In a world gone mad for the Belgian waffle, can we applaud Waffle House for being the last bastion of traditional, thinner waffles?
For over sixty years, Waffle House has served thin, delicious waffles; seriously, there are no thick waffles on their menu.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about having to sink my teeth into a thicker, scrumptious waffle topped with whipped cream.
But now and then, I crave the traditional waffle, y’know like mum used to make.
I know there are those who can’t stand a stocky Belgian waffle, but to each their own. Whether it’s for ‘health reasons’ or straight-up nostalgia for traditional waffles, some people just prefer the thinner, Waffle House-style waffle.
But in a world where everyone’s loving the Belgian style, it can be difficult to find a classic waffle maker.
People are obsessed with the Belgian waffle; it’s around 1.5 inches thick, and can support the weight of toppings ranging from sliced fruit to whipped cream.
So where does that leave lovers of the traditional, thinner waffle? If you scour the shelves of your local Walmart, you’ll notice that most home appliance manufacturers have discontinued their classic makers in favor of a Belgian-style waffle maker.
Sure, you can still count on Waffle House, but what if you’re in a Waffle-House-less location (I’m looking at you, Washington, Iowa and Minnesota.)
Don’t despair, all’s not lost.
Remember I said most manufacturers have discontinued their classic waffle maker lines? Well, one soon relaunched their classic offering.
Cuisinart claim their WMR-CA Round Classic Waffle Maker can quickly bake delicious waffles. With 5 different browning levels, it also comes with easy-to-clean, non-stick plates. That’s a lot of features for an appliance that’s barely bigger than a salad plate. It has over 1,700 5-star reviews on Amazon, with users raving about different features.
But me? I was most intrigued by the browning control.
Waffle eaters are notoriously picky about getting their waffles just the right shade of brown. In my family, they ask for everything from light golden to dark, crisp waffles.
Can this small appliance really satisfy the broad range of browning that my family loves?
At its low price point, does it represent value for money?
Description – Can It Make Waffles Bigger than an Eggo?
A non-flip model, the Cuisinart WMR-CA bakes one round, thin waffle at a time. The finished treat is medium-sized but still bigger than the frozen waffles in the supermarket.
Compared to fluffy Belgian waffles that can be up to 1.5 inches thick, the WMR-CA makes thin waffles. The waffles are between 6.5 and 7 inches in diameter and around 0.5 inches thick.
With waffles thicker than an Eggo, the Cuisinart scores the waffles into four sections, allowing you to feed between 1 and 4 people with each waffle.
Though it’s got smaller pockets, you still get a waffle that can hold syrup, even fruit, perfectly.
So the WMR-CA can make a thicker-than-Eggo waffle with a crispy exterior and tender interior. A waffle pretty close to Waffle House standards and all that for under $30?
Where do I buy?!!
Controls and Settings
The Cuisinart WMR-CA has a five step browning control that allows you span the waffle rainbow, making light golden waffles up to dark brown, crispy waffles. This range of doneness guarantees that everyone will get a waffle they like.
To the side of the browning control are two indicator lights: one green and one red. Use these indicator lights to avoid the disaster of pouring batter into a barely-warm waffle maker.
The lights indicate that the waffle maker is:
- plugged in (red light on),
- at the right cooking temp (red light off, green on),
- cooking (green light off, red on),
- all done (red off, green on).
There is no audible indicator on the WMR-CA, but some sharp-eared users can hear the ‘click’ from the thermostat when it’s done cooking. One method I’ve found to be an accurate signal of doneness is to watch the steam rising from the appliance. When this stops, your waffle is ready.
For most basic batter recipes, the WMR-CA will cook really fast, 2 – 3 minutes fast! This speed does depend on whether you’re using a pre-mix, pancake or waffle mix. It also depends on the desired level of crispness, the heat setting chosen etc.
Remember I mentioned the WMR-CA is a re-release?
Turns out Cuisinart hit a home run with its predecessor, the Cuisinart WMR-C.
Users of the WMR-C claim to have used the same waffle maker for between 6 and 15 years!
With the WMR-CA, the story isn’t quite the same.
Baking with the Cuisinart WMR-CA
Before plugging it in for the first time, wipe the grids with a damp cloth to remove any dirt. With no off/on switch, the only way to turn it on is to plug it in.
I find this feature just a little annoying, but whatever.
Before making your first waffle, you need to season the WMR-CA. Cuisinart suggests users season the grids by spraying with cooking spray or veg oil.
