Nine out of 10 brunch lovers say a waffle maker is a great tool to change your breakfast game and your life. (The tenth brunch lover is only in it for the mimosas, which we respect.) With minimal effort—grab that boxed waffle mix!—a waffle iron can upgrade any meal, from your typical breakfast options to classic chicken and waffles or even brownies. We’ve done all the heavy-lifting and narrowed down the top 8 waffle makers for every preference and lifestyle, so all you need to do is add to cart, then start pinning waffle recipes.
Looking for more recipes for your next brunch? Check out our best brunch recipes.
How we picked these products
To find the best waffle makers, we consulted our friends at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Their team of on-staff experts—which includes all types: engineers! data analysts! registered dietitians!—rigorously put everyday products to the test (and then more and more tests) in their New York City-based labs to determine which ones you can trust. They tested a series of waffle makers on performance, ease of use, features, consistency (are all the waffles in a batch evenly cooked?!), and even the heat they emit while being used.
For the waffle purist (we’re looking at you, Leslie Knope), we recommend the All-Clad Classic Round Waffle Maker if you’re seeking the perfect balance between consistent, high-quality performance and ease of use. Despite flip waffle makers typically producing better waffles, the Good Housekeeping Institute was wowed by this traditional model’s performance, noting “This waffle maker was outrivaled at baking waffles from a mix, receiving perfect 5.0’s for browning, doneness, and tenderness, and the waffles made from scratch were impressive as well.”
Whether you’re using boxed mix or fresh batter, you can rest assured this handy kitchen tool will produce perfectly tender yet crispy waffles every time, thanks to its seven browning settings, non-stick plates, and large ergonomic handle. In addition to boasting a sleek stainless steel design, the All-Clad Classic features indicator sounds and red and green lights to eliminate the guesswork of knowing when your waffle is done. But like many traditional models, the body of this waffle maker can get hot while in use, so watch your fingers!
If you only have waffles on special occasions or you only see them as a vehicle for delicious toppings (no judgment—we love whipped cream and Nutella, too), the Cuisinart Classic Round Waffle Maker produces a solid (but simple) waffle. You’ll need to keep an eye on this model because it lacks a sound indicator to let you know when it’s done, with the Good Housekeeping Institute saying “we recommend sticking close-by during cooking to ensure your waffles don’t overcook.”
That being said, we think the red and green indicator lights and five browning options are still solid features to help you along the way. The slim design allows for easy storage in between uses, and the handle remains cool while operating (safety first!).
If you bake waffles regularly, you might want to invest in the All-Clad 2-Square Belgian Waffle Maker, which features intuitive controls and seven cook settings. Though it’s the priciest option we recommend, you certainly get what you pay for: According to the Good Housekeeping Institute’s lab experts, “It was one of the top scorers in all our performance evaluations and tied for easiest to use product overall.”
Simply adjust the dial until you reach your preferred level of crispiness, wait for the preheat light and sound, pour in your batter, and once you hear that glorious ding, your waffle is ready to be drowned in all your favorite fixings. As easy to use as it is to wipe down, this waffle iron has a non-stick coating for optimal cleanability and comes with a moat tray to catch any runaway batter. (Just be sure you wait to wipe down until it’s fully cooled down; the top and sides get quite toasty while baking.)
Do you often find yourself waffling back and forth between what kind of waffles you want? The Breville Smart Waffle Pro offers consistent browning and tenderness with its deep 1-inch pockets and “a bit more” time feature to ensure your waffle is cooked precisely to your preference.
During testing, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s kitchen tech experts found that it “excelled at baking waffles from scratch and from a mix, receiving near perfect scores on browning, tenderness, and consistency.” With the ability to make four waffles at a time, this crowd-pleaser features 12 different shade settings and four pre-set settings for Belgian, classic, chocolate and buttermilk waffles.
You can also adjust the cook time based on the temperature of the plates. Clean-up is just as impressive, thanks to the convenient moat around this waffle iron’s plates, which deftly collects any excess waffle mix. Do keep in mind: This wide range of customization options means the Smart Waffle Pro takes up a fair amount of storage space.
You know what the worst part about waffles is? Not having enough waffles, but the clean-up is a close second. The Hamilton Beach Belgian Flip Waffle Maker takes that struggle out of the equation with its non-stick plates and drip tray, both of which are detachable and dishwasher-safe. This model has consistently impressed the Good Housekeeping Institute, which notes “When we tested an older model of this waffle maker, it churned out crisp and consistent Belgian waffles. Now, [this new model] makes clean-up even easier than before.”
These added conveniences mean it can be a bit bulkier to store, but there’s still a lot to love about this high-quality waffle iron—namely, the three browning settings, indicator lights, and its ability to consistently produce some ultra-fluffy waffles.
If you’re a parent, chances are you wish for three things on the regular: peace, quiet, and time. With the Chef’s Choice Classic WafflePro, you can get all three as this small appliance produces four golden-brown waffles in less than three minutes, which you can then flip onto your kids’ plates and breathe a sigh of relief as they quit their breakfast table bickering and chow down. This model has two different light and sound indicators to signal that it’s preheated and that your waffle is finished baking. (Just be careful not to burn yourself on the top and sides, which can get hot while the waffle maker is in use.)
In addition to offering easy-to-use controls and consistent results, this waffle iron boasts six doneness settings and two texture settings: one to bake a traditional waffle, and the other to create a crispy exterior, yet soft chewy interior. Plus, you can lock the WafflePro for extra safety and compactness when you stow it away. Be aware, however, that the Good Housekeeping Institute’s testers found the manual directions to be “a tad confusing though, so read carefully.”
Whipping up a fresh batch of waffles may not be as simple as waving a magic wand, but we think you’ll still flip for this user-friendly Belgian waffle maker, which the Good Housekeeping Institute’s testers say “can be depended on for well-browned, tender and crispy Belgian waffles.” The Presto FlipSide is as easy to use as it is to clean thanks to handy features like ready indicator lights and non-stick ceramic plates that are easy to wipe down. The added benefit of having a flip-style waffle iron is that your batter will disperse and cook more evenly, resulting in a crisp, uniform waffle.
Though it lacks any pre-programmed settings, you can adjust the recommended 4-minute cook time to be higher or lower, depending on your personal browning and crispiness preferences. Unlike most of its Belgian-style competitors, the FlipSide also features a countdown timer and can be stowed away vertically, so it takes up less storage space.
Waffles in the morning, waffles in the evening, waffles at dessert time: If you can’t get enough of these cakey confections, this non-stick waffle iron is sure to take your meal prep to the next level. Though the Dash Mini Waffle Maker is little, it’s fierce—this model produces one cute, 4-inch mini waffle in minutes. Simply plug it in and wait for the indicator light to signal that it’s preheated.
The Good Housekeeping Institute found it can be “time consuming to make large batches,” but this is still a great option if you like to pre-cook and freeze your waffles so you can enjoy the ease of Eggos without the…you know, Eggos. And don’t just take our word for it—ask the 193,000+ reviewers on Amazon!