The Best Waffle Makers
Verified by
Ryan V. Editor-in-Chief
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The Breville No-Mess Waffle Maker wins because it is the rare pick that two of the most demanding test kitchens crowned at the same time. Good Housekeeping ran more than 450 batches across 45-plus machines and named it Best Overall, praising the 'evenly browned waffles from Breville's straightforward and well-designed machine'. Food Network's team reached the same verdict independently, saying it 'lived up to its name, providing a mess-free experience from pouring to cooking to clean-up' and 'won top marks for being supremely easy to use'.
The headline feature is the moat. A deep channel rings the waffle grid and swallows any batter that spills past the edge, so the counter stays clean and the machine wipes down in seconds. Good Housekeeping singled it out: the moat 'did an excellent job of preventing batter overflow'. It sounds like a small thing until you have scraped burnt batter off a hinge, and it is the reason this Breville keeps topping lists.
Browning is even and dialed-in, with seven shade settings to tune crispness. America's Test Kitchen, which prefers a thinner classic waffle, still rated it their Best Classic pick for 'relatively even browning with simple controls'. Serious Eats placed it as the best American-style maker in its 18-machine test. Four independent kitchens, four strong finishes.
What you accept is patience. It bakes one round waffle at a time and Good Housekeeping clocked one of the longest preheat times in the group. For a couple or a small family who value a clean, even, foolproof waffle over speed, that is an easy trade.
What It Won't Do
This is a one-waffle-at-a-time machine with a slow start. Good Housekeeping measured one of the longest preheat times in its test, and because it bakes a single round waffle, a breakfast for four means standing at the counter through several cycles. The deep moat that keeps things tidy also widens the footprint, so it claims more counter space than a plain clamshell. And the plates are fixed, so cleanup happens in place rather than in the dishwasher.
The Presto FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker is the machine to buy when you want thick, golden Belgian waffles without spending premium money. America's Test Kitchen named it Best Buy, reporting 'well-browned, 1.4-inch-tall waffles with a simple one-button timer and dual alerts'. Good Housekeeping made it their Best Rotating pick, finding it 'flipped smoothly and produced reliably well-browned, tender, and crispy Belgian waffles that were easy to remove'. Food Network put it in the same rotating spot. Three separate test teams, one budget flip machine.
The flip design does real work. Rotating the iron 180 degrees pulls batter into every pocket for even, deep waffles, the same trick that makes the pricier Cuisinart flip models so good. When you are done, the FlipSide locks upright to store on its edge, so it slides into a narrow cabinet gap instead of hogging the counter.
At around $60, it costs roughly a third of the Breville. You give up shade control and removable plates, but you get genuine Belgian waffles from a design the pros keep recommending.
What It Won't Do
The savings show up in the controls and cleanup. Good Housekeeping notes the FlipSide has a timer but no shade selector, so you cannot dial in how dark the waffle gets and instead lean on the fixed cycle. America's Test Kitchen also flagged that condensation drips from the handle when you flip the iron, a minor but real annoyance. And the plates are fixed, so you wipe the grid by hand rather than dropping it in the dishwasher. For the price, those are fair compromises, but cooks who want precise browning or effortless cleanup will feel them.
Who Should Buy Which
Breville No-Mess Waffle Maker
The top pick at Good Housekeeping and Food Network, with a moat that ends batter overflow for good
- You want the cleanest, most even single waffle with no batter overflow to mop up
- You value a foolproof, well-designed machine over speed or batch size
- You cook for one or two people, or do not mind baking in rounds for more
- You want seven shade settings to tune crispness exactly how you like it
- You are happy to pay a premium for build quality and a spill-proof moat
Presto FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker
The Best Buy at America's Test Kitchen, a flip-style Belgian maker for around $60
- You want thick, golden Belgian waffles for around $60
- You like a flip design that spreads batter evenly and stores upright in a tight kitchen
- You are fine with a fixed cook cycle instead of adjustable shade control
- You want a proven pick that America's Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, and Food Network all rate
- You are outfitting a first kitchen or want a capable backup maker