While cooking spray is easy to find in most kitchens, cooking spray and non-stick surfaces simply do not go together. The propellant in sprays like PAM leaves behind a sticky, brown gunk that will ruin the non-stick surface over time.
A better (and more thorough) option would be using a heat-resistant basting brush to lightly coat the grids with vegetable oil. I use a brush for seasoning as a brush can get in all the nooks and crannies of the grid with ease. I love this set from X-Chef. Available as a set of 4, their heat-resistant silicone bristles, mean they find loads of use in my kitchen. The handles also detach for easy, thorough cleaning.
With the seasoning done, be sure to wipe up any excess oil with a dry paper towel.
When you plug the WMR-CA for the first time, you’ll probably notice a faint burning smell. Don’t be alarmed, cookware with a non-stick surface tends to give off that smell when heated for the first time. It should only happen once and to make sure of that, you’ll make a throwaway waffle. This waffle will absorb any remaining odor and residue left in the waffle maker.
Make the throwaway waffle by:
- Whipping up batter like you would for one you wanted to eat.
- Pouring it in the Cuisinart and crank the heat up.
- Set a timer for 4 minutes (slightly longer than normal).
- Leave the waffle in even after the green light has gone off to indicate waffles are ready.
Remember this throwaway waffle is going to absorb any remaining residue and odor. Discard this waffle after cooking.
Note that Cuisinart recommends occasional seasoning of the WMR-CA. So aim for a quick seasoning after every third use.
Your waffle maker is ready to make traditional, thin and crispy waffles.
Close the lid, plug the appliance and wait for the green indicator light that shows it’s at cooking temperature.
Set to preferred waffle browning level.
The basic waffle recipe in the instruction booklet calls for ½ cup (118 ml) but that’s for their recipe. Since you’ll probably be testing some weirdly wonderful recipe off Pinterest, it’s best to use less batter for your first few waffles. This allows you experiment with different temperature settings, ingredients, batter thicknesses to find your ideal waffle making setting.
Pour ¼ cup (59 ml) of batter into the center of the WMR-CA. Pouring any more can lead to batter spilling from the unit and making a mess. A mess that can take hours to clean up.
Start with ¼ cup; you can bump it up to 1/3 cup if your waffles are coming out too small.
With 1, 000 watts in an appliance that measures only 9.6 inches wide, each waffle takes a short time to cook.
With the batter poured in, use the lights as a rough guide. I find that the release of steam is a more accurate indicator of doneness. Wait till the steam stops coming out of the front/sides and flip the top to get out your delish waffles.
If you’d like your waffles extra crispy, simply leave in the waffle maker for up to 2 minutes more.
Be careful when you taking the waffles out; the steam escaping as the waffle cooks makes the plastic handle hot to the touch. The top of the Cuisinart also gets hot when used for a while, so touch these parts using a rag, a pot holder or silicone oven mitts.
Less Batter, Less Cleanup Work
At APOT, we always recommend using less than the manufacturer’s recommendation and with the Cuisinart, we recommend going even lower. The Cuisinart WMR-CA can only take a little batter at a time, therefore using the recommended quantity will lead to overspilling.
It pays to measure out your batter as precisely as possible. That why I use these measuring cups from OXO.
The set of 4 stainless steel cups come with sturdy rubber handles, dishwasher-safe and have magnetic snaps to keep cups together in storage.
With waffles done and overflow avoided, it’s time to clean up.
Ease of Cleaning
I did say the Cuisinart WMR-CA is the size of a salad plate, but don’t even think about tossing it in the sink to clean it. The Cuisinart doesn’t have removable grids and must not be submerged in water.
But don’t worry, the non-stick surface works well. As long as the plates have been seasoned, your waffles will slide right off with no food left stuck on.
Waffles done, scoop them out with a silicone tong.
Unplug the waffle maker (no off switch, remember?) and allow it to cool down.
Clean by wiping down the plates with a damp paper towel.
Still got crumbs in odd places? Whip out a dry basting brush from your X-Chef set (see why it pays to buy a set?), tilt the waffle maker on its side and brush those crumbs outta there.
Yes, I know waffle makers have hard-to-reach areas like between the squares, so run a dry Q-tip around it to spot-check.
If batter or food sticks to the plates or the exterior, add a few drops of cooking oil to the baked-on batter and let stand for 5 minutes. The oil softens the lump allowing you to easily wipe it off with a soft dry cloth.
You do not need to ever use an abrasive cleaner on the Cuisinart WMR-CA.
Dimensions – Bulky or Not?
