Using Jamie Oliver's waffle batter recipe , we made waffles with every waffle maker we tested using the same ingredients, and took as much care as possible not to overfill or underfill the cooking plates.

However if you only eat waffles occasionally and don't mind compromising on the finished product, you can also make them in a griddle pan. We chose and bought bestselling waffle makers widely available at UK retailers from the most popular brands. Build quality and storage For large families it’s worth going for a double or even quadruple waffle maker, which can create enough for the whole family. Those who are short on space will be able to make the most of a mini waffle maker or a waffle maker for one, which can be easily stored when not in use. With its easily interchangeable sandwich, grill and waffle plates you can whip up fluffy waffles, crispy toasties or grilled goodies all with one handy countertop appliance. If you want to make a large batch and eat together with friends or family, then you can keep cooked waffles warm in the oven. A few minutes in the oven can actually improve their crispiness. Don't wrap them in foil as they may go a bit limp and soft.You can store the leftover waffles in the fridge for up to 48 hours. When you want to eat them, just reheat them in the toaster. EASY TO USE: With a cool touch handle and an indicator light to let you know when your 1100W quad waffle iron is up to temperature, whipping up treats to satisfy your sweet tooth couldn’t be easier. I'd imagined a waffle maker might be awkward to use and fiddly to clean but it was actually much simpler than I'd expected. You heat it up, pour the batter into the middle of the tray, close the lid and then in about 5 minutes the waffles are ready. You just wipe it clean afterwards, rather like a toasted sandwich maker.

The Vonshef Waffle maker came with three recipes so you can make traditional waffles, Belgian waffles or buttermilk waffles. The toppings and accompaniments are then up to you. I made traditional waffles first as the recipe was the simplest and just like mixing up pancake batter. However, I have since tried the Belgian waffles and they are delicious too, although more effort to make! Aren't Waffles an Unhealthy dessert? To guarantee the mix was cooked in the middle, I found these waffles took almost 8-10 minutes to cook properly - a little longer than some machines but it actually gave me enough time to fry up some bacon, grab the maple syrup and blueberries to create my brunch of dreams. The waffles themselves are slightly crisp on the outside but soft inside. The recipe is perfect as a basic simple waffle recipe that you can then jazz up with special toppings. How many people do these waffles serve?We timed how long it takes each waffle maker to heat up before it's ready to cook, how easily detachable plates can be removed for cleaning, and how clear and bright the indicator lights are. If you love circular waffles, the Sage the No-Mess Waffle Maker is perfect for you. It's got a dial that goes up to seven levels of darkness, so even the most discerning waffle lover will enjoy a treat that's perfectly suited to their preferences. The recipe makes 8 waffles and serves 4 people if each person eats two waffles. It is easy to double the quantities to make more waffles though. In my Vonshef Waffle Maker you can cook 4 waffles at a time and after each batch is ready I close the lid for a moment to make sure the waffle iron is hot and then just add more batter. The total baking time is a bit longer than the other models tested – approx. 5 -10 minutes and it was hard to ascertain when to flip. The instruction manual suggests part-way through so it will take a few practice runs to get the timing just right. You will need to peek at your waffle from time to time to see what is going on (but make sure you leave them alone for the first few minutes). The only complaint is that the plates aren’t removable so clean-up is a bit more of a fiddle and because of the rotating function, the machine isn’t as compact as others but for the price this is an impressive waffle maker that you can rely on for an indulgent weekend breakfast.

Once heated you will need to brush or spritz some fat on the trays before adding your batter. The manual doesn’t advise on quantity but I found two cups to be enough. If you do overfill, the handy drip tray will save you from messing up your work top.

Recipe

These traditional waffles make a delicious healthy breakfast but with a few indulgent accompaniments they can also be a decadent dessert!

After lightly greasing the plates (I would recommend using a pastry brush) pour a large tablespoon of batter into the centre of the plate and let the machine do the work for you. The USP with this machine is its Waffle IQ which knows the exact state the machine is in when you add the batter. If you don’t wait for the machine to heat up between cooking cycles it will automatically adjust the cooking time accordingly. This gives super consistent results. If there is any overflow it will get caught in the wraparound moat. This also cooks the batter at the same time, giving you something to nibble on and making clean up a doddle.Don’t lift the lid too early. Wait for the indicator light to come on for the machine to stop steaming before taking a peek. If you lift the lid before they are done you may cause your waffle to rip. Ok, don't get me wrong, I love unhealthy waffles but these healthy waffles are actually a great breakfast recipe. There is no sugar in these waffles so they really do make a healthy breakfast recipe. Despite being sugar free, they are still delicious enough to feel like a treat. What to serve with these traditional waffles? Waffle makers that make audible beeps when they're ready to go earned extra points, while slow to heat and poorly labelled ones were penalised. Once the batter can easily be lifted off the griddle pan with a spatula, flip the waffle batter over and give it another five minutes of heat. You don't need this particular waffle maker to make these waffles. Any waffle maker is fine and you can use other recipes in this appliance. If you want to make potato waffles then that works too!Go ahead and experiment.