A sturdy double waffle maker designed for simple use. This model includes premium nonstick plates that resist batter overflow and excess condensation for long-term results.
This waffle maker features built-in readiness indicators and beeps when waffles are done, helping ensure you don’t forget to remove them from the griddle. Furthermore, it cooks four square waffles faster than any other model we evaluated.
1. Easy to clean
An ideal waffle maker is one that is easy to use and clean, without too many complex features or components. According to registered dietitian nutritionist Sharon Lehman, it should simply require plugging it in, cooking and eating! Anything more complex only complicates matters further.
Waffle makers we tested offer many features designed to make cleanup simpler, such as batter pour spouts to avoid overflow and moats that catch spillage and condensation for easy wiping down between uses.
Few models feature nonstick plates that are easier to clean, with removable dishwasher-safe parts for effortless sanitization. Furthermore, some feature long handles that don’t heat up or release steam while using the machine, eliminating burns on hands when creating other foods (especially important when used for other items like grilled cheese, eggs, pancakes or burgers!). Our budget pick VonShef comes equipped with this feature and has a small footprint making it simple for storage purposes.
2. Easy to store
The Cuisinart Round Classic waffle maker is an excellent budget option, featuring weighted plates for even cooking and quick preheating time. However, its counter space-hogging design requires many steps before preheating begins and doesn’t include removable plates to go into your dishwasher for cleaning purposes.
Some models feature hinged waffle plates, which allow you to flip them midway through cooking for more even waffles, though this feature requires you to monitor their cook time more closely. This feature makes your waffles more evenly cooked but requires you to monitor their cook time more carefully.
For people who need to create multiple waffles at once, double-sided waffle makers such as the Presto FlipSide may be an ideal choice; however, these models tend to be more costly than single-sided models like Dash Mini.
3. Easy to use
An effortless waffle maker experience is important if you use it frequently, so find one with sturdy handles and solid locking hinges to avoid accidental opening. For faster waffle production, double Belgian-style machines offer multiple waffle cooking at once (just add batter then flip after each waffle is cooked)
A quality waffle maker should include an indicator light to inform you when it has reached preheating temperature, so you can start cooking immediately. A model featuring moat-protected plates for easier clean-up makes this task even simpler, while removable plates offer even greater convenience – in fact, almost all models we tested came equipped with them!
4. Easy to clean
The top waffle makers feature nonstick coatings designed to reduce mess while you churn out waffle after waffle. Many also come equipped with extra features, like drip trays or anti-overflow moats around the plates to catch batter before it overflows and produces extra waffle bites.
Some models feature handles that detach entirely from the waffle plates, making for safer waffle cooking experience and keeping hands away from scorching hot surfaces. Other manufacturers feature visual delineation between heat-generating stainless steel plates and safe-to-touch black plastic, such as Sage’s Smart Waffle Pro which boasts impressive cooking performance and looks great doing it!
Sharon Lehman, RDN is an enthusiastic home cook and small kitchen appliance test driver who thoroughly researches gadgets that will make her life simpler and better. She devotes hundreds of hours researching every review in detail in search of top-performing appliances that make meal prep faster and simpler.