12 Best Wafflemakers According to the Person Who Literally Wrote the Book on Waffles
Want restaurant-style waffles at home? We asked the experts for their reccos.
There are few things in life more comforting than a hot plate of buttery, syrup-y waffles, and it all starts with the waffle maker. Thought they were all the same? Think again. Not only are there different kinds of waffles that can require different machines, but there’s also all kinds of features that impact your final product such as browning settings, single or double flip, and more. If you’re not sure what those mean, don’t worry, because we’ll explain everything you need to know with the help of Daniel Shumski, author of Will It Waffle?: 53 Irresistible and Unexpected Recipes to Make in a Waffle Iron, and Rich Cundiff, co-owner of Rocky’s Chicken Shack in North and South Carolina, which is known for their killer fried chicken and waffles.
What should you look for when buying a waffle maker?
“We’ve found that no matter how perfect and fresh the batter is, the waffle maker you’re using will determine your level of success,” explains Cundiff. The first step is determining what kind of waffles you want to make: American, Belgian or Norwegian? From there, you can start to narrow down your options by desired size. Ideally, you should get one with browning settings, a timer with light and/or audio notification, and a moat or drip tray for overflow batter. If it’s easy to clean (perhaps even with removable plates), cooks in just a couple minutes and reheats quickly after each batch, even better.
What's the best way to take care of your waffle maker?
Good news: Waffle irons are pretty low maintenance. “If you’re not too adventurous or exotic in your waffling, you can probably get away with a quick wipe with a damp cloth,” shares Shumski. If some baked batter drips are giving you a run for your money, pour a couple drops of cooking oil over them, wait a few minutes, and then wipe. Removable cooking plates can be extra helpful during the cleaning process–just make sure to check whether yours is dishwasher safe or needs to be hand washed. And most importantly? Don’t touch it until it’s cooled down.
So, what's the best brand of waffle maker?
There’s no one best brand of waffle maker, but as you’ll see on our list, there’s definitely a few of them. All-Clad, Breville and Cuisinart are all household names with a reputation for being high quality, attainable, and fairly priced with solid features. That said, according to Shumski “it’s a good idea to stick to a brand you know and trust.”
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12 Best Waffle Makers
Best Classic Waffle Maker for Home Cooks: All-Clad Classic Round Waffle Maker, $130 on Amazon
This attractive, stainless steel waffle maker has earned a reputation for producing four 6.5-inch American waffles at a time that are consistently crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, which is due to its steam-release system. More to love about it includes being able to choose from seven different browning settings that impact how cooked your waffles are and a handle that stays cool while cooking. There’s also no guessing games with this model: You’ll hear a beep and see a light when your waffle maker is either ready for batter or done cooking. All-Clad Classic Round Waffle Maker, $130 on Amazon
Best Runner Up: Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice, $300 on Amazon
Though this option is a bit of a splurge, it comes with the features to justify it. In addition to four different batter settings (Belgian, classic, chocolate, and buttermilk), you can choose from 12 different browning settings and can even hit the “a bit more” button to give your waffle more time to cook without restarting the clock. The four extra deep plates encourage extra thick 4.5-inch waffles, and if you happen to pour too much batter, the no-mess moat will catch it and turn it into waffle bites. When it’s done cooking, the light will turn to orange. Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4 Slice, $300 on Amazon
Best Runner Up: Breville No-Mess Waffle Maker, $150 on Amazon
Sure, we just talked about another model with a moat that catches excess batter and cooks it into waffle bites, but that one costs double what this one does, and you still get seven different browning settings to choose from. A light will come on to tell you when the waffle maker is fully heated up, and then it’ll make a noise when your waffle is ready. The plate reheats quickly, so you’ll be cooking up other ones in no time. It’s good to know that these plates are more shallow, making it the best waffle maker to make crispy waffles. Breville No-Mess Waffle Maker, $150 on Amazon
Best Runner Up: All-Clad Gourmet Waffle Maker, $230 on Amazon
If you and your friends/family/roommates are big on waffles, you’re going to want something seriously durable. This one is covered in stainless steel, which does make it heavier but also tougher and more stylish. You’ll see a light come on when the waffle maker does, and then again when it’s fully heated. After that, you’ll hear a noise letting you know when it’s time to add the batter and when the waffle is done cooking. It makes four 4.5-inch waffles at a time, and it has steam-release vents to help prevent condensation buildup and keep your waffles crispy. One of the best parts is that the plates and drip tray (for any overflow batter) are both removable and dishwasher safe. All-Clad Gourmet Waffle Maker, $230 on Amazon
Best Commercial Grade: Waring Single Belgian Waffle Maker, $445 on Amazon
