Waffle Makers Guide

Surely there is nothing in the world more heartwarming than having waffles in the morning!  I still remember my Dad making them every Sunday morning for the family and it was always a joyous time. He had a waffle maker that served him all through our childhood, and to this day he still loves making waffles when we visit. It has become a family tradition.

In reality a waffle is really a cake, as the batter used to make waffles is basically a cake batter. Because of the waffle iron used to cook them, they come out with a distinctive pattern that is usually made of many squares. The squares or patterns made into the waffles make it easier for the waffle to hold the butter and syrup that most people put on their delicious waffles.

However, there are many types of waffle irons, some with larger holes so that the waffles may be topped with a myriad of goodies, such as fruit, syrups, whipped cream, puddings and many other sweets. On the other hand, they can be used as part of a sumptuous dinner as well, filled with stews for example.

There are many different kinds of waffles. The American waffle is usually more solid and compact because it is thinner than say, Belgian waffles. It is leavened with baking powder in the mix.

The Brussels waffle on the other hand is leavened with yeast. Mostly it has a light, thick, crisp crust and may have the largest holes of all waffles. They are often referred to as Belgian waffles. Taking off from Belgian waffles is the Liège waffle. It is even denser, richer and chewier than the Brussels waffles, and infinitely sweeter too, attributable to various lumps of pearl sugar found in the batter. When it is baked it will carmelize the sugar and that’s what makes it chewier and sweeter.

Stroopwafels are considered a delicacy in the Netherlands. They are relatively thinner and the batter used is quite stiff. They are round in shape and have many pockets. When it is done, it is split in half and a filling inserted in it that is extremely sweet in order to glue them together.

You may find that there are many diverse brands of waffle makers. For example there is Sensio, Waring Pro, Black & Decker, Star, Wells, Nemco, Kitchen Aid, Gold Medal, Cuisinart, Chef’s Choice, VillaWare, Presto, Oster, Euro Cuisine, CusinaPro, Calphalon, and Hamilton Beach. These are just a few of the brands available.

Choosing a waffle maker can often be influenced by how much storage space you have, or even color coordinating it with your kitchen if it will be left out. Shapes and sizes of the pockets will also influence which you choose. Adjustable thermostats are important too as even family members will have a differing preference sometimes.

Prices for waffle makers differ too. A very cheap waffle maker may run as low as $19.95 and all the way to $1,200 for restaurant quality ones. Waffle makers may be found in general appliance stores, online or in specialty restaurant supply establishments.