Product Description
Fast, flavorful and fluffy—every Belgian waffle baked in Cuisinart’s Flip Belgian Waffle Maker is cooked to perfection in minutes. Designed with a rotary feature that flips 180° to evenly cook waffles inside and out, this kitchen essential bakes according to preference with a turn of the dial, from light to dark. Nonstick plates easily release a flawlessly formed Belgian waffle with deep pockets perfect for filling with fruit, meat, jams, whipped cream, and other toppings. A ready indicator light advises when the waffle is ready and prevents over- and under-cooking. Durable, brushed stainless steel housing complements any kitchen and wipes clean in seconds.
- Browning control knob adjusts to 5-settings for custom cooking from light to dark
- Bakes a restaurant quality, 1-inch thick Belgian waffle
- Green indicator light illuminates when unit is Ready-to-Cook and when cook time is done
- Easy-to-Handle rotary feature for even baking on top and bottom
- 1000 watts of power
1) If you are using the Joy of Cooking, you do not need to spray the waffle iron. There is plenty of butter in the waffle.
2) These things get ripping hot and stay that way for a long time. Watch your digits!
3) To ease cleaning, once you're done, turn the iron sideways - on edge - and let any left over oil from the button collect on the bottom plate.
It was simple to unbox and nothing to set up. It was plug it in, turn it on and wait for the light to tell you it was hot enough to start cooking. I made up batter from a recipe I found on YouTube and brushed the griddle with some vegetable oil just to make sure they didn't stick. The cup it comes with is the perfect size; I filled it up and poured it onto the griddle and it turned out to be the perfect size! After filling the one size, we closed the lid and flipped it. It turns very easily and locks sturdily in place when you get to the opposite side. Filled the cup up again with batter and poured onto the griddle. Closed that lid and flipped again to the other side.
There is a bit of what looks like steam that comes off. It might be smoke but unlike cooking in a regular pan where the smoke comes off and smells up the whole place, this didn't smell at all. Funny, I didn't know how to tell when they were finished but there is an alarm that goes off when the waffles are ready. When I opened the lid, I was shocked at what I saw... the MOST perfect waffle I have ever seen. It was cooked thoroughly and even a little golden brown in some spots. No burns and not overcooked. Just simply cooked to perfection! We topped the first with some homemade whipped cream and berries, a little syrup and simply the most amazing waffle I've ever tasted. I saw a lot of negative reviews and really can't understand what people are complaining about. There was no drip of the batter and you can adjust the temperature to make it crispier if that's the way you want them I've read the people who say they are "serious" waffle eaters and I think they just don't know how to use it. While it's my first time making waffles and I'm not a frequent waffle eater, doesn't mean I can't appreciate GREAT waffles and this machine clearly makes restaurant quality waffles. We already did another batch today and we are going to start experimenting with other things you can cook up in a waffle iron (as we are finding on YouTube).
the box look like it had been dropped, there were tears in it and someone had opened the box and resealed it with clear tape that tore through the label...
I was very unhappy about this...
The temperature control has a large amount of play in the switch so it's hard to tell exactly what temperature it's on..
And when you feel the plates with mixtures it has a tendency not to stay closed...
Other than that it works good and makes good waffles...
My batter was on the thinner side, so a little got on the outside “metal” of this waffle maker, leaving a faint stain on its finish. It was so HOT on Level 4 that I decided to wait to wipe it off when I was done making one pair of waffles. That took only a few minutes, but it was another 30 minutes before I could wipe off that baked-on batter. It wasn’t too noticeable, but I could tell that I’d really mess up its nice silver finish in a matter of months bc I intend to use it more than once a week.
I’d be less likely to drip batter onto a hot waffle maker from a batter cup held by my right hand if I didn’t need to close it up and then turn the darn thing upside down quickly with my left hand, so a stationary model would be a better choice for me.
I also wasn’t happy about having to wipe clean all those nooks and crannies on its waffle irons! They are very deep and make a fantastic waffle, but I spent way too much time wiping off every bit of sprayed on avocado oil from in between them.
I hated to box it back up after my husband and I finished enjoying those first two Belgium waffles. (See close-up photo of a leftover piece of mine, measuring a full 7/8” thick.) They were SO good! But the finish at the latch looked like it may begin peeling off at some point, and I really need an entirely different type to also enjoy making them.
So, I’ve sent it back and am now looking forward to making many different kinds of waffles, very soon, with a Cuisinart model that is both stationary and has removable iron plates that I can easily hand-wash in my sink.
Thank you, Florenmolamarts, for making this exchange process so easy — and so fast! And thank you, Cuisinart for offering such a model that also includes an extra set of iron plates so I can use it to make four 4” pancakes instead of four (although somewhat smaller) waffles if I want!
This model is designed better than that one was. First off, this doesn't have the same lock as the other, and that old machine would sometimes accidentally get locked while using and the waffle would explode. This one locks down into place, but it unlocks by itself as steam builds up (see the close up picture).
This machine is so sturdy and cooks the waffles evenly - light and crispy, just the way I love them! The picture of the waffle was the very first one out of the maker.
The little cup that comes with it for pouring batter is the perfect amount for a waffle that doesn't spill over the edge.
This also has a place to roll the cord underneath the unit. Woo hoo! I love this!
*A little tip for you - Don't use cooking spray. The lecithin in it will leave ugly yellow stains all over your pretty waffle iron (that would be my previous model). I am now using a pastry brush to brush butter onto the grates, and it is much less messy and works perfectly.
Before I ordered this, I did ton of Googling to discover the most dependable waffle iron, and this one popped up on every list. You definitely can't go wrong with this one. Also, Cuisinart's customer service is amazing. They will replace your unit with a brand new unit if it breaks (I've done this with other appliances).
Happy customer right here!
It does have it's short coming when it comes to cleaning, especially when I made Liege waffles and you have so much caramelized sugar running down the top plate and the sides. The other problem was how much sugar was running down the hinge spring. I've learned from this and I'll cover that part with a piece of aluminum foil to prevent from having to clean that tough spot.
I have used this waffle make several times now and am very pleased. There is a little trick on the level of brown that you want your waffles to be. I set on 5 because I like mine darker. After the 2nd use I set on 4 and they are perfect. I have added pictures so that you could see.
So, after three years of relatively constant use (at least 3-4 times per month because I make large batches), my Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Maker (2 sided) is still working great. We love everything about it. Clean up is a bit of a hassle, but that's why I also make large batches because I don't have time in the morning for cleanup.
I do not use this to do any of the other recipes in videos. I see folks cooking with cheese and sauces and all that. Well, that's really not me. I bought this with one purpose in mind and only use it for that. So, for me, clean-up is really easy. For other stuff, I pull out a frying pan. So, I really can't tell you about that side of it.
Original Review Written in 2020: I've always wanted a waffle maker -- even better -- Belgian Waffle maker. But I was worried it would not be used after a while, and clean up in the past for all these sorts of things was horrible. Not with this one. Every week I'm making a batch because my son absolutely loves them. I usually make a bunch and freeze them for the week because of schedules and work. I've made some from scratch; but I have to admit that most of the time it's easiest to use a mix (Krusteaz Belgian Waffle Mix, is my preferred).
Directions: I use a very light spray of Pam, because the oil wasn't as efficient and Pam gives it a lighter, more complete coverage. I also make sure the batter is able to flow of a spoon, rather than being thick. BUT not too watery. I find this helps move the batter around better for a more complete waffle. I do not necessarily like a crunchy waffle, so I start with it on "3." However, as I cook more waffles, I find I need to turn it down to almost "2" because the temperature continues to rise. A silicon set of tongs makes removal very safe and easy -- kids can help on that end.
Pros: Easy clean-up, very simple to use, perfect waffles every time. I've added chocolate chips to batter and fruit and nothing sticks and it's very easy to just wipe it out once cooled.
Cons: If you do use a little too much Pam, you'll find it drips down the back, the temperature setting could be more accurate (but not a huge issue), maybe a slightly longer cord would be nice too. As you can see, I really do not have many cons here. This thing has been perfect so far. Unlike some of the other posts, I've not seen any of the problems with the plastic on the back melting or anything...so I can only imagine that they have since addressed the issue? I bought mine a few months ago and we have used it regularly since, without issue.
Suggestions for Cuisinart: Accessories would be nice!!! Like a case/cover to protect it when it's on the counter or put into a cabinet. But I would especially love to see an 8" round waffle freezer storage box -- maybe to hold 3 or 4 waffles? That would make my day (especially ecofriendly)!!!
All-in-all, I completely recommend this waffle maker to anyone...well, waffling about which one to get.
Only complaints are that the unit hits my cabinets when I open it. I can easily work around it though so not a big negative. Also, the outside of the unit gets really hot as another reviewer stated so need to be careful. I've nearly accidentally burnt myself a few times. on the plus side, the unit gets so hot, that when I spilled a little bit of batter on the side, it was cooked in a minute or 2. That and the plates don't come off for easy cleaning, which is okay except it's a little harder wiping down the top part.
Pros:
Good waffles for how I use it so far
Shorter handle part than the old one
Beeps when it's ready to cook waffles or if the waffle is done.
Waffles releases easily.
Deep Belgian waffles style pockets.
Nice crispy waffles on #4 setting. #3 setting is softer.
Cons:
height/depth, it hits my cabinets when it's open. Need to set it at the edge of the counter.
Outside gets really hot so need to be careful (Could be a pro if you accidentally spill some batter on the outside. Extra cooking space!)
Can't remove the plates for washing.
That said, (and as other reviewers can attest) this waffle maker seems to have issues with the hinge design failing. I have only owned mine for a little over a month, but the pictures others have posted convince me that I may run into issues in the future. I will update this review as more time passes.
If you want amazing waffles, this waffle iron will make them. But YMMV on long-term reliability.