My quest for the best waffle maker led me to the flip waffle maker. This kitchen appliance instantly grabbed my attention. I had no idea that there was a waffle maker that could flip your waffles. Was it automatic, or do I have to do it manually? These were some of the questions that popped into my mind.
I began my research on this and quickly learned what a flip waffle maker is and how it works. The following question I asked myself was, is a flip waffle maker better?
A quick answer to this is yes. With a flip waffle maker, the batter gets equally distributed. It flows and coats every inch of the waffle maker plate, guaranteeing that the waffle is crunchy and fluffy. It provides quality waffles, shortens cooking time, and is easier to clean.
What Is The Advantage Of A Flip Waffle Maker?
The advantage of the flip waffle maker is that the waffles are perfectly baked and brown on both sides. The heat gets distributed on both sides, making sure the waffles are not undercooked or overcooked. The flip waffle maker has a digital display and a timer. You can set the timer to how many minutes you want to cook your waffle.
You do not have to open the lid and flip the waffle manually. Just grab the handle, which is cool to the touch, and flip the waffle maker. Since it needs to rotate, it must be above the surface level. The benefit of this is that some waffles makers come with a tray on which the overflow batter accumulates. Your kitchen counter does not get messy, and the tray is easy to clean.
Flip Waffle Maker Pros & Cons
I believe that flip waffle makers are better than regular waffle makers. There are a few disadvantages, but they do not outweigh the advantages.
- The light indicator tells when the waffle maker is preheated and ready to use.
- The timer lets you know when the waffle is cooked.
- The inside of the waffle maker is nonstick, so the waffle easily comes out.
- You can flip it easily, and get perfectly cooked waffles, crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
- The deep square pockets are perfect for your syrup or any other topping.
- The batter may spill out, causing a bit of mess.
- The timer isn’t connected with the machine’s operation, and you would have to turn off the waffle maker, or it will keep on cooking.
The Science Behind Why Waffle Makers Flip?
Waffle makers flip to help cook waffles faster. Everyone is saying this, but I wanted to understand the logic. After studying flip waffle makers, I now understand why this is necessary.
Once you pour the batter into the preheated waffle maker, it will spread and start to cook. Now only the bottom plate is cooking the batter, not the top plate. When you close the lid, the top plate of the waffle maker, which is also heated up, will start cooking the batter from the top, but it will not be 100%. The batter has already spread on the bottom plate entirely, it is not fluffy enough to touch the top plate. Therefore, it will not cook from both sides equally.
Now here is where the flip helps. When you flip it, the batter flows to the bottom again. By the bottom, I mean the top part of the waffle maker, which is now the base of the waffle maker. Once you flip it, the batter will fall and spread evenly. Now both the top and bottom plates are cooking the batter. It reduces the cooking time, and the waffles are perfectly baked and brown on both sides.
You will end up with fewer gaps in your waffles, giving you that nice crunch on the outside and a fluffy texture in the middle.
Flip Waffle Maker vs Regular Waffle maker (Details Comparison)
Before setting my heart on a flip waffle maker, I studied two products, one from each waffle maker, and noted the features for both.
Here are the differences between a flip and a regular waffle maker.
Presto 03510 Ceramic FlipSide
The Presto waffle maker has a stainless steel exterior providing a beautiful look. The body is durable and easy to clean. The interior is nonstick and requires minimum oil coating. The grids are half an inch deep, excellent for baking thick waffles. Thanks to the nonstick interior, the waffles come out with ease.
A cool feature that I like is the timer and the light indicator. When you turn on the machine, the light will turn red, indicating that the waffle maker is preheating. It usually takes around five minutes, and the light will turn off. I also reviewed some ceramic waffle makers which are the best in the market right now.
The timer does not stop or start the machine. It is to set the cooking time in minutes. It beeps when there is a minute left and beeps five times when the timer has expired.
Cuisinart WMR-CA Round
This waffle maker also has a stainless steel body. The interior is a nonstick round plate, so the waffles will not get stuck. A great feature about this is the brown control. You can set how brown you want your waffle to be, with one being the lightest and five being the darkest.
It also comes with dual indicator lights. The red light shows the waffle maker is heating up, and the green light indicates when it is ready. Cuisinart waffle maker does not come with a timer. But when the waffles are ready, the green light will turn on again.
When To Flip A Waffle Maker?
My imagination led me to believe that I would be rotating the waffle maker round and round, just like roasting meat over an open campfire. To my surprise, this was not the case at all when I discovered that I had to flip the waffle maker once.
When you pour the batter, spread it on the hot plate and close the lid. Grab hold of the handle and rotate the waffle maker. It is as simple as that. When you flip the waffle maker, it distributes itself on both plates. So, flipping it once is enough.
How Do You Use A Flip Waffle Maker?
I have already discussed the basics of how does a flip waffle maker work. But I have not clarified how to use a flip waffle maker. It is not a big deal, and I am sure that you can figure it out. But from personal experience on operating new kitchen appliances, I believe I should present a complete guide, so you do not need to refer to the manual.
1.) Keep the unit close and plug in the waffle maker. A light will turn on, indicating that it is preheating. This process takes approximately three to five minutes, after which the light will turn off, which means the unit is preheated and ready to use.
2.) Open the lid and coat the plates with oil so that the waffle batter does not stick, and it will be easy to remove the waffle. Do not overdo it, a light coating of oil will be fine.
3.) Pour the batter gradually in the middle of the waffle plate. You will hear a sizzling sound, don’t be alarmed as it is just the batter touching the hot surface. Once you have poured the waffle batter, spread it evenly across the plate.
4.) Press the button to set the timer on how long you want the waffle to cook. Close the lid and gently flip the waffle maker over.
5.) You may see steam coming out from the top and may notice the light going on and off. All of that is normal.
6.) When the timer expires, you will hear a beep or multiple beeps indicating that the waffle has been cooked. Switch off the unit, open the lid and take out the waffle. Be careful when you do so as the waffle will be hot.
7.) Keep the lid open, allowing the waffle maker to cool. If required, you can wipe the inside with a clean, dry cloth.
Do I Need A Waffle Maker That Flips?
After thorough research on the flip and regular waffle makers, I have decided a flip waffle maker is the best choice. If I am going to put in a lot of effort in making the batter and end up getting an unevenly cooked waffle, that is not visually appealing, I might as well prepare pancakes on a frying pan.
In my opinion, purchasing a flip waffle maker is worth every cent. What is the use of making waffles if you do not get them perfectly done? Professionals use them to prepare hotel-quality waffles to serve their guests. I have seen them use flip waffle makers during the breakfast buffet.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and spending time preparing the batter and not getting those crisp, fluffy waffles will ruin your day.
Waffle Baking Tips
If you are a newbie to waffle making like me, you may need to do a few tries before you get the hang of making the perfect waffle. Here are some waffle baking tips to help you make the best homemade waffles.
1.) Even though the plates are nonstick, it is recommended to put some oil so that the batter does not stick. Lightly coat it using a pastry brush that has soft bristles.
2.) Before pouring the waffle batter, check the consistency. If it is too runny, it will be a pancake batter. Waffle batter must be thick but not too much that you need a spoon to scope it out.
3.) Pour the batter in a preheated waffle maker in the middle so that it spreads and covers the whole plate.
4.) Separate the egg from the egg yolks for fluffy waffles.
5.) Make sure there are no lumps in your waffle batter.
6.) Cooking time may vary, and you would have to experiment with how much time you need for your waffles to cook perfectly.
7.) Don’t lift the lid unless the timer beeps or the waffle maker stops steaming.
