I Tested 18 Waffle Makers and Ended Up Loving 8 of Them

Holiday Deals

• Save Almost $50 on This Stainless Steel Pick: Breville Smart 4-Slice Waffle Maker is 15% off at Amazon.
• A Discount on Our Budget Favorite: Krups 4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker is 17% off at Amazon.
• Under $30: Cuisinart Waffle Maker is 21% off at Amazon.

Is there a weekend brunch dish more iconic than the waffle? Okay, sure, the case could be made for pancakes. But there is simply nothing like fluffy and tender waffles with a crispy-on-the-outside, golden brown crust. And the best waffles come from the best waffle makers. With a cooking process that relies on quick, even heating elements and controlled steam escape, the materials and quality of your waffle maker really matter. We last tested waffle makers in 2024. For this updated review, I added new models to the mix. (Or should I say, “to the batter”?) I ended up loving two new waffle makers and adding them as winners.

The Winners, at a Glance

This waffle maker (and longtime Serious Eats favorite) turns out picture-perfect waffles every time thanks to its flipping mechanism, which evenly distributes batter to the edges—no need to overfill and deal with drips. Its heavy plates heat quickly and stay hot, making it easy to churn out waffle after waffle.

This waffle maker functions just like the winning Cuisinart Double Flip. It’s an affordable appliance that punches above its weight class, with a two-waffle capacity, a moat to catch drips, and nonstick plates that heat evenly. It made soft-inside waffles with irresistible crispy edges. 

If you love thin and crispy American-style waffles, this is the waffle maker to buy. There are seven darkness settings—I found level five was ideal for consistently golden-brown waffles. The deep trench around the plates catches drips and can be wiped out cleanly with a swipe of a towel. 

This waffle maker has a gleaming steel exterior that looks smart and feels durable. The hefty plates have deep grooves for the fluffiest waffles, and I appreciated that they could be removed for speedy cleanup. I loved the digital display, which took the guesswork out of how hot and how long the cooking time should be. Just choose your setting and desired doneness, and let the waffle maker figure out the rest.

I almost didn’t include this waffle maker because it’s so similar to the All-Clad—right down to the settings (classic, Belgian, buttermilk, gluten-free, and so on). But there were a few standout features that earned this Breville waffle maker a spot on the winner's list. The “A Bit More” option was amazing when a waffle wasn’t quite done but I didn’t want to cycle through another round and continually lift the lid to monitor progress. The handle is larger and easier to maneuver confidently, but when it came to waffle quality and reheating time, it was neck-and-neck with the All-Clad.

The waffles made from the Krups 4-Slice reminded me of highway diner waffles in the best way possible. They were light, tender, and charmingly floppy. With space for four square waffles, the Krups made as many as the Breville and All-Clad, minus the flashy features. If you regularly cook waffles for a large group (or prefer to batch-cook and freeze them) but don’t care about techy add-ons, you’ll like this model. It’s another longtime Serious Eats top pick.

Frankly, this small waffle maker is adorable. The Dash Mini Waffle Maker didn’t beat any of our other winners in terms of size, power, or fluffiness-to-crispiness ratio, but you really can’t knock the price (under $10) or the size (no bigger than a salad plate). If you’re a casual waffle consumer or just don’t have the space for yet another appliance, get the Dash. 

You won’t find any frills, bells, or whistles on this compact, single-waffle iron. It’s small, has thin plates, and its temperature dipped a little in between rounds of testing. But maybe you’re not looking for the flashiest, biggest waffle maker? This around-$35 model has five browning settings and got the job done without a single broken waffle.

The Tests

• Box Waffles Test: This test helped to determine how easy the waffle makers were to operate and evaluate their overall performance. I whipped up multiple batches of boxed Belgian waffle mix and made three rounds in each waffle maker. During this process, I recorded how long the waffles took to cook and for the waffle makers to reheat after each batch.
• Buttermilk Waffles Test: This was where things got heated. I made Stella Parks’ buttermilk waffles because the recipe relies primarily on steam to fluff up the waffles. Waffles that came out dense and flat would reveal the models that couldn’t get hot enough. 
• Yeasted Waffles Test (Winners Only): Once I’d narrowed down the field to the potential winners, I made Stella’s yeasted waffles with each finalist. I wondered how the thicker batter would do in non-flip machines, and if it would affect the crispy exterior.
• General Use and Cleaning Tests: As I used all of the waffle makers, I took note of clever design features, like an easy locking mechanism. I also looked for flaws, like awkward handles or unsuitable reheat times. Once the waffle makers had been unplugged and cooled, I cleaned them all according to the manufacturer’s instructions, noting how easy (or not!) it was to do.
• Infrared Thermometer Test: I used an infrared thermometer to test the temperature of each waffle maker after it was finished preheating, as well as during and in between waffles.

