Which waffle maker

You'll have an easy time repeating those results for a great waffle thanks to the built-in minute timer. Just be sure to look elsewhere if you like a thin waffle, as the Presto produces fluffy waffles that are roughly an inch thick. That's a Belgian-style bargain, right there. Amazon review average : 4. Some waffle makers might cook a little more evenly than others, and your waffle's thickness will vary from model to model, but for the most part these will produce a pretty similar product. The real difference comes in design -- primarily, how easy they are to use and clean.

If ease of cleaning is what matters for you and your waffle batter, then the Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker belongs right at the top of your list.

At one point, I accidentally poured way, way too much batter into it, causing a massive overflow let's call it a stress test. Fortunately, the drip tray caught everything, making cleanup a total breeze. That, coupled with thick, fluffy, evenly cooked waffles, makes the Hamilton Beach a smart, idiot-proof pick for home cooks who want to be sure to avoid a mess.

It gets the basics right with a solid nonstick surface, nooks that are deep enough to help prevent overflows and even heat distribution throughout the irons. You don't get a doneness dial or a timer, so you'll need to decide for yourself when your waffle is done, but that's a small quibble at this price. More concerning is the handle -- it's just an extension of the lid, which gets hot enough to burn fingers, so you'll need to open and close it with some care.

Still, it's easy to use, it's easy to clean and it cooks waffles evenly. Best of all, those small waffles are the perfect size for things like desserts and breakfast sandwiches, which makes the Dash an especially good pick for creative home cooks.

Target review average : 4. I'll note that the nonstick surface didn't hold up very well as my tests progressed, even as I reapplied vegetable oil to keep it seasoned.

But the design is far from perfect, which stops me short of recommending it as an upgrade pick. For instance, while the overflow moat did a nice job of catching excess batter, it gets just as hot as the cooking plate inside and there's nothing to stop you from burning your fingers on it.

In spite of a nonstick interior, the interior's concave design, which cooks a thin, crispy waffle a little like a pan pizza, makes it too tough to get your waffle out once it's ready. The low-cost Cuisinart waffle maker is a popular pick, with strong review averages at multiple major retailers. It did a good job in my tests of cooking satisfying waffles about half an inch thick, but with shallow nooks and crannies and no drip tray or overflow moat, your batter-pouring skills will need to be very precise.

Too much, and you'll get overflow and make a mess. Too little, and you'll get an oddly shaped waffle with thin burnt patches that stick to the iron. There isn't very much wiggle room between those two outcomes and that's too finicky for my tastes. I've since received the one I bought and used it to test out a few waffle maker hacks -- it's similar in design to the Cuisinart, but thicker and less prone to overflowing when you're pouring the batter in. I'd rather spend a bit more for a flippable waffle maker -- or one with removable, dishwasher-safe plates -- but if you're just looking for something that'll get the job of making passable, enjoyable waffles done for as little cash as possible, it's hard to find a better option than this.

A novelty model, the Presto Stuffler includes a special, circular set of tongs that clamps around the side of the waffle as it cooks, creating an ultradeep waffle iron that you can use to create ultrathick, stuffed waffles.

Now, I'm as much of a sucker for a niche kitchen gadget as anyone, but it's worth noting that you really don't need a novelty waffle maker in order to make novelty waffles. There are plenty of fun waffle hacks that you can do with just about any waffle maker, period. That said, I wanted to give the Stuffler a fair shot, so I picked one up and tested out three of Presto's recipes: a waffle stuffed with cherry pie filling, a stuffed pizza waffle and a waffle stuffed with spicy chicken.

You can check out my Twitter thread for the full report on how all of it went -- but the short version is that I came away unimpressed. Although the benefits of a waffle maker are self-evident, you should consider a couple of things before buying one.

First, think about what kind of waffles you like: thin, American-style ones think Eggo or thicker, Belgian-style ones? Most waffle makers can make only one or the other. If you have a small kitchen or plan to make waffles only occasionally, you may be happiest with something compact and inexpensive that does the job.

