Waffle Irons

Belgian waffle irons

There are two main types of waffle irons: American-style (or classic) and Belgian. Belgian waffles are fluffier and taller than American-style waffles, and they have deeper wells for fruit, whipped cream or syrup.

Round waffle irons of either type tend to be small and yield a single waffle, while square irons turn out perforated waffles that can be torn or cut into four individual waffles. The process of cooking a waffle in any of these waffle irons is pretty simple: wait until the iron comes up to temperature (most irons have an indicator light that lets you know when the iron is hot enough), ladle in the batter and wait until the waffle releases easily from the grids. A few waffle makers require you to turn the iron over during cooking, which is said to distribute the batter more evenly, and some units have dials that allow you to set the level of browning.

Belgian waffle irons tend to perform better in reviews than their American-style counterparts, perhaps because they make crunchier, fluffier waffles. Deeper pockets give the outside a chance to crisp up while the inside stays moist.

Editors at Cuisine at Home call the Proctor-Silex 26500 Morning Baker Belgian Waffle Baker (*est. $30) the most consistent of the waffles makers they tested. This round waffle iron, which is 7" in diameter, has an indicator light that tells you when the iron is ready and stands upright for easy storage. Owners particularly like the stay-cool handles, which are said to live up to their billing. Reviews say that the Morning Baker waffle maker heats and cooks quickly and cleans up easily. A few owners wish that the grids were removable, however.

Another round waffle iron, the VillaWare V2002 UNO Belgian Waffler (*est. $85) , is slightly larger than the Morning Baker and has a stainless steel housing. Most owners are happy with this waffle iron, which Alton Brown, host of the Food Network's "Good Eats," selects as his favorite. Owners say that it heats up quickly, makes airy waffles and cleans up with a damp paper towel. Like other VillaWare models, the Belgian Waffler emits a beep when the iron is hot that some find shrill. As with Black & Decker, it's interesting that we found mixed reviews for some VillaWare waffle makers, but not others.

Rotating waffles irons are said to use the power of gravity to distribute batter more evenly. While older rotating irons have a lever that turns the iron on a base, the Hamilton Beach Flip 'n Fluff requires you to flip the unit manually. The Flip 'n Fluff Belgian waffle iron earns high marks from owners posting to Amazon.com. It also won Cuisine at Home's "best value" award. Unlike the Proctor-Silex Morning Baker, which makes one 7" round waffle, the Flip 'n Fluff makes two 4.5" square waffles. Owners say that the flipping takes some practice -- batter can drip out if you overfill this model -- but the process is easy. Consumers report that this unit is easy to clean, as the non-stick coating releases almost all food particles. The few complaints we read center on durability and the cord, which is said to be a bit short. This waffle maker is now discontinued, but you may still see it in stores.

If you've sat near the kitchen in a diner that serves waffles, chances are you've seen the Waring Pro WMK300 Belgian Waffle Maker (*est. $80) in action. This two-piece, heavy-duty unit comes with plenty of features, including a drip tray, measuring cup, light and sound indicators and a browning control. The vast majority of owners posting to Amazon.com and Epinions are fans of the Waring Belgian waffle iron, which makes one 7" waffle at a time and receives an average of 4.5 stars (out of five) in over 300 Amazon.com ratings. Waffles are said to come out crisp on the outside and soft within. A few wish that this unit was easier to store and came with a longer warranty.

The Krups FDD9 Expert (*est. $80) is similar to the Waring Pro WMK300 Belgian waffle iron, and it does just about as well in owner-written reviews. The Waring Pro yields two rectangular waffles instead of one round waffle and it has dishwasher-safe removable grids, as well. Owners say that the build quality is excellent and waffles turn out evenly browned. This model, which has a rectangular iron, folds up to facilitate storage.

