Waffles are a chameleon breakfast food – you can make them match whatever you’re feeling that morning. Drench them in Canadian maple syrup and top them with sweet whipped cream and delectable fresh fruit for a sweet treat to kick off the day. Or, go the savoury route and incorporate your favourite spices and breakfast meats for a delicious, protein-packed meal that will power you through until lunch.
But to make these irresistible, golden-brown waffles, you’ll need a good waffle maker. Poor-quality models will result in charred spots or chewy, undercooked sections. To ensure you can produce the perfect waffle with a crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior, you’ll need an excellent waffle maker in your arsenal.
They don’t have to have bells and whistles, but they do need to do their job well. So, to help you choose the best waffle maker in Canada for 2024 for your home, we combed through dozens of models to find the options that would work best for you.
Best Waffle Makers for Canadians in 2024
- Best Overall: Oster Belgian Waffle Maker
- Best Mini Waffle Maker: Dash Mini Waffle Maker
- Best Flip-Style Waffle Maker: Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker
- Best for Personalized Doneness: Chefman Anti-Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker
- Best for Easy Cleanup: Cuisinart WAF-350C Belgian Waffle Maker
- Best for Compact Kitchens: Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker
Why Did We Choose These Waffle Makers in Canada?
Hours of research and evaluation went into creating our list. A high-quality waffle maker can make your mornings better, and we aim to only recommend the best. After expert opinions, research, and thoroughly evaluating each option, we’ve arrived at a list that you can trust. Here’s how we chose each of the best waffle makers for Canadians in 2024.
The Oster Belgian Waffle Maker was our pick for the best overall waffle maker in Canada. It has everything you need to cook beautiful, tasty waffles, from a large baking plate to adjustable temperature controls to control doneness. If you want a well-rounded pick, this model is a great choice.
Standard-size waffle makers often produce waffles that are far too large for kids. On top of that, their large design consumes precious space, making them a less-than-stellar pick for RV camping, travel, or compact kitchens. But with the Dash Mini Waffle Maker, these problems are a thing of the past. It features a compact design and produces tiny waffles, making it a perfect option for kids, travel, and small kitchens.
If you appreciate the cooking consistency of a flip-style waffle maker, consider the Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker. This waffle maker features removable plates for easy cleanup, flipping action for consistent results, and browning control to regulate doneness.
The Chefman Anti-Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker is perfect for Canadian households with varying doneness preferences. It features seven shade presets that allow you to easily select the ideal setting to achieve the perfect colour every time. Adjusting the shade preset is quick and easy, so you can change it in no time between each waffle.
Cleaning the nooks and crannies between the grid lines in a waffle maker can take a while, but cleanup with the Cuisinart WAF-350C Belgian Waffle Maker has never been easier. The plates are removable and dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze. Simply pop them out and throw them in the dishwasher once the iron cools off – it’s as easy as that!
If you’re short on counter space but want to keep your waffle maker on the counter, the Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker is an excellent option. This model sits upright instead of horizontally, saving you space on your counter. The vertical design lends well to avoiding overflow, ensuring you get a beautiful, perfectly portioned waffle every time.
Best Overall
Oster Belgian Waffle Maker
The Oster Belgian Waffle Maker is complete with excellent features at a nearly unbeatable price, making it our best overall pick. While it has no fancy, over-the-top features, its lineup offers everything you need to make the perfect waffle.
It features an 8-inch round baking plate with quarter sections, so waffles are plenty large enough for an adult. The quartered sections make it easy to divide cooked waffles for small children who might not be able to finish a whole one.
A non-stick coating on the baking plates makes for easy waffle release, ensuring you won’t have to scrape off burnt-on bits or tear your waffle apart when removing it. It also bodes well for quick and easy cleanup, allowing you to wipe out residual crumbles or batter.
Adjustable temperature controls allow you to tailor the doneness of your waffle and regulate the colour to achieve the perfect finish. Raise the temperature for a dark brown and crispy waffle, or turn it down for a pale golden waffle with a light crunch.
A safety auto shut-off feature ensures the waffle maker won’t stay on overly long or overheat. Cool touch handles ensure you won’t burn yourself as you work with the gadget, and Power and Ready lights keep you informed.
Key Features
- Large baking plate. An 8-inch round baking plate produces waffles large enough for adult portions, so you can feed your entire family with ease.