What We Learned

What's the Difference Between Belgian- and American-style Waffles?

Belgian waffles are thicker, thanks to deeper grooves in the iron. American waffles tend to be thinner, with a more cake-like consistency. Usually, though not always, Belgian-style waffles are yeasted, while American-style waffles get their leavening power from baking powder.

Batter Distribution Methods Were Key for Photo-Ready Waffles

Getting batter to the edges of the waffle maker without overflowing is the secret to perfect-looking waffles. If the batter doesn’t spread evenly, the waffles will have patchy edges and doughy, undercooked centers. Thin batter spreads well on its own, but thicker batters, like for yeasted waffles, need help. That’s why the Cuisinart Double Flip did so well in all of the tests: Flipping the irons upside-down and back again helped the batter flow from the center to the edges. Of course, you can achieve evenly cooked waffles by spreading the batter yourself—an offset spatula or silicone spatula will do. But it sure is fun (and satisfying) to spin a waffle maker around.

Does the Type of Waffle Batter Matter?

You'll notice that I conducted multiple rounds of testing in this review: a boxed mix, a buttermilk batter, and a yeasted batter. When using yeasted batters, your waffles are almost guaranteed a beautiful, lofty rise. (That is, assuming your yeast is fresh.) But boxed and non-yeasted waffles really rely on steam to get fluffy. If your waffle maker doesn't allow some of that steam to escape, you'll have dense, soggy waffles. What about the texture? Waffle batter should be on the thicker side. That will result in waffles that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Of course, thicker batters are trickier to distribute over the plates. That's why I liked flip-style waffle makers so much.

Trenches and Moats Kept Messes at Bay

It’s hard to eyeball the perfect amount of batter. Even if you’re measuring, it doesn’t take much to overfill a waffle maker. During testing, I habitually overfilled the American-style makers, because I’d forget to account for their thinner plates. That’s why I loved waffle makers with trenches around their plates. The extra-deep moat of the Breville No Mess Waffle Maker was my favorite, even though it considerably increased the appliance’s footprint. The All-Clad Digital Waffle Maker has a chute at the back of the machine for the batter to drip out discreetly. Models without a moat or escape hatch were fine, although batter tended to drip and stick to the sides as it dried out. The Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker, on the other hand, was an excess batter nightmare. With no place for the extra batter to go, it pooled in the pour spout, congealing as the waffle cooked.

Heavier Plates Retained Heat Efficiently

Heat retention goes a long way in efficient cooking. For example, the surface of a hefty cast iron pan doesn’t drop much in temperature when a steak is placed on it. So it makes sense that the waffle makers with heavier plates, like the Breville Smart Waffle Maker, could hold onto heat once they were adequately warmed up. Quick reheating time may not matter if you’re cooking for one or two, but when big batches are on the menu, it’s helpful to have a waffle maker that’s almost instantly ready for rounds two, three, or four. 

The Steamier, the Better

Waffle makers that emitted steam through specialty vents produced the best, crispiest, golden brown-iest waffles. Every waffle maker I tested produced steam, but the best ones were designed with specific spots for the steam to escape quickly. This meant waffles came out fluffy and light, never floppy or dense. If you’re not seeing steam poof out the sides of your waffle maker, it’s because it’s trapped inside, saturating the waffles.

Timers and Alerts Helped Plan Big Batches

I favored waffle makers with countdown timers and audible beeps for doneness. Every model I tested had some sort of readiness indicator, although simple lights that turned green or flipped off were easy to miss.

Our Favorite Waffle Makers' Plate Designs
	Style	Shape	Capacity
Cuisinart Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker	Belgian	Round	2 waffles
Black+Decker Double Flip Rotating Waffle Maker	Beglain	Round	2 waffles
Breville No-Mess Waffle Maker	American	Round	1 waffle
All-Clad Digital Waffle Maker	American and Belgian	Square	4 waffles
Breville The Smart Pro Waffle Maker	American and Belgian	Square	4 waffles
Krups 4-Slic Belgian Waffle Maker	American	Square	4 waffles
Dash Mini Waffle Maker	American	Round	1 waffle
Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker	American	Round	1 waffle

The best waffle makers made it impossible to overcook waffles or waste in-between time. After all, even if you’re not testing half a dozen waffle makers at one time, there’s a good chance you’re puttering around the kitchen, distracted by other tasks.

