The best breakfasts start with a stack of warm waffles and maple syrup that seeps into each little crater.Of course, achieving the waffle shape depends on the waffle maker and a simple process: pour in the batter, press the gadget to let the batter spread, and wait for the heat to turn it into a waffle with a fluffy core and a slightly crispy surface. Waffles. For the ideal golden brown waffles for breakfast at home, the results are as good as the waffle iron you are using.Burns, batter spills, and fluffy waffles aren’t our options, so we worked hard to find the best tool.
After extensive research, we’ve selected 17 waffle makers to test and evaluate, based on design, size, ease of cleaning and performance.We concluded that the best waffles come from the Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker.In addition to its unique vertical design that saves counter space, this small appliance can make waffles with five browning ratings.We also love the Crux Dual Rotary Belgian Waffle Maker, with its easy-to-clean trays to collect spills and adjustable heat settings.Read on for our full list of the best waffle makers.
Pros: Its vertical design and designated pour spout prevent overfilling the waffle maker with batter.Cons: No power cord storage, not suitable for mass use.
Most waffle makers have a horizontal construction, but Cuisinart designed this vertical model to take up minimal space on the kitchen counter.It features a brushed stainless steel top lid, non-stick bakeware, locking handle and indicator light that beeps three times when the waffle is done.
The unique design of this waffle maker also prevents batter from spilling.Its designated batter pour spout on top lets you easily fill it from bottom to top, and it has five-setting controls for proper browning.The Cuisinart Standing Waffle Maker fits one Belgian waffle at a time, making it perfect for everyday breakfasts.
Pros: Cook waffles twice as fast with the dual cooking pan.Cons: Pour more than 2/3 cup of batter will overflow.
If you have a lot of guests coming for brunch or a party, this is the device for you.This Crux waffle maker features a swivel design and dual cooking pans to whip out waffles faster than your favorite breakfast spot.It also has a 1400-watt heating system for faster cooking, making about 8 waffles in 10 minutes.
Rotation feature ensures even cooking of 1-inch Belgian waffles with browning control settings.Behind the stainless steel housing, a copper non-stick coating that is free of chemicals like PFOA and PFOS makes waffle removal and cleaning easy.
Pros: It provides consistent and high-quality results.Cons: On the model we tested, the outer layer peeled off in one spot.
Look no further for the perfect square waffle, this Belgian waffle maker from Calphalon has you covered.The device features a sleek stainless steel design with a dial for changing browning hues and an electronic timer.In addition to a batter sensor that ensures even heating, the device’s ceramic cooking vessel delivers 20% more heat to make two waffles at a time, resulting in consistent, high-quality results.
Yeast and unleavened batters cook evenly, with a fluffy center and a crispy crust.Just make sure to pour in no more than half a cup of the batter as it will end up spilling onto the dial.We found one spot on the surface of the waffle maker started to peel, but that didn’t affect the quality of the waffles.
Pros: This waffle maker comes in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs.Cons: Waffles are smaller than the classic Belgian size, so may be better for single servings or kids.
The compact size of the Dash Mini Waffle Maker produces 4-inch waffles that come off easily thanks to its non-stick cooking surface.Even if you’re only making one waffle at a time, it heats up quickly and evenly at 350 watts, so the waffles usually cook in minutes.We found that 3 tablespoons of batter didn’t fill up, but 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) overflowed, so it took a bit of skill to get it right.
While machine-made waffles are smaller than typical waffles, they’re perfect for small portions, breakfast sandwiches, and dessert waffles.Plus, its compact size fits in small cabinets and even drawers.This waffle maker comes in many different colors and designs, and you can even choose versions with shapes like bunny, heart or pineapple printed on your waffles.
Pros: This waffle maker features exceptionally well, including 12-color browning controls and a neat moat.Cons: Hitters take longer to spread through the second grid and are on the higher end of the price.
With this purchase, you’re not only splurging on the waffle maker but also on the waffles.Breville’s 4-Slice Smart Waffle Pro features a stainless steel casing and deep cast aluminum cooking plate for thicker, richer waffles.The maker distributes heat evenly and has two dials to switch between four different batter settings and up to 12 shades of browning control.It even has a button to bake the waffles longer without restarting the cooking process.
We recommend pouring at least half a cup of batter into each grid.However, even if you add more, a neat moat around the cooking grid completely eliminates batter overflow.Although it took about 30 seconds to fill the second half of the grid, the browning was still uniform.
Pros: The batter spreads and distributes evenly when poured into the maker.Cons: It doesn’t brown the waffles as evenly as other waffle makers because they have a lighter edge.
Made from brushed stainless steel, Cuisinart’s compact makes waffles quick and easy with the help of a four-quarter nonstick baking sheet.Control your waffles with this appliance’s five browning settings and red and green lights, which notify you when your breakfast is ready to cook and eat.After adding the recommended amount of batter, it spreads evenly throughout.Unfortunately, we found that it didn’t cook as evenly as other waffle makers, which was evident in the pale edges around the waffles.
Pros: A neat moat around the cooking grid keeps the batter from spilling.Cons: The dark brown setting will not produce accurate results.
Say goodbye to the days of batter spills and spills with Breville’s No-Mess Waffle Maker.In addition to its stainless steel finish and premium PFOA-free nonstick pan, it has a unique wrap-around moat that catches any excess batter and cooks it to perfection.Who doesn’t want to taste waffles before digging deeper?
You can also use the manufacturer’s Thermal Pro technology to customize your waffles with the manufacturer’s seven browning settings.However, we noticed that the settings for darker colors were neither as accurate nor as effective as other models.Make sure to fill the waffle completely, otherwise it will be difficult to remove the finished product.
Your ideal waffle maker should meet your needs and make waffles just the way you like them—crisp, golden or soft.For an easy-to-use waffle maker with five precise browning settings, we love the Vertical Cuisinart Waffle Maker.If you’re looking for a quick way to make waffles without giving up quality, try the Crux Dual Rotation Belgian Waffle Maker.
Consider not only the size of the device, but also the size of the waffle.A waffle maker can be quite large, so if you don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen or counter, you may want to buy a compact, easy-to-store model.Meanwhile, waffle size really comes down to personal preference.Of course, the mini waffle maker makes smaller waffles, perfect for breakfast sandwiches and desserts.Other waffle makers make waffles as big as your plate.
Some waffle makers can make one waffle, two waffles, and sometimes even four.If you’re hosting a large group for breakfast or hosting an event, you may want to consider how many waffles the manufacturer makes and how long it will take.For example, the Crux Dual Rotary Belgian Waffle Maker can make about 8 waffles in 10 minutes.If you bought a waffle maker that only makes one waffle at a time, it may slow you down.
Waffle makers can be difficult to clean, especially if you overfill them with batter and it overflows.Waffle makers with non-stick plates are generally easier to clean (even easier if you can remove the plate).If the batter overflows, you should be able to simply wipe it off.Some waffle makers have wraparound moats to eliminate overflow problems.
We scoured the market, asked our editors for suggestions, and came up with a list of more than 17 waffle makers that our testers evaluated side-by-side.We rated the results for cooking performance, design, size, ease of cleaning and overall value.Using both yeasted and non-leavened batters, we made three batches of each type with each waffle maker.We measured preheat speed, browning and overall doneness, and batter spillage, and recorded observations throughout use and cleanup.After sorting through our notes and data, we picked the best in seven categories.
This waffle iron makes two authentic Belgian waffles with a rotary mechanism and adjustable browning controls.The cooking plate is made with a non-stick coating and has a ready light and a beeping sound.Although the waffle maker cleaned up well, we found that it did not cook as evenly as we would like, with one side being more brown or lighter than the other.
You can use this Belgian waffle iron on the stovetop.Just preheat both sides on the stove and pour in the batter.Then, close the iron with the interlocking hinges, let it cook for about a minute, then flip the iron for a few minutes and voila!You have a waffle.We are light weight, but we noticed difficulty with batter distribution and uneven browning between leavened and non-leavened batters.
This classic round Belgian waffle maker from Cuisinart features a stylish brushed stainless steel lid with six adjustable temperature controls.It cooks a full waffle with four quadrants.This waffle maker cleans up like a dream and heats up quickly.Although our testers were fairly happy with this model, the batter was unevenly distributed without stirring or swirling when pouring.It’s also a bit bulky to store, and the waffle quadrants split open when removed from the hotplate.
This Belgian waffle maker from Oster makes 8-inch round waffles with a non-stick plate and cool touch handles for even more ease.We found that the recommended 3/4 cup of batter worked better with 1 cup.However, its waffles are so thin that we think they’re the ideal Belgian style touted by the device.Also, there is neither a maturity indicator nor a clear heat set, but it is easy to clean with absolutely no residue.
Make extra-thick Belgian waffles with this waffle maker from Presto, featuring a ceramic non-stick grid with a swivel function that flips the waffles 180 degrees.While the cooking pans are reversible, they’re not very secure, and they popped out of place during testing.We found it difficult to secure them back in place because the plate was already hot.We used 1 cup of batter in all tests, which produced a waffle size of 7.5 square inches.
This 3-in-1 Grill Griddle Waffle Maker from Black+Decker doesn’t just make waffles, it cooks eggs, bacon, and pressed sandwiches with a reversible cooking grid that turns into two flat grill pans.At first glance, the multiple functions look great.Unfortunately, we have found that having a single function that works well is better than multiple functions that provide average results.Plus, the price doesn’t seem reasonable, considering its flip-up board is a danger rather than a convenience.
Chefman developed its Anti-Overflow Waffle Maker for a “clutter-free, stress-free” design, with wraparound channels to catch spilled batter.It has a compact size and a matte black stain-resistant finish.The settings are easy to use, but we thought it would be nice to have audio indicators alongside the lights, as the lights alone don’t quite tell the waffle doneness.The waffles also had uneven browning and coloring from side to side.
Glossy stainless steel gives the All-Clad Classic Round Waffle Maker a luxurious look.Handles stay cool while cooking.It also has a preheat and indicator light and chime.Settings include seven adjustable bake levels, but we still found waffles very pale using the medium heat setting.Even with the highest degree of browning, the edges of the waffles were pale.
This machine from KRUPS makes up to four Belgian-style waffles with a removable die-cast plate.The unit has five browning levels with audio and light indications for preheating and curing.Although large, it has a locking mechanism for upright storage as well as a winding.We found it to be slow to cook – an average of six minutes per waffle – and slow to reheat between batches.We also found that the waffles did not cook consistently in the same setting.The handle also gets hot during cooking, and its special lock prevents the waffle maker from shutting down nicely.
The MyMini Waffle Maker from Nostalgia is available in a variety of bright colors and is perfect for making small, single-serve waffles for breakfast sandwiches and desserts.It has a preheat light that turns off when ready.However, the waffles had inconsistent results between tests, with uneven browning.The manufacturer didn’t respond well to making one waffle after the next, so a longer reheat time was required.
Some waffle makers flip to make sure the batter is evenly distributed throughout the waffle maker.This also makes the waffles cook faster and helps create a nice crispy, golden brown exterior with a fluffy and soft center.
Most waffle makers have a removable cooking plate that you can hand wash in the sink or put in the dishwasher if the manufacturer declares it safe.However, be aware of the material you are working with.Using too much soap on a waffle maker with a cast iron finish will dry it out and strip it of grease.If the plate on the waffle maker is not removable, use a damp towel or paper towel to wipe away the residue, then finish with a dry paper towel.For very stubborn messes, pour the oil into the machine and let it sit for about five minutes before wiping off.Clean outside debris with a damp towel or paper towel.
Vertical waffle makers have many benefits, including taking up less counter space than horizontal waffle makers, which tend to be larger, bulkier, and harder to store.A stand-up waffle maker is arguably more user-friendly because the spout prevents spills and spills.You can even tell if it’s filled by checking if it’s close to a peak, which also means hassle-free cleanup.However, whether you should choose a horizontal or vertical waffle maker is a matter of personal preference.
Lauren Musni is a food and wine researcher with an associate degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America.She wrote this article based on our test results, her personal experience working in restaurants, and her love of baking and cooking.