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One of the best parts of waking up in the morning is eating a delicious breakfast. Whether you’re making it for yourself or feeding the whole family, you can start your day off right with a tasty morning meal. Pancakes are great, but they can be a mess to make, and flipping them to keep them perfectly in shape can be a challenge.
Instead of pulling out multiple frying fans and trying to keep up with pancakes for the entire crew, why not save yourself time and make cooking breakfast easier than ever with the best waffle maker?
What is a Waffle Maker?
Contents
A waffle maker is a small kitchen appliance designed to cook perfect waffles with less mess and hassle. This is a type of contact grill that has a grid design to create waffles that not only taste great but look great for serving to your family, friends, and house guests.
These appliances are very easy to use, requiring you to only fill the grill with waffle batter, close it, and wait a few minutes until it’s done. Once it’s golden brown, you can easily remove it with a spatula. This is a very fast and easy way to make a hot breakfast without having a sink full of dishes or burned food in your kitchen.
What are the different types of Waffle Irons?
Like other small appliances in your kitchen, you’ll find that there are lots of different waffle makers to choose from. No matter what you choose, you want to make sure to purchase a high-quality model that makes your job in the kitchen much faster and easier.
- Flip makers – These are generally the most expensive, and they are the types you’ll see in hotels and restaurant buffets. After the waffle has cooked halfway, a handle is turned to flip it, providing you with even cooking. These are generally the largest and often the most expensive of all of the types.
- Oversized makers – Some devices are designed to create several smaller waffles, but these make very large ones. The advantage is that everyone can have a larger portion, but the drawback is that you’ll spend more time cooking since you can only make one at a time.
- Specialty makers – These are designed to make your waffles into interesting shapes, including triangles, hearts, circles, and more. Waffles made in these machines are generally smaller, and they are a good choice for when you’re serving breakfast to children.
What are the Advantages of Owning a Waffle Maker?
You just can’t get the perfect shape of a waffle without one of these machines. In addition to giving you the right shape, these are very easy to use. All you have to do is add your batter, close the lid, and set your timer. Most are made with nonstick material, although you can use cooking spray as well so the waffles just slide right out when they’re done.
These appliances work very quickly, so your whole family can dine on hot, delicious waffles together in no time. You also don’t have multiple pans to wash, and cleaning these machines, especially ones with nonstick coatings, takes just a few minutes.
Who are the contenders for Best Waffle Maker?
Chef’s Choice 830 WafflePro Heart Waffle Iron – Surprise your kids or the people you love the most with delicious, heart-shaped waffles. This waffle iron has a lot going for it, including a very affordable price. It is very easy to use, can make deep or fast-cooked waffles, and lets you know when it’s preheated, as well as when the waffles are cooked. You can feed the whole family in no time, as each waffle is cooked to perfection in just 90 seconds.
Waring Pro WMK600 Double Belgian-Waffle Maker – Cook your family’s waffles in half the time with this double maker, which allows you to make two delicious Belgian waffles at once. With the flip design, you can get even cooking of fluffy waffles that have deep pockets that are perfect for holding your syrup, butter, and other toppings. It’s easy to use, and it has indicator lights and audible alerts that ensure you make the perfect waffle every morning.
KitchenAid KPWB100OB Pro Line Waffle Baker – Most appliances that cook quickly make very thin waffles. With this model, you can enjoy thick and fluffy waffles in a fraction of the time. Not only does this model heat evenly and consistently, but it lets you make two waffles at once. It has a timer with audible alert so you know when your waffles are done, and it has a heavy-duty design that will make it one of your favorite small kitchen appliances for years to come.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Waffle Iron
Kick up your next breakfast by serving yummy waffles to your household. In order to do that, you need to make sure you have a waffle iron in your kitchen. Make sure you know what you’re purchasing by looking for the following four features. You can also make your own list of criteria to comparison shop so you find the machine that works best for you.
Price
Whether you’re on a budget or you’re ready to splurge on the best machine out there, there’s something available for you. These machines come at many different price points, so you can save with a budget-friendly model or go all out with a machine that has all of the bells and whistles.
Size of waffles
You should consider the size of the waffles that you can make with each cooking cycle, as well as whether multiple waffles will be ready in one batch. If you have a larger family, look for makers that create very large waffles that can be split or have separate sections to create more than one at a time. If you prefer larger waffles, look for one with a large diameter that cooks quickly.
Type
What type of maker is best for your kitchen? Fun shapes can be great for a household with kids, while a flip maker is a general purpose machine that works for any home. Consider the type, as well as other features like price, to help you make your decision.
Warranty
Any type of electric device can have a defect that makes it useless. While this is a rare occurrence in most products, it does happen. Make sure you’re never stuck without your machine by purchasing a product that comes with a lengthy manufacturer’s warranty that covers defective workmanship.
Price
Chef’s Choice 830
This model sports a great price for a high-quality maker that’s so easy to use.
Waring Pro WMK600
This model is priced about average when compared to similar heavy-duty household makers.
