What’s for breakfast? Considering waffles? How about using a waffle maker. Sure, frozen waffles are fine if you are short on time. But if you want a true waffle house experience at home, some of the best waffle makers are amazing gadgets to have on hand for breakfast time.
We all know the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It refuels the supply of glucose to boost energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health. However, it is also known to be the most skipped. It may be because waking up early to prepare your morning meal is a hard thing to do, or your schedule just doesn’t allow you to squeeze it in. But most health experts would agree that you shouldn’t ignore breakfast no matter what the reason.
However, you don’t have to just eat waffles at breakfast time. In fact, more of us are embracing the concept of breakfast for dinner. A recent poll asked 2,005 American adults which they’d rather give up between traditional breakfast foods and dinner entrées. Results show that people are more willing to abandon the latter (31%) than the former (25%).
Did you know waffles get their own global celebration? International Waffle Day is March 25th. What better way to embrace waffle culture, than with your own homemade creations. StudyFinds compiled a list of the five best waffle makers, from ten expert websites, to yield delicious, topping-laden breakfasts. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The List: Best Waffle Makers, According to Expert Reviews
1. Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker
This classic offering from Cuisinart will have you making waffles from scratch in no time. Plus, at $29.95, it’s affordable too. Food & Wine notes, “this waffle maker has everything you need to make quality waffles without spending a pretty penny. Housed in brushed stainless steel, the compact model cooks waffles quickly and allows you to remove them smoothly thanks to a nonstick baking plate with four quarters.”
The New York Times points out it makes, “just one round, thin waffle at a time, so this model is a good choice only if you like your waffles thin and crispy and don’t need to make multiple waffles at once.”
“This Cuisinart waffle maker is the classic workhorse of 0.5-inch thick, American-style waffles. It is compact, easy to clean, and produces consistent waffles quickly. The five browning settings give some control over doneness, and the weighted lid provides enough pressure to ensure even cooking on both sides, without the added step of flipping them,” writes Simply Recipes.
2. Breville Smart 4-Slice Waffle Maker
Maybe you are looking to splurge on a high-end waffle maker. If so, check out this choice from Breville. The price? $279.95. The New York Times says, “While our other top-ranking models turn out one thin waffle at a time, the Breville makes four deep-pocketed square specimens in minutes and cooks them unfailingly uniformly.”
“With five different cooking presets (Belgian, classic, chocolate, buttermilk, or custom), 12 browning settings, and ‘Waffle IQ’ technology that calculates cooking time based on your desired waffle style and level of crispiness, it would be hard to not make perfect waffles. And, if they are not quite right, the ingenious ‘A Bit More’ button allows you to keep cooking your waffles without restarting the process,” according to Simply Recipes.
People adds it has, “an LCD screen that alerts you when it’s pre-heated and when the waffle is done — but that’s not all in terms of features. It’s also designed with a no-mess moat to catch any excess batter spillage when cooking as well as nonstick plates.”
Although if you have a smaller kitchen, this one may not be for you. It’s larger and heavier than some other waffle makers out there.
3. Dash Mini Waffle Maker
If you don’t have a lot of space, or a big budget, this small waffle maker is a solid option. Prices start at a wallet-friendly $9.99. Plus, it comes in a variety of colors.
Dash “makes mini, 4-inch waffles — the perfect size for a light breakfast or dessert. The waffle maker operates by simply plugging it in to turn it on and features a ready light to let you know when it’s preheated,” notes Good Housekeeping.
“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,” according to CNET.
Another fun feature, the Dash Mini comes in different shapes so you can get creative with your waffle making. “‘As a registered dietitian, the Dash Mini Waffle Maker appeals to me because the miniature size allows you to make smaller waffles. This can help with controlling your portion sizes when eating waffles, which are a more indulgent food,'” adds a Simply Recipes reviewer.
4. Cuisinart Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker
This $120 kitchen gadget is a top pick for best flip. “Cuisinart reigns supreme when it comes to a double waffle-maker — the kind where you fill one side with batter, close it, flip it around, then fill the second side to make two that are done within a few seconds of each other,” notes New York Magazine.
“The flip function makes it easy to distribute the batter from edge to edge, without worrying about overflow. The Cuisinart waffle maker heats up and cooks waffles fast, producing a crisp outer shell and fluffy interior,” adds Serious Eats.
“You’ll get two waffles in the time that it typically takes to make just one, and the waffles in question will be evenly golden brown,” points out Forbes. However, this waffle maker does take up more storage space, and the plates are not removable.
5. Breville No-Mess Waffle Maker
For about $150, you too can make mess-free waffles. It features a moat to catch any extra batter.
“The user interface makes it simple to set up, and almost more importantly, the machine is one of the easiest models to clean. The hallmark of a great waffle is one with uniform texture, thickness, and doneness. Except when using extra-thick batters, this unit delivers consistently cooked waffles,” according to Tech Gear Lab.
Food & Wine adds you can, “customize your waffles with this maker’s seven browning settings using its Thermal Pro technology. We noticed, however, that the settings towards the darker coloring were neither as accurate nor worked as efficiently as other models. Make sure to fill the waffle grid entirely, as it can be hard to remove your finished product otherwise.”
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Sources:
- Food & Wine
- The New York Times
- Simply Recipes
- People
- Good Housekeeping
- CNET
- New York Magazine
- Serious Eats
- Forbes
- Tech Gear Lab
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.
