Cuisinart WMR-CA Classic Waffle Maker, Stainless Steel, Silver

Product Information

To guarantee the mix was cooked in the middle, I found these waffles took almost 8-10 minutes to cook properly - a little longer than some machines but it actually gave me enough time to fry up some bacon, grab the maple syrup and blueberries to create my brunch of dreams. The Smart Waffle Pro experience starts with the user being prompted to select from a variety of preprogrammed batter settings (Belgian, Classic, Chocolate, Buttermilk or Custom). Next, you’ll select your desired shade setting from a scale with a whopping 12 different options; the brand recommends choosing the middle setting (6) during your first use (this is the shade I selected for my tests). Once your batter and shade are selected, the machine automatically programs the timer, and as soon as you pour the batter into the plates and close the top of the maker, that tailored-to-you timer begins counting down automatically. You’ll also notice an LCD light switch from light blue to orange, which indicates that the machine is cooking—another minor but helpful feature.

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This 1400-watt rotating waffle maker whips up waffles at a rapid pace thanks to its double capacity design. In fact, the manufacturer claims it can produce eight in just 10 minutes, making it an excellent choice for those preparing brunch for large crowds. This machine is very user friendly with an intuitive design. When you plug in, a green light will come on which indicates the machine is heating up. This only took about 3-4 minutes. Once the machine is up to temperature an amber ready-to-cook light will come on. It recommends about 75ml of batter. I found that it could take closer to 90ml to properly fill the squares. This achieves a fatter waffle. Don’t panic, mess is easy to avoid with the overflow channel that will catch any excess batter.

However, for a budget model, I was really impressed with the finished result. My waffles were light and fluffy and with a nice crisp edge. There is a variable temperature gauge which allows you to cook them how you like – if you like crisp and crunch then crank up the dial to max or if you favour a lighter texture just lower the heat. A few trial runs and you will know what works best for you. As the third Cuisinart model on our list, it's safe to say that this brand knows how to build quality waffle makers, and this one stands out from the rest because of its unique vertical design. It sits upright on your countertop and features a spout at the top where you'll add the batter, ensuring you won't have any spillage.

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Consistency: A good waffle maker should evenly cook the batter. Waffles should brown thoroughly on both sides, without hot and cold spots, and the machine should release steam so that you don’t end up with a soggy waffle. With a large cooking surface, it makes two 6 inch circular waffles at a time. The plates aren’t particularly deep so take care not to add too much batter. There is no advised quantity in the manual but I found 90 ml per circular waffle enough. After 4 minutes it was still steaming but I lifted the cool-touch handle anyway. Not looking quite ready, I left my waffle for a further 3 minutes – not the speediest. Waffles can be flavoured with just about anything but adding a little sugar to the mix will help to crisp them up. After lightly greasing the plates (I would recommend using a pastry brush) pour a large tablespoon of batter into the centre of the plate and let the machine do the work for you. Daniel Shumski, author of the blog and cookbook Will It Waffle?: 53 Irresistible and Unexpected Recipes to Make in a Waffle Iron, interview, January 1, 2015Do you prefer round, rectangular, or maybe heart-shaped waffles? Do you want large Belgian waffles or something smaller for batches of frozen waffles? Will you be leaving your waffle maker out on the counter to use for weekend breakfast, or do you need to easily store it away in the cupboard? These are all considerations to account for. Our testers said the machine rotates easily, the waffles release well from the iron, and the handle stays cool. It has an on/off switch and a turn dial that can be adjusted from light to dark, depending on how brown you want the waffles to be. We found that heat settings can be inconsistent, so it might take a few tries to see which one works best.