KitchenAid KPWB100OB
With a higher price tag, this is classified as a top-of-the-line model.
Size of waffles
Chef’s Choice 830
The diameter of each waffle is approximately 7 inches.
Waring Pro WMK600
Each waffle created in this machine is 7 inches. Each one is about 1 inch thick.
KitchenAid KPWB100OB
These waffles have a diameter of 7 ½ inches with a thickness of about 1 ¼ inches.
Type
Chef’s Choice 830
This is a specialty machine that creates heart-shaped waffles your family and friends will love.
Waring Pro WMK600
This is a dual flip machine that cooks two waffles at once and has a flip design for consistent cooking.
KitchenAid KPWB100OB
This dual machine bakes two waffles at once and flips for even cooking.
Warranty
Chef’s Choice 830
A one-year warranty backs your purchase.
Waring Pro WMK600
You’ll receive a one-year manufacturer’s warranty with your purchase.
KitchenAid KPWB100OB
This comes with a warranty that is double most of the others at two full years.
Conclusion: Our Waffle Maker Reviews Are In
Chef’s Choice 830 – Best Cheap Waffle Maker
Give a little love to your family and loved ones with heart-shaped waffles. This waffle iron takes all of the guesswork out of making the perfect golden brown breakfast treats. When you turn it on, it preheats and gives an audible alarm when it’s ready for the batter. Once you’ve poured in the batter, another alarm will sound when it’s time to remove the waffle.
It has a nonstick surface, so you don’t need oil, butter, or sprays. You can make thin waffles or deep waffles to meet the tastes of those eating them. With the thinner waffles, they’re ready in just 90 seconds, so you can keep them coming for large families. When not in use, it stores upright and has a cord that clips into place so it takes up very little space. It is also one of the more affordable ones you’ll fine.
Pros:
It’s affordable. It comes with a warranty. Very easy to use. It alerts you as to when it is preheated or when your waffles are cooked. It cooks very quickly. Waffles are heart-shaped, which is fun for kids and adults. The nonstick coating works well. It’s easy to clean.
Cons:
The outside gets hot, making it easy to get burned. The fuse tends to blow over time, requiring repairs. The hinges feel a bit cheap. Only one waffle at a time can be made using this machine.
Waring Pro WMK600 – Best Waffle Maker for the Money
Make delicious, deep pocket Belgian waffles with ease with this great household machine. With 1400 watts of power, you can expect for this machine to work quickly, making it great for a great family or for feeding crowds, like at a special brunch. Not only does it cook quickly, but it makes two waffles at one time, cutting down your time in the kitchen.
This waffle iron rotates, so it heats evenly throughout without burning or leaving raw batter. This maker is very easy to use, featuring a toggle switch for power, LED indicator lights, and three audible tones so you know when it’s ready to use, as well as when your waffles are ready to eat. It also has a thermostat setting so that you can adjust how well your waffles are done.
Pros:
It bakes two waffles at once. It heats quickly. Cooks evenly. It comes with a warranty. It’s very easy to use. With the thermostat, you can adjust how brown your waffles are for the perfect taste every time. Each waffle has deep pockets for lots of your favorite toppings. Waffles don’t stick when used with a cooking spray.
Cons:
The wire housing is made of cheap plastic which may crack over time. Sprays or oils must be used to prevent the waffle from sticking.
KitchenAid KPWB100OB – Best Waffle Maker Overall
If you make waffles frequently at home, whether for breakfast or dinner, you’ll want a heavy-duty machine designed to work quickly, cook evenly, and produce delicious waffles. This machine does all of that and so much more, allowing you to make deep-pocketed Belgian waffles quickly and easily.
With each round, you’ll make two large, thick, and fluffy waffles, so you’ll cut down the amount of time spent in the kitchen. This double-sided unit flips for even cooking, and each side has nonstick plates, so you don’t have to use oils and sprays. The stainless and die-cast construction of this machine is very durable, high-quality, and will easily last for years. It also has a timer function so each waffle will be cooked perfectly.
Pros:
It preheats quickly. It’s a high-quality machine. The ready LED light and alert let you know when it’s preheated. It has an audible alert when the waffles are finished. The waffles cook quickly. Cooks two waffles at once. It flips for even cooking. Comes backed with a warranty. It is easy to clean. It has nonstick plates.
Cons:
It is a bit large. It is more expensive than other models. May need to be balanced before use for even cooking. It does not have a drip pan.
In Conclusion
Waffles are a delicious way to wake your family up in the morning, or you can even serve them at night for a unique and tasty dinner. In order to have waffles any time you want, you need a high-quality waffle maker. Instead of fussing with cheap models that break, don’t heat up fast enough, or just don’t make great waffles, invest in the KitchenAid KPWB100OB. This great iron lets you make not one but two delicious waffles at one time. It has nonstick plates, rotates for even cooking, and looks great in your kitchen, making it a top choice in small kitchen appliances.