Removable Plates Were Ideal for Easy Cleanup

Some waffle makers I tested—like the All-Clad Digital Waffle Maker and the Krups 4-Slice Waffle Maker—had removable plates that snap into place. While I was initially mildly annoyed at having to “set up” these waffle makers, I quickly saw the value in this design feature. It makes cleaning so much easier. Not only could I soak the plates (or even run some of them through the dishwasher), but it also allowed me to clean out the crevices and crannies of the base. Removable plates aren’t a requirement (some of my picks don’t have them), but they are a nice feature.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Waffle Maker

The best waffle makers have heavy plates that get very hot and reheat quickly. Bonus points for removable plates and drip trays or trenches were ideal for easier cleanup. While I especially liked waffle makers with digital displays and customizable settings, any good waffle maker will have five or more darkness settings and audible, hard-to-miss “ready” indicators. 

Our Favorite Waffle Makers

What we liked: Serious Eats has recommended this waffle maker since 2018, and it still reigns supreme. Most important: The waffles are divinely fluffy. The Double Flip is an efficient machine—you can make two big waffles at once—and it cooks, heats, and reheats quickly. Batter flowed to the edges when I flipped the maker upside-down, resulting in some of the prettiest, most perfect-looking waffles. The waffles were consistently done in around three minutes, with one batch clocking in at an impressive 2:54. There’s a drip plate underneath the irons to catch excess batter, a feature that didn’t exist the first time we tested the Cuisinart Double Flip in 2018.

What we didn’t like: The plates aren’t removable, so cleanup requires some fiddling around in the nooks and crannies. It’s a bulky machine that isn’t shy about taking up cabinet space.

Key Specs

• Style: Belgian-style, round
• Dimensions: 15.11 x 8.35 x 19.79 inches
• Weight: 13 pounds, 4 ounces
• Watts: 1400
• Number of waffles per cycle: 2
• Number of shades: 5

What we liked: This deep-gridded waffle iron looks and acts just like my favorite from Cuisinart. It employs the flip function to evenly distribute batter and can make two waffles at once. The waffles in question are Belgian-style and round (just like the Cuisinart). The Black + Decker made waffles that were remarkably even in color, with not a hot spot to speak of. They were also delicious—crispy-crunchy on the outside and pillowy-soft on the inside. The quarter-inch drip tray was wide enough to handle most overflow, but the removable plate underneath the irons caught any excess. It’s smaller than the Cuisinart Double Flip, which meant that it was easier to store. It’s a lot less expensive, too. 

What we didn’t like: It’s not as well-made as the Cuisinart Double Flip, with a plastic rather than stainless steel exterior. It has a lower wattage than the Cuisinart. There aren’t any browning levels, so I couldn’t customize my waffles. (Although if you like softer waffles, you can always pull them before the indicator light turns green.)

Key Specs

• Style: Belgian-style, round
• Dimensions: 14.07 x 6.08 x 10.13 inches
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Watts: 1250
• Number of waffles per cycle: 2
• Number of shades: No settings available

What we liked: Let’s hear it for the trench! The biggest appeal of the Breville No-Mess Waffle Maker is its follow-through on the name. The trench was so deep, I never experienced batter dripping down the sides of the machine, even when I purposely overfilled it. (I like to live on the edge.) The waffles were thin and crispy, but never brittle. Although the machine can only handle one waffle at a time, it reheated in under two minutes. There are seven darkness settings, clearly defined on the control panel. It’s sturdy and well-made. 

What we didn’t like: It’s pretty pricey, considering it only makes one waffle at a time.

Key Specs

• Style: American-style, round
• Dimensions: 9.5 x 12 x 5.25 inches
• Weight: 6 pounds, 7 ounces
• Watts: 900 
• Number of waffles per cycle: 1
• Number of shades: 7

What we liked: The All-Clad consistently turned out some of the best waffles in my tests. It’s an impressive 1600 watts, making it the second-most powerful one on the winner's list. (The Breville Smart 4-Slice edged it out with 1800 watts, and yes, I did trip the circuit breaker multiple times when testing both at once.) The All-Clad was the steamiest waffle maker of the bunch, which meant every batch was crispy and fluffy. Some of the settings—like “chocolate”—seemed extraneous, but overall I loved the LCD controls, which were easy to use and read, and took the guesswork out of how long to cook each batch. The plates are removable and dishwasher-safe and there’s a discrete drip mechanism in the back of the machine. It looks gorgeous—gotta love that eye-catching All-Clad stainless steel shine.

