Best Waffle Maker Reviews

These 4 waffle maker appliances represent the best in their class, cooking every type of waffle, from thin and crispy waffles to golden brown and airy Belgian delights. We even found a waffle iron - nearly five star perfect - that cooks a waffle in size somewhere between Waffle House thin and Belgian waffle thick.

One of these four waffle makers will suit your taste. Guaranteed. And there's a bonus pick at the end of this article. Please check it out.

Here’s a brief review of the most popular waffle makers. They all share these features:

1) Fast, 15 minutes or less for your waffle

2) Average 4 to 5 star reviews by users

3) Non-stick/wipe clean baking surface

Here are the four:

1) Black & Decker Grill and Waffle Baker

2) Calphalon No Peek Belgian Waffle Maker

3) Proctor-Silex Morning Baker Belgian Waffle Baker

4) Waring Pro WMK600 Double Belgian-Waffle Maker

This waffle maker cooks thin and crispy waffles. It also doubles as a sandwich press, panini maker and steak griller. The official designation is the Black & Decker G48TD Grill and Waffle Baker.

The best features of this waffle iron are:

1) Versatile. Cook waffles and then reverse the plates to grill eggs, pancakes and sausage.

2) Non-stick, wipe clean cooking surface

3) Stands upright for compact storage

4) Use as a grill, waffle maker or griddle

5) Makes thin and crispy waffles

If you love thin and crispy waffles, look no more. Buy this one. Dial back the cooking time and be treated with thin waffles that are lightly crisp on the outside and soft and chewy inside. Sports a variable heat control - low, medium and high.

Exactly one cup of batter makes 4 small waffles. The grid is non-stick so waffles don’t stick. No oil needed.

Flip the grid over to the flat side and make scrambled eggs, hash brown potatoes, bacon, sausage or steak. Super for grilled cheese sandwiches for the kids.

Easy to clean griddles - snap out, wash in warm soapy water, dry and snap back in. Plates clip in and out with no problem.

It takes about 10 minutes to heat. You must preheat to cook good waffles. This waffle iron gets really hot so be careful when handling it.

Makes a pretty good panini. It can also be used to make Melba toast for snacks at work.

Overall, this waffle maker offers money-saving options. You can make your own panini and Melba toast, thus saving the cost of buying these items at the grocery store. Because this doubles as a sandwich press, you don’t need to buy another appliance for grilled sandwiches.

The flat griddle on the flip side of the plate is a bonus. Reverse the plate and you now have a cooking utensil to fry up all manner of goodies, from bacon and eggs to fish sticks and fries. The two 8-inch griddle squares offer plenty of surface to cook a quick lunch for the family.

This waffle maker does have flaws. Users have commented that the plates may fall out, due to the flimsy clips holding them in place. The back of the griddle doesn’t get as hot and the heat is not evenly distributed. Some have noted that it’s cheaply made.

If the above points are deal breakers for you, then keeping reading.

On the other hand, if you like thin and dainty waffles, this waffle maker is for you. Its multi-function ability to grill sandwiches and cook foods that are pricey at the grocery store make it worthy of consideration.

If you’re searching for a waffle maker that’s armor-plate strong and consistently cooks brown and airy waffles, make room on your counter for this Belgian waffle maker. Its official name is the Calphalon HE400WM No Peek Belgian Waffle Maker.

The best features of this waffle maker are:

1) Heavy cast aluminum non-stick plates

2) Tough stainless steel housing

3) Light, medium and dark waffle settings

4) Chimes when ready for batter

5) Temperature sensor evenly distributes heat for evenly browned waffles

6) Chimes when waffles are done

Many waffle makers have an issue of evenly distributing heat to insure evenly cooked waffles. It’s not a problem for this waffle maker.

This Belgian waffle maker has a temperature sensor that distributes heat for evenly browned waffles with consistent results every time.

A lighted progress indicator tracks how brown your waffle is. The lights light up one by one as the cooking progresses. Thus the monicker “No Peek.”

Pre-heats in about 5 minutes. Takes about 3 to 5 minutes to cook a waffle. No waiting for the griddle to reheat before making the next waffle. It’s so quick the whole family can sit down and eat together. Makes 4 waffles at a time which is about 2 cups of batter.

Close the lid very slowly to avoid spillage over the edge. If the batter overflows it settles into the waffle maker's small grooves. Let it cook. When cool the over-spill pops out of the groves. Then clean with a damp cloth. No gooey mess to worry about and no crevices to pick clean with a toothpick.

Dial up a temperature - the browning and crispness is controlled with this dial. The calibrated controls allow you to make a perfect waffle every time. All the time.

It chimes politely when the waffle maker is ready for your batter and chimes again when the waffle is done.

