The Sage Smart Waffle Maker, Brushed Stainless Steel, BWM620UK

Product Information

Once you tell the Smart Wafflewhat kind of waffle you're making,the cooking time is automatically calculated to suit your waffle style and colour READ NEXT: The best sandwich toasters available Sage The No Mess Waffle Maker review: Should you buy it? All waffle lovers out there know that one of the biggest annoyances we have is dribbling waffle batter all down the side of our machines during cooking. The Smart Waffle maker solves this as it has a wide wrap around moat that catches the extra batter AND cooks it too for some extra munching. Awesome right? However, for a budget model, I was really impressed with the finished result. My waffles were light and fluffy and with a nice crisp edge. Choose a waffle maker with an audible or visible alert to help you know what is going on. Most will light up or chime when its preheated enough, ready to cook another batch or when your waffles are done. A sound is preferable to light as it allows you to step away and get on with other things instead of hovering nervously over the machine. 6. Ease of 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. 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. After the first waffle I was smitten. Perfect waffles on our first attempt – light, golden brown and with a crispy and crunchy exterior – so so much better than from the now defunct cheaper machine. The waffle maker is super speedy taking a few minutes to both heat up, and to cook. There is an audible beep once cooked so you can get on with other things and do not have to watch the machine. Each quarter waffle is smaller than a traditional sized waffle making this machine very suitable for those with children, the machine can be used by a (supervised) 8 year old, and the handy drip moat will catch overflowing batter caused by over enthusiastic pouring.

More waffle recipes to try

Now before I get on to telling you how to make classic waffles ("Sage waffles" as they're known in our house) allow me to share some of my favourite features on this brilliant machine: Waffle batter expands when cooking so there is a handy moat around the edge of the machine to catch any drips 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 instruction books contains 4 recipes, we tried 2 (classic and Belgian-Style) and both worked perfectly Yes, yes, and hell to the yeah!!! As long as you have a batter of the right consistency, adding in chocolate chips – or anything you might add to a cake batter, really – is absolutely fine. You could add dried fruit, lemon zest, even mini marshmallows! How much waffle batter should you put in your waffle maker? This waffle maker also has temperature dial to control the cooking temperature, so you can make your waffles more or less crispy, A rare feature for such a well-priced machine. Aside from that, it has a red notification light that lets you know when it’s ready to go, though there’s no automatic switch to turn off the Global Gourmet once the waffle is cooked, so be sure to keep an eye on it. This waffle iron is large and is designed for commercial use as well as domestic. If your budget allows, it is ideal for a large family or a weekend brunch with friends. Producing two waffles at a time is a stand out feature and will cut down on the waiting time for hungry kids and guests.

What else can you make with a waffle maker?

This machine is very user friendly with an intuitive design. When you plug in, a green light will come on which indicates the machine is heating up. This only took about 3-4 minutes. Once the machine is up to temperature an amber ready-to-cook light will come on. It recommends about 75ml of batter. I found that it could take closer to 90ml to properly fill the squares. This achieves a fatter waffle. Don’t panic, mess is easy to avoid with the overflow channel that will catch any excess batter. I have to admit that until the Sage by Heston Blumenthal no mess waffle maker landed in my kitchen I was slightly skeptical about the need for a top notch waffle maker. We do already have a very ordinary bargain waffle maker that makes very unremarkable waffles, but there is nothing I enjoy more than playing with a new gadget so was happy to be converted. Sage The Smart Waffle Maker 2 slice non-mess moat and Waffle IQ. The waffle maker that knows the correct cooking time.

There are 7 cooking settings which produce progressively darker and crisper waffles – we found level 4 was perfect Handy accessories that come with the smart waffles are a measuring cup so you know how much batter to add in, a recipe booklet with four recipes and tips from Heston about how to achieve the perfect waffles. Heston, my waffle loving children seriously thank you. Another thing to consider is the shape. Some waffle makers produce squares, while some make rectangular waffles, and others circular. Most models produce a single waffle at a time, but if you have a large family or frequently entertain guests then it makes sense to go for a machine that makes two or more waffles at a time. Choose the best waffle maker to amp up your brunches, even when cooking from home. In our top 10, we've featured models from Sage, Breville, Dualit, and more top brands. Some models have space for cooking two waffles at once, whereas others are smaller and more compact, perfect for single servings.

The best waffle makers to buy in 2023

The short answer? Pretty much everything. But to go into a little more depth, the Sage No Mess Waffle Maker looks and feels like a premium product straight away. Its sleek circular shape and sturdy stainless body make for a very aesthetically pleasing piece of kit, with the waffle plate inside looking similarly sturdy and well-designed.

With a large cooking surface, it makes two 6 inch circular waffles at a time. The plates aren’t particularly deep so take care not to add too much batter. There is no advised quantity in the manual but I found 90 ml per circular waffle enough. After 4 minutes it was still steaming but I lifted the cool-touch handle anyway. Not looking quite ready, I left my waffle for a further 3 minutes – not the speediest.Fear not, for we have tirelessly searched for the very finest models for both your budget and your appetite. But first, this is what to look out for… What features should I look for in a waffle maker? Much like pancakes, the basic ingredients for waffle mix couldn’t be more humble – flour, eggs and milk. But despite this, don’t expect to make perfect waffles on your first go. You will need to get to know your machine and perfect your batter mix before hosting a waffle party. However, once you have whipped up a few, you will feel like a pro. Jamie Oliver’s Brilliant Breakfast Waffles is a good throw-it-all-together starter recipe. You can easily modify this with sweet or savoury ingredients and pimp with delicious toppings.