12 Best Waffle Makers, According to Food Experts

There are few things in life more comforting than a hot plate of buttery, syrup-y waffles, and it all starts with the waffle maker. Thought they were all the same? Think again. Not only are there different kinds of waffles that can require different machines, but there’s also all kinds of features that impact your final product such as browning settings, single or double flip, and more. If you’re not sure what those mean, don’t worry, because we’ll explain everything you need to know with the help of Daniel Shumski, author of Will It Waffle?: 53 Irresistible and Unexpected Recipes to Make in a Waffle Iron, and Rich Cundiff, co-owner of Rocky’s Chicken Shack in North and South Carolina, which is known for their killer fried chicken and waffles.

What should you look for when buying a waffle maker?

“We’ve found that no matter how perfect and fresh the batter is, the waffle maker you’re using will determine your level of success,” explains Cundiff. The first step is determining what kind of waffles you want to make: American, Belgian or Norwegian? From there, you can start to narrow down your options by desired size. Ideally, you should get one with browning settings, a timer with light and/or audio notification, and a moat or drip tray for overflow batter. If it’s easy to clean (perhaps even with removable plates), cooks in just a couple minutes and reheats quickly after each batch, even better.