Yahoo News The best waffle makers
Just like the pancake, getting perfect waffles on your first go can often be a tricky task. Before you settle down to enjoy your breakfast it's likely you'll have a plate full of reject waffles, ranging from drastically undercooked in the middle for some reason, to so burnt you're probably going to have to leave the pan soaking in the sink for at least a month.
But it doesn't have to be that way. We've come a long way since the word "waffle" was first introduced to the English language in the 1725 book "Court Cookery" by chef Robert Smith who swore by the "bake one to try; if they burn, add more butter" method.
What were we looking for?
If the waffles were evenly cooked
Time taken for the waffle maker to heat up
How long it takes for the waffles to cook
If the waffle maker was easy to use
If the waffle maker was easy to clean afterwards
Different settings available?
The recipe | Ultimate Belgian waffles
Salter deep fill waffle maker
This waffle maker from Salter is capable of making two thick, square shaped waffles at once. The plates are very deep and are coated in a non-stick coating so you don't have to grease prior to use. The batter doesn't stick at all and the plates are very easy to wipe clean.
It gets hot very quickly with the red/green light on the lid telling you when it is ready to be used. It doesn't have any settings or a timer which makes it difficult to tell when the waffles are ready. After five minutes the waffles weren't cooked fully through and had to be left in for another 2-3 minutes.
Overall, a good waffle maker if you don't want to spend too much and don't mind the lack of frills.
Sage by Heston Blumenthal waffle maker
This 'No Mess Maker' waffle machine from Sage by Heston Blumenthal makes up to four triangular shaped waffles in one go. It is easy to wipe or sponge clean thanks to the non-stick coating, though the plates are not removable.
It has seven settings which allow you to customise your waffles exactly how you like them. The plates are not very deep which results in a little mess (particularly if your batter is a little thick) but all spillages are quickly drained into an easy to clean overflow section. It is quite big and clunky - not ideal for people without a lot of spare space in their kitchen.
Overall an excellent machine that gives you perfect, if not a little thin, waffles with very little fuss.
Sage by Heston Blumenthal waffle maker
Tefal Snack Collection waffle maker
This machine from Tefal is more than just a waffle maker. As well as two different waffle plates (square and heart shaped), it comes with an additional 14 so you can make toasties and other snacks. The triangle toastie plate set made perfectly browned toasties easily with very little mess.
The waffle plate is coated with a non-stick coating and is very easy to clean and apparently dishwasher safe (we hand washed the plates after they had cooled).
It doesn't have any fancy settings and makes use of a red/green light indicator that tells you when the machine is hot enough to be used. While pricey, this machine offers great value for money.
Nutrisnack waffle stick maker
This Nutrisnack waffle maker is great for making smaller portions - a particularly good idea for small children. It can make up to six waffle fingers at any one time and heats up very quickly.
The plates aren't very deep and spilled over slightly, particularly on the side fingers. However, the plates are non-stick and were very easy to wipe clean. It is small and compact.
VonShef Rotating waffle maker
The USP for this waffle maker is the ability to rotate it while in use for "even heat distribution". This is supposed to help mix up the batter in the iron, so you can ensure the waffles are properly formed and cooked.
It is easy to wipe clean, though the plates are not removable. It has temperature control so you can decide just how golden or brown you'd like your waffles.
It is a little difficult to use at first, and takes a few seconds to get the lock properly in place so the batter mixture won't fall out when rotated.
Andrew James 4-slice waffle maker
This waffle maker is very compact and easy to use. It heats up very quickly and the plates are quite deep. It has non-stick plates but we found the batter got stuck in the corners a little bit. Despite this, it was very easy to wipe clean with a sponge once it had cooled down.
A good choice for basic, square waffles with no extra frills.
Andrew James 4-slice waffle maker
Our favourite waffle recipes
Coconut waffles with mango and vanilla mascarpone
Lockhart's southern fried chicken and rice batter waffles
