Why does my grill pan glow, spark or smell electrical?

If you see sparks, a glow from the base or a smell that seems electrical, stop using the grill pan immediately and unplug it. Do not test it again, because mains-powered heating appliances can become unsafe very quickly.

Check what you can safely observe

1. Unplug the appliance if it can be done without touching a hot or damaged part.
2. Look for a damaged cord, loose plug, melted plastic or residue near the connector.
3. Check whether the smell comes from the cooking surface or from the electrical connection area.

Smoke from food is very different from an electrical smell. If it is the latter, treat it as a fault.

What the result means

1. If the issue only appeared with burnt food residue on the plate, cleaning may help, once the appliance is fully cool.
2. If the smell or spark came from the plug, cord or thermostat, do not use the appliance again.
3. If the casing is hot in a way that seems unusual, stop using the grill pan at once.

Do not open the housing, repair the cable or bypass any safety part. If the issue remains unresolved, or safe use is uncertain, contact the retailer or store where the product was purchased.