I love my big grill, and my Traeger Pro 34 review probably makes that pretty obvious. But as much as I enjoy using it, I do not always want to fire up the big boy just to make a quick meal.
That is what made me curious about the Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe. It is essentially a sturdy grill pan with a fitted lid that goes inside your microwave, which sounds a little strange until you actually see how it is designed to work. The idea of getting grilled and browned food without having to set up the big grill was definitely enough to make me want to give it a try.
Key Takeaways
- A convenient alternative when I do not want to use my full-size grill.
- Much sturdier than I expected from something designed for the microwave.
- The grill surface actually gives food visible browning and grill marks.
- Works well for smaller portions and quick meals.
- The lid makes it possible to cook food without making a mess inside the microwave.
- It is not a replacement for a proper outdoor grill, but that is not really what I would use it for.
- The main appeal is being able to get something close to grilled food without the entire grilling production.
What Is the Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe?
The Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe is a grill pan designed to be used inside a microwave. It does not plug in or have any electrical controls of its own; you put the food in the pan, cover it with the lid and place the whole thing in the microwave.
The pan has a ridged cooking surface and a fitted vented lid, and Rocket Chef says it is designed to grill, brown and steam food. The company also recommends preheating the pan before cooking for better grill marks.
Basically, it is for those times when you want something grilled but absolutely cannot be bothered to bring out the big grill.
Why I Bought the Turbo Grill Deluxe
This one was really about convenience for me. I already have a proper grill, and I love using it, but there are times when pulling everything out, getting it going and waiting for it to heat up feels like far more effort than the meal deserves. If I just want to cook something small, I would rather have a quicker option.
The Turbo Grill Deluxe caught my attention because it seemed like it might give me some of that grilled result without all the work. I was definitely skeptical, because “put this grill pan in your microwave” is not exactly something you hear every day.
Still, I was curious enough to try it.
My Experience With the Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe
The first thing that surprised me was how substantial the pan felt. I was expecting something that felt more like a microwave accessory, but it actually feels like a proper piece of cookware. That made me a little more confident about using it because it did not give me the impression that I was about to put some flimsy contraption in my microwave and hope for the best.
Once I actually started cooking with it, though, the part I cared about became very simple: did the food actually look grilled? And, thankfully, yes.
The chicken came out with actual browning and visible grill marks, which was really what I wanted to see. I was not expecting it to magically turn my microwave into a Traeger, but I wanted something that looked and felt more like grilled food than something that had simply been microwaved. That is where this thing made sense to me.
I also tried it with bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeños, and this was another situation where I appreciated having the lid. They are exactly the kind of food that can get messy while cooking, especially once the filling starts melting, so being able to cover everything while it cooked was useful.
And that is really how I see the Turbo Grill Deluxe fitting into my kitchen. It is not replacing my big grill, and I would not want it to. When I want to do serious grilling, I will happily go outside and use the Traeger.
But when I want to make something smaller and I do not feel like turning the whole thing into an event, this is considerably easier.
I also like that I do not have to find counter space for another electric appliance. There is no cord, no separate heating unit and no temperature settings to figure out. I just use it with the microwave I already have.
The one thing I would say is that you still have to pay attention to what you are cooking. This is not a situation where you can throw something in, press a button and completely forget about it. Depending on what I am making, I still need to check the food and turn it over, just like the manufacturer recommends.
For me, though, that is a pretty minor inconvenience compared with getting the big grill ready for a small meal.
And that is ultimately what I like about it. It fills the gap between “I want grilled food” and “I really don’t feel like grilling today.”
How the Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe Works
The basic process is surprisingly simple. First, Rocket Chef recommends preheating the grill pan without the lid for 2–3 minutes. The idea is to get the cooking surface hot before the food goes in, which should help create those browned or grilled surfaces.
After that, you place the food directly on the cooking surface, cover it with the lid and put the whole thing back into the microwave.
For meat, poultry, seafood and thicker foods, Rocket Chef recommends turning the food halfway through the cooking process so both sides have an opportunity to cook properly.
The manufacturer also says the Turbo Grill can be used with both raw and frozen foods, although frozen foods may require additional cooking time.
So the microwave is still doing the cooking, but the grill pan is intended to change how that cooking happens.
What I Like About It
It Actually Looks Like Cookware
One of my first concerns with products like this is whether they are going to feel like a gimmick.
The Turbo Grill Deluxe does not feel like a cheap plastic microwave accessory. The pan is sturdy, the ridged surface looks and feels like an actual grill surface, and the lid fits over it properly.
That makes the whole concept easier to take seriously.
You Don’t Need Another Appliance
This is probably the biggest advantage. There is no additional appliance taking up counter space because the microwave is already doing the heavy lifting. You do not need to find somewhere to store another electric grill, and you do not have to deal with another cord.
For anyone who likes grilled food but does not want another appliance sitting around, that is a pretty clever idea.
It Can Produce Visible Browning
The biggest problem with microwave cooking is that it is generally associated with heating food rather than creating that grilled appearance.
The Turbo Grill’s ridged cooking surface is designed specifically to address that, and the visible browning and grill marks are certainly more in line with what I would expect from grilled food.
The Lid Adds Versatility
The vented lid is not just there because it looks nice.
Rocket Chef says the Turbo Grill can be used for both grilling and steaming, which gives you more options than you would get from a simple uncovered grill pan.
