My quest for the perfect Waffle Iron
Making waffles
When I lived in Denmark I had a waffle toaster, or well I guess it is called a waffle iron or maybe more precisely a heart waffle maker. Regardless of the name it got used very frequently.
I would invite friends over for waffle nights, which was basically us getting together to eat tasty waffles.
We would whip up the waffle batter and bring it to the dining table with us.
Then we would sit and talk or play cards while continuously keeping the waffle iron going. Whenever a heart waffle was done we would "fight" each other for a part of the steaming hot waffle until the point in the evening where everyone had stuffed themselves so much that no one could get another bite down.
When I moved to Ireland all I brought was a backpack with the 15 kgs worth of clothes Ryan Air would allow me to bring aboard the airplane. No room for my beloved waffle toaster :(
I never got around to buying another waffle maker over here, but this year for Christmas it is on the wish list. This lens covers my quest to find the perfect waffle Iron so I can make yummy waffles for all the new friends I have found in Ireland.
(PS. My trusty waffle toaster found a loving home on my mothers kitchen table.).
Photo Courtesy of Tamorlan
Wikimedia Commmons
What to look for #1
Electrical or Non-Electrical?
Cast Iron Waffle maker
Electrical Waffle pan
What to look for #2
Non Stick !
Non-stick Waffle Maker
The origin of Waffles
And the many variants
Waffles date back to the middle ages although back then they were thinner and crispier than the ones we enjoy today.
There are many different types of waffles. Most notable is the American waffle, the Belgian Waffle and the Scandinavian Waffle.
-The American Waffle is made with baking powder and is often enjoyed for breakfast with butter or marple syrups.
-The Belgian Waffle has is made with yeast and is thicker and lighter than the american version. The are often served with whipped cream or powdered sugar. Sometimes they even come with chocolate spread. Yummy!
-The Scandinavian Waffle is made with baking powder, but is thinner than the other two variants. They are traditionally heart shaped and enjoyed with fruit jam and powdered sugar.
There are many other types of waffles and many other ways to make the batter, but what they all have in common is that they are extremely tasty.
Photo Courtesy of Jacques Renier
Wikimedia Commmons
What to look for #3
Termostat or Kitchen clock?
Stainles steel waffle maker. - With build in alarm for when the waffle is ready.
Kitchen timer
What to look for #4
Shape - Squares or hearts?
Disney waffle maker - Disney waffles!
The big Waffle showdown
What shape do you prefer for your waffles?
What to look for #5
Price - Quality or Wallety (Expensive or Cheap)
Professional Belgian Waffle Baker
Very affordable electrical Waffle toaster
Aaaaaand the winner is....
the Waffle toaster that won my heart.
Phew. That was a lot of waffle makers to go through and I don't know about you guys, but by now I really could eat some waffles. :)
In the end though it was worth it, I now know exactly which Waffle Iron to wish for, for Christmas. And here it is:
The Perfect Waffle Iron - For me at least
EU Waffle Lovers
Get your waffle maker here
Waffle essentials on Amazon - Now that you have the Waffle Maker all you need is the batter, the recipe and the condiments.
Interesting recipes to use with your waffle iron
- Cinnamon Roll Waffles
This is a great idea and I can't believe I didn't come up with it myself. Make your cinnamon rolls as usual, but use the waffle iron to bake them. You will end up with a delicious cinnamon roll waffle.