The best waffle makers for a quick, hassle-free breakfast

From Belgian waffles to hash browns, breakfast (and lunch and dinner) is a whole lot more interesting with the best waffle makers

Adding the best waffle maker to your home will elevate breakfast from a get-it-done affair to a hotel buffet-style experience. In fact, the promise of golden crisp waffles in the morning is such a lure in our household that it’s proved the perfect bribe for kids’ bedtime.
And that’s after eating waffles for breakfast, lunch and dinner the past month as we tested out the best waffle maker to add to our kitchen. (Yes, savoury cheese dinner waffles are just as good as banana and honey-drizzled breakfast ones). 
Sure, pancakes can be prepped with just a frying pan, but there’s something special about the best Belgian waffle or American-style waffle popping out of a machine ready to be piled with toppings. We also discovered you can use a waffle-maker to cook other delights such as hash browns and quesadillas.
So, which waffle maker makes the crispest waffles, works fastest, and looks best? You can read our full reviews of the best machines below, followed by expert answers to the most frequently asked questions. But if you’re in a rush to get some morning waffles on, here’s a quick look at our top five:
The basic features are size, capacity and browning options – but to get a sense of the more advanced features, I asked corporate chef at restaurant group Duck & Waffle, Maxwell Terheggen. He and his team have cooked over 250,000 waffles in the last two years (they use the £400 Waring Double Waffle Maker WW200K.) He is very clear on what to look for in a waffle maker. 
“Adjustable browning control means you can get the exact texture you like,” he says. “Consistent heat distribution ensures even cooking without hot spots. Indicator lights and sound alerts are helpful to know when the machine is ready to cook and when waffles are done. Durability is important if you plan to use it frequently – you’ll want a waffle maker with a sturdy build.”
Premium waffle makers have extra features like adjustable browning settings, rotating designs for even cooking, faster heating, better non-stick coatings, audible alerts and more durability. More basic waffle makers have fewer settings, longer cooking times, less consistent results in terms of waffle texture and browning – but are more affordable.
Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product at the best price. No manufacturer ever sees copy before publication and we do not accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.
Quite simply: we made and ate a really large number of waffles. I made at least 10 rounds of waffles in each waffle maker – not as hard as it sounds with three kids with an apparently insatiable demand for them. To make it a fair test, I used the same waffle mix from Lakeland each time (and certainly recommend it for a delicious sweet taste). 
For every batch, we considered the consistency of the waffles – we wanted a crisp outside and a softer, but still thoroughly cooked inside. We wanted a golden brown colour. We did not want to see any burnt edges or soggy middles.
Belgian waffles are thicker with deeper pockets to hold more toppings, while traditional waffles are thinner and crunchier with shallower pockets. So we also considered which machine was the best Belgium waffle maker. 
We looked, too, at capacity: some waffle makers make one at a time, some can make up to four. Another factor was usability: we wanted a machine that was easy to use and then leave to do its thing for a few minutes, not one that needed constant attention, flipping and general fussing over.
We also thought about how the waffle makers looked and whether they took up a lot or a little room. Even the keenest fans probably aren’t going to want their waffle maker sitting out on the kitchen island all day long, so put-away-ability was important too.
£129, Gastroback
Best overall, 9/10
We like: crisp, perfectly-cooked waffles, fast, and loads of menu options
We don’t like: the instruction manual has some translation mistakes
This large machine was the first one to show me that it’s possible to make really superb waffles – as good as specialist waffle restaurants bake – at home. It’s a serious piece of kit, with a front LCD screen giving you lots of cooking options, including different cooking programmes for chocolate waffles, Belgium waffles and buttermilk as well as classic waffles and a custom button. Even beyond that, you can choose whether you want your waffles cooked soft inside and crisp outside, or crispier throughout, and there are seven options for browning too.
Despite all these options, the Gastroback machine was very easy. I just dolloped on the mix, pressed my preferred button for waffle style and, thanks to its powerful wattage (which does make it slightly pricier to run) two waffles were ready very quickly too. A round of two took four minutes, so the whole family had a stack of waffles each within half an hour.
This waffle-making machine is also useful for those with eco or health concerns about certain chemical coatings, as Gastroback’s non-stick coating is PFOA-free, meaning none of the large group of lab-made chemicals is present in this machine.
This specialist waffle-maker consistently made crisp, perfectly-coloured waffles that were easy to prepare. Extra-deep heating plates meant it made an especially light texture too. It’s an investment and not small, so you’ll want to be regularly whipping up waffles to get your money’s worth. But German kitchen brand Gastroback favours a quality build, so this should be a long-lasting addition to your cooking arsenal.
£26.99, Salter
Best value, 8/10
We like: makes thick, browned waffle
We don’t like: slow cooking cycle
The clue was in the name, but I was still surprised at just how large and thick the waffles that emerged from this Salter Deep Fill waffle maker were. Consequently, I did find myself running out of the usual volume of mix I used for my family – my advice is to go for 1.5 times your usual ingredients’ volume when using the Salter.
