When the topic of waffles arises, two very different images can arise in the mind of the person listening. A thin golden crispy American waffle that’s great for light breakfasts and its customizability or a thick creamy and heavy-set Belgian waffle that has deep pockets great for absorbing butter and cream and any other goodie you might want to pt in there.
Belgian waffles are made with a yeast-risen batter, whereas American waffles are leavened with baking powder and are thinner because of it. The yeast-leavened batter allows the waffle to rise, but still remain dense enough to capture pockets of air. This gives it a light and crispy texture with rich deep pockets that are perfect for filling with fruit or jam. Belgian waffles are often eaten as a sweet snack with powdered sugar on top whereas the American waffles have quickly cornered the breakfast market, thanks to their easy-to-prepare and customizable nature. You can enjoy them with a variety of toppings, from syrups and fruits to nuts and chocolate chips giving them an insane amount of variety in flavor.
It’s hard to say which type of waffle is better, Belgian or American. They both have their own unique qualities that set them apart from each other. However, Belgian waffles are thicker than American waffles, and also have deeper wells for butter which is why they’re a favorite here in the office.
Bella vs Cuisinart vs Oster vs Krups vs All-Clad waffle maker
Now the question arises, which Belgian waffle maker to buy. For your convenience, after rigorous testing and experimentation, we have narrowed down the choice to five competitors: Bella vs Cuisinart vs Oster vs Krups vs All-Clad waffle maker. All of them have their own up and downsides but each one is a great choice for any home.
The details for all five are listed below along with a comparison so that you can decide for yourself which one to go with for this holiday season!
Detailed Comparison Table
| Sr. No. | Feature | Bella | Cuisinart | Oster | Krups | All-Clad |
| 1. | Browning Levels | Variable | 5 | Variable | 5 | 7 |
| 2. | Audio Cue | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| 3. | Price | $ 31.04 | $ 106.95 | $54.99 | $62.85 | $179.95 |
| 4. | Colour | Black | Silver | Dark Metallic | Silver/Black | Silver |
| 5. | Free Shipping | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| 6. | Weight | 5lb | 1lb | 4.84lb | 9.1lb | 6lb |
| 7. | Dimensions (L W H) | 13.39 x 9.45 x 7.28 | 15.11 x 8.35 x 19.79 | 13.3 x 12.44 x 5.59 | 12.6 x 6.7 x 16.5 | 12 x 11.5 x 6 |
| 8. | Rating | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.7/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| 9. | Power | 1000 watt | 1400 watt | 700 watt | 1200 watt | 1600 watt |
| 10. | Removable plates | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Price Comparison
In terms of price the Bella waffle maker outclass Cuisinart, Oster, Krups and All-Clad. With price almost 30 dollar it is the cheapest option you can get in this range.
After Bella comes the number of Krups, which has got power of 700 watts and price range nearly 55 dollars. It is second cheapest brand in our list. The most expensive is the All-Clad waffle maker with price almost 180 dollars.
Weight Comparison
Weight of the waffle maker becomes more important when you are aged person or you have shaky hands. It is also important to have a light weight waffle maker when you always have to carry it from the closet to use it.
When comparing on base of weight, Cuisinart outclasses all other competitors with weight just 1 pound. Oster is the runner up with weight of 4.8 pounds. The heaviest waffle maker is from Krups with total weight of 9.1 pounds.
So if you are planning to gift the waffle maker to old parents, I suggest the lightest waffle maker by Cuisinart is the best option.
Size comparison
If you have a small size kitchen , it is always your priority to buy a waffle maker that takes lesser space.
Length wise the shortest waffle maker is from All-Clad, so it will cover least space on your kitchen desk.
In terms of height the tallest waffle maker is from Cuisinart with total height of almost 20 inches, while the shortest waffle maker is from Oster and All-Clad with total height of 6 inches.
Removable plates
Out of all these 5 brands only KRUPs has got removable plates which make them easy to clean and are also dishwasher safe. So if ease to clean is your highest priority then KRUPS waffle maker will be winner. Another great advantage is that after removing the plates the waffle maker can act as a sandwich press as well.