What I Don’t Love
The biggest thing to understand is that this is not a replacement for a full-size outdoor grill. And I don’t think it is supposed to be.
If you already own a serious grill like a Traeger, you are not going to look at this and think, “Well, I can sell my grill now.” The appeal is convenience, not replacing the entire grilling experience.
There is also a little more preparation involved than the word “microwave” might make you expect. You are supposed to preheat the pan, arrange the food properly, cover it and, depending on what you are cooking, turn it halfway through.
That is still considerably easier than firing up a full-size grill, but it is not quite the same as throwing something into the microwave and forgetting about it.
Product Claims vs Reality
Claim: Grill food inside your microwave.
Reality: This is exactly what the product is designed to do. The pan itself does not generate electricity or have its own heating element. Instead, Rocket Chef says its cooking surface converts microwave energy into high heat for grilling and browning.
Claim: Get grilled and browned food.
Reality: The design makes sense for this purpose, particularly because of the ridged cooking surface and the manufacturer’s recommendation to preheat the pan before adding food. Visible browning and grill marks are certainly possible, which is the main thing separating this from ordinary microwave cooking.
Claim: Cook fresh or frozen food.
Reality: Rocket Chef specifically says the Turbo Grill can be used for both raw and frozen foods, although frozen foods may require additional cooking time.
Claim: Grill and steam with one product.
Reality: The vented lid is designed to allow the Turbo Grill to be used for steaming as well as grilling.
Is the Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe Safe to Use in a Microwave?
This is one of those products where it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions rather than treating it like an ordinary piece of cookware.
The Turbo Grill is specifically designed to be used inside a microwave, and the company provides instructions for preheating and cooking with it. It should be used according to those instructions rather than assuming that any microwave-safe pan can be substituted for it.
Rocket Chef also recommends hand washing the cookware with warm, soapy water and a soft, non-abrasive sponge rather than putting it through a dishwasher.
The company describes the cooking surface as ceramic nonstick and says it is PTFE- and PFOA-free.
Cleaning the Turbo Grill Deluxe
The good news is that the design does not look particularly complicated to clean. The cooking surface is nonstick, which should help prevent food from becoming completely welded onto the pan, although I would still avoid anything abrasive.
Rocket Chef specifically recommends washing the Turbo Grill by hand with warm, soapy water and a soft, non-abrasive sponge.
That is a little less convenient than throwing something into the dishwasher, but considering that this is cookware with a nonstick surface, I would rather be gentle with it anyway.
Who Is the Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe For?
I think this makes the most sense for people who:
- Want grilled or browned food without using an outdoor grill.
- Live somewhere that makes outdoor grilling inconvenient.
- Want a smaller cooking option for quick meals.
- Already own a microwave and do not want another electrical appliance.
- Cook smaller portions rather than large family-sized meals.
- Like the convenience of microwave cooking but dislike the texture and appearance of typical microwave food.
- Want something that can grill and steam rather than serving only one purpose.
Who Should Skip It?
I would probably skip it if you:
- Already have a countertop grill you use regularly.
- Primarily cook large quantities of food.
- Expect it to completely replace an outdoor grill.
- Do not want to hand-wash cookware.
- Prefer completely hands-off microwave cooking.
Alternatives
If you are mainly looking for convenient grilling rather than specifically wanting a microwave grill pan, there are several other directions you could go:
- Traeger Pro 34
- George Foreman Indoor Grill
- Ninja indoor grill
The Turbo Grill occupies a very specific middle ground: it is for the person who wants something faster and easier than a traditional grill but still wants the food to look more grilled than microwaved.
Is the Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe Worth It?
I think the answer depends almost entirely on what you expect from it. If you are buying it because you think it will replace your outdoor grill, I would say no. That is asking a microwave grill pan to do a job it was never really designed to do.
But if you are buying it because you want a convenient way to get grilled-looking, browned food without firing up a large grill, the concept makes considerably more sense.
For me, that is where the Turbo Grill is most interesting. There are plenty of times when I want the food from my big grill but do not want the entire process that comes with using the big grill. Sometimes I just want to cook something and get on with my day.
And that is exactly the problem this product is trying to solve.
Conclusion
The Rocket Chef Turbo Grill Deluxe is one of those products that sounds a little ridiculous until you understand what it actually is.
It is a grill pan with a fitted, vented lid that is specifically designed to go inside your microwave, using the microwave’s energy to heat its cooking surface and create browning and grilling effects.
And once you look at it that way, the whole thing makes a lot more sense. I especially like the idea for those days when I do not want to fire up my big grill just to make a smaller meal. The sturdy construction, ridged cooking surface and fitted lid make it feel more like legitimate cookware than a gimmicky microwave accessory, while the ability to produce visible browning is what makes the concept genuinely interesting.
Would I buy it again?
Yes, if convenience is the goal. I would not buy this expecting it to replace my full-size grill, because that is not really a fair comparison. But as a quicker alternative when I want something grilled without turning the whole meal into an event, I can see the appeal.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, with realistic expectations. If you have been looking at the Turbo Grill Deluxe, wondering how on earth a grill pan is supposed to work inside a microwave, that was exactly what caught my attention too. It is a strange concept, but it is actually a pretty clever one once you understand how the pan is intended to use microwave energy.
Sometimes you want the big boy grill, and sometimes you absolutely do not. That is where the Turbo Grill Deluxe comes in.
Also read my similar review of the Traeger Pro 34