Waffle Irons Reviews

The best waffle iron review we read is a recently written test in Cuisine at Home magazine. Although editors don't describe their testing methodology or say how many models were tested, they do list five waffle irons that have the features they consider essential: easy-to-follow instructions, heating elements that come up to temperature quickly and nonstick grids. They also offer helpful waffle-making tips. Cook's Illustrated's test is much more thorough and comprehensive, pitting eight American-style (non-Belgian) waffle makers against each other, but this test was conducted back in 2004, so it's not as up-to-date as it could be. We were disappointed to find that Cook's Illustrated has not tested Belgian waffle irons and Consumer Reports has never published a waffle iron review of any kind.

Facing a lack of expert data, we turned to the hundreds of consumer reviews for waffle irons at Amazon.com, Epinions and Cooking.com. At Amazon.com, several of the best-selling models receive hundreds of reviews, but at Epinions, most waffle irons receive a dozen ratings or fewer. Unlike expert reviews, consumers can comment on performance over time, noting whether indicator bells are pleasant or shrill and whether non-stick coatings stay put or flake off into food.

We were surprised to find that some waffle irons from VillaWare and Black & Decker -- two brands that aced professional reviews -- fare poorly in consumer reviews. Two VillaWare waffle makers outperform all other models in testing at Cook's Illustrated, but owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions say you should avoid them. The VillaWare V6150 4-Square Belgian Waffler/Multi-Baker (*est. $80) is criticized by owners for cooking very slowly and heating unevenly. Moreover, many owners report that the non-stick coating flakes off in large chunks and the top and bottom grids do not align. Another VillaWare waffle maker, the V2170 UNO 6 At-A-Time Waffler (*est. $80), receives equally low scores. Like its smaller sibling, the V2170 makes waffles that are overdone on top and pudding-like on the bottom, according to owners.

We also read a number of complaints about the Toastmaster TWB4 Belgian Waffle Maker (*est. $20) . Some owners say that this iron simply doesn't get hot enough so waffles turn out pale and spongy. This unit lacks an on/off switch and browning control. Reviews indicate that the smaller Toastmaster TWB2 (*est. $15) has similar problems and is short-lived.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

We read one highly credible review of Belgian waffle irons and another of classic irons. Top models are included in this chart. For corroboration on results from professional tests, we looked to the large number of owner-written reviews posted at Amazon.com and Epinions. Home cooks, like experts, ranked the Proctor-Silex Morning Baker, Hamilton Beach Flip 'n Fluff (now discontinued), Krups FDD9 Expert and Waring Pro WMK300 among the best. Most waffle irons make just one or two waffles -- which makes preparing waffles for a family quite a slow process. The Black & Decker G48TD Grill and Waffle Baker are large models that bake four square waffles.