of the new Smeg MultiGrill, an electric cooking system designed to replace multiple single-use kitchen gadgets. Debuting at £299.95 / €349.95, with regional pricing reaching $499 AUD, the appliance comes in classic retro finishes like cream and black. It combines dual independent heating zones, interchangeable dishwasher-safe plates, and an intense searing burst above 250°C into a single, compact footprint.
Countertop versatility drives modern kitchen appliance design, and Smeg’s latest release abandons the limitations of fixed-hinge presses. The unit operates across three distinct mechanical configurations to accommodate a wide variety of ingredients and cooking styles.
Three Versatile Cooking Configurations
The Smeg MultiGrill adapts to different culinary tasks through three unique structural setups:
- Contact Mode: Closes the dual heated surfaces directly against food to cut cook times in half for paninis, smash burgers, and grilled meats.
- Oven Mode: Features adjustable vertical stops, ranging from four to five settings depending on regional specs, to suspend the upper plate above delicate foods like fish or open-face melts, preventing direct crushing.
- BBQ Mode: Unfolds a full 180 degrees to double the total grilling capacity into two side-by-side open griddles powered by the lower heating elements.
Dual control dials pair with an integrated digital LCD screen to set surface temperatures anywhere between 60°C and 230°C on each plate. This precise control lays the groundwork for both low-and-slow cooking and rapid high-temperature browning.
Advanced Heat Control and High-Temperature Sear Function
A common hurdle for indoor countertop electric grills is the loss of thermal momentum when cold proteins hit the surface, which prevents a proper steakhouse crust. Smeg combats this limitation with an engineered quick-burst Sear mode.
When activated, the internal heating matrix pushes surface temperatures past 250°C for a concentrated 30-second window. This sharp thermal burst accelerates Maillard caramelization across burgers and steaks, locking in juices and exterior crispness without drying out the interior meat fibers.
Hardware Architecture and Included Accessories
The appliance ships with four modular aluminum cooking plates finished in a durable, non-stick ceramic coating. The standard package includes one flat griddle plate, one ribbed grill plate, and two dedicated Belgian waffle plates. A calibrated measuring cup is also included to help users pour precise amounts of batter and prevent overflow.
Technical Specifications and Build Details
To eliminate guesswork during busy meal preparations, the system includes automated pre-set programs tailored specifically for paninis, burgers, and Belgian waffles. Users can rely on these baseline parameters or manually fine-tune times and temperatures using the mechanical dials.
- Temperature Range: 60°C to 230°C, with a greater than 250°C 30-second sear function
- Plate Construction: Cast aluminum with dishwasher-safe ceramic non-stick coating
- Grease Management: Integrated slide-out drip collection drawer
- Interface: LCD digital readout with dual rotary selection dials
By blending waffle-making capabilities, open griddling, and closed contact searing into a signature mid-century silhouette, the Smeg MultiGrill targets home cooks looking to streamline their countertop real estate without sacrificing performance.
