The Best Waffle Iron

Posted on 17 May 2022

This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.

This model comes with two sets of baking trays in boxes for easy storage: waffles and croque-monsieur. The 16 different sets of compatible plates (waffle in shape of hearts, madeleines, doughnuts, etc.) are non-stick and dishwasher safe, for an easy cleaning. After our tests, we can say that its use is completely instinctive. The waffles are easy to cook, even if they could be a little more homogeneous, and the croque-monsieur requires a small square sliced bread if you don’t want to play Tetris. However, we do not recommend this appliance to people with a sensitive sense of smell, as the smell of new is still present after three uses.

There are two main types of waffle irons: static models and reversible models.

Stainless steel waffle irons are more robust, while plastic waffle irons are light and easy to clean.

The heating speed is related to the power of the device and varies from 3 to 7 minutes.

Make sure that the waffle iron plates are non-stick.

Do not forget to check how many waffles your machine can cook at the same time.

Compact and instinctive, this waffle iron offers a surprisingly good power despite its low price. The result is a preheating time reduced to 3 minutes and golden brown waffles cooked in 1.5 minutes. However, the thermostat must be set to the maximum position to achieve this, otherwise the cooking time can increase considerably. Our tests have shown that its major flaws come from its design, which seems to us to be not very solid, and from the fact that the plates are fixed. This makes cleaning very tedious and may scare away people looking for convenience above all.

The Super 2 is an ideal kitchen companion. It is easy to use, robust and reversible on its base for an even cooking. It only comes with one set of cast aluminium waffle plates, but you can also order additional sets for variety. It has only one cooking temperature, which makes it even easier to use. In practice, we only criticise its surprising slowness in light of its power (1000 W) and the fact that its plates are not dishwasher safe. The latter is not a problem, however, as it is very easy to clean manually.

Despite its low price, we found this waffle iron to be efficient, although it does not cook as evenly as its competitors at double or even triple the price. Moreover, it is rather fast thanks to its good power (1100 W). We only regret a little that this speed is only achievable on the highest thermostat. Although its plates are not removable, their format makes them easier to clean and we therefore recommend it to people looking for a cheap but more practical model than the Domo DO9047W.

Our selection

Our choice, Best mid-range	Best budget	Best high-end	Budget alternative
Tefal Snack Collection	Domo DO9047W	Lagrange 39121 Super 2	Tristar WF-2195
This waffle iron has the best price-quality ratio and is interesting for its interchangeable plates. Moreover, it is very practical and easy to use while offering good performance.	This model has the best price-quality ration and is a mass of power: indeed, it has the shortest preheating and cooking time of this comparison.	This model is the most solid of our selection. Its is reversible, and we appreciate its retro look and its beautiful homogeneous cooking. Moreover, it is compatible with different sets of plates.	Practical and fast, this model has a flimsy appearance and the cooking could be more homogeneous, but it still does the job and is easy to clean despite its fixed plates.
£ 126.59 on Amazon	£ 60.00 on Amazon	See the price on Amazon	£ 24.95 on Amazon

Honorable mentions

Lagrange 019252 (£165,49 upon publication): a premium, multi-functional waffle iron. This robust model allows you to prepare waffles and wafers thanks to its various cast aluminium plates with non-stick coating that can be changed. As with the Tefal SW852D and Lagrange 39121 Super 2, you can also purchase additional baking trays. In addition, it is reversible for an even cooking. However, we found it far too expensive for what it offers compared to the Tefal or the other Lagrange selected.

How to choose your waffle iron?

The waffle iron is an appliance that may seem trivial in the kitchen, but it is nevertheless worthwhile. Manufacturers are offering increasingly versatile models that not only make different types of waffles, but also other sweet and savoury snacks. This diversity can make it difficult to choose.

To help you, we have put together some features to consider before buying:

• Design: to get a quality waffle iron, consider checking the materials used. Plastic has the advantage of being light and easy to maintain, while stainless steel is robust. There are two main types of waffle iron: static models, which are generally compact, and reversible models, which are a little larger and have a handle that allows the appliance to be turned to cook waffles.

• Quality of plates: the performance of a waffle iron depends mainly on the quality of the plates. They must not stick, otherwise they spoil the flavour of the waffles and make the cleaning process tedious and discouraging. So check whether they are made of non-stick material.
• Features: waffle irons are sometimes equipped with an indicator light that lights up when the appliance is hot enough, an on/off button, different temperature settings or a sound signal at the end of cooking. Moreover, some multi-purpose models allow you to prepare croque-messieurs, paninis, etc. by changing the plates.

• Heating speed: varying from 3 minutes to sometimes more than 7, it is linked to the power of the appliance. To give you an idea, a waffle iron of 1000 W or more should take a maximum of 5 minutes to preheat.

• Number of waffles: although this is not the most important criterion, you can also check how many waffles you can cook at the same time (usually two or four). Making one waffle at a time can be a bit of a hassle for a family!

Translated by Aylin Akturk