Despite the depth, I was impressed to find this machine made well-cooked waffles that were crisp on the outside but also always properly cooked all the way through. They did, however, take longer than other machines to make them – about three to four minutes to heat up, then about eight minutes to cook two waffles at a temperature that gave consistent cooking without burning. This does add up when you’re preparing waffles for a crowd.
But the extra time did give really great waffles, and I was impressed by some of Salter’s extra features, like the clicky noise when the machine had heated up to the ideal temperature, and the non-slip feet which meant it was more stable than other machines. Salter has made simple to use, great value waffle-maker. Just ensure you don’t rush the cooking process.
£24.99, Lakeland
Best mini waffle maker, 8/10
We like: small machine and makes crisp pancakes
We don’t like: no ‘off’ switch
This is a small machine that takes up minimum cupboard space. As I’ve come to expect from Lakeland, its two-in-one waffle and pancake maker is thoughtfully designed and comes with an excellent instruction manual – including nice recipes. I found Lakeland’s waffle maker to be really easy to use: simply turn it on at the plug, wait until the heating-up light turns off, dollop on a few tablespoons of mixture and wait four to five minutes until the waffle is crispy.
The non-stick coating works well, to the extent that when I accidentally cooked a waffle without using oil spray there was no issue lifting the waffle out of the machine. For every use, the Lakeland waffle maker cooked evenly and the waffles crisped up nicely. The fact that it has two plates – one for waffles, one for pancakes – is a really nice bonus for another great breakfast option.
The downside of this machine’s petite size and ease to put away is that it does only make one (fairly small, circular) waffle at a time. Although the cooking process is fast, I found this waffle maker works best when you’ve got one or two mouths to feed. Any more and you’ve got long waiting periods. Still, its small size means it would work particularly well for students’ university rooms and camper vans. Be aware, though, there’s no ‘off switch’ so you do have to remember to turn off the machine at the plug.
£19.99, Amazon
Best waffle maker for students, 7/10
We like: good value basic waffle maker
We don’t like: uneven browning
This compact waffle maker is a decent no-frills kitchen gadget. There are no menu options or dials, just a light to show you when the waffle maker has properly heated up and non-removable metal plates (which did make washing up a bit of a hassle).
As a consequence from its simplicity, the Progress waffle maker is really easy to use. You simply pour the batter on, lift the lid after about four minutes and keep monitoring regularly until the waffle takes on your desired colour. I didn’t find the finished products to be as consistently crisp on the outside or soft on the inside as with pricier machines, such as the Gastroback waffle maker, but at under £20, it’s a fraction of the price.
It was tricky to make a uniform-coloured waffle with the Progress machine. There tended to be darker and lighter patches, particularly on the underside, where the heating elements seem uneven. But the waffles in this machine are pretty thin, so they were always cooked-through and deliciously crispy.
£24, Very
Best bubble waffle maker, 7/10
We like: easy to use, comes with 10 serving cones
We don’t like: instruction manual is only available online
This bright-red bubble waffle maker is really compact and so easy to put away in a cupboard after use – plus it’s a doddle to locate it when you want it, thanks to its vibrant colour. It makes just one type of waffle: the popular bubble dessert style. Giles & Posner supplies ten cones to role up the bubble waffle and smother in toppings alongside the machine. Despite the different waffle format, the machine worked in much the same way as others, taking about four minutes to pre-heat, with a red light popping on once it was ready to go.
The instructions (which I annoyingly had to find online, as they are not supplied as a pamphlet) then said I should wait four to ten minutes for the waffle to cook. I found this range a tad confusing and kept having to lift the lid to check progress. Awkwardly, the instructions also say to avoid lifting the lid during cooking as this damages the bubbles. The first waffle took about seven minutes but it did speed up after that. There were helpful hints, such as when steam stops emerging from the machine, it’s likely to be ready.
Only cooking one waffle at a time is an obvious drawback if you’ve got a crowd, but the Giles & Posner bubble waffle maker did make crisp, tasty bubble waffles that went down really well with teens in my family.
£40, Cuisinart
Best looking waffle maker, 9/10
We like: smart-looking, easy clean-up
We don’t like: large footprint
Like the Lakeland machine, this pricier Cuisinart model also has two interchangeable plates to cook both waffles and pancakes. For an extra cost, you can also buy sandwich and grill plates separately. For the purposes of this review, I focused on waffles but I did make one round of thin pancakes, an option which increased the versatility of this machine. It’s a chunky model, so you want it to earn its place in your kitchen cupboard.
The Cuisinart model looks smart on the kitchen worktop and cooks really effectively (and fast) thanks to its floating hinge, which means the waffles are cooked evenly on both sides. There’s a ready indicator light and the option to select the temperature you want to achieve the exact level of browning and crispness that you desire. I found ‘low’ worked best for pancakes, and ‘medium’ for waffles.
It’s an easy clean-up operation afterwards too, since the non-stick plates are removable and dishwasher safe. The instruction manual had nice recipes and clear waffle-making steps too. This is a great all-rounder machine.
