MegaChef Dual Surface Reversible Indoor Grill and Griddle: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-11-01

Summary

The recurring complaints are short warranty coverage, no obtainable replacement parts, and a single cooking plate that cannot grill and griddle at the same time. Electricity costs about $17 a year at one hour of use per week. It is worth buying at $50–$55 delivered, and weak value above $70.

Common problems and fixes

Warranty runs only 90 days — MegaChef covers defects in workmanship and materials for 90 days from purchase, replaces rather than repairs accepted claims, and explicitly does not offer repair service. A failed controller, plate, coating or handle after day 90 is yours to pay for. [3]
Only one cooking zone — to change from eggs to burgers you stop, wait for the plate to cool enough to handle, disconnect the controller and flip the same surface. Both faces cannot face up at once, and there is no independent temperature zoning. [1][2]
No lid with this model — the manufacturer’s page does not claim one and the manual’s component diagram does not show it. The separate MCG-106 is the version with a removable glass lid, and lids do not interchange. [1][16]
Heavy load on a household circuit — 1,800 W at 120 V pulls about 15 A at full power, so avoid another major appliance on the same loaded circuit. [4]

Parts and consumables

No consumables and no scheduled replacement items — the manual names mild detergent, water, soft cloths or sponges and optional foil lining for the drip tray, and specifies no filter, cartridge or disposable plate. [2]

Yearly running cost

Electricity is the only recurring cost. At full power the cooker uses 1.8 kWh per hour, and the US residential average released for August 2026 was 18.16 cents/kWh, so one full-power hour is about $0.33. Used one hour a week, 52 hours at 1.8 kW is 93.6 kWh, roughly $17 a year at that national average. Your bill will be lower whenever the thermostat cycles off, and local rates differ. [4][14]

When it is a good buy

Asking prices observed in November 2026 were $64.36 at Best Buy, $64.99 at Target, $69.97 at Nordstrom (sold and shipped by Entrotek) and $75.99 at Michaels, which was out of stock when checked. A fair good-buy target is $50 to $55 delivered. At $60 and up, compare the Hamilton Beach 38546MN at $59.95 (Home Depot, November 2026), which gives you two removable reversible plates, 180 sq in, dishwasher-safe plates and drip tray at 1,400 W, and two separately controlled zones. Above $70 the MegaChef is weak value unless you prefer its single larger plate. If you only need a flat breakfast surface, Presto’s 22-inch 07061 was $39.99 on sale at Kohl’s and $69.99 direct from Presto, with a ceramic PFAS-free surface and a one-year warranty. [5][6][8][4][10][11][12][13]