What we didn’t like: This waffle maker was sometimes too powerful. (See above re: tripped circuit breaker.) It’s also over $300.

Key Specs

• Style: Multiple options including American- and Belgian-style, square
• Dimensions: 15.5 x 10.75 x 6 inches
• Weight: 15 pounds, 6 ounces
• Watts: 1600
• Number of waffles per cycle: 4
• Number of shades: 7

What we liked: It was hard to choose a favorite between the Breville and All-Clad smart waffle makers. With strikingly similar displays and features, they seemed designed to compete with one another. Like the All-Clad, Breville’s Smart Waffle Maker offers an array of specialty options, including buttermilk, chocolate, and “custom” waffles. There’s a powerful steam vent at the front plate, a lock, and a deep trench around the base. Similar to Breville’s popular toaster, there’s an “A Bit More” button that adds a little extra time without restarting a cycle. The doneness timer is helpful and hard to miss.

What we didn’t like: The plates cannot be removed from the base. It’s one of the most expensive waffle makers I tested.

Key Specs

• Style: Multiple options including American- and Belgian-style, square
• Dimensions: 14.9 x 12.3 x 5.1 inches
• Weight: 15 pounds, 2 ounces
• Watts: 1800 watts
• Number of waffles per cycle: 4
• Number of shades: 12

What we liked: The waffles I made in the Krups strongly reminded me of the ones from a popular restaurant chain that rhymes with Shmaffle Shmouse. (They’re square, not round, but the thin-but-chewy, charmingly floppy texture is spot-on.) The plates are removable, a feature that surprised me, considering the under-$100 price. There’s cord storage and locking handles—features I appreciated when stowing the machine away. It makes four waffles at once for a fraction of the price of the other four-waffle irons I tested. 

What we didn’t like: The plates don’t heat as consistently as the Breville, Cuisinart, and All-Clad. It’s no speed racer: Almost every batch I made in the Krups took around seven to eight minutes. It feels cheaply made when compared to the higher-end models.

Key Specs

• Style: American-style, square
• Dimensions: 6.7 x 12.6 x 16.5 inches
• Weight: 9 pounds, 1 ounce
• Watts: 1200 
• Number of waffles per cycle: 4
• Number of shades: 5

What we liked: Traveling with a waffle maker would be a bold choice, but this one is so small and lightweight that you certainly could. It heats and reheats surprisingly quickly and the waffles are perfectly good. If the typical stainless steel waffle maker aesthetic isn’t for you, this one comes in plenty of colors and patterns (including leopard print and a galaxy design). The plates are truly nonstick and perform fine without a spritz of oil. The Dash is a good option for waffling other food items, like potatoes and ramen—that wasn’t part of the official review, but I couldn’t resist a few rogue tests. Cleanup was easy largely because there’s so little surface area to get dirty. Plus, it’s cheap.

What we didn’t like: At just 420 watts with lightweight plates, don’t expect beautifully burnished, crispy waffles. The pleasure of the Dash Mini Waffle Maker is in its convenience. 

Key Specs

• Style: American-style, round
• Dimensions: 5 x 6.4 x 2.8 inches
• Weight: 1 pound, 3 ounces
• Watts: 420
• Number of waffles per cycle: 1
• Number of shades: No settings available

What we liked: The Dash mini waffle maker is simple and affordable, but if you want full-size waffles, it won’t do. As an alternative, I recommend the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker. Its compact dimensions make it easy to store and use in a busy kitchen. There was no false advertising about its nonstick plates—they released every waffle as if they’d been greased to the nth degree. I was surprised that such a low-cost, basic waffle maker offered browning settings, which provided a good range of temperatures. (Setting three reliably clocked in at 375˚F.) The stainless steel exterior gave it a more elevated appearance.

What we didn’t like: Beyond a too-thin moat, not much. For the price, it’s a fabulous little machine!