Power Comparison
As electricity prices are rising, every one is concerned to buy gadgets that consume least amount of electricity. This becomes your highest concern when you have solar system installed at your home. Among BELLA, Cuisinart, Oster, CRUPS and All-clad, Oster is the least energy consuming with just 700 watts of energy consumption. The runner up is BELLA waffle maker with 1000 watt electricity usage.
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Expert Reviews
1. BELLA Classic Rotating Non-Stick Belgian Waffle Maker
With a good waffle maker, you can enjoy delicious homemade Belgian style waffles at home in minutes, ten to be exact. Waking up to the sweet aroma of freshly baked waffles is sure to get your family’s morning off on the right foot. The Bella waffle maker has a wonderful PFOA-free nonstick cooking surface that makes it easy for even novice cooks to create restaurant-quality breakfast treats right in their own home kitchen without much problems. It is also dish washer safe for ease of cleaning.
Its features include a temperature control dial for your preferred level of browning as well as a flip design that ensures even browning on both sides. Make sure to flip the waffle after 5 minutes. It has two waffle slots that bring out fully cooked waffles after 10 minutes. The most wonderful thing about the Bella waffle maker is the extremely affordable price that it is available at. If you’re on a budget or you just don’t want to dish out a lot of money just for a waffle maker because you’re sure if you’ll like it or not, then this is something we would definitely recommend.
However keep in mind that in order to keep the price where it is, some of the quality had to be sacrificed. It gives a cheap product feeling and doesn’t quite have that premium quality material that one looks for in high end products so if you are looking for a permanent addition to the kitchen then we would advise looking at one of the other options on the list. If you just want to try out making waffles without emptying your wallet then be sure to give this a try!
PROS:
- Affordable pricing
- Compact Design
- Flips for even browning
CONS:
- Low quality material
2. Cuisinart WAF-F40 Double Flip Belgian Waffle Maker
Cuisinart is one of the leading titans in the industry of waffle makers and is notorious for having one of the highest quality products available in the market. However such fame comes at a high price, literally. A lot of people may be put off by the price tag on their products but the quality speaks for itself. Extremely durable, great functionality and small little bits of unnecessary but very convenient functions are the hallmark of any cuisinart product.
The WAF-F40 Double Flip Belgian waffle maker is made of high quality stainless steel that resists any rusting and comes with an elegant silver finish that gives off a premium feel. It bakes 2 one inch restaurant quality waffles that easily have the most consistent results every time according to our taste testers. It comes with 5 browning settings from light to dark and it also has an visual as well as audio cue for when the waffle maker is finished making your waffles meaning you can go around the kitchen preparing other things without worrying about burning the waffles. It really sucks when your wonderful morning is ruined by a burnt waffle in the waffle maker that just won’t come off, not that I would ever have experienced that of course…
The WAF-F40 is equipped with a wonderful plastic handle that is insulated so it doesn’t heat up even when the waffles are cooking and it has an easy flip function with no risk of spillage that makes it ideal for new cooks as well as old ones that are tired of all the mess.
Despite its premium quality materials and bulky stature, the people at cuisinart have managed to make this product lightweight and easy to carry. It does take up a bunch of space but its lack of weight makes it ideal for moving around in case you need to. However it can lead to it flipping over if you’re not careful.
PROS:
- Premium Quality
- Long Lasting
- Consistent Results
CONS:
- Large and Cumbersome
- Expensive Price tag
3. Oster 2110002 DiamondForce Vertical Waffle Maker
There are a lot of things to love about Oster; their performance to price ratio, their unique and innovative designs, their long lasting products and their dedication to customer care. The Oster Diamond Force Vertical waffle maker is one of their best products to date. New innovative technology that ensures the nonstick lasts as long as it possible can ensures a long lasting product that will keep you happy in the mornings for a long time to come.
The unique vertical design of their waffle maker makes it one of the most interesting as well as convenient waffle makers to have on hand. You heard it right, vertical design. This waffle maker stands straight up such that it takes up the least amount of space possible while providing the best waffles possible. Now you may wonder how one would go about making a waffle in such a design, the answer is their upright pouring funnel that takes the batter and distributes it evenly for you. This prevents any spillage from trying to get even batter throughout and from miscalculating the amount needed, which is perfect if you don’t have a lot of experience using waffle makers. It even has its own measuring cup so you always pour in exactly the right amount without any spillage or mess!
