After a few years of hopping on and off different diet bandwagons, I’ve found one that works for me. Most of the year, I loosely follow an intermittent fasting way of eating where I skip breakfast, have a light lunch and sit down to a hearty dinner.
But on the mornings when I do have breakfast, it’s almost always to try out a new waffle recipe I just found. Nothing like making a slab of deliciousness to jumpstart my day.
I don’t need to tell you how versatile waffles are, whether as a part of breakfast, or healthy snack or a tasty dessert. There is just something special about a good, fresh waffle. You know it’s good since you know exactly what’s gone into it. And fresh too, because who eats frozen anyway? Yuck! No, thanks.
I knew I wanted to be able to enjoy tasty waffles at home, so I hopped on Amazon.
I remember searching high and low for the perfect waffle maker, but to no avail. Now, while Amazon offers a mind-boggling selection of appliances, I still had a tough time finding the one.
Not for a lack of options, quite the opposite. I couldn’t choose one because there are soooo many to choose from!
You’d think that with electric waffle makers dating back to 1911, it would be easy to pick one. But no, these days, there are so many variations that it can be a chore just to find the one you want.
However knowing what features you need, will help you narrow down your options and find one that works for you.
At last count, there were over 650 different waffle makers available on Amazon.
That’s a lot.
On a side note, that quantity shows the power of the unitasker. Now, I know many people don’t like unitaskers, (you know, tools that can perform only one task), and yes, kitchen space may be at a premium and we all want to avoid clutter, but there are actually useful unitaskers. These perform one function and perform it well, thus saving you time. On the other hand, most multitaskers tend to do several things badly instead of one thing well.
I feel keeping things simple …. just works. So I like to keep things simple.
With waffle makers, just choosing a simple one isn’t the best decision.
Why?
In many consumers’ minds, simple equals cheap. But price shouldn’t be the first feature you use to narrow down choices. When buying one, I’ve found there are 11 important and 1 not-so-important features to consider
Should You Buy Electric Or Old Fashioned?
You may find it odd that I’m including old-timey, cast iron waffle irons, but hear me out.
A growing number of consumers seem to prefer the old fashioned waffle makers. A common reason is their desire to avoid using non-stick cookware. They assume that non-stick surfaces are harmful and carcinogenic, but they’re not (read my article on BPA, PTFE & PFOA here)
Cast iron waffle irons may be regarded as as a safe alternative but they are also very heavy, can’t be used on a smooth cooktop and waffles even take longer to cook!
But if these quirks don’t faze you, here are 2 highly rated cast iron waffle makers available on Amazon now. For a cheap, no-frills option, we love the Rome 1100. Staying true to the traditional style in looks and function, the Rome 1100 makes 6 inch waffles and weighs roughly 4 pounds.
While most cast irons make thin, crisp waffles, you can make a thicker ¾-inch waffle with the NordicWare 15040 cast aluminum stovetop Belgium waffle iron.
What Type Of Waffles Do You Like?
If like me, you’d rather not lug a cast iron waffle maker around, there are a lot of electric, automatic waffle makers available. You still have to choose the features you need though.
So, what style/type of waffle do you like to eat?
If you love a fluffy waffle dotted with craters deep enough to hold toppings and syrup, you’ll be better off buying one that makes Belgian style treats. If you prefer thinner, Waffle House-style waffles, a classic waffle maker is your new go-to appliance. Amazon has a wide selection of both Belgian and classic waffle makers.
I personally like the fluffiness of a Belgian so, that’s what I picked.
How Easy Is It To Clean It?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a little OTT about keeping my kitchen and everything in it, pretty clean. So when choosing a waffle maker, I wanted one that would be easy to clean.
But this is where it can become a little complex.
Whether it is a pricey, high-end machine or a cheap one, all waffle makers have crevices, holes and gaps, where batter and crumbs just seem to end up in. That alone is enough to make cleaning up a chore but there’s also the issue of grid type.
Here is a post on finding easy to clean waffle makers, but it boils down to 2 things
1. Whether the grids are removable,
2. What the interior grill/plate is made of.
How thorough are you when it comes to cleaning?
I ask because waffle makers with removable grids allow you pop out the grids and wash them in the dishwasher or sink. For models with fixed grids, you’ll have to make do with wiping down surfaces with a dry paper towel.
The material that the plate is made of also determines how you’ll care for and clean it. Waffle makers can have either a cast iron, non-stick or ceramic interior. Each material has different properties that should be considered when choosing an easy to clean waffle maker (link to other article.)
