Every waffle maker comes with instructions and you possibly even received plenty of recipes with your purchase. Everyone probably knows how to use a waffle maker – but if you’re reading this post, it’s most likely you want to find out how to get the most out of your waffle maker.
And if that’s you – you’re in the right place.
In this post, you’ll be able to find out how to make a perfect waffle batter, how to prepare the waffle maker properly, and even how to serve it to make your waffles more appealing (and even better tasting).
Therefore, plug in your awesome waffle maker and continue reading!
Practice Your Batter Making Skills
No matter what type of waffle maker you have, if you don’t make a great batter, your waffles might not taste up to their potential.
Therefore, it’s important to learn how to make a quality batter or learn how you can improve your waffle batter if you’ve been making waffles for quite some time.
Here’s what you will need to create a perfect classic waffle batter:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups of warm milk
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 4 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/3 cup of melted butter
- 2 tablespoons of white sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
And here’s how to make your perfect waffle batter:
- Mix together the following ingredients: flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a large bowl and set it aside
- Prewarm your waffle maker to the desired temperature
- Beat the eggs in a separate bowl. Stir in the milk, vanilla, and butter
- Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture bowl and then beat it until it’s blended
- Use the batter in a preheated waffle iron and cook until the waffles are golden and crisp
- Serve the waffles immediately (optionally, you can serve waffles with strawberries)
This is one of the simplest waffle batters known as a classic waffle batter. Even though it’s very simple, it’s possible that you’ve been missing on an ingredient or you have been following the process in the wrong way.
Going back to the basics and paying attention to even the smallest detail is important. From there, you can always improve on the process and take these basics to more complex waffle recipes.
Preparing the Waffle Maker
Most of you will just plug in the waffle maker, set it to the desired temperature, and leave it until it’s heated.
However, there are a couple of things that can improve the process and even improve the results. How do you know what’s the ideal temperature for baking waffles?
Heating the Waffle Maker
I highly recommend ensuring your waffle maker reaches a temperature between 330 – 360 Fahrenheit (165 to 182 Celsius).
You should always ensure that your waffle maker is preheated before pouring the batter. This will provide you the most accurate results.
However, in case you have a modern waffle maker, you’ll have the ability to adjust the crust color along with the temperature.
This is another thing you should take into consideration as it could affect the results.
Greasing Your Waffle Maker
This is an optional step but it can make a huge difference.
Try using butter to grease your waffle maker before you start baking your first waffle. After this, you can always add a tiny bit of butter and spread it around the waffle maker after every 10 to 15 waffles you make.
In case you’re experiencing sticky waffles, this is definitely going to help. However, it can add a bit of softness to the texture from the bottom which combines really well with the crispiness at the top.
If that’s your preferred combination, you know exactly what to do!
Pour the Batter
Pouring the batter is considered the simplest part of the waffle making process, but you want to get the perfect amount of batter.
This will require a bit of practice. Pouring more batter than it’s required could end up in leaks. In case your waffle maker doesn’t leak, yet your waffles might still end up a bit fluffy and very soft on the inside. This might not be up to everyone’s standard.
On the other hand, if you don’t pour enough of batter, you will get very dry & incomplete waffles that won’t be enjoyable and tasty at all.
Since every waffle differs in size, it’s best to practice and learn exactly the amount that works perfectly for your waffle maker. It’s not a bad idea to check inside the maker’s manual to find if there’s the desired quantity mentioned.
I recommend using about 1/3 cup for a 7″ round waffle maker. However, as I’ve mentioned earlier, this depends on the waffle maker type and size.
Cook the Waffle to Perfection
While some people love to use a waffle maker that doesn’t have any indicators, other people rely on the smarter waffle makers that have an indicator (either a light or a sound) that notifies you when your waffle is ready.
If you’re someone who likes to experiment and practice on your own, the simplest waffle maker without any indicators will work the best.
However, if you don’t trust your judgment, you could rely on the indicators – just make sure that you have a quality waffle maker.
Once you close your waffle maker’s lid, I highly recommend cooking your waffle for about 5 minutes. However, this will depend on the waffle maker too due to the power they provide.
But a rule of thumb is to watch out for the steam. Once you pour in the batter and close the lid, your waffle maker will release steam. Once you notice the steam stops – feel free to check on your waffle and decide how much longer you’d let it cook.
Conclusion
As you can see, waffle makers are very simple to make and yet even the smallest thing can play an important role in the taste, texture, and overall result.
It’s all about practicing with your batter and waffle maker. You’ll have to find a sweet spot when it comes to the waffle maker.
But when it comes down to batter, you can follow my recommended recipe and steps to achieve you make the most out of your waffles.