- Adjustable temperature. Handy controls make it easy to adjust the temperature based on your doneness and browning preferences.
- Safety auto shut-off. Worrying about overheating or prolonged operation is unnecessary, as this model features an auto shut-off mode.
- Indicator lights. Power and Ready lights make it easy to determine when the waffle maker is on, ready to use, and done cooking the waffle.
Our Expert’s Take
“This Belgian waffle maker is simple to use and gets the job done. Safety features and indicator lights elevate the experience, so it’s easy to make great waffles.”
Best Mini Waffle Maker
Dash Mini Waffle Maker
This Dash Mini Waffle Maker is perfect for baking miniature waffles for kids. The waffles it produces are tiny compared to the standard waffle size, measuring just 4 inches in diameter. This makes it perfect for kids or taking on the go, such as in a lunch box or for a snack.
It works with all sorts of foods, not just waffles! You can make paninis, hash browns, biscuit pizzas, and more, so it’s a versatile pick for dorms and RV camping. It’s incredibly lightweight and compact, so it won’t drag you down or consume very much space.
A non-stick coating prevents your baked goods from sticking to the grids, ensuring you can easily remove your waffles every time. Non-slip feet prevent the waffle maker from sliding around as you use it, making it safer for use in compact areas.
An easy-lift handle lets you check on progress and easily remove your waffles without burning your fingers, and an indicator light lets you know when it’s ready to cook.
It comes in various fun shapes to ring in the holidays, including a miniature heart, pumpkin, and snowflake. The standard circular shape is available in several colours to accommodate varying preferences.
Key Features
- Miniature design. Larger waffle makers produce waffles that are far too large for small children, so this mini maker is perfect for Canadian families with kids.
- Versatile. This waffle maker can do more than waffles – it also works for paninis, hashbrowns, and more. You can make a great suite of breakfast foods with this unit.
- Fun shapes. Multiple shapes, including snowflakes, pumpkins, and hearts, are available, so you can choose the model that matches the season.
- Affordable. This model comes at a nearly unbeatable price, making it a great choice for Canadians on a budget.
Our Expert’s Take
“If you like the idea of mini waffles for your kids or travelling, this waffle maker is a great option. It’s affordable and compact, making it an excellent choice for varying situations.”
Best Flip-Style Maker
Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker
This Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker is packed with features to produce beautiful waffles every time. Its flip-style design helps ensure the batter is cooked to perfection and evenly distributed.
The cool touch handle protects your skin from heat and folds away for convenient storage. A drip tray beneath the waffle maker catches drips and overflowing batter, making cleaning up the waffle maker easier when you’re done.
A nonstick finish ensures you can pop out the waffles easily without ripping them apart, and removable plates easily come out of the maker for quick and easy cleanup. The plates and drip tray are dishwasher safe, making post-waffle cleanup even easier.
On and Ready lights let you know when the power is on, when it’s time to add batter, and when the waffle is ready. A browning control feature enables you to tailor the doneness and colour to your preferences.
A five-year limited warranty protects your purchase to ensure you get plenty of mileage out of your investment.
Key Features
- Removable plates. The non-stick removable plates pop out of the waffle maker for quick and easy cleanup. You can easily pop them out to clean without struggling with the entire iron.
- Flipping action. A flip-style setup ensures you get thick, fluffy waffles each time you make them. Each side of your waffle will be cooked to perfection.
- Browning control. The browning control feature lets you cook your waffle to your preferences, whether you like a pale golden colour or rich brown.
- Indicator lights. On and Ready indicator lights keep you informed and ensure you know when the power is on, when to add batter, and when the waffle is done.
Our Expert’s Take
“This model is a great choice for flip-style waffle makers, as it produces a perfect balance between fluffy and crispy. It’s easy to clean up, too.”
Best for Personalized Doneness
Chefman Anti-Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker
The Chefman Anti-Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker is a great choice for Canadian households with varying doneness preferences. It features seven shade presets, allowing you to customize doneness based on your preferences and achieve the perfect colour. Higher settings produce crispy, darker waffles, whereas lower settings produce lightly golden, softer waffles.
A nonstick coating ensures cleanup is quick and easy. It prevents your waffles from sticking, helping to avoid ripping the delectable fluff as you remove it from the iron. A channel around the grid catches excess batter to prevent messes, cooking the overflow along with the batter in the grid to minimize waste.