When it’s sitting flat on 4 rubber feet, the Cuisinart is a mere 4 inches off the counter top.
With such a low profile, you may worried about potential heat transfer marking or warping your counter top.
Don’t be.
Its 4 inch height still leaves a gap between the appliance and your counter top, enough for air to flow and dissipate any heat.
So you don’t have to worry about any heat transfer to your counter top.
Its 10.8 inch length and 8 inch width also mean it doesn’t take up much space.
Weighing around 4 pounds, it’s light enough for most people to easily lift between shelves.
It comes with a 3 foot cord, the average length for cheaper waffle makers. Cuisinart claims this is done to “reduce the risks resulting from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord”.
Storage – Upright or Flat?
We’ve mentioned how light and compact the Cuisinart is, it’s around the size of a salad plate. This means it’s easy to place flat in a drawer and slide out of sight.
But that’s not the best part; the Cuisinart can be stored in an upright position as well. Simply wind the cord around the appliance, tucking the end under a previous wrap and stand it with the handles towards the counter top.
In this position, it stands at around 10.7 inches tall, even shorter than a box of cereal! Personally, I think it’s just easier to store lying flat.
Attachments & Accessories
This waffle maker ships with a booklet containing instructions, tips and 5 recipes. Even if you’re going to use recipes from the book, start with a smaller amount of batter till you get the hang of it. Remember this is a shallow waffle maker, we recommend ¼ cup and spreading out the batter with a spatula.
The WMR-CA is a one-trick pony designed to make just waffles. Not that that has ever stopped anyone with a waffle maker from trying to waffle everything! All a true waffle lover needs is a hot griddle and we’re off to the races.
I mean just look at some of the recipes in Will It Waffle. Blueberry muffles? Toasted cheese wavioli? Really? Yes please!
Not sure what you can make with the Cuisinart’s shallow depth, but I’m pretty sure Will It Waffle will offer loads of ideas. I mean, red velvet waffle ice cream sandwich?
Yaaaaas!
Construction – A Walk on The Light Side
With its stainless steel exterior, the WMR-CA will fit in any kitchen decor. But while stainless steel may offer aesthetic appeal, this waffle maker has a bunch of issues with its design.
- One, the stainless steel surface gets hot very quickly. After a few minutes of use, the top of the Cuisinart gets hot enough to burn your hand or arm. I appreciate the fact that it heats up quickly due to its small size and high wattage, but this rapid heating appears to have an adverse effect on the rest of the appliance.
- Some users complained that the handle fell off after only a few uses. With temperatures reaching 345OF and the proximity of this heat to the handle, the screws that hold the handle in place get loose and drop off.
- As earlier stated, the green and red indicator lights are only used to signify that cooking temps have been reached. They don’t control the waffle maker. If you like darker, crispy waffles, you’ll soon learn to ignore them.
- The browning control is a welcome addition in such an inexpensive appliance. Allowing you choose just how crisp your waffles turn out is a bonus. However for a part that gets used every time you make waffles, the plastic lever controlling this has too much play.
- Looking closely at the Cuisinart WMR-CA, there are a bunch of places that waffle batter can get into but you can’t clean easily. Especially that slot where the temperature control slider pokes through.
- The handle attached to the lid of the waffle maker is plastic and it gets really hot during cooking. So hot that you’ll have to use pot holders or oven mitts when lifting the lid.
The Cuisinart WMR-CA isn’t the sturdiest of waffle makers, it has a number of poor design elements but the stainless steel model does give off a Scandi-cool-minimalist vibe.
The gadget also comes in a striking shade of red. In a world where appliances tend to be steel, chrome or black, the red will add a hint of vibrant color to a plain kitchen.
Double style points if your kitchen is already done up in shades of red.
Pros
The WMR-CA is compact, easy to store and most of all, makes waffles just like mum used to make. In a world obsessed with cakey Belgian waffles, thinner crispier waffles can be a welcome break [instagram pic]
Cons
The Cuisinart’s flimsy construction helps to keep the weight low, but also makes you question just how long it will keep working. Or whether it will survive a drop from your counter top?
Consumer Ratings of the Cuisinart WMR-CA Waffle Maker
Being a Cuisinart (the company that introduced America to the food processor), most people will buy this appliance based on the brand name alone.
But after noticing many reports of uneven cooking, I soon realized most of those reviews came from the past 4 years. Even consumers who had bought this Cuisinart and used it for years, found that buying a replacement within the past 4 years resulted in a totally different experience.
Why?