As I was eager to try out a ceramic finish so I looked for a waffle maker with a ceramic interior.
Should I Buy One With Browning Control?
Do you like your waffles golden or a darker brown?
Depending on your preference, you should look for a waffle maker with adjustable temperature control. This allows you to cook your waffles to the texture and color you want. Browning control also comes in handy when you’re making waffles for more than one person and everyone wants a different textured waffle.
I like my waffles a little darker than most, so having a variable temperature control was an important feature for me.
How Big Should It Be?
There are 2 things to think about when considering waffle maker size.
One is how many people you’ll be feeding waffles.
If it’s just you, any size of waffle maker will do. But if you’re feeding more than 2 people, using a small 6-inch waffle maker means your guests will be waiting for quite some time for their slabs of deliciousness. So for larger batches, look at waffle makers with a larger diameter or those that cook multiple ‘full-size’ waffles at a time, like this Cuisinart 300 Belgian that lets you cook four waffles at a time!!
Size also determines how easy the appliance is to store. Most smaller waffle irons are compact and can be tucked away in a cupboard, drawer or stored on the counter. Larger ones, especially the models that flip, will require more space for storage.
Some flip models have protruding handles, others come with drip catching trays. These extras increase the surface area of the waffle iron.
However, most flip models use the flipping action allowing them to stand on end thus reducing the space they occupy.
Will I Need One With a ‘Ready’ Indicator?
Most waffle makers have an indicator to let users know when the appliance is on, when it’s hot enough to pour batter in and when the waffle is ready. These indicators may be visual (lights) or audible beeps.
Most units will have at least one indicator, higher quality ones will have more than one and possibly a combination of both types.
Should You buy One with a Warranty?
We all dread plugging in our newest appliance and not getting the slightest response. No indicator lights coming on. No sound. No heat. Nothing. Nada.
Face it, you’ve just bought a lemon.
You can either wallow in regret, yell in frustration or pick up the phone and call customer service. But the third option can only be done if you bought an appliance with a warranty.
With warranty periods stretching from 1 to 3 years, you can find a manufacturer that offers repairs or replacements. Be sure to read the terms and conditions to know what the warranty covers and what actions can void it.
Other features to consider include:
- Another feature waffle lovers look for is whether it’s a flip style model. Flip style waffle makers provide more even cooking as the flipping action helps to mix the batter in the iron. This results in a well-done waffle with a crisp, browned exterior and fluffy inside.
- To avoid burning your waffles, it’s crucial to monitor its cooking time. While you can set time using the timer on the microwave, oven, phone, it’s even better if the appliance itself had a timer.Waffle makers like the Presto Flipside Belgian waffle maker have a digital timer that shows you how much time is left. Other models will alert you when the set time runs out, others will automatically turn themselves off.
- Keep an eye out for one with safety features; we know how kids like to help out with making meals, whether it’s mixing batter, sprinkling toppings, being taste testers. But with waffle makers cooking at 200°C, it may not be such a good idea to have their little fingers coming close to the appliance.Some waffle makers also have poor insulation between the heating element and the stainless body. This causes the exterior to heat up to finger-burning temperatures. In some cases, the heat transfer between the exterior and the handle can cause the handle to fall off!So when looking for a waffle maker, be sure to look for one with an insulated handle that isn’t in close proximity to the body of the unit.
- Do I need an Auto shut off function? : On a frantic morning whipping up breakfast for the family, it’s possible to forget that you have waffles cooking. That is, until the burning waffles set off the smoke alarm.If this describes your Saturday mornings, you’ll be better off with a waffle maker that has an auto shut off feature. The feature turns the unit off once the baking cycle is complete, just in case you forget.
With all these features to consider, you’ve probably narrowed down your choices to a few units that tick most of the boxes.
But if you notice, we didn’t include price as a feature to consider.
I’ve had readers ask “what sort of budget do I need to get a good waffle maker?”
Short answer: it depends on what you need.
As you can see, there are many considerations (other than price) that must be assessed when choosing a good waffle maker.
What’s best for you will probably differ from what’s best for me. Sure, you can spend a few hundred dollars and get a waffle iron crammed with features. But if they’re not features you need to help you make tasty waffles, it’s just money down the drain.
I think it’s more important to first clarify the features you need, if you want the best waffle maker for you.
I hope this post helped you see what to look for when picking out a waffle maker.
So go on already, pick a waffle maker and get to enjoying the delicious homemade treats you wanted.