An included measuring cup helps you measure the perfect amount of batter every time to minimize overflow, and a cool touch handle prevents burns when operating the maker.
The compact design allows this model to fit in smaller spaces, making it an excellent option for smaller kitchens. If you have ample space, you can tip it on its side and store it vertically to save space or horizontally.
Key Features
- Doneness presets. Seven shade settings allow you to quickly and easily pick a doneness setting based on your preferences.
- Wrap around channel. The channel around this waffle maker helps prevent spills and messes by catching overflowing batter.
- Nonstick coating. A nonstick coating releases your waffles without tearing or sticking. You’ll get perfect waffles every time you flip this waffle maker.
- Compact design. This waffle maker is smaller and can be stored vertically, making it a great choice for compact kitchens.
Our Expert’s Take
“Choosing the perfect doneness level can be tricky, but with the seven presets on this waffle maker, it’s easier than ever.”
Best for Easy Cleanup
Cuisinart WAF-350C Belgian Waffle Maker
The Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Maker is a formidable contender on this list, offering easy cleanup and multiple functions. It features dishwasher-safe removable plates, which makes cleanup a breeze. Simply pop the plates out of the maker when it’s cool and throw them in the dishwasher for a quick rinse.
It comes with both waffle and pancake plates, allowing you to choose an option based on what you’re feeling. Cook delectable Belgian waffles with the deep waffle plates, or switch to the pancake to concoct mouth-watering rounds. The pancake mould also works with eggs, sausage, and other breakfast foods.
Multiple browning levels allow you to customize the doneness to your liking, and four waffle slots let you produce multiple waffles in a short time. A non-stick coating ensures the waffles or pancakes won’t stick.
The waffle maker can be stored upright to save space.
Key Features
- Large capacity. Make four waffles or pancakes in one go with four different sections or slots. You can get more done faster with this maker.
- Removable plates. The dishwasher-safe plates are removable, making cleanup a breeze. They are easy to remove and reattach when they are clean.
- Versatile. Make waffles, pancakes, eggs, sausages, or your other favourite breakfast foods with this waffle maker. Multiple settings make this a robust option for your kitchen.
- Easy release. A nonstick coating ensures your waffle won’t stick to the metal and makes for easy cleanup.
Our Expert’s Take
“If you have a larger budget, this waffle maker is a phenomenal choice. It’s a chameleon and can adapt to your breakfast cravings, whether you want eggs, waffles, pancakes, or all three.”
Best for Compact Kitchens
Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker
The Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker takes a different approach to crafting mouth-watering waffles. Unlike most waffle makers, which sit horizontally, this waffle maker sits upright in a vertical position. You pour waffle batter into the top of the gadget and release the locking mechanism when it’s done, flipping it down to reveal a perfectly-cooked waffle.
The vertical design helps ensure you add as much waffle batter as you need, helping avoid overflows, spills, and messes. An included measuring cup further ensures you don’t add too much batter and overflow the machine.
The stay-cool latch prevents your hands from burning when you release the mechanism. Once you unlatch it, the lower grid flips down and exposes the waffle. A doneness dial lets you adjust the settings to your liking, and indicator lights tell you when it’s time to bake or remove the waffle.
Since it stands upright, this waffle maker consumes less horizontal space than other waffle makers, making it an excellent choice for Canadians who plan to store it on the counter.
Key Features
- Vertical design. The space-saving vertical design is perfect for compact kitchens or countertop storage.
- Indicator lights. Never guess when your waffle is done again with the bake and ready-to-eat indicator lights.
- Anti-overflow. An included measuring cup and vertical design help minimize the chances of overflow by helping you measure the perfect amount into the maker every time.
- Nonstick coating. The nonstick-coated waffle plates help make waffle removal and cleanup quick and easy.
Our Expert’s Take
“If you’re short on counter space or want a model that doesn’t have overflow issues, this waffle maker is a great choice.”
