Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
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updated Jun 23, 2020
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Credit: Meghan Splawn
Waffles are one of my favorite at-home luxuries. While pancakes are a weekday affair, waffles are reserved for slow weekend and holiday mornings in our home. And yet, even with this deep love of waffles, I have lived with a cheap waffle iron for about 12 years. It did the job well enough and met all my minimalist requirements, but it definitely held me back from making waffles more often.
All-Clad 4-Square Waffle Maker
$200
Williams Sonoma
Buy NowA few years ago a friend of mine sung the praises of a high-end waffler maker. She’d tried every brand of waffle maker with everything from light-as-air batters to store-bought mixes, and one electric waffle iron came out on top. I coveted that waffle iron for two years, searching for a used one or a discount one, until my cheap waffle iron finally bit the dust. With no hope for even occasional waffles, I obviously had to splurge on that $200 waffle maker that I had been coveting. I’m here to tell you it was worth every single penny.
Why All-Clad’s Belgian Waffle Maker Is Worth the Hype (and the $200 Price Tag)
Credit: Meghan Splawn
A good waffle is equal parts crisp, golden-brown, tender, and fluffy — it is also hard to find, even at diners and waffle restaurants. These fantasy waffles require a heavy-duty iron that heats evenly, and the All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker does just that, while creating deep wells (for butter and syrup to sink into). It also makes four very thick waffles at once, which means no fighting over who gets the first waffle.
After years of a cheap waffle maker, the All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker literally feels like a Rolls Royce — heavy in weight, beautifully designed, and easy to clean. I gasped with excitement upon opening the box. Bonus: It’s not even all that hard to store, even in my small kitchen.
The nonstick coating means the waffles pop right out when they are ready. The six heat settings are my favorite feature for getting that tender-to-crisp ratio just right on different waffle batters — overnight waffle batter is best at a 6, while waffle mix is just right at a 4. The heavy-duty handle doesn’t get hot, either (like the plastic handle on my old machine did), which means that my two young kids can help with waffle duties as well.
Admittedly, I’m a little embarrassed to tell you how much I love this small appliance — it isn’t like a blender that can help you make breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It makes one thing really (really) well: waffles (although you could eat them for all three meals, the waffles are that good). But investing in a real-deal waffle iron means I’m actually excited to cook my favorite breakfast food on the weekends and I find myself excited to wake up on a Saturday and make waffles from scratch. If I’m doing my math right on how long my $30 waffle iron lasted, I’m expecting the All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker will be handed down to my children.
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Show Contents
Contents
- Our Take
- Features
- Specifications
- From The Manufacturer
- Expert Reviews
- Overall Ranking
- Our Waffle Maker Buying Guide
- Our Waffle Maker Tip and Advice
Check Price
We looked at the top Waffle Makers and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Waffle Maker you should buy.
Update as January 7, 2022:
Checkout The Best Waffle Maker for a detailed review of all the top waffle makers.
Overall Take
We love the sturdy design and deep plates of this waffle maker, as well as the bin to catch batter runoff. The steam release system of the All-Clad Belgian Waffle Maker with 7 Browning Settings creates a waffle that is crispy on the outside, but still light and fluffy on the inside. Seven browning settings let you pick the level of browning that you prefer. Cleanup with this waffle maker is easy. Just slide out the plates and put them in the dishwasher when you're finished.
In our analysis of 45 expert reviews, the All-Clad Steam-Release Nonstick Waffle Maker placed 10th when we looked at the top 14 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
From The Manufacturer
You can bake two square-shaped Belgian waffles with this All-Clad 99011GT Belgian waffle maker to enjoy during weekend brunches, for delicious desserts or even as a snack. The waffle maker’s advanced heating technology ensures consistent baking and browning, while its steam-release system prevents condensation from building-up so you can enjoy waffles bake to perfection: delicately crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The waffles measure 4.5 inches wide by 1-inch thick, with easy-to-cut sections, and have extra-deep pockets for capturing jam, sugar, chocolate, fresh fruits, and other favorite toppings.The red indicator light lets you know that your waffle maker is preheating and an audible beep tells you when when it is properly preheated. Then simply pour in the batter, close the lid, and turn the knob to adjust the temperature. The green indicator light, along with an audible beep, lets you know when the waffles have finished baking. This waffle maker is also easy to clean thanks to its non-stick cooking surface. Housed in polished stainless steel with a branded die-cast handle, this strong waffle maker ensures long-lasting performance while beautifully complementing All-Clad stainless-steel cookware for a cohesively stunning collection. Other highlights include a removable drip tray, integrated cord storage, and a locking lid for convenient upright storage. Enjoy the sweeter side of life with All-Clad.
