Tefal contact grill buying guide

Updated: 16 October 2026

Amazon results can make several very different Tefal grills look interchangeable.

Amazon results can make several very different Tefal grills look interchangeable. This Tefal contact grill buying guide helps you decide whether you need an OptiGrill sensor, a simpler dial-controlled press or a SuperGrill that opens flat. Choose the control style and usable plate area before comparing stars or chasing a discount. The Tefal contact grill comparison covers the individual listings. Here the focus is the order of the decision. This page is from the Products Compared editorial team on 16 October 2026, using the eight amazon.co.uk listings in this set. It is not a lab test. A qualifying amazon.co.uk purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Our top picks

Badge	Product	Control	Plate area	Plug note	Note	Price	Offer
Best overall	Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ XL GC722D40	9 programmes, sensor	About 650 and 800 cm²	UK reviews: very short cord	8.8	about £129.99	View offer
Preis-Tipp	Tefal Tefal GC3050 Ultra Compact	5 settings, no sensor	Not printed	Older UK reviews: continental plug	8.0	about £109	View offer
Alternative	Tefal Tefal SuperGrill 3-in-1 GC520DG1	3 settings, opens flat	800 cm²	Listed at 220 V	7.0	about £114.99	View offer

Best overall

Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ XL GC722D40

8.8/10about £129.99

View offer

Preis-Tipp

Tefal Tefal GC3050 Ultra Compact

8.0/10about £109

View offer

Alternative

Tefal Tefal SuperGrill 3-in-1 GC520DG1

7.0/10about £114.99

View offer

On this page

1.What counts as a Tefal contact grill here
2.Choose controls and programmes before features
3.Match plate area to portions and storage
4.Cleaning should influence the purchase
5.Check the UK plug, lead and evidence

What counts as a Tefal contact grill here

The range divides into three groups. OptiGrill models use programmes, a thickness sensor and an indicator. Presses such as Inicio and GC3050 use a dial, leaving you to judge doneness. SuperGrill is also dial-controlled but opens through 180 degrees. If you cook similar food in different thicknesses, an OptiGrill can reduce guesswork. If you will check food yourself, a dial grill is less complicated. The SuperGrill trades that guidance for contact, oven and flat-open positions.

Choose controls and programmes before features

An OptiGrill is most helpful when you will use its guided programmes. You select the food type, let the machine preheat, add the food after opening the lid fully and follow the colour cue. Paying more makes sense only if the extra modes match foods you cook regularly. Dial controls make you responsible for results. Three thermostat levels can be enough for panini, vegetables and meat if you check the food and use a food thermometer where safety requires it. A dial cannot tell you that one steak is thicker than another. See the guide to using a Tefal contact grill for the sequences. A standard contact grill heats both sides at once. The SuperGrill opens flat over an 800 cm² surface, but you turn the food yourself and need space around both halves. The OptiGrill versus SuperGrill comparison sets out that trade-off.

Testsieger

Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ XL GC722D40

8.8/10about £129.99

View offer

Match plate area to portions and storage

Published plate area beats a family-size label. Tefal’s UK material places some standard models around 600 cm² and larger versions around 800 cm². Ridges and the shape of each item affect what fits, and a larger plate needs more cupboard space. Measure with the lid closed and raised. In this set, some Plus XL and Elite XL listing lines disagree with other published sizes. Use the model code and the manufacturer’s UK page. Our scrape placed the OptiGrill+ XL below the smaller Plus at one point. That can also be a temporary offer.

Cleaning should influence the purchase

Removable plates turn a frequently used grill from an awkward appliance into a manageable one. The SuperGrill, OptiGrill+ and OptiGrill+ XL listings in this comparison describe removable, dishwasher-safe plates, while reviews of the OptiGrill One also say its plates come off. The Inicio listing emphasises a removable drip tray, not removable cooking plates, so do not infer one feature from the other. Dishwasher-safe does not mean maintenance-free. Confirm that the plates and the drip tray are removable on the exact model code, then read the OptiGrill cleaning guide.

Check the UK plug, lead and evidence

Before ordering, verify that the exact listing supplies a UK BS 1363 plug for 230 V mains. Some older UK reviews report continental plugs, and listings can mix markets. Never cut off or alter a moulded plug. If the connection is wrong, return the product to the seller. Some models are rated around 2,000–2,200 W, so connect the grill directly to a suitable earthed wall socket, without stretching the cable across a sink or hob. Stop using the grill if it repeatedly trips a breaker. A high star line can mix countries, dates and variations. Give more weight to repeated UK comments on the exact model, particularly plug type, cord length, hinge behaviour and plate wear.

Common questions

Is a sensor OptiGrill better than a dial contact grill?

It is better if you value guided doneness cues and often cook food of varying thickness. A dial grill is usually the more direct choice if you are happy to monitor food yourself and want fewer controls. Neither approach replaces safe temperature checks for foods such as poultry.

How useful is the difference between 600 cm² and 800 cm²?

An 800 cm² plate has about 33% more nominal area than a 600 cm² plate. That can remove a batch when cooking for several people, but food shape and usable edges matter. Check the actual plate dimensions and your storage space before choosing XL.

Is the SuperGrill automatic like an OptiGrill?

No. The SuperGrill uses thermostat settings and offers contact, oven and 180-degree barbecue positions. It does not use the OptiGrill thickness sensor and automatic colour-guided cooking cycle, so you decide when to turn or remove the food.

Why might an XL model cost less than a smaller version?

Marketplace prices change with stock, seller and promotions, so size does not create a fixed price ladder. In the captured listings, the Plus XL was temporarily cheaper than the smaller Plus. Compare exact model codes, delivery terms and plug information before treating it as the stronger deal.

Can I trust a high Amazon star rating?

Use it as one signal, not the decision. Ratings can aggregate different dates, countries or variations. Look for recent comments that identify the exact model and UK-specific issues.

What should I check before plugging in the grill?

Confirm a UK BS 1363 plug, an undamaged lead and a reachable earthed wall socket. Keep the cable away from water and hot surfaces. If the grill arrives with the wrong plug or trips the electrics repeatedly, stop and contact the seller rather than modifying it.

Best Tefal contact grill