Comparing the Best Waffle Makers for Canadians
Category | Waffle Maker | Dimensions | Material | Colour | Plate Size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Oster Belgian Waffle Maker | 5.1 x 8.6 x 10.8 centimetres | Stainless Steel | Silver | 8 inches |
Best Mini Waffle Maker | Dash Mini Waffle Maker | 2.7 x 16.3 x 7.1 centimetres | Nonstick | Black | 4 inches |
Best Flip-Style Maker | Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker | 17.2 x 25.1 x 23 centimetres | Plastic | Black and Stainless Steel | N/A |
Best for Personalized Doneness | Chefman Anti-Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker | 26 x 21.6 x 11.4 centimetres | Iron | Black | N/A |
Best for Easy Cleanup | Cuisinart WAF-350C Belgian Waffle Maker | 25.4 x 27.3 x 34.3 centimetres | Stainless Steel | Silver | N/A |
Best for Compact Kitchens | Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker | 16.5 x 24.8 x 30.5 centimetres | Stainless Steel | Silver | N/A |
How We Selected These Waffle Makers in Canada
Shopping for home items, especially kitchen gadgets and appliances, can be a hassle. There are thousands of options available, each with different features, prices, and brands. If you don’t know what to look for, starting the search can be overwhelming, much less actually picking a model.
So, to help consumers like you select the best waffle maker in Canada, we did the hard part for you. Our team is well-versed in all things home-related, from powerful heat pumps to keep your home toasty in the winter to the best garage door openers to let you into your home.
We’re devoted to conducting extensive research to ensure we suggest nothing but the best models. Our process starts with initial research to round up a few dozen models in a particular category. After gathering a list of options, we begin ruling various models out through further research, multiple rounds of analysis, and extensive evaluation.
As we combed through numerous waffle makers in Canada to isolate the best options, we looked for a few essential features, including the following:
- Size: While some Canadian households are small, with only one or two people, others have a dozen or more. To ensure we selected a model to accommodate nearly any home size, we sifted through mini waffle makers and large models that can make multiple waffles at once.
- Ease of cleaning: Cleanup can be a hassle, taking much longer than necessary to clean out the grid shape. To save time for busy Canadians, we included a few models with removable plates for ultra-easy cleanup.
- Shape: Squares, circles, pumpkins, hearts, and more – you can find waffle makers in all sorts of shapes. We included options that come in varying shapes to ensure there’s something for everyone.
- Space: Appliances can consume precious space in kitchens, and if you have a compact kitchen, finding space for a waffle maker can be a hassle. We included a couple of compact models, including one mini model, to ensure there’s something to accommodate any kitchen size.
Factors to Consider When Shopping For a Waffle Maker in Canada
There are a couple of things you should look for as you shop for a new waffle maker in Canada. These factors can make or break whether the model you choose fits your needs and expectations, so don’t forget to keep them in mind as you shop.
Size
Think about the size you want your waffles to be. Are you feeding a passel of people between your family members and guests? Or are you cooking a waffle just for you?
If you regularly host or have a large family, you may want to choose a larger waffle maker or one capable of making multiple at once. Making waffles takes time, often requiring several minutes to produce a crispy, golden-brown waffle with a perfectly soft and fluffy interior.
So, if you need to make a large number of waffles at once, consider a model with a larger capacity. At the very least, we recommend choosing a model large enough to produce a full-size waffle. This way, adults can get a full serving in one go, eliminating the need to wait several rounds for multiple smaller waffles.
On the other hand, a smaller waffle maker is perfect for one or two people. A large waffle maker that can produce massive waffles or multiple at once might be overkill, leading to wasted food. By choosing a smaller model, you won’t end up making overly large waffles you can’t finish, instead making perfectly-sized portions for a single person.
Shape
The shape of your waffle maker might not matter, but some folks may have a preference. Perhaps you enjoy square waffles, as it allows you to easily divide them into pieces among your children or slice them into consistent pieces. Or maybe you prefer circular waffles because they better fit your plates.
Or, maybe you like to branch out with fun shapes, like pumpkins, Christmas trees, or hearts. Shaped foods can be a great way to celebrate the holidays or encourage picky eaters to try your cooking, so they can be an excellent fit for homes with kids.
If you have a specific shape preference, use it to help you narrow your options and select the perfect fit for your home.
Space
The size of your kitchen is another critical consideration when shopping for a waffle maker. Suppose you spend a lot of time in the kitchen and love baking or cooking. In that case, there’s a good chance your kitchen is already teeming with appliances, from immersion blenders to make delectable sauces to electric mixers that whip up your favourite cookies in mere minutes.