According to our testers, it doesn’t have the most consistent results however, it is within the acceptable range. It doesn’t have any audio indicator or timer built into it however it does come with its own manual with six different recipes (which made the batter a bit too thick for our liking but were fine when thinned out with a little milk) as well as instructions of use along with the recommended timings for different browning levels. It doesn’t have any temperature control either
If we’re talking Bella vs Cuisinart vs Oster vs Krups vs All-Clad waffle maker, then Oster definitely takes the cake, or rather, the waffle!
PROS:
- Vertical ergonomic design
- Long lasting non stick design
- High quality
- Affordable Price
CONS:
- No temperature control
- No timer
4. KRUPS Belgian Waffle Maker
KRUPS Belgian Waffle Maker has the advantage of non-stick plates for easy removal of waffles as well as cleaning. According to our testers, the waffles are consistently crispy, fluffy and brown evenly almost every time. There are some outliers every now and again but that is to be expected due to human error. It makes waffles with extra deep pocket that lets them hold more berries, fruits, and syrup etc.
It also features an indicator light to tell you when the plates are heated up and ready to make waffles. When the green light turns on, it is ready to start baking. When it turns on again, the waffles are done and ready to be taken out. The KRUPS waffle maker also comes with an audio cues so you don’t have to be mindful of leaving it on and going about the kitchen. Browning control provides greater flexibility in producing perfect results for each individual according to their own tastes. Personally, we found the 4th setting to produce the best waffles.
The Krups Belgian Waffle Maker is a excellent choice if you are looking for an affordable waffle maker with great features. It is compact and lightweight and fits well on the kitchen countertop. It is also easy to operate and makes delicious waffles in minutes. One of its unique parts is the fact that it makes four square waffles at once, however in order to do that it had to have been made larger than its competitors which does make it a bit cumbersome to store and use on a day to day basis.
PROS:
- Four waffle slots at once
- Audio and Visual Indicator
- Affordable Price
CONS:
- Large and Cumbersome
5. All-Clad 99011GT Stainless Steel Belgian Waffle Maker
All-Clad metal crafters are a highly prestigious cookware brand that is popular with home and professional cooks alike. Their products are made with a three-layer construction. The interior layer is made of stainless steel, the middle layer is made of an aluminum core, and the exterior layer is made of stainless steel. This construction allows for even heat distribution and prevents the transfer of flavors between foods.
Their products are available in a variety of finishes, including polished stainless steel, brushed stainless steel, and black.
The All-Clad 99011GT Stainless Steel Belgian Waffle Maker is a high-quality product that allows you to make delicious waffles at home. This waffle maker is made of premium stainless steel and the insides have a high quality non stick surface along with a steam release function, which ensures that your waffles will come out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The product also comes with a variety of useful features, such as adjustable browning control and a locking lid, which makes it easy to store or take with you on the go.
The All-Clad 99011GT Stainless Steel Belgian Waffle Maker is a great addition to any kitchen. It makes perfect waffles every time and is very easy to use. The high-quality materials used in the construction of this product ensure that it will last for years. If you are looking for a great way to make delicious Belgian waffles at home, we really would recommend the All-Clad 99011GT Stainless Steel Belgian Waffle Maker as one of our top picks.
PROS:
- High Quality Product
- Long Lasting
- Consistent Results
- Easy to store
CONS:
- Expensive Price tag
Conclusion
In conclusion, between the 5 options available here; Bella vs Cuisinart vs Oster vs Krups vs All-Clad waffle maker, the author’s recommendation would have to be the Oster DiamondForce Vertical Waffle maker. It is the most ergonomic, innovative, and easy to use out of the all of them. The other ones are great options as well. The Bella classic rotating waffle maker is great for people on a budget, both the Cuisinart WAF-F40 and the All-Clad 99011GT are great if you’re willing to dish out the big bucks to enjoy breakfast, and the KRUPS Belgian waffle maker is fantastic if you can find the space to store it without needing to move it around every time.