£39.99, VonHaus
Best fluffy waffle-maker, 8/10
We like: even, golden cooking results
We don’t like: hard to clean
This mid-range waffle-maker makes something a little different, producing two circular rather than the usual square/rectangle-shaped waffles. Does that change the taste? Nope, but it made waffles that are easily pulled apart into their four almost-perforated quarters, making it easier for young children to hold their waffle pieces.
There’s no overspill ‘gutter’ so I did notice the Von Shef machine was tougher to clean when I accidentally overfilled it. As it’s a fairly shallow machine, this is quite easy to do so and the plates are not removable for cleaning.
That was one of the few drawbacks though, with this quick waffle-maker: we had a stack of four round waffles within 11 minutes, all crispy, uniformly browned and deliciously soft inside. The non-stick coating worked so well that the waffles didn’t even require a spritz of oil and easily removed. The red/green light showed us when it was pre-heating and ready to go, the machine itself is fairly compact and very easy to use: this is a family favourite waffle-maker.
£55, Argos
Best three-in-one waffle maker, 7/10
We like: versatility, can whip up a range of dishes
We don’t like: doesn’t feel sturdy or durable
This wasn’t the fastest waffle-maker around: it took about 10 minutes for the first batch, and eight to nine minutes after that. The waffles were crisp, but uneven in colour, with patches of darker brown and pale areas – although this was mostly just a superficial issue as they tasted great and were well-cooked throughout, every time.
This Russell Hobbs machine involved an element of guess work to calculate the perfect amount of waffle mixture to insert into each plate. Consequently some of the mix did spill over onto the counter tops when I didn’t get it quite right. This added to the clean-up operation but wasn’t a disaster. Like many of the non-premium waffle makers, there’s no on/off switch. As soon as it’s plugged in, heating begins.
On top of putting this kitchen gadget through its waffle-making paces, I did try a few batches of cheese toasties and was impressed. The non-stick coating is very effective, every blob of melted cheese slipped off a treat. The same was true with the waffles: just a flick of the wrist with a spatula saw the whole treat pop out very easily.
This is a versatile machine that is ideal for those with reduced kitchen space as it makes batches of both waffles and toasties.
£109.95, Sage Appliances
Best waffle maker for browning control, 8/10
We like: can pick browning options and waffle consistency
We don’t like: tough to clean as plates not removable
There was a lot to like about Sage’s more accessible waffle-maker (its other product, Smart Waffle Pro with its LCD display, is £70 more expensive). First, the design: it makes a good-looking circular waffle that’s pre-cut into four ‘slices’, the machine has a moat to prevent any splattered batter from hitting the kitchen counter, and the dial on the front with seven browning settings that mean you can make your ideal consistency every time is very easy to use.
Like the Gastroback, which is slightly more expensive, the Sage machine’s non-stick coating is PFOA-free. This waffle machine highlights its technology which makes for even heat distribution, and I did find these waffles were golden throughout rather than patchy as some cheaper waffle-makers were. The ‘ready’ button was helpful to know when to remove the waffles, rather than the peek-and-check method I had to use with some other machines.
The downside with the Sage machine was that as the plates are non-removable, it’s harder than others to clean; I had to wait until everything had cooled right down before using a damp cloth to repeatedly – but gently – wipe the machine down.
All waffle makers are fairly simple to use, says professional waffle chef Maxwell Terheggen: “Make up your waffle mix, either in a food processor, with a hand mixer, or by hand. Then preheat the waffle maker, lightly grease the plates if needed, and pour the batter evenly over the plates. Avoid overfilling. Close the lid and let it cook until the timer or indicator shows it’s done – or just lift and check on more basic models. Then open the waffle maker and remove the waffles with a non-metal spatula or tongs.”
“Belgian waffle makers typically have deeper grids that produce thicker, fluffier waffles with larger, deeper pockets to hold toppings like syrup or fruit,” says Maxwell. “Traditional waffle makers create thinner, crispier waffles with smaller pockets. The texture is typically less fluffy but more crispy, ideal for those who prefer a crunchier waffle.”
“It usually takes between four to six minutes to cook a waffle, depending on the waffle maker, the recipe, and how crispy you want the waffle to be,” Maxwell explains. “Premium waffle makers may have faster cooking times, due to better heat distribution.”
“Yes, waffle makers can be versatile,” Max says. “You can use them to cook hash browns for a crispy texture, quesadillas for a fun twist on a classic, grilled sandwiches like paninis, brownies or cookies for a unique dessert, and cinnamon rolls for a quick and easy breakfast.”
“Most modern waffle makers are designed to be easy to clean,” Maxwell adds – and his kitchen team should know, cooking thousands each week. “Features that make cleaning easier include non-stick plates so that the batter doesn’t stick, removable plates on some models, making it simpler to wash, and wipeable exterior so you can clean up spills easily. Just be sure to unplug and let the machine cool before cleaning.”