• Whether you prefer fat and fluffy Belgian waffles or thin and crispy traditional American-style ones, there are dozens of different waffle makers in every shape and size.
  • The best waffle maker for families big or small is the Chef’s Choice WafflePro because it makes five perfect golden waffles every time.

As a child, I was obsessed with Eggo waffles, not unlike the character Eleven from the show, “Stranger Things.” As soon as one of the rounded treats popped out of the toaster, I would slather it in butter and maple syrup and then gobble it up.

Frozen waffles are delicious, but freshly made ones are even better. There are plenty of waffle recipes online, and once you’ve assembled the ingredients, you just need a waffle maker. There is a dizzying array of waffle makers out there, so we’ve done the research to find the best ones you can buy. Before you buy one, the first thing you need to determine is what kind of waffles you’d like to make.

Belgian vs. American vs. Liege waffles

What’s the difference between Belgian Waffles and “regular” American-style waffles? According to Chowhound, Belgian waffles are bigger all around – in diameter and thickness – and also have deeper square pockets than their American counterparts. They are also traditionally made with yeast, which makes them light and fluffy. American waffles, on the other hand, are usually made with baking powder and are thinner and crunchier than Belgian waffles. Belgian waffles require a different kind of waffle maker.

Another kind of waffle is a type of Belgian waffle called the Liege. Liege waffles are a centuries-old street treat in Belgium, made from yeast-risen dough and Belgian pearl sugar. This gives the waffle its own natural sweetness – no toppings needed. They are softer, sweeter and doughier than other Belgian waffles. They’re also much harder to make. Our picks are primarily for Belgian and American style waffles.

How to pick a waffle maker

So, now that you’ve decided what kind of waffles you’d like to cook up at home, it’s time to pick your waffle maker. The single most important factor when selecting a waffle maker is that it cooks your waffle evenly.

A good waffle maker should also offer variable heat controls, stay cool to the touch, and alert you when the waffles are done. Some waffle makers come with special features like removable grids and most have non-stick coatings to make it easier to remove your waffles.

Here are the best waffle makers:

Prices and links are current as of 5/8/20. We also added a selection of related buying guides.

The best overall

The Chef's Choice WafflePro produces perfect five perfect heart-shaped waffles in no time, making it a quick way to serve a crowd.

The Chef's Choice WafflePro is the most advanced waffle maker in our guide. It's full of patented technology like the "Quad" baking system that lets you customize the flavor, texture, and color of your thin, crispy heart-shaped waffles. Flip a switch for waffles that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside or waffles that are uniformly crispy all the way through.

Baking and ready lights are enhanced by a "waffle-ready" beeper. The "floating" lid guarantees uniform waffle thickness and ensures easy cleanup. With a built-in cord storage compartment, the waffle maker can be easily stored in a space-saving, upright position. The waffle maker comes with a limited one-year warranty, as well as a book of recipes.

This waffle maker is also great for large families as you'll get five smaller waffles out of each batch. Of course, nothing's stopping you from keeping all five connected and serving one big waffle per person.

The waffles turn out too thin and crispy to be considered Belgian waffles. That's just fine by American waffle fans, though.

Pros: Cook quickly, easy to use, lightweight and easy to store

Cons: Belgian waffle fans may not like the thinness of the waffles

The best for families

Foto: Source: Krups

The Krups Belgian Waffle Maker makes four perfect, thick, golden waffles, and it's very easy to clean.

Krups makes excellent small appliances for very affordable prices, and its Belgian Waffle Maker is another great bargain. The waffle maker produces four perfect golden waffles every time, and you can choose just how golden and crispy you want them with the five adjustable temperature settings.

The nonstick, die-cast plates are removable for easy cleaning and they're dishwasher safe, so you don't even have to hand wash them. Red and green indicator lights tell you when the machine is hot and ready for your waffle batter, and the machine beeps politely when your waffles are ready.

The machine itself is very sturdy since it's made of stainless steel. The cord wraps up easily and you can store the machine vertically if you don't have room to leave it sitting on your kitchen counter. It's great that you can store it standing up because it is larger than some of the other waffle makers in our guide.

If you have a family, it's a great waffle maker to have because it makes up to four waffles at a time. You can also choose to make just one or two waffles without any problems.

