The Best Waffle Makers For Crispy Edges and Fluffy Centers (2026)

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We’ve waxed poetic about All-Clad’s cookware for years, so it’s no surprise that its appliances are also top-notch. If you’re in the market for the best waffle maker money can buy, look no further: In the words of food director Chris Morocco, “the All-Clad waffle maker is the last waffle maker you ever need to own. It is unimprovable, at the top of its class, yet so simple that you won’t need the instruction manual to use it.”

What we love: Indeed, the All-Clad Waffle Iron is intuitive to use. Upon plugging it in, you’ll see a power light go on. After turning the dial to your preferred toasting level (there are six total options), the iron heats up accordingly, and a green Ready light illuminates when it’s time to pour in the batter. You’ll know your batch is complete when the machine beeps.

I made two batches: one at a level two setting, another at a level four. The results were exactly as expected, with the former yielding a golden, fluffy (but not undercooked) waffle and the latter landing as darker and more crispy (but not burnt). Removing them from the grates using a fork was simple and mess-free thanks to the nonstick coating.

The All-Clad is also, frankly, chic. The gleaming, polished stainless-steel exterior will look upscale on any countertop, which is helpful considering its size and hulking weight might make you less inclined to move it after every use. But, if you do plan to stow it away, know that when locked in the vertical position, it actually doesn’t take up a ton of room. (It has a much smaller profile than the family-size box of Cheerios that lives in my pantry, for reference.)

When the time comes for cleanup, you can pop the removable trays in the dishwasher. However, I found that the nonstick coating worked so effectively that there was no need. A quick—and I mean less-than-a-minute—hand-wash felt much more efficient.

What we’d leave: There’s no way around it: This appliance is large and heavy. That’s great news if you’re looking to work more biceps reps into your daily routine. For everyone else, it makes the machine a bit of a chore to lug around. But, again, if you have the counter or storage space to spare—roughly 16 inches if stored upright—you’d be hard-pressed to find a better-looking waffle iron to display.