The Best Waffle Makers For Crispy Edges and Fluffy Centers (2026)

You know what you don’t need if you live alone, have minimal space, or are looking to spend as little as possible? A commercial-size appliance—probably for anything, but definitely for waffles. Enter: the Dash Mini Waffle Maker, which, as its name implies, cooks up bite-size waffles and doesn’t take up much room.

What we love: While this $13 appliance is not the best waffle maker we tested, it’s still punching far above its weight, considering it costs less than an order of waffles at many brunch spots. It’s as easy to use as it is to store. When you turn it on, a light indicates that it’s getting hot. When the light goes off, you know it’s time to pour in your batter.

Our testers tried both a buttermilk recipe and a cheddar-scallion savory waffle. For each batch, the waffles ended up with an even consistency and a pleasantly crisp texture.

What we’d leave: When you buy such an inexpensive appliance, it’s wise not to expect it to include the latest technology. With the Dash Mini, you won’t get much at all by way of helpful features (aside from that light indicating when the device is hot and ready for batter). Because it lacks a timer to let you know when your waffle is done, you’ll need to do a bit of trial and error to land on your preferred level of crispness (for what it’s worth, our testers liked waffles that cooked in the Dash for two minutes).

Because it doesn’t have a mechanism to catch any batter that flows over the edges, be mindful not to use more than the recommended three to four tablespoons. And because it makes just one mini waffle at a time, if you’re cooking brunch for more people than just yourself, be ready to post up at your cooking space for a while.

How we tested waffle makers

No matter how you like your waffles—light and fluffy or crisped to the max—the technical abilities of a waffle iron to serve up your ideal plate should be universal. Here are the factors we considered in naming the best waffle makers.

Size: Most people aren’t making waffles from scratch every day, so we kept size and bulk in mind. For larger irons, we considered whether that heft is part of the machine’s function or if it’s just taking up needless space. Also, we kept storage in mind; a smaller machine with an awkward design may be trickier to store than some larger models.
Even-cooking capability: If a machine doesn’t cook a waffle consistently throughout, we noticed and noted.
Materials: For models that include nonstick surfaces (which can help eliminate the need for pre-greasing and also facilitate faster cleanup), we noted how well the feature worked. We also paid attention to the machine’s exterior materials. For example, plastic is typically less durable than stainless steel.
Extra features: Nice-to-haves like self-timers, shade selectors, and ready indicators may not be required for an iron to make great waffles, but these add-ons contribute a layer of convenience.
Cleaning difficulty: No one wants to spend their morning picking at dried batter stuck to a waffle iron’s grid. We took note of features like nonstick surfaces, removable parts that make cleaning less awkward, dishwasher-safe attachments, and drip plates.
Price: We tested waffle makers at a range of prices. To help pick the best for your needs, consider your overall budget and whether certain upgrades—like the ability to make four waffles at once, a self-timer, and a shade selector—are worth the higher cost.

Other waffle makers we tested

There are many more waffle makers available on the market, and we tried a bunch of them. Many didn’t make our list of favorites due to uneven cooking consistency. (No one wants a splotchy waffle.) Here’s what we thought: