The question of what is the best waffle maker is largely dependent on what you want from the product and what kind of price you are looking to pay. One thing to consider when making a selection is the size of the waffle maker. This is both the size of the waffles it makes, or the amount in one go and the physical size of the piece of equipment.
| Best High-End Waffle Maker | Best Economic Waffle Maker | Best Budget Waffle Maker |
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Some waffles makers can be stored on their side so can slot into a cupboard or other storage space while some are always on the countertop, so you need to know if you have enough room for this. Just because a waffle maker is physically large, does not mean it makes large waffles but may make a number of smaller ones in one use. The number of waffles needed can be another factor defining the purchase; how many people are you cooking for and how many waffles do you need? If you have a large family and are needing a few waffles at a time, then the waffle makers which produce more than one at a time may be an idea. Plus the waffle recipe you are using may be designed for a certain number of servings.
The shape of the waffle produced may be utterly irrelevant to you but if you have a preference, there are makers which produce round, square or even odd shapes like triangular. Sometimes these odd shapes can be a good way of winning over children.
Again, some people may have a preference about the thickness of the waffle and this should be checked if you do. Some waffles have larger plates, which mean they produce larger waffles, and this can effect cooking time and even the crispness of the end product, certainly until you are familiar with the waffle maker.
Here we have a look at just three of the many product available to give you an insight into the kind of features that are found to help you decide what may be the best waffle maker for you.
High End – Calphalon No Peek? Waffle Maker.
The Calphalon No Peek? Waffle Maker featured a crushed stainless steel cover with double riveted handle for strength and ease of use. It produces large Belgian-style waffles in around five minutes for four waffles. See some excellent belgian waffle recipes.
It works with an illuminated indicator so you know at what point the browning of the waffles is without lifting up the cover and losing the heat. It also has three heat settings; light, medium and dark. When the desired setting is reached, the machine issues a chime and then automatically shuts off to prevent over-browning.
This waffle maker features bronze non stick plates for high quality performance and has an Opti-Heat system which ensures that the heat is delivered evenly with reliable results. The non-stick coating also means you can prepare the waffles without the use of oil. It is recommended that nylon, coated or wooden utensils be used with it to avoid scratching the non-stick coating.
The plates wipe clean with a damp cloth, and no cleaning agent is needed. You can also lock the lid in place so the waffle maker can be stored on its side and takes up less room when not in use.
The product has a one year warranty from the manufacturer as well as a five year warranty on the non-stick plates.
Economic – Waring Pro WMK600 Double Belgian-waffle maker.
The Waring Pro Waffle Maker can make Belgian waffles two at a time and produces round-shaped waffles which bake evenly due to the rotating function of the plates. These plates also extra deep at around 1 inch. Waffles are made without fanfare by adding the mixture, then rotating to access the second plate and repeating the process. This rotation also allows an even coating.
The waffle maker has a 1400-watt output so can make waffles as quickly as two minutes, depending on requirements. Other features include a rotary thermostat and browning-control knob to make greater control over what waffles are produced while it is operated by a simple on/off toggle switch. 2 LED indicators lights let you know when the waffle maker is heating up, and 3 audio beeping tones give indication of the stage of cooking to avoid burning.
The non-stick plates are simple to clean with warm water, and no cleaning agent is needed. As a last resort, if something does happen to stick, wait until the unit cools down and clean with a little cooking oil to remove.
This is a slightly larger product than the above Calphalon waffle maker, at around 9 inches high, 15 inches wide and 9 inches long so will need a large space to be kept. It is finished with an easy clean brushed effect stainless steel, so it looks smart on the countertop.
It comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty as standard.
Third, Budget – Procter-Silex 26500Y Durable Waffle Baker.
The Procter Silex waffle maker is quick and easy to use piece of equipment which is compact and easy to store. It produces two square waffles in as little as two minutes depending on the browness required. It also heats to cooking temperature quickly due to a heavy heating element, so there are not long waits before use.
It features non-stick grilling surfaces and has an indicator to show when the waffle maker is ready to use. To turn the waffles, the machine can simply be lifted and rotated on the countertop as there are no moving parts to be concerned about.
The non-stick surface is easy to clean without the use of a cleaning agent and if extra cleaning is required, then cooking oil will be more than sufficient to remove the food.
It stands at 11 inches long, 8 inches wide and just over 4 inches high, so is not a large piece of equipment to store on the countertop, or can be stored vertically to save space. The exterior is finished in smooth white plastic so is easy to clean.
So this is just the tip of the iceberg of the waffle maker range but gives you a flavour of the type of products which are available for you to be able to select the best waffle maker for your kitchen.