Check Price
Expert Reviews
Expert Summarized Score
9.6
7 expert reviews
User Summarized Score
8.6
273 user reviews
What experts liked
Steam-release system prevents condensation inside the machine, leading to a crispier waffle.
- BestReviews
| Full review
The steam-release systems used on this unit makes it possible and easier for you to make waffles that are crispy on the outside, but fluffy inside.
- 10 Best Ranked
December 21, 2018 | Full review
Alerts you with a light/sound when iron is preheated
- Good Housekeeping
June 30, 2015 | Full review
Very durable. Users like how sturdy the unit feels. It’s quite heavy so that it won’t easily get knocked off the counter.
- Review Lab
| Full review
The nonstick coating and removable drip tray allow for easy cleanup.
- A Web To Know
January 21, 2019 | Full review
With seven different browning settings, this little waffle wonder lets you customize that just-right, golden-brown crispness.
- Mashable
October 22, 2018 | Full review
The waffle maker is equipped with advanced heating technology ensuring consistent browning and baking as well as the company’s proprietary steam-release system. This innovative feature stops condensation from building up inside the machine while cooking so the waffles are perfectly brown and stay crisp and fluffy on the inside.
- Easy Kitchen Appliances
| Full review
What experts didn't like
Priced a bit higher than budget models (although not the most expensive on the market)
- BestReviews
| Full review
The plastic tray in this product is not that durable
- 10 Best Ranked
December 21, 2018 | Full review
Top and sides of iron become too hot to touch while baking
- Good Housekeeping
June 30, 2015 | Full review
Slow to heat up. Although the unit works well, some reviewers don’t like how slow it is to heat up. Preheating takes a while so be patient when waiting for that indicator light to light up.
- Review Lab
| Full review
Gets too hot when cooking
- A Web To Know
January 21, 2019 | Full review
Pricey
- Mashable
October 22, 2018 | Full review
The overflow tray is inadequate and overflows with batter quickly
- Easy Kitchen Appliances
| Full review
Overall Product Rankings
1. Oster Nonstick Adjustable Temperature Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 9.5
2. Hamilton Beach Preheating Easy Store Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 9.3
3. Presto 03510 Stainless Steel Extra-Thick Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 9.2
4. Cuisinart Nonstick Compact Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 9.1
5. Black + Decker Removable Plates Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 9.0
6. DASH No-Spill Dual Surface Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 8.9
7. Chefman 7-Setting Easy Clean Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 8.9
8. KRUPS Adjustable Dishwasher Safe Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 8.9
9. NordicWare Stove Top Cast Iron Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 8.9
10. All-Clad Steam-Release Nonstick Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 8.9
11. Chef’sChoice Classic Pro Aluminum Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 8.3
12. Calphalon Intellicrisp LCD Screen Timer Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 7.9
13. Gourmia PFOA-Free Belgian Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 7.8
14. Waring Double Vertical Belgian Waffle Maker
Overall Score: 7.6
An Overview On Waffle Makers
There’s nothing like a light, fluffy waffle for breakfast. Although you can find waffles in the freezer section, they won’t come close to comparing to the real deal, especially a fresh Belgian waffle. Using a waffle maker, you can make delicious waffles in a matter of minutes, with easy preparation and cleanup. Just make some batter, plug it in and pour.
But not all Belgian waffles are alike, as you probably know. Some waffles have deeper pockets than others, making them perfect for holding syrup and butter. Others have more shallow pockets, perfect for those who prefer lighter toppings. The type of waffle you’ll get is closely linked to the waffle maker you choose, so it’s important to take a look at what the end product will be. In addition to pocket size, you’ll also find that some waffle makers create results that are crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, while others make waffles that are smaller in diameter — ideal for households with young children.
Once you’ve squared away the type of waffles your maker will produce, you should look at other features. Many of today’s waffle makers feature a non-stick coating that makes cleanup a breeze. Some will even let you remove the trays and clean them in the dishwasher. You’ll probably find you use your waffle maker much more often if cleanup isn’t a huge chore.
You may not think about it until you start shopping, but some waffle makers have built-in technology that makes cooking easier. Some have notification lights to let you know when the unit is preheated or when your food is ready. These alerts can come in handy when you’re trying to cook. Other types of waffle makers also have different cooking settings to let you achieve the level of browning you want in your waffles.