A Waffle Iron For the Rest of Us!
Pros:
Non-stick grids, heats fast and cooks fast. Cool touch handles. Stands for storage.
Cons:
No color control, no self timer. (a cheap kitchen timer works just fine)
The Bottom Line:
Anyone can afford this waffle iron and should have an easy time using it. It is simple and easy to use and THE PRICE IS RIGHT!
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
My husband loves waffles and so do I. So I started shopping around on the web, reading reviews and checking prices. Saw some great irons, but on our limited budget, we needed something affordable AND durable. Enter the Black & Decker WMB500 Waffle Maker-- and the problem was solved!
This is a stylish chrome and black waffle iron. It makes a large, round Belgian waffle that can be broken into 4 pieces. The iron heats up quickly, so that by the time you have mixed up the batter, it is time to fill the waffle iron. I used a ladle that holds about 1/2 cup and put the batter in the waffle iron in an "X" pattern, then smoothed it out almost to the edges. I left a little room for the waffle to expand outward, so it wouldn't overflow. The waffle cooks in about 3 minutes to a med. golden brown and the handles stay cool to the touch for you to open the iron up to remove the waffle.
There is no color control for waffle doneness; only a ready light. There is no on/off switch; it just has to be unplugged. The light comes on when the iron is plugged in and goes out when the waffle iron is ready to use. When you put the batter in and close the iron, the light goes on again and goes out when the waffle is done. I just set my kitchen timer for 3 minutes to remind me; if you like them darker, leave the waffle in longer. Once you know how long it takes to cook the waffle to the doneness YOU prefer, a kitchen timer makes it really easy to keep the waffles coming without overcooking them.
I used oil to wipe both grids to condition the iron before cooking the first waffle. Metal utensils could scratch the non-stick surface,so since I love having non-stick, easy cleaning appliances, I used a hard plastic spatula to lift the edge of the waffle to remove it. I made 3 waffles in a row the first night we used it and all of them were perfect; there was no sticking at all. I did NOT oil the grids after the first time.
After letting the waffle iron cool completely, it only took a damp cloth to clean it up. The cord can be wrapped around the base and the iron can stand up on edge for storage. Mine will probably live on top of the counter next to the toaster!
Probably the most amazing thing of all is the price: I paid $15 for this little jewel! At first, I thought, this waffle iron can't be much for such a small price. But Black & Decker makes pretty good tools, so I thought I would take a chance. I'm glad I did! Now we can have great Belgian waffles whenever we want--I make them with whole grain flours, so they are hearty and HEALTHY!
So don't let the small price and simplicity of Black & Decker WMB500 Waffle Maker fool you--it is a very good product and a VERY good value!
And if you are on a tight budget like we are, you, too, can afford to have a Belgian waffle iron!
