Black and Decker Belgian Flip Waffle Maker ($37): Available for $50 or less, this flippable waffle maker is nearly identical to the Hamilton Beach model listed above, but it doesn’t include a doneness dial or removable, dishwasher-safe plates, and the drip tray isn’t as large (or as effective). I’d rather spend a little extra for the superior Hamilton Beach model, but this one is passable if you just want a decent flippable waffle maker for less than $50. I’ll note that the nonstick surface didn’t hold up very well as my tests progressed, even as I reapplied vegetable oil to keep it seasoned.
Breville BWM520XL Round Waffle Maker ($150): At $150, Breville’s waffle maker was the most expensive I tested by far and it feels the part with a sturdy, high-end build. That said, the design is far from perfect, which stops me short of recommending it as an upgrade pick. For instance, while the overflow moat did a nice job of catching excess batter, it gets just as hot as the cooking plate inside and there’s nothing to stop you from burning your fingers on it. In spite of a nonstick interior, the interior’s concave design, which cooks a thin, crispy waffle a little like a pan pizza, makes it too tough to get your waffle out once it’s ready.
Cuisinart WMR-CA Round Classic Waffle Maker ($30): The low-cost Cuisinart waffle maker is a popular pick, with strong review averages at multiple major retailers. It did a good job in my tests of cooking satisfying waffles about half an inch thick, but with shallow nooks and crannies and no drip tray or overflow moat, your batter-pouring skills will need to be very precise. Too much, and you’ll get overflow and make a mess. Too little, and you’ll get an oddly shaped waffle with thin burnt patches that stick to the iron. There isn’t very much wiggle room between those two outcomes and that’s too finicky for my tastes.
Oster Belgian Waffle Maker ($23): A shipping delay prevented me from testing the Oster waffle maker out alongside the others, but with decent review averages on Amazon and Walmart and a low $20 price tag, it might make sense as a budget pick. I’ve since received the one I bought and used it to test out a few waffle maker hacks” target=”_blank — it’s similar in design to the Cuisinart, but thicker and less prone to overflowing when you’re pouring the batter in.
I’d rather spend a bit more for a flippable waffle maker — or one with removable, dishwasher-safe plates — but if you’re just looking for something that’ll get the job of making passable, enjoyable waffles done for as little cash as possible, it’s hard to find a better option than this.
Presto Stuffler Stuffed Waffle Maker ($50): A novelty model, the Presto Stuffler includes a special, circular set of tongs that clamps around the side of the waffle as it cooks, creating an ultradeep waffle iron that you can use to create ultrathick, stuffed waffles. Now, I’m as much of a sucker for a niche kitchen gadget as anyone, but it’s worth noting that you really don’t need a novelty waffle maker to make novelty waffles. There are plenty of fun waffle hacks that you can do with just about any waffle maker.
That said, I wanted to give the Stuffler a fair shot, so I picked one up and tested out three of Presto’s recipes: a waffle stuffed with cherry pie filling, a stuffed pizza waffle and a waffle stuffed with spicy chicken. You can check out my Twitter thread for the full report on how all of it went, but the short version is that I came away unimpressed.
I liked the Stuffler’s smallish, flippable design and the fact that you can store it in an upright, vertical position like the Presto FlipSide, but I wasn’t a fan of those tongs, which always seemed to leak batter out the back (and no part of the Stuffler is dishwasher-safe). What’s worse, the hollow-handled design can funnel hot steam out toward your hands. As for the waffles, I found that I needed to use a huge amount of batter to make one that fully came together around whatever I had stuffed inside. As a result, I found each waffle to be much too filling for my tastes, and much less satisfying than all of the regular waffle hacks I’ve already tested. It’s currently available for $50, and there are probably worse things to waste money on in the kitchen — but I say save the stuffed waffles for IHOP.
