Waffle Makers Available In Many Different Styles

Waffles have been a favorite food for hundreds of years, and today they are sold worldwide for dessert, breakfast, or a snack. Not all recipes for the batter are alike, and some use baking powder for leavening while others are yeast based. They can be found in many different shapes and sizes, so the type of waffle determines which of the many waffle makers to purchase.

The round waffles that cover most of the plate and feature large squares are normally called Belgian style. While authentic Belgian waffles have a batter which is made with yeast, the term most often refers to the look rather than the batter. This style is usually crisper and considerably thicker than other types.

American waffles are thinner and typically use baking powder rather than yeast in the batter. They may be round, square, or rectangular, and the squares are normally smaller than their Belgian cousins.

Some waffle irons are designed to only cook waffles, although you can make sandwiches with them. These waffle sandwiches are similar to grilled sandwiches, but they have the trademark waffle squares pressed into the bread. Other waffle irons come with interchangeable plates that allow you to cook a variety of foods. Flat grills let you make traditional grilled cheese sandwiches, and grills even allow the cooking of steaks. Special inserts provide the option of creating waffles in the shapes of various objects or cartoon characters.

Storage and operating space available need to be considered when shopping for a waffle maker. Some styles, such as those that flip the waffles, have more height than others. Naturally, the larger irons will also need more room to use or store.

Most cooks prefer a non-stick finish on the interior. This allows the food to be released more easily and makes clean up easier. A drip pan to catch the overflow of batter and an audible timer are also handy features to have. If you purchase a multiple purpose unit, such as one that can also grill meat, an adjustable heat setting is desirable. A light that lets you know when the proper temperature has been reached is another feature many cooks like.

While butter and syrup are the most popular waffle toppings, many are consumed plain, and powdered sugar or whipped cream and fresh fruit are common toppings. Waffle batter is almost identical to cake batter, so basically anything that pairs up well with cake can be applied to a waffle. Chocolate syrup, ice cream, and frosting are often accompaniments for waffles. Some people use a batter that is less sweet to make a type of bread to add interest to stews, salads, or soups.

Ben runs a website dedicated to waffle recipes that also has lots of advice on buying waffle makers. You can also find many different waffle recipes for those of you that already own a belgian waffle maker.