Krups also manufactures a non-rotating Belgian waffle iron, the Krups F654 4-Slice Wafflechef (*est. $40) , which earns 3.5 stars (out of five) in about two dozen reviews posted to Amazon.com. It also earns four stars (out of five) in a smaller handful of Epinions reviews. While owners and experts say that it heats quickly and makes good-sized waffles, some owners complain that experimentation is required to achieve perfect Belgian waffles. Owners say that, unless the Wafflechef is coated with non-stick cooking spray, waffles are liable to stick. Some complain that rising steam heats the handles excessively, but others say that this model is handsome and delivers thick waffles that are crunchy on the outside and soft inside. The chrome-clad Wafflechef Belgian waffle iron has cord wrap and can be stored upright.

American-style waffle irons

If you prefer flatter waffles that aren't as deep as Belgian waffles, classic waffle irons are still around, though it's mainly the Belgian variety on the market.

Although we found mixed reviews for cheaper Black & Decker waffle irons, experts at Cook's Illustrated recommend the Black & Decker G48TD Grill and Waffle Baker (*est. $45) , which they say bakes "big, beautiful waffles." With the grids removed, this waffle iron can be used as a griddle for sandwiches or pancakes. This model receives four stars (out of five) in close to 200 reviews posted to Amazon.com. Owners say that the Black & Decker G48TD is versatile, easy to clean and waffles turn out crisp and golden. A few owners complain that the clips that hold the grids in place are flimsy, and some say that the top of the waffle iron is too heavy, resulting in squished sandwiches. Many owners, however, love this model and say that its retro styling reminds them of childhood, even if it's not as well made as older waffle irons.

We read mixed reports about the Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic Waffle Maker (*est. $30) , which has 5-setting browning control, lights that indicate when the iron and waffle are ready and an unusually long warranty of three years. While some owners say it heats quickly and cooks evenly, others complain that the controls are finicky and that, over time, the non-stick coating becomes ineffective. A number of owners complain that the Cuisinart WMR-CA died after only a few months of use.

In a test of eight models, editors at Cook's Illustrated choose the VillaWare V2001C UNO Classic Waffler 4-Square (*est. $90) as their favorite, but it doesn't fare as well with consumers posting to Amazon.com, where it receives an average of three stars (out of five) in 18 reviews. Although it weighs ten pounds and is solidly constructed, owners say that you have to experiment with the settings to produce good waffles. Professional reviewers like the chime that sounds when the iron has come up to temperature and again when waffles are done, but many consumers find it annoying, particularly before they've had their morning coffee. Some owners blame a round heating element for the pale corners on their waffles, but owners who like this waffle iron are enthusiastic in their praise for the build quality and overflow reservoirs for drips.

Important Considerations: Waffle irons

• Look for temperature control. If you like deeply browned waffles, choose a model that allows you to control the heat level. If you buy a waffle iron without temperature controls, you'll have to cook the waffle longer to achieve a deep brown color, which may dry it out.

• Cool-touch handles are best for families with small children. Reviews say that the Proctor-Silex Morning Baker's handles stay cool, even after cooking several batches. Plastic waffle irons heat up less, reviews say, than models with chrome or stainless housings.

• Models that make square waffles are better for large households. Waffle irons that make four smaller waffles at a time are more convenient than models that make a single round waffle.

• Use non-stick cooking spray for best results. Even though most of today's waffle irons are non-stick, reviews say that you should coat the iron with a light film of cooking spray each time you use it in order to prevent sticking.

• Don't scrub your waffle iron. If you do, you may scratch or remove the nonstick coating. Experts recommend letting your iron cool down and using a cotton swab or soft cloth to remove any food particles.

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

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	Proctor-Silex Morning Baker (*est. $30)	details
2	Waring Pro WMK300 (*est. $80)	details
1 each	Krups FDD9 Expert, Krups 4-Slice Wafflechef , VillaWare Uno Series Classic Waffler 4-Square VillaWare Round Belgian Waffler V2002 , Black and Decker G48TD Grill and Waffle Baker , Hamilton Beach Flip 'n Fluff (discontinued)

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.

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