How to choose a waffle maker ? Compare and find the best
Ready in minutes, waffles fresh from a waffle maker are delicious topped with buttermilk, maple syrup, ice cream or fruit, or even as a savoury meal with ham and cheese, bacon, or goat cheese and salad.
There are three main kinds of waffle maker available today: stove top irons, self-contained electric machines, and baking moulds to be put in the oven.
Stove top waffle irons
Stove top waffle irons are typically heavy-duty moulds which can be heated on most hobs or, if you’re being traditional, on an open fire. Batter is poured into the moulds and the iron is moved onto the heat by a secure handle. Stove top waffle irons may have moulds for anything from two to seven waffles, and you may want to consider this when making a purchase. Are you likely to be using the waffle maker to prepare a treat just for yourself? Or does a breakfast waffle party sound like fun to you? Stove top waffle irons come with or without lids. The advantage of a lidded stove top waffle iron is that you can simply turn it over when the lower part of the waffle is cooked. If your stove top waffle iron comes without a lid, you’ll need to flip the waffle half way through cooking. Traditionally this is done with a small pair of tongs. While this can be fiddly and off-putting to some, it does at least mean that you have more control over when you turn your waffles, allowing for optimal crispiness.
Electric waffle machines
It is quite usual to find a self-contained waffle machine in households in America, but they are gradually finding favour in Britain and Europe too. These machines plug into the wall and gradually heat the waffle batter on both sides. Whereas a traditional iron can lead to uneven colouring in your waffles as a result of their two sides being cooked separately, an electric waffle machine cooks the whole waffle evenly. Because both sides are being cooked at once, it can also make waffles in half the time.
Oven baking waffle moulds
The kitchenware design company Lékué has spearheaded the oven-safe waffle mould. This operates much like the stove top waffle iron, except it requires you to simply slip the moulds loaded with batter into your oven. It’s up to you how many individual moulds you buy, so you have a lot more control over how many waffles you can make at once. These stackable moulds are also a lot easier to store than either of the other two kinds of waffle maker described above.
