Making Waffles Is An Absolute Art

I have been talking about getting myself a waffle make fore years but for whatever reason, I never actually went out and got one.  Finally, I happened to be at a store that was going out of business and I located a waffle maker that had a phenomenal deal.  It was the Krups 65475 WaffleChef Waffle Maker.  Usually the price on this item for $50 but I was able to pick it up for $20.  With a bargain like this, I had to do it.  I did not know much about Krups except that they were a higher end producer of small appliances and that their products were pretty good.  A coworker of mine has a single cup coffee make made by them and has raved about it since she purchased it.

Features
The Krups 65475 WaffleChef Waffle Maker is able to make four thick Belgian style waffles in one round.  The plates are deep fitting thereby producing thick Belgian waffles.  There are non-stick interior plates inside the waffle maker to allow for the waffles to be removed easier and clean up to be quicker.  The waffle maker also has a ready light feature to indicate when the machine is preheating or if the temperature is at the optimal level.  The machine is equipped with a cool touch thermo-insulated hander to allow easy and safe handling.  There is a latch built into the unit to allow for easy storage and the ability for it to be placed in an upright position when it is not in use.  The exterior of the waffle maker has a shiny chrome exterior that wipes off easily and looks attractive.

Instructions
Prior to using the machine for the first time, you will want to wipe the plates down with a damp sponge and dry them.  Once dry, lightly grease the plates with a non stick spray, butter, or oil and turn the appliance on.  Both the green and red light that is on the top of the waffle iron will come on indicating that it is beginning to heat up.  You will notice a plastic odor that will be coming from the machine which Krups describes as the "new-product odor."  This odor will dissipate after approximately 10 minutes and you can then use the machine. 

You will once again want to grease the plates prior to adding any batter.  Once the red light has gone off and the green has remained on, the plates are hot enough to begin making a set of waffles.  Pour the batter into each plate careful not to overfill them.  It takes approximately 1/2 cup of batter to fill the waffle plates.  Close the top part of the waffle maker; however do not close the latch as the hinge allows for the waffles to expand while cooking.  If the latch is set, the batter may overrun onto the sides of the machine.  During the baking process, the second light may come on and off although this is normal.  After approximately 4-6 minutes, the waffles are ready to be taken off of the maker and ready for serving.  Krups recommends that a wooden spatula be used rather than a metallic or sharp edged utensil to prevent any damage or scratching of the maker plates.  To make more waffles, close the lid and wait for the ready light to turn off.  Once it has turned off and the temperature is back to the optimal heat, repeat the process and add more batter.  Once you are finished making waffles, unplug the appliance and allow it to cool.  It takes approximately 1-2 hours for it to cool depending on the external temperature.

With this waffle maker, if you use a batter that is thicker you will produce those that are crispier on the outside but moist on the inside.  The batter should not be over stirred as it will reduce the amount of air in the batter thereby creating a dense and chewy waffle. 

My Experience
First experience of using the Krups 65475 WaffleChef Waffle Maker did not go as well as I expected.  I used a light amount of non-stick spray to grease the plates.  I initially used nearly a full cup of batter mix in the machine and I had a significant amount of run off that made its way onto the sides of the machine and all over the counter.  I quickly wiped it up as I knew it would be difficult to remove once it had hardened.  I lifted the top of the machine after four minutes and not only found that the waffles were not done, but I had managed to split them in half.  I immediately began trying to pull them off of the plates but they did not come willingly.  After about 30 minutes of scraping I was finally able to remove all of the waffle pieces that were sticking to the plates. 

I had made extra batter and decided to try it again.  This time, I used a significant amount more spray and added about 1/2 cup to the mix.  I checked the waffle maker after about six minutes and found that the batter no longer separated and that they were nearly done.  I like my waffles to be a golden brown and it took about another minute to achieve this.  The waffles were light and fluffy and were cooked evenly all of the way through. 

For any additional batches that I made, I do regrease the plates to prevent anymore sticking.  I have never tried a batch without regreasing so I cannot tell you for sure if the non-stick will work for more than one round.  Krups suggest that it is able to do so but after my first experience, I would rather lean towards the side of caution.

The plates were a little tricky to clean afterward due to all of the prongs sticking out to make the waffle imprint.  I used a damp sponge to get in between each one and was able to wipe out any residue easily.  I also wipe the outside of the waffle maker with a non-abrasive damp towel to prevent scratching the chrome exterior.

Once I have allowed the Krups 65475 WaffleChef Waffle Maker to cool down after a few hours, I latch it up closed and store it on top

I have used the waffle maker several times since then and have not had any further problems.  The two primary things that I learned was that you need to use a healthy amount of lubricant to prevent the waffles from sticking, a 1/2 cup of waffle mix is sufficient, and with the recipe that I am using from their book, the batter will not be close to ready until at least six minutes.

Additional Information
When you purchase the Krups 65475 WaffleChef Waffle Maker they include multiple recipes in the owner’s manual.  We always use the recipe that they provide for their basic waffle batter although it is a little time intensive.  This recipe produces a batter that makes a crunchy outside and light middle.  It has an overall sweetness that is perfect for the taste buds.  Any recipe can be used to make waffles on the Krups 65475 WaffleChef Waffle Maker and you will need to adjust the cooking time as necessary.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
_______________
 Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  In a bowl, beat the egg yolks, add the milk and then add the sifted dry ingredients.  In a small bowl, beat the egg whites to a thick foam and add them gently to the preparation.  The batter is now ready. 

The manual also provides recipes for the following items although I have not personally made or tried them myself: 

Crispy waffles with hot chocolate and vanilla ice cream
Maple-Blueberry Sauce
Cherry Sauce

All in all, it is a good product although you will need to tailor the directions to meet your needs.  I watched my mom use other waffle makers when I was a child and I find that she had the same problems that I did and I think this is the case with any of those on the market.