So, to ensure you have somewhere to store your waffle maker, consider the size of your kitchen and available storage space. Will you be storing the waffle maker on your countertop? If so, do you have enough room in your kitchen for a regular model, or would a vertical model better suit your needs?
Or are you planning to store your waffle maker in a cupboard? If that’s the case, a vertical waffle maker might not fit due to its height, so a regular horizontal model will likely be the better option.
Cleanup
Waffle makers are notoriously difficult to clean. They have all sorts of cracks, divots, and crevices that raw batter, cooked crumbles, and oil can leak into. When you’re done cooking waffles, getting the gunk out of those areas can be tricky, especially if you need to clean out the cracks between each and every raised square.
So, if the prospect of spending an excessive amount of time cleaning your waffle maker sounds unappealing, consider a model with removable plates. These models often feature non-stick removable plates for quick and easy cleanup when you’re done cooking.
Sometimes, these plates are dishwasher safe, making it easier than ever to clean up the waffle maker in no time.
Of course, you can always select a model without the removable plates if that better fits your needs or budget. These models simply take a bit more time to clean out, but getting nice and clean is doable.
At a minimum, we recommend choosing a model with a non-stick coating. Otherwise, removing waffles from the maker will be a hassle, leading to rips and tears in your delectable treat. While you can always add a spritz of cooking oil to the grid before adding your batter, the non-stick coating adds an extra layer of protection.
Browning Control
Consider how brown you like your waffles to be. Do you like them to be a pale golden brown with a soft, fluffy interior? Or do you enjoy the contrast of a slightly crunchy exterior to the fluffy goodness inside?
Consider a model with browning control if you have a particular brownness preference. Not all models have this option, so you’ll need to seek it out. Look for a model that offers doneness or browning control, as this will give you effortless control over your waffle maker to ensure your waffles are cooked to the desired colour every time.
This feature is particularly useful in households with varying doneness preferences, as it allows everyone to pick the perfect brownness level that matches their liking.
Indicator lights
An indicator light is a key part of an excellent waffle maker, as it lets you know when your waffle is cooked to perfection. Without an indicator light, you’ll be left guessing, trying to pinpoint when your waffle is done accurately.
If you open the maker too early, you’ll rip the partially-cooked waffle apart or create a sloppy mess inside the maker. On the other hand, if you wait too long, your waffle will be dry and overly crunchy.
So, the indicator light is crucial. Most waffle makers have them nowadays, especially the popular electric models. However, it doesn’t hurt to double-check to ensure the model you like has an indicator light, which can eliminate issues later on.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you enjoy the crispy, textured exterior and soft, fluffy interior of a classic waffle, a waffle maker is worth buying. It’s nearly impossible to recreate these delectable, golden foods without a waffle maker. You can create something vaguely resembling them on a griddle pan, but it doesn’t scratch the itch. So, if you enjoy waffles, then a waffle maker is a worthwhile addition to your kitchen.
As you shop for a waffle maker, you might notice that some are labelled as Belgian waffle makers. The primary difference between these and regular waffle makers is the thickness of the finished product. Belgian waffle makers produce thicker, larger, and fluffier waffles, while a typical waffle maker usually makes thinner and smaller waffles.
However, you can usually use regular waffle makers for other tasks, including cooking eggs or toast, so if you want a multi-functional model, this might be your better option.
Waffle irons offer a convenient way to cook a waffle with an external heat source. They don’t produce their own heat, so once you add the batter, you’ll need to place it over a heat source, like a fire or stove, to cook it.
A waffle maker is a standalone electric gadget that does the entire cooking process itself. You plug it into the wall, wait for it to heat up, add the batter, and wait for it to cook. Once it’s done, an indicator light will come on, letting you know it’s time to remove it.
Like many products, the cost of a waffle maker hinges on the model you choose. On average, they cost between $30 and $200. Some tip the scales in either direction, but most fall within this range.
You can buy excellent models at all price points, so there is something to meet nearly any budget.
Some waffle makers feature a flip-style design. With these models, you’ll open the lid, add batter, close the lid, and flip the waffle over for cooking. This helps ensure the batter spreads evenly over the grid and creates a well-cooked result.
However, a flip-style waffle maker isn’t crucial to produce beautiful, delectable waffles. Instead, regular-style waffle makers can get the job done, churning out golden brown, perfectly cooked waffles in no time.