Remember I said the WMR-CA is a ‘new’ model of Cuisinart’s classic waffle maker?
…Well, It’s Just Not the Same..
The original model, the WMR-C was first released in 2000, and proved a hit among many users. But with Belgian waffles becoming more popular, sales of the WMR-C seemed to stall.
Fast forward to 2003, and Cuisinart released an ‘updated’ model, the WMR-CA.
The new model seemed to work well for some users, but many users felt the new model wasn’t well-built.
The WMR-C weighs 5.2 pounds, while the WMR-CA had slimmed down to 3.9 pounds. One can only speculate what was sacrificed for this lower weight. For one, it appears that more plastic was used all around the appliance.
The new model is also 0.2 inches shallower than the older one and that can make all the difference. This means the WMR-CA cannot actually hold ½ cup of batter as directed by the recipes in the booklet. Using ½ cup will lead to batter spilling over the edges and making a mess.
But it’s not just the weight and depth. One user who had used the WMR-C claimed the WMR-CA had thinner plates than the one they had for many years. Others complained that the heating element in the WMR-CA seemed to heat up the center and left the outer edges undercooked. These observations can explain the uneven cooking noticed by recent users.
It appears Cuisinart spotted a gap in the market for traditional waffle makers and rebooted the Cuisinart WMR-C series. They also appear to have found ways to make the appliance as cheaply as possible. Users complain of a more ‘plasticky’ feeling, wobbly handles, loose browning control lever etc.
The consensus is that there is a general reduction in the quality of materials and workmanship. This poor quality control from Cuisinart means buyers get waffle makers with varying levels of quality. Some users get perfect waffle makers, others get appliances with parts already broken.
And that’s not even the worst if it.
Some third-party sellers on Amazon list the WMR-C for sale (at a higher price) then ship the WMR-CA (a cheaper product) to customers claiming it’s an upgrade.
It’s a good thing Amazon has an awesome returns policy but I just can’t believe the cheek of some people!
Price
At a price point under $40, I’d say the Cuisinart is fairly priced. It’s right in the average price bracket for inexpensive waffle makers.
I should point out that returning the product comes with its own issues. If you have to return the product during the warranty period, it’ll cost you $10 to ship it back to Cuisinart!
When it’s all said and done, the WMR-CA is a cheap waffle maker, that makes traditional waffles that are hard to find (unless you live near a Waffle House restaurant)
But will it last forever like WMR-C?
I really doubt that.
Who It’s Best For
The Cuisinart name, its small size, and a low price make it an ideal present. The WMR-CA can be gifted to newly weds, small households, college students etc.
It’s also ideal for small families of 4 or less can makes 1 waffle, split in 4 and eat together while another waffle is being made.
But because it makes only one waffle at a time, it’s not great for feeding more than 4 mouths simultaneously. If your family is larger, just buy two of these.
The WMR-CA is great for those who love the Waffle House-type waffles and those who only serve waffles occasionally.
To all waffle experimenters out there, you probably don’t want to use this Cuisinart for those wacky but tasty combinations we tend to try with waffle makers.
The WMR-CA is shallow, I mean, really shallow. And because it’s shallower than a Belgian, it’s tricky making anything other than waffles in this. You can probably get away with dry cooking, stuff like quesadillas and cinnamon rolls, but any liquids will run over.
Plus with indicator lights that are not 100% accurate for waffles, do you really want to trust your bacon sandwich to this waffle maker?
My Thoughts
I really, really, really wanted to love this waffle maker and be able to recommend it without any reservations.
It’s small, heats up fast (cooks fast too), doesn’t stick, stores vertically, makes crisp classic waffles, and for just under 30 bucks!!!
With its tiny size, I was all for naming it The Little Waffle Maker That Could.
But as much as I like the Cuisinart for offering a return to classic, thinner waffles, getting one that works seems to be hit-and-miss.
With the WMR-CA, the build quality isn’t great, one user describes it as if it was designed and assembled by 2 separate companies.
With Cuisinart, you’d expect better quality.
If the market for classic waffle makers had a ton of options, I wouldn’t recommend this Cuisinart.
But it doesn’t.
And as much as we love the Oster and the Hamilton Beach, they are still Belgian waffle makers, requiring some fiddling around before you can make thinner waffles.
Sure the Cuisinart WMR-CA is far from perfect, but it still has these going for it:
- Easy to use (fast too),
- makes traditional waffles,
- has browning control.
If these features are important to you, I think you’ll be happy with the WMR-CA.