Key Specs

• Style: American-style, round
• Dimensions: 9.45 x 7.87 x 3.34 inches
• Weight: 4 pounds
• Watts: None given
• Number of waffles per cycle: 1
• Number of shades: 5.16

The Competition

• Black+Decker 3-in-1 Waffle Iron: This grill, griddle, and waffle maker has never graced our winners list, but it was recently redesigned. The Serious Eats team tested the new model and still wasn’t impressed. It’s not nonstick (despite being advertised as such), and the cook time is far longer than the manual suggests.
• Ninja Belgian Waffle Maker PRO NeverStick: I just can’t get behind vertical waffle makers. This one definitely wasn’t nonstick—it required loads of cooking spray —and the plates aren’t removable, which made it a pain to clean. 
• Cuisinart 4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker: This Belgian waffle maker was just okay. Waffles with homemade batter took double the time to cook and came out unevenly done, with lighter patches in some spots. It only got up to 320˚F at its maximum temperature.
• Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker: I didn’t hate the Hamilton Beach flip-style waffle maker, but it has a smaller capacity than my overall favorite, the Cuisinart Double Flip and performs about the same as the much cheaper Black + Decker Rotating Waffle Maker.
  
• Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker: It was hard to get the correct amount of better in this waffle maker, which resulted in messy overflows.
• Cuisinart WAF-F30 Round Flip Belgian Waffle Maker: This waffle maker worked well, due to the batter distribution flipping mechanism. But one of our winners, the Cuisinart Double Flip, makes twice the amount of waffles.
• Cuisinart WMR-CAP2 Round Classic Waffle Maker: At $30, this was a contender for the best budget waffle maker. But it couldn't outperform the Krups, which made four waffles at a time and had removable plates.
• Cuisinart 4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker: This basic waffle maker made very thin and crispy waffles, but the edges were too pale, and the crevices frequently got scorched.
• Bella Classic Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker: This model struggled to get hot, and took seemingly forever to reheat between batches. It's much less stable than the Double Flip.
• Presto Flipside Belgian Waffle Maker: This was a passable Belgian-style waffle maker, but it took, on average, 90 seconds longer than the top-performing flip models to heat up. It can only make one waffle at a time, and had a tendency to burn at higher temperatures.
  

FAQs

What’s the difference between American and Belgian waffle makers?

Belgian-style waffles are thicker and fluffier. They typically have fewer pockets which results in a softer texture. American-style waffles have more pockets and a thinner profile, making them thin and crispy.

What's the best flip waffle maker?

The Cuisinart WAF-F4 Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker wowed us in testing, earning the top spot for Best Belgian Waffle Maker. As you turn the waffle maker, batter is evenly distributed from edge to edge. A strong seal keeps it from dripping out. And yep, the word "double" in the name is meaningful: This Cuisinart makes two waffles at once.

What's the best waffle maker with removable plates?

The Krups 4-Slice Belgian Waffle Maker has removable plates that make cleanup easy. We also liked its cord storage and cheap price.

Are stovetop waffle makers good?

Well, you’ll notice I didn’t test any. Stovetop waffle makers are made from two cast iron plates that hinge together. They’re long-handled and meant to be heated over a stovetop. Because they don’t use electricity, they’re a good option to take camping. But they require constant monitoring and can be pretty messy. If you’re making waffles at home, an electric waffle maker is your best bet.

Do you need cooking spray for waffle makers?

If the waffle maker has nonstick plates, cooking spray is not necessary. It will build up over time, creating a layer of gunk on the machine. Counterintuitively, that causes the plates to lose their nonstick qualities.

How do you get a stuck-on waffle out of the plates?

A wooden utensil like a pair of chopsticks, or a silicone-tipped spatula will help you wiggle the waffle out of the iron. Avoid metal utensils, which could scratch the plates.

Are waffle makers and waffle irons the same thing?

Yes! The term "waffle iron" refers to cast iron, which used to be more common in waffle makers' plates.

Why We’re the Experts

• Rochelle Bilow is an editor at Serious Eats. She has been writing about food professionally for almost two decades, and reviewing kitchen equipment since 2020. She's written many of our reviews, including dish towels and coffee makers.
• For this review, Rochelle tested waffle makers with different styles of batter, evaluating the machines on their ability to cook excellent waffles, heat and reheat, and handle spills.
• Rochelle first tested waffle makers in 2024; our team tested six additional waffle makers in 2025 and added two new winners to the list, the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker and the Black + Decker Double Flip Rotating Waffle Maker.