Zyliss Venti: raclette and grill on one table, with less smoke

What it is

The Zyliss Venti is an electric raclette and grill appliance. It sits in the middle of the table and is designed for up to eight people. In the box you get eight non-stick, PFAS-free raclette pans and eight heat-resistant spatulas. With a full table, each guest therefore has a pan and a spatula of their own.

A meal follows the usual raclette routine. Everyone fills their pan and slides it into the cooking position. When the contents are ready, they move it to the resting position, which the two-level tray provides for exactly that purpose. On top, the two cast-aluminium grill plates take whatever the table wants to grill at the same time.

What sets the Venti apart is its ventilation. The appliance has a three-speed smoke extraction fan. The fan works with a stainless-steel grease filter and two activated-charcoal filters. This system is what the model is named after, and why it exists.

The brand has flats, small kitchens and meals for a few people in mind.

Why it exists

According to the brand, the Venti’s ventilation system helps reduce smoke, cooking odours and airborne particles. Zyliss states that the appliance delivers flavourful cooking with minimal smoke.

The intended audience follows from that promise. Zyliss presents the Venti as the ideal solution for flats and small kitchens, where one room often combines cooking, eating and living. The idea is to keep the sociable side of raclette or grilling at the table, while limiting what stays in the air once the plates have been cleared.

The brand calls the appliance innovative and says it was designed with advanced smoke-reduction technology.

What matters

Ventilation in two zones. The ventilation system is split into two separate zones. One deals with the grill plate, the other with the raclette pans. The two cooking stations do not give off the same fumes at the same moment. Ventilation dedicated to each means you can use both at once.

A three-speed fan. The extraction fan has three speeds. You can match the suction to the moment in the meal: stronger when the plate is full, gentler when you are only using a few pans.

Filters replaced one at a time. The extracted smoke passes through a removable stainless-steel grease filter, then through two activated-charcoal filters. The two charcoal filters can be replaced separately, so you change the one that needs it without touching the other. The grease filter comes out for cleaning.

Cast-aluminium plates. The two grill plates are removable and made of cast aluminium. They carry an ILAG® Swiss Technology ceramic non-stick coating, free of PFAS. The pans are also non-stick and PFAS-free. According to the brand, the coating helps food cook and release more easily.

1500 W, adjustable temperature. The appliance is rated at 1500 W and runs on 220-240 V, 50-60 Hz. The temperature is adjustable, so you can turn it down when pans come round slowly, or up when the grill plate needs to sear.

A tabletop format. The Venti measures 492 mm long, 270 mm wide and 167 mm high. Its elongated shape fits in the middle of a table and leaves the pans within reach on both sides.

Day to day

The appliance plugs straight in: it comes with a Swiss plug. Before the meal, you fit the grill plates and set the temperature. Depending on how much smoke there is, you then choose one of the fan’s three speeds.

During the meal, the two-level tray means you do not have to take the pans out of the appliance. The resting position keeps them within reach between rounds. The heat-resistant spatulas are used to scrape the pans and to turn whatever is cooking on the plate.

The grill plate, the spatulas and the pans can go in the dishwasher. Those are the only parts that can. The body of the appliance must never be immersed in water or washed under water. Wipe it with a damp cloth.

The stainless-steel grease filter comes out to be cleaned. The two activated-charcoal filters are replaced separately, as they wear out with use.

Technical specifications

Feature	Value
Product type	Electric raclette and grill appliance
Manufacturer reference	E980354
Capacity	Up to 8 people
Power	1500 W
Voltage	220-240 V
Frequency	50-60 Hz
Plug	Swiss plug
Grill plates	2 removable cast-aluminium plates
Plate coating	ILAG® Swiss Technology ceramic non-stick, PFAS-free
Temperature control	Adjustable
Smoke extraction fan	3 speeds
Ventilation	Two separate zones: grill plate and raclette pans
Filters	1 removable stainless-steel grease filter, 2 activated-charcoal filters
Activated-charcoal filters	Replaceable separately
Materials	Cast aluminium, stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminised steel, galvanised steel, PBT, ABS, PC, PP, silicone, activated charcoal
Dimensions (L × W × H)	492 × 270 × 167 mm
Contents	8 non-stick PFAS-free raclette pans, 8 heat-resistant spatulas
Two-level tray	One cooking position, one resting position for the pans
Dishwasher-safe parts	Grill plate, spatulas and pans only
Care of the appliance body	Never immerse or wash under water; wipe with a damp cloth
Warranty	2 years

What the brand says

Zyliss states that the Venti delivers flavourful cooking with minimal smoke. The brand credits its ventilation system for this result. According to Zyliss, the system helps reduce smoke, cooking odours and airborne particles.

Zyliss calls the appliance innovative and says it was designed with advanced smoke-reduction technology.

According to the brand, the non-stick coating helps food cook and release more easily.

Finally, Zyliss presents the Venti as the ideal solution for flats, small kitchens and meals for a few people.

For readers in Switzerland

The Venti comes with a Swiss plug, so it connects to an ordinary wall socket with no adaptor.

Zyliss, a maker of kitchen utensils and appliances, is tied to Switzerland: “Zyliss Switzerland” is the company DK Household Brands AG, in Zurich.