8 Best Waffle Makers, According to Expert Testing

In our tests, All-Clad’s Round Classic Waffle Maker came out on top for performance and ease of use. It scored top marks across the board for doneness, crispiness, tenderness and consistency with both boxed mix and from-scratch batter. It was easy to use with the turn of a smooth, ergonomic knob and a large handle, and we love the red and green indicator lights that corresponded with audio alerts to let you know when your waffles are done.

This iron features seven clearly-labeled browning settings and has nonstick plates for ease of waffle removal and cleanup. One thing to note is that — like many of the other traditional waffle makers we tested — the stainless steel body got hot during testing. Prefer Belgian waffles? All-Clad’s Belgian Waffle Maker's performance was comparable in our tests.

The Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker offers a straightforward, slim design that made great boxed and fresh waffles in our tests. The waffle maker features five browning settings that are controlled with a sliding lever and red and green indicator lights help you know when it's ready to cook and when your waffle is done — all the bells and whistles of a pricier pick at a fraction of the cost.

It does not have a ready sound indicator, however, so we recommend staying nearby during cooking to ensure your waffles don’t overcook. While the exterior gets hot — as do most of the other waffle makers we tested — the handle stays cool to the touch. This waffle maker has a relatively slim design and can be stood up for storage.

The Cuisinart Double Belgian Waffle Maker is a must for families (or anyone who loves entertaining for brunch... or a great addition to a wedding registry). It can make two waffles at a time, which reduces the amount of cook time to feed a crowd. It features a ready indicator light and variable shade settings. In our test, boxed waffles came out tender and consistent, and waffles made from scratch were also crisp.

This model features nonstick plates and offers a large drip area that’s easy to clean. Its rotating design is reminiscent of waffle makers you'd find in professional kitchens and hotel breakfast buffets; they're known to disperse batter evenly. We like that the oversized handle stays cool during the cooking process, although this double maker is quite bulky to store.

Breville’s Smart Waffle Pro is one of the brand's most popular waffle makers. Depending on the style you buy, it can make two or four waffles (shown here) at a time. In our tests, the two-square product earned one of the highest overall scores. Don't want to choose between a classic or Belgian waffle? This pick, though expensive, is extremely feature-rich, including four versatile presets for Belgian, classic, chocolate and buttermilk waffle recipes. From there, you can also choose one of 12 different shade settings, and even add “a bit more” time at the touch of a button if the waffle isn’t cooked to your exact desired preference.

According to our testers, it excelled at baking waffles from scratch and from a mix, receiving near perfect scores for browning, tenderness and consistency. The waffle maker has deep, 1-inch pockets and a moat around the plates to collect any excess waffle mix, which can help prevent batter from pouring onto your countertops. One especially unique feature is the waffle maker’s ability to adjust the cooking time based on the temperature of the plates.

According to our testers, the Presto FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker is reliable for well-browned, tender and crispy Belgian waffles. It has nonstick plates that wipe down easily after use and its flip design allows for even better dispersal of batter without a spatula and encourages more even cooking. Plus, since it can be stored vertically unlike other Belgian waffle makers, it's a smart choice for anyone who's low on storage space.

It includes ready indicator lights as well as a countdown timer — a unique feature that sets it apart from most waffle makers on the market. (The recommended cook time is four minutes, but you can adjust that timing to achieve a waffle perfectly suited to your preferences.) One downside: it lacks any other presets.

When we tested a previous model of this waffle maker, the Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker churned out crisp and consistent Belgian waffles. We love that this similar model now has detachable plates to make cleanup even easier: the nonstick plates click off and are dishwasher-safe, as is the included drip tray to make post-breakfast cleanup entirely fuss-free. (That removable drip tray can also work to catch any overflow batter, helping to keep your kitchen counter cleaner during cooking.)

It features ready indicator lights that should tell you when the power is on and when to add batter, plus three recommended browning settings to help you better control the shade of your waffle. Compared to other models, however, this one takes up more storage space, which may not be suitable for kitchens with limited cabinet or pantry space.

This option is a vertical-style waffle maker, so you add your batter by pouring it through the top (it comes with a measuring cup for pouring). Thanks to its vertical design, this Ninja waffle maker takes up less space than other styles of waffle makers, making it a strong selection for anyone with limited kitchen real estate.

In our tests, we found that this model worked well, producing fluffy waffles that didn't stick. Though, we found that it did create some holes in the waffles, if we weren't careful while pouring batter into the machine. This model has five shade settings, and our testers found that the doneness levels did, in fact, produce varying browning.

With more than 180,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this little waffle maker from Dash is a hot seller. This iron makes mini, 4-inch waffles — the perfect size for a light breakfast or dessert — and comes in 10 colors and various shapes from classic round to heart-shaped waffles (shown here) as well as novelty designs like skulls and pumpkins.

Simply plug it in to turn it on (there's a ready light when it’s preheated). Reviewers love that the waffles fit in the toaster for extra crisping or reheating leftover waffles, perfect for meal prepping or stocking up on extras, although the small size makes it time consuming to make larger batches. We also like the brand's full-size Belgian waffle maker, which produced perfectly-cooked waffles in our tests.