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proctor-silex 26500 belgian waffle maker
I bought this waffle maker for Sunday brunches. I had an old Toastmaster that makes great waffles, but I wanted to have 2 waffle makers going at once. The Proctor-Silex makes even better waffles! I turn it upside down and pour the batter into the lid, then close it I flip it right side up. Perfect waffles every time. Mine takes just about 3 minutes to bake a waffle. I can't imagine why anyone would want to pay more.
[Tuesday, December 16, 2008]
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28 mins for 4 waffles?
This waffle maker is Definitely Not for Morning waffles. If you have all Sunday for brunch, you can make decent budget waffles for 4 in half-an-hour. Don't expect 'restaurant quality' as some here have said. These make deep-welled, tho unevenly browned, home-made American waffles. Good to eat, but not really Belgian as you may find in a nice restaurant.
I made the buttermilk recipe from the package instructions. Took 7 mins. per waffle!! I used a kitchen timer. Breakfast for 4? You'd have to make the waffles in advance to have them ready for all to eat together. 1/2 hour to cook four waffles = not hot and crisply just-made. I did try using less batter, but they didn't cook faster. It just made a funny-shaped waffle as the batter didn't fit the full grid, and the thinness made the top-side cook even more unevenly with lots of pale, unbrowned edges. Probably the recipe, which was very thick batter.
They turned out ok, tho they cook unevenly. The bottoms evenly brown but the tops are not cooked evenly; from pale-ly done to brown. Also, the 2 front elements on the top iron cook faster/darker than the 2 rear ones. Each of the 4 topside end up varying brownness. (I even tried turning them over to brown the tops better.) They do come out crunchy on outside and cooked moist inside; not soggy but perhaps a little too moist.
The worst is that there is no timer. The instructions say they are done when the steam decreases. Ok. Well, at 7 mins., there was still an ample amount of steam coming from the unit. But I found this time was best for the recipe, so they don't burn.
You can't clean this unit with damp paper towels, as others have raved can be done. Paper towels don't reach into the deep wells. I used a silicone pastry brush to 'dust' the elements clean, then used a paper towel to clean up around the rim, and on the outside case.
If I had to do it over again, to get as-close-to-Belgian-style waffles at home, I would try one of the brands where you can flip the sides over. Perhaps they would cook more evenly because of the flipping; gravity side down cooking better.
I also suggest that all these new wafflers, whatever brand out on the market today be made with removeable plates for easier cleaning.
Happy waffling!
[Thursday, November 20, 2008]
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Just bought another still have the other for 8+ years
I have just purchased my second Proctor- Silex waffle baker.
My first one which still works is 8+ years old.
However my reason for having to purchase a new one is the only one issue of a negative nature regarding this waffle maker. That's why my review is 4 stars instead of 5
The Non stick plates are hard to keep clean and there is a residue buildup of after 8+ years of liberal usage on this durable little machine that now even for my scrubbing it out with a scotch brite safe for nonstick scouring pad cannot remove. but to me getting 8 years out of any appliance anymore is a wonderful surprise and let me restate the waffle maker does still work for the exception of the grid residue and cleaning issue.
But PLEASE do not let that discourage any consumer from purchasing this item because this is a wonderful little waffle maker at a very reasonable price. my favorite part of this machine is the cool-touch feature.
I do have to say as wishes go Proctor silex should maybe think of making this exact model with some modifications to it
Like making it have removable non-stick grids or better yet removable nonstick and dishwasher safe grids.
That would probably sell like UMM...hotcakes??
[Sunday, November 09, 2008]
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