Waffle iron feature

The Best Waffle Makers to Make Breakfast a Hit

If you want to start your day with some fluffy, crispy waffles or have a sweet base for your deserts, you might want to invest in a waffle maker. Yes, placing two Eggos in your toaster is more convenient; but nothing quite beats a giant waffle with deep wells that just soak up syrup. So keep reading to find out why these are the top waffle makers:

Our Top Picks

How to know which waffle maker you should buy

Price: Most waffle irons that are somewhere in the $40-$100 price, with lower prices tending to sacrifice build quality.

Features: Most electric waffle makers at least come with an indicator light to let you know when your iron has finished preheating. Better irons will also have another indicator letting you know when it’s finished cooking.

Preferences: What works for one waffler and fails for another can simply be whether you like your waffles thicker, Belgian-styled with deep pockets or a thinner, chrispier classic waffle. Additionally, if you can adjust the cook time on your iron to make it easier to customize your waffles without burning them to a crisp.

Our Methodology

We took a combined 16 hours sifting through different trusted review websites to find out what the top waffle irons were, and if any patterns emerged. From there, we looked to past consumers to find out what their experience with the product was.

From there, we sorted waffle makers by different categories that would be relevant to a variety of readers.

The best waffle maker overall

All-Clad Stainless Steel 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker

If you’re looking for top-of-the-line, gourmet waffles at home for the family or a commercial waffle maker for a brunch party, look no further than the All-Clad line. If you’re wondering, the name refers to the fact that their products are all sturdily built with steel cladding, meaning this waffle iron doesn’t have the cheap material and feel that many others have. It doesn’t have a cheap price either.

And while it’s countertop footprint is not that much bigger than other 4-square waffle makers (clocking in at 15″ x 11″ x 5″), it is heavy, weighing 12 lbs. This weight may make it cumbersome to constantly stow away and take out, but it’s wide footprint might also make it difficult to keep on a countertop.

Despite these setbacks, the All-Clad delivers consistent quality, with 7 different  customizable settings depending on how crispy you prefer your waffles. The plates aren’t removable, but are nonstick, meaning just seasoning with spray before pouring in batter will ensure a quick and easy clean-up, while the drip tray will prevent your better from flooding and making a bigger mess or uneven waffle. LED lights indicate when your iron has finished preheating and when your waffles are ready to eat.

The reason we chose this as the best overall despite what may seem to be some inconvenient setbacks, is for the quality and consistency of results, while serving many diners. If you don’t envision yourself getting use of all 4 waffle plates because your household isn’t that full or it’s just for personal use, they also have a 2-Slice Compact Belgian Waffle Maker and a single, round Classic Waffle Maker if you’re not fond of belgian waffles. If you’re looking for a more personal-use waffle press or you don’t need the convenience of making many waffles at once, keep reading below.

Pros
  • Sturdily built.
  • Available in 2, 4 or single classic waffles.
  • Drip tray included.
  • Beeps when done (you don’t have to stare at your iron waiting for a lightswitch).
  • Customizable preferences.
Cons
  • Heavy, clocking in at 14 lbs.
  • Wide footprint (15″ x 11″ x 5″).
  • Expensive.
  • Plates are non-removeable, making cleaning inconvenient.

The best budget waffle maker

National Presto 03510 Ceramic FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker

This vertical waffle maker by National Presto will bake a thick, 7-inch waffle with extra deep pockets, perfect for holding ample amounts of syrup and toppings. If you’re curious what you gain from flipping your waffle maker, it evenly distributes the batter so you don’t have any holes or uncooked spots in the centre. It also makes for easier storage, as your waffle iron can just be tucked into your cabinet with a smaller footprint if that’s what you prefer.

With a ceramic coated plate, clean up is easy. And the reviews are near unanimous in saying that this is a goof-proof iron that gives consistent results. It has a built-in timer on the base so you can make your waffles more or less crispy.

Pros
  • Non-stick coating for easier cleaning.
  • Small footprint for easy storage.
  • 7-inch wide, inch deep Belgian waffles.
  • Customizable preferences.
Cons
  • Makes one waffle at a time.

Best mini waffle maker

Dash Mini Waffle Maker

This adorably-sized waffle maker is perfect for the dorm room, for kids or for the lone bruncher who wants something more than an Eggo waffle. With a low price-tag and wide range of colours and waffle designs available at your disposal this cute li’l waffle maker will put a smile on your face. So long as it’s been properly seasoned before use, wiping it clean is simple enough.

