An excellent nonstick egg pan, a pancake griddle, and a highly regarded espresso machine are the necessary kitchenware for a weekend brunch; however, a traditional waffle maker should also be included. This underappreciated yet multipurpose kitchen equipment works well for savory recipes like caviar waffle bites or for creating light and crispy waffles topped with warm maple syrup.
To determine our top picks for creating waffles with a golden brown outside and a fluffy, light within, we tested 17 of the top waffle makers. In each waffle iron, we tried both yeast and no-yeast batters before selecting our favorites based on their appearance, functionality, portability, and simplicity of cleaning. Based on our testing, these are the top waffle makers.
Best Waffle Makers to Buy
This flip waffle machine is simple to use and makes thick, uniformly browned Belgian waffles that are fit for a hotel buffet.
Let us face it, using a flip waffle machine is enjoyable. The Cuisinart Round Flip Belgian Waffle Maker WAF-F30’s ability to produce delicious waffles at a great price is what makes it appealing. We created them in one of the least costly models we examined, and its fluffy, consistently golden waffles are the closest thing we have found to the platonic ideal.
Although this machine does not have many features, the ones that it does have are rather useful. For example, it has an easy-to-use interface that allows you to customize whether you want soft or crispy, pale or dark waffles.
The handle stays cool enough to touch while the machine is operating, and the waffles come out easily (whereas we had to wrench them out of our upgrading pick). Despite being the tallest of our selections, this model’s profile is sufficiently low to pass beneath a cabinet when it is open on the tabletop.
The drawback is that it simply has a green “ready” light that switches on to show when the waffle is done cooking—no sounds. In any case, hovering is essentially necessary because it takes roughly two minutes to complete.
This circular model makes thin, extremely crispy waffles and is reasonably priced. However, its construction is weaker.
The compact form of the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker WMR-CAP2 makes it ideal for limited settings and produces dependably great waffles quickly. This model is just an excellent option if you prefer thin, crispy waffles and do not need to cook a lot at once because it only makes one thin, round, American-style waffle at a time (think Eggo). Additionally, its hardware feels less expensive than our other choices.
Representatives from Cuisinart claim that this model is presently offered for sale with similar model numbers WMR-CAP2 and WMR-CA.In contrast to the remainder of the golden outcomes, we discovered throughout our tests that the batter spread evenly but left the corners quite pale. This was not a deal breaker because we like edges that are a little lighter than ones that are burned.
Weight: 5 pounds | Shade Settings: 5 | Dimensions: 7.88 x 9.69 x 3.31 inches | Material: Brushed stainless steel with nonstick baking plates
With its many capabilities, this ultra-modern model can cook four waffles at once and determines the best cooking durations for various waffle varieties.
Breville’s Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice is well worth the asking price if you do not mind spending a lot of money on a waffle maker. It performed well in our tests in terms of speed, capacity, consistency, and variety.
Compared to our second four-slice choice, the Cuisinart 4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker (which is also around four times more expensive), this Breville device produces four deep-pocketed square examples in minutes, cooks them consistently, and produces a crispier, more precisely cooked waffle. An automatic countdown timer lets you know when the waffles will be done, and you can tinker with a variety of settings to change the texture and brownness levels.
We advise filling each grid with at least half a cup of batter. However, since batter overflow is eliminated by the no-mess moat that surrounds the cooking grids, there is no penalty if you add more than that. The browning was consistently even, but it took around 30 seconds to spread evenly across the second half of the grid.
Weight: 15.25 pounds | Shade Settings: 12 | Dimensions: 15.5 x 12.5 x 5 inches | Material: Stainless steel frame with nonstick cast aluminum grids
Although the waffles are not as crispy or fluffy as our upgrade option, this machine can cook four square Belgian waffles at once for a fraction of the price. It has no audible doneness cue, just like our top choice.
A busy house that needs a lot of waffles on the table quickly will love the simple Cuisinart 4 Slice Belgian Waffle Maker WAF-150. This machine usually costs the same as our top selection, which makes one waffle at a time, and it cooks four fluffy Belgian-style waffles to a consistent golden brown in approximately five minutes.
Our primary pick and upgrade pick outperform this model in terms of texture, but its waffles could be crispier and lighter. However, it is easy to use and clean, offers great value, and quickly prepares a hearty meal.
CRUX Double Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker, Keto Chaffles Iron with Nonstick PFOA Free Copper Plates for Easy Food Release, Browning Control, and Removable
This is the perfect equipment if you are hosting a large brunch party or are providing catering for a gathering. With its dual frying plates and rotating design, this Crux waffle maker will produce waffles more quickly than your favorite breakfast establishment. For even quicker cooking, it features a 14,000-watt heating system that can make roughly eight waffles in ten minutes.
With a browning control setting, the rotating feature guarantees uniformly cooked 1-inch Belgian waffles. Waffle removal and cleaning are made simple by the copper nonstick coating, which is free of toxins like PFOA and PFOS, hidden under a stainless steel exterior.
Dimensions: 15.15 x 9.44 x 8.14 inches; Material: Copper nonstick plates and stainless steel cover; Weight: 6.92 pounds; Shade Settings: 6