I tested the Krups waffle maker and loved it. Years ago, I bought an industrial-style rotating Krups waffle maker to make Liege (no-knead) waffles, because I had seen a similar model at my favorite food truck, Wafles & Dinges. I compared the two, and the simpler Krups machine worked just as well - I just had slightly less control over the temperature.

The Krups Belgian Waffle Maker makes and kind of waffle at home, whether you want a Belgian-style masterpiece or a true Liege waffle. The only caveat about this waffle maker is that it's very slow (about five minutes per batch), but we still think it's worth the wait for most multiple-person households because you'll get batches of four at a time. - Malarie Gokey

Pros: Makes four perfect waffles, thick waffles, removable plates for easy cleaning, five temperature settings, affordable, easy to store

Cons: Heavy, slow

The best on a budget

Foto: Source: Cuisinart/Business Insider

The Cuisinart Classic Round Waffle Maker is an affordable appliance that makes thin, crispy, American waffles.

If you're one of those folks who prefer more American-style waffles that are thin and crunchy with smaller pockets, then the Cuisinart Classic Round Waffle Maker is the best waffle maker for the job.

This brushed stainless-steel appliance has five browning settings and dual indicator lights that tell you when it's time to bake the waffle and when it is ready to eat. The round nonstick cook plate, with four quarters, produces one large, round, traditional-style waffle. Rubber feet keep the unit from sliding around and the lid is weighted so it doesn't pop open.

Cleanup is simple. After grids have cooled, brush crumbs from the grooves, and absorb any excess cooking oil by wiping with a dry cloth or paper towel. You may clean the grids by wiping with a damp cloth. To clean the exterior, wipe with a soft dry cloth. After you are done, wrap the cord under the bottom of the unit and then turn it on its side for compact storage. It comes with a three-year warranty, as well as a recipe book.

Pros: Affordable, heats up quickly, makes thin and crunchy traditional waffles, five browning settings, indicator lights, easy to clean and to store.

Cons: Somewhat flimsy

The best high-end waffle maker

Foto: Source: All Clad/Williams Sonoma

The All-Clad 2-Square Belgian Waffle Maker is a top-of-the-line appliance with all the bells and whistles to ensure you make perfect waffles every time.

If you're a Belgian waffle fiend, the All-Clad 2-Square Belgian Waffle Maker is a high-end waffle maker that produces two lovely thick waffles every time. You can also get one that makes four waffles. The waffles measure 4.5-inches wide by 1-inch thick, so these are nice big Belgian waffles.

The waffle maker has seven different browning settings to accommodate all tastes. Regardless of which setting you pick, the advanced heating technology ensures consistent cooking straight through the waffle. A special steam-release system prevents condensation from building up, too, thus ensuring that your waffle comes out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

There's no guesswork here. LED indicator lights let you know when to pour your batter in and when your waffles are ready to eat. Don't worry: If you're not paying attention, the system beeps to let you know it's done.

With the nonstick cooking surface and a removable drip tray, cleanup is easy, too. When you are done, you can leave the stainless steel unit on your counter or take advantage of the cord storage and the locking lid and turn it on its side for more compact storage. Like all All-Clad products, there is a limited lifetime warranty on this unit.

Pros: Sturdy stainless steel construction, multiple browning options, special heating technology, LED indicator lights, easy to clean

Cons: Expensive, heavy

The best multi-use waffle maker

Go from breakfast to lunch without missing a beat with the Black & Decker 3-in-1 Waffle Maker and Grill, which makes waffles but also grills just about anything.

The Black & Decker G48TD 3-in-1 Waffle Maker and Grill is a waffle maker, a griddle, and a grill. All you have to do to switch from making waffles to frying up eggs and bacon is to change the nonstick reversible cooking plates. A unique 180-degree hinge also doubles the available cooking area, so you'll end up with two eight-inch-square griddles for pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Then you can switch it up again to grill a sandwich for lunch.

There are several variable heat controls to choose from. The grease run-off channels along the edge of this grill quickly and easily carry away excess oils. With its chrome exterior and stay-cool black synthetic handles, this appliance looks great on the counter, but you can easily wrap the cord and stand the unit upright for compact storage.

It comes with a limited one year warranty.

One downside: We did come across a few buyer reviews complaining that the unit is not very sturdy and the top plate frequently falls down.

Pros: Versatile waffle-maker/grill/griddle combo, makes large waffles, accurate indicator light, affordable

Cons: Difficult to clean, flimsy construction

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