However, it’s very much a ‘you get what you pay for’ product. There’s no spill protection if you flood it with batter, nor is there a timer letting you know how long to keep your waffles in the press. Despite this, it’s still provides you with a servicable waffle at a quarter of the price of other models, and around half the space.

 

 

Pros
  • Available in different colours and designs.
  • Affordable.
  • Compact (makes a 4″ waffle) and weighs ~1 lb.
  • Takes a small amount of batter.
Cons
  • Flimsy feel.
  • No timer.

Babycakes Mini Waffle Stick Maker

This is a pretty similar option to the Dash mini iron above in terms of the price tag and bells and whistles. The difference between this and others on the list is this makes waffle sticks, not whole waffles; the perfect snack for kids!

Pros
  • Low-price.
  • Compact.
Cons
  • No timer.
  • Flimsy build.

Best Classic Waffle Maker

Cuisinart Classic Waffle Maker

If you’re not fond of the deep wells or pillowy texture of a belgian waffle and prefer a thin, crispy wafer similar to an Eggo, then a classic waffle maker is for you.

This Cuisinart classic waffle maker will give you a thinner, round waffle if that’s your preference, with an additional 5 settings to adjust how crispy you want your waffle. It has two indicator lights, one for when it’s preheated and another when your waffle is done, which you’ll be surprised how many waffle irons don’t have that.

However, many users found that the exterior cladding of this waffle maker is very cheap and plasticky. Since it has mid-range pricetag, if the material is a dealbreaker for you, you may want to make a bigger investment for something with a sturdier build.

Pros
  • Finished indicator light.
  • Affordable, mid-range price tag.
Cons
  • Flimsy build.

Best Cast Iron Waffle Maker

Rome Industries Old Fashioned Waffle Cast Iron

If you go camping often and want to make a top woodland breakfast, then opt for a cast iron waffle maker so you can put it directly over a fire or a gas stove. Of all the other cast iron pans, this one got the acclaim on its ease of use and sturdiness. The one consistent complaint is the iron comes in a parafin wax coating to prevent rust which users found difficult to remove. For the record, heat up the pan and then season and repeat until the wax is removed.

It makes thin waffles that take a bit of trial and error to find the optimal batter amount, timing and temperature to get your waffles perfect and ensure they won’t stick. But that’s part of the magic of analog cooking.

Pros
  • Sturdily built.
Cons
  • Difficult to remove wax coating.

Best bubble waffle maker

StarBlue Bubble Waffle Maker Pan

If you want to recreate your favourite Hong Kong desert from home, look no further than this bubble waffle pan. It’s an analog waffle maker (meaning you put it on your heat element, it doesn’t cook automatically). This model comes with a cookbook so you can try to make some of your own sweet treats.

Pros
  • Gas and electric cooktop safe.
Cons
  • Waffles will stick if not properly greased.

Why trust us

We are a review website focused on accessability in the Canadian market. We based our website’s reviews on those of trusted cooking websites and do not give special treatments to brands or companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use waffle maker?

It’s simple.

1. Season your pan with cooking spray before each waffle and preheat.

2. Make some batter; boxed pancake mix often has instructions for making waffle batter. It’s similar but with a thicker consistency.

3. When it’s heated up, pour batter directly into the centre of the press. Roughly about a quarter of its capacity. If it’s too much in one place you risk uneven distribution and cooking.

4. Close the press. From here designs vary as to whether you flip or simply keep it closed. Either way, you don’t want to be opening and closing the iron, as that lets the heat out. Timing will vary by size of waffle and desired crispiness. For analog waffle making, cook on one side 3 mins, flip and cook for another 2.

How to clean a waffle maker?

If your iron has removable plates, you can simple take them out and wash them as you would any other dish. Otherwise, wipe with a damp cloth while stile warm.

How long to cook waffles in a waffle maker?

Waffles take ~4-5min to cook evenly on both sides, but feel free to add up to 2 more minutes for desired crispiness.

How to make waffles without a waffle maker?

There are plenty of recipes for oven baked waffles that make use of a silicone mould.

Where can I buy a waffle maker?

Anyplace that sells kitchen appliances might have them in stock, such as Canadian Tire or Walmart. Even Urban Outfitters sometimes carries a mini waffle iron. However, ranges tend to be limited in store, so shopping online on sites like Amazon will help if you’re looking for something specific.

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Updated date

April 22nd, 2022

About the author

Rhea Henry

Rhea Henry is a writer and reviewer for Rank-It.ca. She’s written for a variety of projects ranging from how you can save on your bills each month to what to look for in your next kitchen appliance. She writes, sings, dances, plays guitar, paints and hates sitting still.
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