5 Things You Should Consider When Buying Waffle Maker

A warm and fresh waffle is always something you always remember whenever you are running out of time to prepare breakfast. Introducing: a waffle maker. They are small appliances with a variety of selections; from the traditional stovetop, flat, and flippable waffle maker, which you can find anywhere in the market. Luckily, you will be guided on what to deal with and more surprises you can cook with the device.

5 Features You Should Consider When Buying Waffle Maker

Easy to use

Waffles are one of the simplest breakfast menus, as we can check the ingredients; some eggs, sugar, salt, all-purpose flour, milk, and batter leavening agents. Easy peasy, right?

Consequently, waffles are a meal that the majority of people can make, then eat it with any style and toppings, along with a cup of milk or coffee. From tweens to adults, making waffles is the easiest family recipe you can pass down. Even if you only have limited time, you should get helped by an easy-to-use waffle maker.

There are, at least, two pantry-friendly waffle irons that you can find in the market; one is an electric waffle maker and one is the traditional stovetop waffle maker. Both work incredibly to shorten your time and anyone can operate the presets. But, there are factors of which one will ease you more, such as the flippable plate, detachable components, and temperature control which you can physically see before making a purchase.

All of the above will be explained in detail in the next few points. As for now, all you have to grasp thus far is that the waffle maker is supposed to accompany your cooking level at the best attempt. You can also check the weight of the product and the safety features it offers.

 

Easy to clean and store

After you use the waffle maker, you see there are a lot of crumbs and oily surfaces, don’t you? 

There are the best specialties of a waffle maker that help you to keep it clean. All of them have a non-stick coating on the plates. The flat-only and 180-flip waffle makers are easy to clean with a paper towel. There are also brands that design dishwasher-safe removable plates.

You have to take care of the material of the coating, as some of them have a high-quality one. If not, you will leave some flecks on the surface or cracks if you wash it too hot in the dishwasher. For the traditional waffle maker, it is best for you to wash it with a soapy soft sponge, and rinse with lukewarm water if it left oily spots.

Not only is it easy to spruce up, but also store in any space. The flippable ones can be put either in the cabinet or stay on the countertop as a decoration. As for the traditional-style waffle maker, you can store it with another appliance like a stand mixer.

 

Best features

A waffle turns out such versatile kitchen appliances, yet it is obviously unlike an air fryer and other large appliances. A number of people have experimented with making meal courses with this device. If some of you also have been wondering, the design is almost like a toaster.

If you are a waffle connoisseur, you better take a look at the best features of a waffle maker in this century. Most of them have 2 indicator lights; green for heating and red for ready. You will also find the one with adjustable temperature settings, which you can have the brown color you desired, thus the crunch taste too from the first bite.

For more cleaning at ease and flexibility, there’s the one with removable plates with different patterns of the grids. They are toxic-free and dishwasher-safe plates of a kind. 

Depending on the size, you can feed on 1 to 4 people in the house. If the grids are multiple, you can have them for the party as well. You are now bringing the waffle stalls to your kitchen. Whether a Belgian waffle or classic American waffle, it is possible to have from 1 device.

 

Free recipes and warranty

As simple as what you have seen from cooking video tutorials, a waffle maker is the one that is worth buying. Even if you are new to cooking, you should give it a try for the breakfast variety of menu. Still, you have to keep the function by using the product properly.

To do so, you can start reading the user manual book. The high-quality one gives you a free recipe on the last page of the book. It is supposed to be your try-out of the product, so you know its best and worst on your own.

Although a waffle maker has a sturdy image, its durability is unpredictable. Therefore, you must check the warranty card that is also attached to the guidebook. You need it in case the device won’t work shortly after the purchase, so you will get the free replacement from the manufacturer within a certain year.

 

Stovetop vs. electric waffle maker

There are, at least, 2 types of pantry-friendly waffle makers that are easy to find in stores. One is the stovetop or as known as a manual waffle maker and the other is an electric waffle maker, using a cable cord and electricity. 

You probably didn’t realize that the ones your grandma made were from the iron skillet. Another perk of the manual waffle iron is that you can bring it to a camping site. For storing the skillet, you can share a place with other pans and pots in the cabinet. Cleaning the iron is as easy as washing the dishes with sudsy water. As a result, the longevity is unbelievable.

Despite the lack of advanced features, the waffle iron is affordable and easy to find. The shape of the plates is sometimes unique. Still, you have to see the toxic-free material of the plates, so your family remains healthy and happy.

Electric waffle makers are versatile, easy to use, and much safer because there is no direct contact with the heat. All you need to do is just prepare the batter, preheat the device, and here you go, 1 nice brown waffle in 5 minutes. The price, though, is not always the downside. Some of the types can be flipped 180 degrees with the browning controller. 

The plates' materials are mostly non-stick. And for some designs, the material is chosen as removable, plus the drip tray to hold the excess butter and oil splash are dishwasher-friendly.

 

Waffle Maker Frequently Asked Questions

Aside from making waffles, what can you cook from a waffle maker?

Making waffles is always fun. It is more enjoyable if you level up the game by cooking easy meals on the device. You should try it at least once because not only is it cooked evenly, but also no rush to clean the plates. Inviting the kids to get their hands dirty will add to their cooking experience because this is safe. 

Pizza Waffle

Ingredients you need:

• Pizza dough, store-bought or a homemade one
• Marinara sauce, or spaghetti toppings
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni. 

Instructions:  

• Preheat the waffle iron.
• Put the pizza dough on the plates.
• Spread the sauce, then the pepperoni, and lastly the cheese.
• Top the rest with the remaining dough.
• Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes until it’s evenly cooked.

 

Brownie Waffle

Ingredients you must prepare:

• Instant brownie mix
• Depending on what the box instructs, usually eggs, oil, and water.

Steps:

•  Mix together the eggs, oil, and water.
• After the liquid is well incorporated, add the brownie mix powder.
• Pour the batter and cook for 3 minutes.
• You can enjoy it with ice cream toppings.

 

Cinnamon Roll Waffle

Things you must have:

• Instant cinnamon roll dough
• Icing. 

How to make:

• Preheat the waffle maker.
• Place the cinnamon roll dough on each grid, cook until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread the icing.

 

Hash Brown Waffle

Ingredients:

• Shredded potato and cheese
• Salt and pepper
• 2 eggs

Preparation:

• Peeled off the potato, then shred it.
• Before mixing the hash brown together, preheat the iron and spray with oil.
• Pour in the batter, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until nice brown color.

 

Grilled Cheese Waffle

You have to have:

• 2 pieces of bread
• Easy-to-melt cheese.

Steps to follow:

• On the preheated waffle maker, spread a little bit of butter.
• Place 1 bread, then the cheese, then close it with another bread.
• Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes.

 

What is the difference between Belgian waffles and regular waffles?

To make it easy, Belgian waffles are thicker than regular waffles, aka American waffles.

Belgian waffles, as it is obvious from the name, came from Belgium. The thick texture is the result of whipped egg whites and egg yolks, and sometimes the leavening agents like yeast, baking powder, or baking soda. You can also see the pocket is deeper than the regular waffles.

The cooking time takes longer because we need to wait for the batter until rising, resulting in fluffy consistency. It is convenient to use an electric waffle maker, as some of the design has detachable plates. It also cooks thoroughly, with the perfect brown color and crips on the pockets.

Regular waffles are not as wide as Belgian ones. You might as well leave out the leavenings, as you can pour in the batter straight away after all ingredients are incorporated. As a result, the batter’s consistency is dense and almost like a pancake, just sweeter. 

The pan usually has different patterns. For instance, if you serve for the kids, it will have the shape of their favorite cartoon character. You might as well cook it with the electric ones for faster cooking.

 

Can I make waffles with a pancake mix?

Cooking needs inspiration. And sometimes, especially in the morning, you haven’t really refreshed your mind to cook breakfast and you don’t have anything left in the storage. But now, you’re supposed to be getting at least 1 inspiration to make a quick breakfast, with a pancake mix and a waffle maker.

Since you can also toast almost anything with the device, there is no restriction for pancakes too. The ingredients are just; an instant pancake mix and 2 tablespoons of oil or butter. Yes, you have to add oil because the batter is usually drier and mix it again until well combined. 

Make sure you don’t miss out on preheating the waffle iron otherwise the batter won’t be cooked evenly. If there are some leftovers, you can put them in the freezer and reheat them with either microwave or oven. The taste will remain the same as the fresh ones.

 

How to store leftover waffles?

You have many options on how to keep the leftover waffles and materials you have to prepare.

What you should have:

• Food-safe container, or
• Air-tight plastic.

If the foods are only for the whole week, you can put them in the refrigerator. But, you have to wait for the waffles to cool down after 2 hours. After that, you can store it in the choices of containers above. 

You might as well freeze them for up to 3 months. If that is so, you should give a label that reminds you of the date of making it. Before you eat, you must reheat it, and it can be in the oven or microwave. For a crisp taste, you can reheat in the oven at 350 F or about 177 C.

 

The result

Before your next purchase of a waffle maker, you better take concern of your own preference. Whether you still stick with the durability of a manual waffle maker or are tempted by the versatility of an electric air fryer, they have their own upside and downside. The one you have to pinpoint first is the quality and the material, which leads to the hygiene level it offers. 

You might as well do a more fun experience with the device, especially when you need to indulge yourself with a quick meal or spend some time with the kids by cooking. The waffle maker will end your craving for a fluffy waffle and sweeter waffle at one appliance, just as you like a crisp from the pockets, as well as with the thick texture. Keeping the leftovers is one of the choices to save time for the next few weeks.