Gadget Review: WafflePro Express

Gadget Review: WafflePro Express

I’m not a breakfast person, but if I could eat waffles every morning, I am willing to change my position. It would indeed be the Most Important Meal of the day. While I adore waffles, waffles irons and The Christies haven’t always gotten along. When I was a child my mom didn’t cook waffles. She pried and chiseled them. Her fancy, family-sized, teflon-coated beast was supposed to produce giant square waffles perfect for re-toasting as snacks. No Christie waffle ever made it that far. Regardless of how she oiled or pre-heated the iron, the waffles clung to its surface like barnacles to a ship hull. At an early age, I decided waffles were something I’d be able to enjoy only in restaurants.

Until now.

For Christmas, Andrew generously bought me a waffle iron. How did he know? He didn’t. He was laid up in bed with a knee injury and I was left unsupervised in a new cooking store. The waffle iron, the only one in the whole store, knew a soft touch when it saw one and jumped into my arms as I walked past. I have witnesses who will swear to this.

Being the compassionate baker that I am, I adopted the lonely Chef’s Choice WafflePro Express Taste/Texture Select 840 with “Five of Hearts” Waffles and it thanked me with waffles. Light, crisp-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside waffles. The kind of waffles my childhood denied me.

I don’t care about the shape of the waffles, hearts are cute but don’t effect the taste. You know me. I’m all about the food. While I admit I ended up with a pricey ($90 retail), one-trick gadget I don’t really have room for, in my defense, it performs quite a trick. These waffles were so beguiling I ate the first one it produced — the one you’re supposed to toss out for technical reasons.

Now, maybe you have a waffle iron that does all this without the Taste/Texture Select title, but an intact, edible waffle is a revelation to me. Unlike my mom’s churlish clunker, this one heated very quickly and cooked the waffles in about a minute.  The machine has two settings which allow you to customize the results. You can have Crisp Exterior/Moist Interior (my favourite) or Uniform Texture. Like your waffles soft gold or dark amber? Just set the “color control dial”. They  also eliminated the guesswork. Forget watching for the steam to stop. This gadget beeps when it’s ready for the batter and when the waffle is cooked. And unlike some waffle irons which produce a stellar first and iffy second, each of the half dozen or so waffles came out consistently perfect.

Having one successful batch of plain waffles under my soon-t0-be-expanding belt, I’m ready to venture into more exotic flavours. Got an unusual waffle to share? Any tips and tricks I should know about? Speak up. I got a $90 waffle iron I need to justify.

18 Comments
  • Jamie
    Posted at 11:53h, 17 January

    I love my waffle maker. I also received it as a gift. It has served it’s purpose well. Enjoy yours!

  • Vanessa
    Posted at 12:27h, 17 January

    I love the photos! They make me want to run out and buy this waffle iron. The steam coming off of the waffles is so appealing on this bitter cold day.

  • Barbara
    Posted at 16:43h, 17 January

    You have inspired me. Maybe I will brush the dust off of the electric chrome nonstick waffle iron I received for a wedding gift over thirty years ago and celebrate International Waffle Day on March 25TH .

  • Julie
    Posted at 20:04h, 17 January

    LOVE waffles. Have you seen Molly’s waffle debate? http://orangette.blogspot.com/2010/05/you-deserve-waffle.html
    You definitely must try Marion Cunningham’s yeast-raised waffles – http://wednesdaychef.typepad.com/the_wednesday_chef/2007/06/marion-cunningh.html and I’m quite a fan of maple or honey bran waffles – http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2010/03/13/local-201-lunch/. Excellent purchase! I have one and am in the market for another – mine is too uneven, and it’s one gadget I actually use!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 20:43h, 17 January

    @Jamie, oh believe me. I will!

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 20:44h, 17 January

    @Vanessa, thanks for noticing the steam. It took several tries to get that shot. Glad to have inspired you. I’m sure there are less pricey versions out there, but I think this one is going to earn its keep.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 20:45h, 17 January

    @Barbara, there’s an International Waffle Day? Oh, I am sooooo going to observe that day. Better practice to find a recipe worthy of global attention.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 20:48h, 17 January

    @Julie, thanks so much for the links! I’m hopping on over to the waffle debate after I hit “submit”. Those recipes sound wonderful. Love the idea of yeasted waffles.

    This little waffle iron is great, but it makes a very flat waffle. I assume from reading your blog and seeing your photos that yours makes fat waffles. I like a thin waffle because I’m all about the crisp exterior. You might disagree. Wish I could invite you over to test mine. If you’re ever in Ontario…

  • Robin Smart
    Posted at 22:29h, 17 January

    Hey Sis,
    How about pancakes in the patio in the summer and waffles in the winter!! NO not on the patio, just to make the cold more tolerable at a kitchen table near you.
    I’m game any day you care to mention and I’ll bring real maple syrup. If you insist I’ll also bring the rest of the family.
    Love,
    Robin

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 22:36h, 17 January

    @Robin Smart, you. Me. A waffle iron and a bottle of pure maple syrup. No need for others to spoil our fun.

    Okay, maybe if they’re nice and bring fresh berries…

  • Janet
    Posted at 14:46h, 18 January

    Your waffle iron needn’t be “one use.” Enter “waffle iron” in the search box at Food Gawker or Taste Spotting, and you’ll find cookies, sandwiches, hash browns, mac and cheese.

  • Renee Redding
    Posted at 17:52h, 18 January

    The best way to eat waffles is in a waffle sunday. I make waffles and cover them with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. I’ve even made chocolate waffles for this as well. That is a good waffle.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 18:03h, 18 January

    @Janet, I did and was amazed. I have a cookie recipe I was going to try and toyed with doing latkes in the waffle iron, but sandwiches and Mac & Cheese? I’m game. I think you just gave this waffle iron a whole new reason to exist. Thanks so much for the tip.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 18:05h, 18 January

    @Renee Redding, chocolate waffles. With raspberries… I’m just riffing here.

    Of course, it doesn’t take much to convince me to eat ice cream. I think this waffle iron just found itself some summer employment.

  • Cheryl Arkison
    Posted at 16:20h, 21 January

    That’s a pretty fancy machine! I use a hand-me down wedding gift that is simply on or off. But it does great with my basic recipe. Check out the suprise ingredient!
    http://backseatgourmet.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-confessions.html

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 18:10h, 21 January

    @Cheryl Arkison, great link! Thanks.

    And I gotta say, I didn’t see Rick Krispies coming. (Sorry if I spoiled the surprise, but it caught me off guard.)

    As for the waffle iron, who cares how fancy it is as long as it works. My mom’s mangled waffles so I’m a bit gun shy on the appliance. Of course, now I’m totally addicted. Planning cormeal and flax for Saturday morning….

  • Lisa MacColl
    Posted at 12:34h, 23 January

    I’ve never made waffles, but I make a mean pancake…from scratch. I grate apple into the batter to sneak in a little extra nutrition.
    I have a birthday coming up…hmmm.

  • Charmian Christie
    Posted at 08:57h, 25 January

    Oh, I love apples grated into pancakes. It makes them so moist. I really should try that in the waffle iron. With cinnamon. Oh, now I’m hungry.

    Thanks for the great suggestion. And happy pancaking!