Waffle makers range widely in quality and features, not to mention in the waffles they produce. And opinions on what exactly constitutes a great waffle vary enormously: Some people want them brown and crispy, others like them softer and fluffier. So we set out to find the model that could make the most broadly appealing waffles with the least hassle.

We eliminated stovetop models which require a certain amount of skill to use successfully , as well as machines with interchangeable plates for other uses like pressing sandwiches. Our experts agreed that a device dedicated solely to waffle making works better than one that multitasks. We debated the pros and cons of flip models which use gravity to evenly disperse and cook batter but after testing a few for the original version of this guide, decided to omit them too.

But in we added a few higher-end waffle irons to the mix to see if paying top dollar is a real investment in function or just a lot of flash. Of the models we ended up testing, here are the qualities that separated the great from the merely average. First and foremost, you want a waffle maker that effectively and evenly cooks the batter. And they should brown the waffle thoroughly on both sides, without hot and cold spots.

And it should perform equally well whether you use a thick buttermilk or Bisquick batter, or a thinner, yeasted batter. Special functions make a surprisingly big difference when it comes to waffle irons. Basic models have lights that let you know when the iron is preheated and when the waffles are done. But who wants to stand and stare at a light, waiting for it to turn from red to green?

Audible indicators like beeps or chimes are highly preferable so you can tend to other tasks while making breakfast. A machine should also be able to switch between different browning levels easily. That way, you can make dark waffles for Aunt Mary and superlight, barely browned waffles for your cousin.

Our favorite models even take things a step further, with some allowing you to customize texture with the tap of a button or adjust heat based on waffle type. Waiting five minutes for a machine that makes four waffles is reasonable. But who wants to devote the same amount of time to cooking just one?

In general, smaller-capacity machines should trade off with faster cooking times. Built-in or removable drip trays are also helpful in case of overflow.

And as far as safety is concerned, the handle and controls should stay cool while the machine is on and should keep your hands well away from any hot surfaces.

Seamless storage is important because few of us have enough counter space to permanently devote to a waffle iron. Models should be lightweight without being flimsy and reasonably compact so they can fit inside of a cabinet or drawer. Included cord storage and locking handles are also useful, especially for models that you can store upright as well as flat. For our update we tested six models against our four previous picks. We made at least two rounds of Bisquick waffles and one round of yeast-raised waffles in each model.

We allowed for flexibility in cooking time, so if one needed more time, we would shut the lid and let it cook a little longer. It also has a number of features that make it easier to use than most other machines. A numbered dial gives you careful control over waffle doneness, while a toggle switch lets you control texture.

Lights and a loud beep clearly signal when your iron is heated or waffles are done. The nonstick plates release waffles cleanly, and an overflow channel catches excess batter, so cleanup is a breeze.

Plus, the sleek and trendy design is sure to fit with your kitchen decor. Thanks to the adjustable dial, you can select your ideal brownness, then wait for the indicator light to let you know the waffle maker is ready to cook.

The maker produces extra-deep waffles, so you can fill it or top it with whatever sounds good. The waffle maker is stainless steel for easy wipe-down, and the grids and drip tray are removable and dishwasher-safe—no more worrying about about scraping away burnt-on bits after breakfast.

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What a difference! Reviewers who want to quickly whip up a big batch of waffles appreciate this Dash waffle-maker, which can make up to four at a time. It only takes four minutes to make four waffles! I eat two each morning. This was such a great value for my money and it is so easy to use! I decided to invest in the bigger version and I am glad I did. Nothing sticks to it! This is very simple and easy to use, and makes delicious waffles! This waffle maker makes nice deep waffles that come out uniformly done just about every time.

I had them all take waffles home, and I ended up freezing like 10 of them. Though this Bella waffle iron is less expensive than the flippable Hamilton Beach option above, it still gets a lot of praise for its professional-grade quality. Where has this thing been all my life! Others like that it perfectly cooks the waffle, both inside and out.