A traditional Teppanyaki is an iron griddle and is often gas-powered. You'll probably have seen them in fancy Japanese steakhouses; those giant slabs they prepare almost everything on. These units are expensive and far too big for most domestic kitchens, which is upsetting if you enjoy Japanese cuisine.
Progress seems to have come up with a solution; this table-top electric Teppanyaki grill is smaller, portable and cheaper. The question is, however, does a Teppanyaki grill make sense in the average kitchen? And can it be a viable alternative to a barbeque? To find out, What's The Best's Ryan Gilmore emptied his local supermarket of various meats and veggies, tried the onion volcano trick and set to work to see if this grill was any good.
Also available from Argos.
Build
First impressions were very good, the grill is a decent size (82.2 x 26.7 cm) making it ideal for family cooking and everything felt solid. The Megastone coating not only looked great but is also non-stick, which is great for low-fat cooking.
Assembly couldn't be easier; there are three parts to slot together and they all fit well. I was able to do it without reading the instructions - all you need to do is plug the cable in and attach the drip tray.
The overall design is simple and functional, but it does have hints of Japanese styling. The heat-proof handles are a nice touch, as are the non-slip legs.
Usability and performance
It's very simple to heat up, simply plug it in and select what temperature you want using the dial. It takes a couple of minutes to heat up, handily shown by a light going off when the grill is at the right temperature. Then, it's simply a case of adding the food to the grill, remembering to flip it. You shouldn't use metal utensils because they can damage the coating; I used bamboo utensils and found them to be effective.
I've prepared several different meals on this grill, ranging from burgers and chicken to vegetables and they all tasted amazing. Slight criticism can be levelled at the grill when cooking thicker food - it's difficult to cook them all the way through without overdoing the outer parts of the food. This is more a reflection of Teppanyaki grills in general, but it is worth remembering if you do intend to cooker thicker cuts of meat on the grill.
It certainly earns points for offering low-fat cooking. The non-stick surface means oil doesn't need to be used (I never did while testing it) and the design of the grill means that fat is channelled away from the food and into the drip tray.
Teppanyaki chefs often learn various culinary tricks to entertain customers. While I was unsuccessful in my attempts, with a bit of practice I'm sure I'd be throwing shrimp into hats. While this may sound a little silly, the Progress could be a great way to entertain dinner guests with some seriously cool skills.
Cleaning and storage
This is where the grill really excels, the non-stick design of the grill means that you only need to dab it down with water. Every time I used it there were no grease marks or stains that required scrubbing. The drip tray is easy to clear out too, meaning it's a very low maintenance gadget to own.
Storage on the other isn't as straightforward. It's long and flat, which sounds good for storage, but in my experience it didn't fit in my kitchen where I keep my other gadgets and instead has to be kept on top of a cupboard. If you're struggling for space and only intending to use it on occasion, it's not the cleverest buy.
Price
The grill retails at around £34.99, which is a reasonable price for such a unique gadget.
Verdict
I'm thoroughly impressed with the Progress Teppanyaki grill. It's not a gadget I'd immediately think of when stocking up my kitchen but it has quickly become a central part of my kitchen. I've been using mine at least once a week and have enjoyed everything I've made on it. The fact it's so easy to clean only makes it better.
If you don't think you'll use it that much, then it's not something I'd recommend due to the sheer size of it. The same can be said for what you intend to cook; the design of a teppanyaki grill restricts what you can cook, which again will affect its usefulness.
If you are planning on using one fairly frequently and understand what you can and can't cook on the grill, then I heartily recommend it as an interesting and usual kitchen gadget.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Impressive cooking abilities | • Ungainly to store |
| • Low fat | • You cannot use metal utensils with it |
| • Easy to clean |
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Ryan Gilmore is a contributor to What's The Best. He also writes for CAR and Parkers.
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