Your waffles are crispy on the outside and fluffy and moist inside, ready in a matter of minutes. The waffle pockets are not as deep as a traditional Belgian waffle and are more spread out. This spacing is the secret of a moister waffle. Be assured that the individual waffle pockets are up to the challenge of pooling good amounts of syrup and butter.

The non-stick plates really are non-stick and require no oil. The finished waffles are easily released. No sticking means clean-up is simple with a clean, damp cloth. This Calphalon makes an evenly done waffle that comes out clean every time.

Be daring and chop up strawberries or blueberries and sprinkle on the top of the batter. They sink in and cook. Yum! The kids will like chocolate chips dropped on top.

The cooking time is faster because these waffles aren’t quite as thick as a traditional Belgium waffle. This Calphalon waffle is a suitable and happy compromise between the thin Waffle House offerings and the towering Belgian-style waffle.

It is gloriously over-built. Strong, sturdy and heavy.

The large handle makes opening and closing the waffle iron a cinch. Your fingers are clear of the hot surface. Can be stored flat or upright. Measures a tad over 11 inches by 11 inches. Six inches in height.

One year full replacement warranty. The non-stick plates have a 5 year limited warranty.

Sometimes you pay a little more for quality, and quality is what you get with the Calphalon waffle maker. It does what you expect a Belgian waffle maker to do - make crispy waffles with a moist interior.

The waffles will inspire you to hunt for the perfect maple syrup to do justice to these waffles. Hop off the fence and buy this waffle iron.

This is a “Simple Simon” waffle maker that consistently performs the same by making a crispy on the outside and airy on the inside waffle. Every-single-time. No controls to dial, push and twirl. You hop on board and it flies itself. The official designation of this Belgian waffle maker is the Proctor-Silex 26500 Morning Baker Belgian Waffle Baker.

Here are the best features of this waffle iron:

1) A basic no frills waffle maker.

2) Easy to use

3) Non-stick surface

4) Not expensive

This waffle maker works in 3 easy steps:

1) Turn on

2) Let it heat for about 7 minutes.

3) Pour the batter when the ready light indicates

This makes one large waffle at a time. Crisp on the outside and fluffy and moist inside. The temperature is pre-set. It has no timer. Figure about 4 to 6 minutes per waffle, depending on the batter.

Because this waffle maker has no timer, you make your waffles the way mom did.

You need to time your waffle and watch the steam. The time necessary to cook a waffle varies by ingredients used. You’ll need to experiment. As mentioned, figure 4 to 6 minutes per waffle. If you burn one, you have a treat for the backyard birds. Cook the next one a minute or two less.

The plates can’t be removed for cleaning. Wiping it down with a clean, damp cloth does the trick and it’s ready for next time.

It’s a basic waffle maker. But it’s also sturdy and well-made. It’s designed to do one thing - cook a single waffle that’s crispy on the outside and soft and moist inside. Day after day. It does that well. If that’s what you need, buy it. You can’t beat the price. It also has a ton of good reviews.

Stands upright for storage.

If you’re cooking for 5 kids, look for something bigger and faster.

Finally, you can be rid of two annoying sentences from your kitchen vocabulary: “You go ahead and eat while it’s hot. I’ll wait.”

This waffle maker cooks two big fat Belgian waffles simultaneously. One for you and one for your favorite other. You  eat together.

And although both waffles cook together, you can control how each is done. Cook yours golden crispy outside and moist inside, while the other waffle can be extra brown crispy and dry. This waffle maker gives you choice and double the output.

The official designation is the Waring Pro WMK600 Double Belgian-Waffle Maker.

Here are the best features of this waffle iron:

1) Makes two Belgian waffles

2) Each cooks independently

3) Browning control knob

4) Deep 1-inch pockets for filling with butter, berries and syrup

It has two waffle navigation lights. One to let you know it’s ready for cooking and a second light to signal the waffles are done.

If your spouse likes waffles soft and doughy, while you like yours crispy and dry, this waffle maker does it because each waffle is cooking separately. The cooking temperature is adjustable and each side operates independently of the other. Plus it’s smart enough to tell you which side is done.

The no-stick grids are easy to clean. Never sticks. The griddles are not removable.

If you have a bunch of grandkids dropping in for breakfast, this waffle maker will fill their tummies.

The brushed stainless steel body is attractive in any kitchen design.

If you like big, traditional Belgian waffles, this is the one to buy.

Here’s a bonus pick waffle maker. It’s exactly the same as the Waring Pro WMK600 above, but it makes only one waffle at a time. And it’s less expensive.

This Belgian waffle maker has all the toots and whistles of its big brother -

1) 6 setting browning control

2) LED indicators for power and ready

3) Stainless steel housing

4) Beeps when waffle is ready

This waffle maker cooks restaurant quality Belgian waffles for smaller families. So if the price of the double waffle maker turns you off, here’s the quality option to spend less money but still enjoy the best Belgian waffles.