Do you live in a big, impatient and hungry household? Are you the go-to host for brunches and breakfast for dinner? While most people don’t require something commercial grade, some find it much easier and convenient...but it does come at a cost. You may only be able to make one 7-inch Belgian waffle at a time but something bigger would be bulkier than reasonable for a home. Besides, the waffle maker heats up in under three minutes and cooks in a little over one (and it’s way more lightweight than you’d expect). There’s six different browning settings to choose from, and each one is guaranteed to be perfectly even with a crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Finally, a light will indicate when the power is on and the waffle maker is ready for batter, while a beep will tell you when it’s ready to cook and then ready to eat. Waring Single Belgian Waffle Maker, $445 on Amazon
Best Affordable: Cuisinart Classic Round Waffle Maker, $30 on Amazon
You’re not going to get all the bells and whistles with this $30 gem, but you’re absolutely going to get a great waffle. This waffle maker has a dependable, straightforward design featuring five browning settings and indicator lights so you know when it’s time to add the batter and when your waffle is done. It’s also one of the most compact options on this list, making it ideal for small spaces when you still want a full-size waffle. Cuisinart Classic Round Waffle Maker, $30 on Amazon
Best Belgian Waffle Maker: All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker, $219.95 on Amazon
Wait. First of all, what’s the difference between regular and Belgian waffles? Belgian waffles are yeast-based and super fluffy with large and deep pockets, while regular waffles are baking powder-based and dense with thin and small pockets. So, if the Belgian style sounds good to you, you’re going to want to make them with this waffle maker. There’s two sizes, two slice and four slice, so you can pick the one that (literally) fits your needs. Each one inch waffle is uniformly cooked on one of seven browning levels to be – you guessed it — fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside with super deep pockets to hold any toppings you want. If you have any overflow, the removable drip tray on the back will catch it, and when your waffles are done, a light will come on and a chime will sound. All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker, $219.95 on Amazon
Best Norwegian Waffle Maker: Chef’sChoice WafflePro Taste/Texture Select 840, $72.21 on Amazon
You can identify Norwegian waffles by their extra rich batter and the heart shapes that create a scalloped circle and can be pulled apart. As such, they require a unique waffle maker—and this one is the best. There’s five browning settings in addition to two cook settings: one heats more quickly for maximum crispiness while the other heats more slowly to keep the center a little soft. You can cook one thin waffle at a time in just a minute and a half, while the overflow batter goes into a moat to make cleanup easy. You’ll know when your waffle is ready by beeper and light, and after you take it out, you can immediately add more batter to make another one. Chef’sChoice WafflePro Taste/Texture Select 840, $72.21 on Amazon
Best Mini Waffle Maker: Dash Mini Waffle Maker, $10 on Amazon
TikTok loves this waffle maker and so does Amazon, with over 178,000 five-star ratings making it the top-rated waffle maker. It’s delightfully compact, and you can’t do better than $13. The price comes as a trade-off, since there’s no timer or overflow support, and the waffles truly are mini. A light will be on as the iron heats up, and it’ll turn off once it’s ready to start cooking. Still though, once you figure out the right timing and amount of batter, you’ll get some solid waffles. Fun bonus: The Dash comes in all kinds of colors and patterns, and even some shapes. Best Mini Waffle Maker, $10 on Amazon
Best for Chaffles: mywaffle Classic Waffle & Chaffle Maker, $34.99 on Amazon
Chaffles (cheese waffles) have taken the keto world by storm. They are made with a base of cheese and eggs. They are low carb with a good amount of fat. You can make four 3-inch chaffles at a time, which allows you to cook them in bulk for sandwiches, snacks, and more. It’s also the perfect size for a toaster! After you add the batter, an indicator light will let you know when they’re ready so you can indulge. mywaffle Classic Waffle & Chaffle Maker, $34.99 on Amazon
Best Rotating Waffle Maker: Crux Double Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker, $80 on Amazon
Designed with a rotating design and dual plates, you can cook two 1-inch Belgian waffles every two minutes, which adds up fast. In addition to six browning settings, you have an indicator light for each side that tells you when it’s time to flip and an audible ready signal. A dishwasher-safe drip tray saves you from any overflow issues that will make cleaning tougher. And by the way, who doesn’t love the cool copper accents? Crux Double Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker, $80 on Amazon
Best with Removable Plates: Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker, $67.99 on Amazon
With the press of a button, you can take the removable plates out of this waffle maker and put them straight in the dishwasher. In the spirit of easy cleanup, it also comes with a large drip tray to catch overflow batter. Depending on your needs, you can opt for a single flip (one waffle on one side) or a double flip (one waffle on both sides)...either way, the flipping motion itself is actually comfortable because of the D-shaped handle. The indicator lights will turn on to let you know when the power is on and when you can add the batter. Of note, the single flip has adjustable browning but the double flip doesn’t. Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker, $67.99 on Amazon
