The other day while my husband and I were at Wal-Mart, I saw my husband put a waffle maker in the cart. Always conscious of our budget, I of course asked him how much it cost. I wasn’t prepared for his response, which was $7.99. I figured he had picked it up off the wrong shelf because I’d never heard of a Belgian waffle maker being anywhere under $20.
Turns out that he was right. The Belgian waffle maker by Durabrand is a mere $7.99. Still, I figured, for that price, we would be lucky to be get one or two uses out of the appliance or that it would stick, not heat properly, or something equally bad. After all, how good can a $7.99 waffle maker really be?
It turns out that price doesn’t necessarily mean a thing. This little Durabrand appliance makes wonderful waffles. A bonus is that it can be stored upright to save storage space. I love that feature because we have very little cabinet space in our apartment.
Just like the more expensive waffle makers on the market, the Durabrand version has non-stick plates for easy cleaning. It comes with a polarized plug to reduce the risk of electric shock. It only fits into the socket the proper way. That is an important feature when you have small children around the house.
I also like that it comes with a shorter power supply cord. I hate that many of the overly long cords wind across my kitchen counter. It is so easy to get things tangled in them, not to mention the fact that they are unsightly. I also worry that such cords may prove a temptation to my grandson. He is in that inquisitive stage where he wants to know how everything works. Since he loves to help me cook, I’m very cautious about the various things that he might encounter.
As with any appliances, however, I would not recommend this one for use by children under the age of fourteen. The outside of the waffle maker gets very hot and youngsters have a tendency to forget that they could burn themselves severely.
The appliance is obviously for household use only and should never be taken outdoors. I don’t even recommend it for use on a camping trip where electricity might be available. It might work just fine, but electricity at such sites does have a tendency to surge. I don’t know how well this inexpensive appliance would handle that kind of situation.
Obviously it is important to disconnect the waffle maker before cleaning. Because of the non-stick surface, don’t use harsh abrasives, caustic cleaners, or oven cleaners on the appliance.
As with any appliances that heat, it is important to provide adequate air space above and on all sides for air circulation. I like to use a hot pad underneath the product just as a precaution and for extra protection for my countertops.
This waffle maker only comes in the color white so, if you are looking for color accents for your kitchen, this one isn’t for you. It is petite in size measuring only 9″ by 12″ (including the handle) by 3 ¾”. In its standing position, it therefore takes up only about 4″ of space.
Making waffles in the Durabrand is simple. First preheat the appliance until the red light goes off. It is then ready to receive your favorite waffle batter. You can spray the non-stick surface with PAM or some other cooking spray if you desire. However, be cautious not to get the spray into areas that you cannot easily clean.
Place the batter in the center of each of the two waffle plates. I found about 1/3 cup works well. It will disperse the batter evenly when you close it.
During the baking process, the red light will come on until the machine regulates itself to the proper temperature. Then the light will go off. It takes between two and four minutes to bake your first waffles. Subsequent waffles make take slightly less time.
Remove the waffles carefully with a wooden or plastic spatula to avoid scratching the non-stick surface. Once the machine is cool, immediately wipe your waffle maker clean to avoid build up.
That is all there is to the operation of this handy dandy machine. It’s pretty simple, obviously inexpensive, and it makes delightful waffles including those with your favorite additional ingredients like nuts, chocolate chips, or berries.
I have to admit that this may be the best $7.99 I’ve ever spent. This appliance gets four out of five stars.
