Thick And Crusty. Yummy Yummy!!!

If your family enjoys waffles, you may want to buy this Black@Decker Belgian Waffle Maker. I've always purchased frozen waffles and pancakes from our supermarket. So when I saw this Black@Decker Belgian Waffle Maker at our Wal-Mart for $19.99, I bought it. I figured if my husband loved the frozen store waffles, he would surely love Belgian homemade waffles better. And I was so right. My husband along with my 9 year old grandson love these belgian waffles.

Features are:

Non-stick cooking surfaces.

Chrome exterior that wipes clean and won't discolor.

Ready Light that signals when it's preheating and when the waffle is done.

Heat resistant handles.

Convenient cord wrap.

Stands upright for easy storing.


Conditioning the unit:

You must condition the upper and lower non-stick surfaces with a light coating of cooking oil. But do not use cooking sprays. You can brush the oil onto the cooking surfaces, or just wipe the oil on with a paper towel. Wipe off any excess oil with a dry paper towel.

You may find the first waffle will absorb some of the oil and may have a little greasy appearance. If this happens just discard the first waffle. The rest of the waffles that you make will turn out just fine.


Baking the waffles:

After you have Conditioned the upper and lower surfaces, close the lid and plug it in. There is a ready light that will come on to let you know that the unit is heating. While this is pre-heating which takes about 5 minutes, I make my batter. When the unit has been pre-heated the light will go out and the waffle maker is then ready for your first waffle.

I pour about 2/3 cups of batter on to the lower baking surface. If you pour too much more than 2/3 cups of batter, the batter will seep out over the edges. This happened to me the first time I made my first waffle. With a rubber spatula spread the batter evenly over the surface and towards the edges. This will assure you to have a more even waffle.

Next close the lid making sure not to force it down real tightly. The hinge is designed to be loose to allow the waffle to rise evenly and will also allow steam to escape. The ready light will now come on, and then will go off when the waffle has fully baked. The cooking time usually takes about 4-5 minutes, depending on the kind of batter that you are using. If you like a crispy waffle just leave it in a while longer. If you have children please do not let them around the unit when it's in use, as escaping steam could cause very bad burns.

You may see a little moisture on the sides or near the handles from the steam. No need for concern, as this is normal. And make sure you do not open the unit during baking, because this may cause the waffle to stick or bake poorly. I know it's tempting to take a peak during baking, but it's better if you don't.

Once the ready light has gone out, open the lid carefully and remove the waffle with a fork, being careful not to scratch the non-stick finish. If you find that the waffle sticks a little, just lightly re-oil the surfaces before you make the next waffle.

The waffle will bake in semi cuts of 4 sections. The sections will separate into parts when removing it from the unit. So make sure that you have a plate ready or your waffle will end up in 4 sections on your counter. Always make sure that you keep the lid closed between baking several waffles. This will preserve the heat.

When all your waffles have been baked unplug the cord, and open the unit to allow it to cool down.


Cleaning the unit:

Once the unit has cooled completely just wipe the surfaces with a damp sponge or cloth. As with most appliances, never use any abrasive cleaners on the unit, as it may damage the non-stick coating in the unit. The outside chrome surface should be cleaned with a damp or soapy sponge, and dried with a soft cloth.


Storing the unit:

After cleaning the unit, you can wrap the cord around the cord wrap and stand the unit up-right on a shelf, counter or in your cabinet.

There is a recipe that comes with the waffle maker, that is easy to make. I've used it several times. If you like you can also use a pancake mix or a Bisquick mix also.


Freezing the waffles:

If you don't have time in the morning to make these waffles, you can make them the night before and freeze them. They freeze very well. Cool the waffles, and place paper towels or waxed paper between them. Wrap them in plastic wrap, or put them in freezer bags and freeze them. In the morning just pop them in the microwave, or a toaster that has wide slots to heat them up. These are great topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, syrup, jam or any of your favorite toppings.

If you like thick Belgian waffles, then this Black@Decker Belgian Waffle Maker will make super waffles for your family. No more frozen store waffles for my family any more, since this waffle maker came to my house.

Thanks for reading!!

~~Naomi~~