Adding the best waffle maker to your home will elevate breakfast from a get-it-done affair to a hotel buffet-style experience. In fact, the promise of golden crisp waffles in the morning is such a lure in our household that it’s proved the perfect bribe for kids’ bedtime.
And that’s after eating waffles for breakfast, lunch and dinner the past month as we tested out the best waffle maker to add to our kitchen. (Yes, savoury cheese dinner waffles are just as good as banana and honey-drizzled breakfast ones).
Sure, pancakes can be prepped with just a frying pan, but there’s something special about the best Belgian waffle or American-style waffle popping out of a machine ready to be piled with toppings. We also discovered you can use a waffle-maker to cook other delights such as hash browns and quesadillas.
So, which waffle maker makes the crispest waffles, works fastest, and looks best? You can read our full reviews of the best machines below, followed by expert answers to the most frequently asked questions. But if you’re in a rush to get some morning waffles on, here’s a quick look at our top five:
Which are the best waffle makers of 2024? At a glance
What to look for in a waffle maker
The basic features are size, capacity and browning options – but to get a sense of the more advanced features, I asked corporate chef at restaurant group Duck & Waffle, Maxwell Terheggen. He and his team have cooked over 250,000 waffles in the last two years (they use the £400 Waring Double Waffle Maker WW200K.) He is very clear on what to look for in a waffle maker.
“Adjustable browning control means you can get the exact texture you like,” he says. “Consistent heat distribution ensures even cooking without hot spots. Indicator lights and sound alerts are helpful to know when the machine is ready to cook and when waffles are done. Durability is important if you plan to use it frequently – you’ll want a waffle maker with a sturdy build.”
Premium waffle makers have extra features like adjustable browning settings, rotating designs for even cooking, faster heating, better non-stick coatings, audible alerts and more durability. More basic waffle makers have fewer settings, longer cooking times, less consistent results in terms of waffle texture and browning – but are more affordable.
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