Breakfast is the most important meal of the day… at least, that’s what moms all across the country have been saying for decades. Regardless of how important it is, there’s nothing like enjoying a delicious waffle before you head out to work or school for the day. Our expert product reviewers tested more than 50 different waffle makers to find the very best ones you can get. Whether you like your waffles with syrup, powdered sugar, fruit, eggs, or even a scoop of ice cream, the perfect waffle is the key — and you’ll never have the perfect waffle without a great waffle maker.
Our top picks
- Best overall: Cuisinart WMR-CAP2 Round Classic Waffle Maker
- Runner-up: BELLA Classic Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker
- Best cheap waffle maker: DASH Mini Waffle Maker
- Best square waffle maker: DASH No-Drip Waffle Maker
- Best premium waffle maker: Cuisinart WAF-F40 Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker
You really can’t go wrong with any of those excellent waffle makers because each one is the best in its class. If you want some more info to see what makes each model so impressive, keep reading below.
1. Best overall: Cuisinart WMR-CAP2 Round Classic Waffle Maker
Pros: Easy to use, nonstick, easy to clean, makes the perfect waffle every time
Cons: None
If you want to skip all the muss and fuss so that you end up with the perfect waffle maker with minimal effort, just get the Cuisinart WMR-CAP2 Round Classic Waffle Maker. Trust us, you’ll love it.
This model is exactly what you picture when you think of a waffle maker. It’s so easy to use, with one slider that lets you set the temperature of the waffle iron. If you like your waffles on the lighter side, set the slider to 1 or 2. If you like them nice and brown like me, set it to 4 or 5.
Using this model really couldn’t be any simpler. Turn it on, pour in the batter, cook your waffle, and eat. The red light on the front of the waffle maker means it’s heating, and the green light means go. It has dual nonstick waffle irons, so you don’t need to worry about flipping the waffle. Also, the nonstick irons are super easy to clean.
With a price tag of just $29.95, this model truly doesn’t have any downsides to speak of.
2. Runner-up: BELLA Classic Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker
Pros: Easy to use, nonstick, easy to clean, easy to flip
Cons: None
The Cuisinart WMR-CAP2 ended up being our top pick overall, but it could have just as easily been the BELLA Classic Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker. It was basically a coin flip, but the lack of moving parts tipped the scales in favor of the Cuisinart model since that means there’s less that can go wrong.
That being said, absolutely nothing went wrong when we were testing this BELLA waffle maker. Everything went so, so right. It’s just as easy to use as the Cuisinart model, and it’s just as easy to clean.
There are really only two differences between the two waffle makers. As the name and design both suggest, the BELLA model lets you flip your waffle. Some people want a flip, and some people don’t.
The other difference is build quality. As we said before, the Cuisinart model has fewer moving parts and feels a bit sturdier overall. We had no issues with the durability of the BELLA model, though, nor have we seen any meaningful number of user complaints about durability.
The BELLA Classic Rotating Belgian Waffle Maker has the same retail price as the Cuisinart WMR-CAP2, so you can’t go wrong with either model.
3. Best cheap waffle maker: DASH Mini Waffle Maker
Pros: Inexpensive, easy to use, works great, easy to clean, so cute
Cons: Can’t adjust the heat
The DASH Mini Waffle Maker is the simplest, cheapest waffle maker you can get. At $9.99, there isn’t even any competition.
The first thing you’ll notice about this model is that, like most DASH products, it’s super cute. The little 4-inch waffles it makes are also super cute. It comes in 17 different colors and patterns, including a few saucy options like leopard print or skulls and crossbones. You can definitely match this waffle maker to any style or decor.
One of the best things about this model might also be considered its one real downside: simplicity. It really couldn’t be any easier to use since there’s just one button that turns it on and off. That also means there’s no heat adjustment, so you have to stay on top of your bakes until you get a feel for how long it takes to cook a waffle to your desired doneness. The good news is that it’s very consistent, so it’s easy to get the hang of.
DASH makes great little kitchen appliances, and the DASH Mini Waffle Maker fits the bill.
4. Best square waffle maker: DASH No-Drip Waffle Maker
Pros: Easy to use, works great, easy to clean, overflow channels
Cons: Can’t adjust the heat
All things considered, the DASH No-Drip Waffle Maker is far an away the best waffle maker out there if you want square waffles.
This model has a great design that’s easy to use and easy to clean, thanks to the nonstick waffle irons on the top and bottom. It gets hot quickly, too, so you’re not mobbed by hungry kids waiting impatiently for their waffles.
One feature we really appreciated with this model was the overflow channels on either side of the main irons. We tend to get a bit overzealous with our batter pours, and the channels catch all the runoff. It also gives you a little snack to munch on while you plate your waffles.
Like the other DASH model in this guide, it doesn’t have adjustable heat. But once you get the hang of it after a few careful attempts, it’s easy to make consistently perfect waffles that are exactly as brown as you like them.
5. Best premium waffle maker: Cuisinart WAF-F40 Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker
Pros: Excellent build quality, cooks two waffles at once, easy to use, easy to flip, easy to clean
Cons: Expensive
If you want to learn everything you need to know about the Cuisinart WAF-F40 Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker, start with this user review from Amazon:
“I regret nothing. This thing is fantastic. The kids beg for waffles and it’s so quick and easy I have time to make them despite our hectic schedule. I was afraid the kids were going to overdose the first day. The house smelled amazing and they requested waffles for every meal. I was trying to make some ahead to freeze for school days but they kept eating them all. We’re all in a 12 step program in the hopes to temper our waffle addiction.”
That right there says it all, folks.
This deliciously addictive waffle maker is the cream of the crop. There are plenty of options out there that are much more expensive and look fancier, but none deliver better results than the Cuisinart WAF-F40. If you want to spend $300 on a waffle maker, be our guest.
This model heats perfectly every time, and it has two compartments so you can cook two perfectly plump waffles at once. Thanks to Cuisinart’s heat adjustment slider, they’ll both be delightfully airy and have the perfect browning.
At $119.95, this model isn’t cheap. It’s much less expensive than other high-end waffle makers though, and it’s worth every penny.
