I have always thought of myself as a waffle iron connoisseur. I was raised to believe that any consumer-level waffle iron constructed after approximately 1965 wasn't worth the raw materials from which it was made. So I scoured the thrift stores for vintage waffle irons, buying them for five and seven bucks when the opportunity struck and squirreling them away in closets and under beds. However, I've recently experienced a waffle maker that makes me begin to rethink my vintage waffle iron ways.
I recently got a chance to try out Calphalon's new non-stick, No Peek Belgian Waffle Maker and I am officially smitten. I ran it side-by-side with my favorite, vintage waffle iron and was floored by its superiority. It cooks more quickly than my old iron and bakes up a waffle that is fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. The waffle wells are deep and can hold lots of butter and syrup (or, as I like to dress my waffle, jam and yogurt). You can set it for the exact level of darkness you want, and when the bell dings, the waffle releases from the griddle easily and without tearing. You don't have to grease the iron prior to adding the batter, so to clean up, all you have to do is give it a quick wipe down.
