Key Takeaways
- The All Clad Gourmet Digital and Manual 4-slice Belgian waffle makers are the only Breville or All Clad waffle makers that have removable plates.
- The All Clad Gourmet Digital comes with an LCD display and pre-programmed waffle types that are both missing in the All Clad Gourmet Manual model.
- Both of these All Clad Belgian waffle machines utilize detachable cooking grids and they also have the most even heat distribution and best build quality.
- The Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4-slice Belgian waffle maker has the same features as the All Clad Digital Gourmet including a digital LCD screen, pre-programmed waffle types with different baking times and temperatures, and countdown timer but it does not come have detachable waffle plates.
- The All Clad 99012GT is the only All Clad thin non-Belgian waffle maker that makes classic American-style waffles but it does not use removable waffle grids.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 All Clad Gourmet Digital vs Gourmet Manual vs Breville Smart Waffle Pro
- 3 Comparison Chart
- 4 Do any other All Clad Belgian waffle makers have detachable waffle grids?
- 5 Do any All Clad classic waffle makers come with changeable cooking plates?
- 6 My favorite features on the All Clad Gourmet Digital and Manual waffle makers
- 7 Features only found in the All Clad Gourmet WD822D51 Manual Waffle Maker
- 8 A Closer Look – All Clad Digital Gourmet vs Breville Smart Waffle Pro
- 9 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Introduction
This article will review the strengths and weaknesses of the All-Clad Gourmet 4-Slice Belgian waffle makers with removable plates. There are two models of the All-Clad Gourmet waffle maker: Digital (model number: WD824D51) and Manual (model number: WD822D51). I will compare both models of the All Clad Gourmet waffle maker to the Breville Smart Waffle Pro and tell you how they measure up.
All Clad Gourmet Digital vs Gourmet Manual vs Breville Smart Waffle Pro
All Clad Gourmet Digital vs All Clad Gourmet Manual: The All-Clad Gourmet WD824D51 Digital is the best All Clad waffle maker because it has many features that are not found in the All-Clad Gourmet Manual model, including a digital LCD screen, timer, 6 different pre-programmed waffle types with different baking times and temperatures, reheat button, and extra cooking time button, which is why it is 33% more expensive.
The removable plates are dishwasher safe which means you can clean them in a dishwasher on the delicate cycle or let them soak in a sink full of warm water and soap. They are also easy to clean because they have a nonstick Teflon coating (PFOA-free) that enables waffles to slide right off.
The removable plates are really popular with people who hate cleaning up after they are done baking a batch of waffles with a lot of sugar or chocolate chips in them because they can make a mess that is really sticky and hard to remove.
Both models also have overflow batter trays and each bakes four square 4.5 inch wide, 1-inch thick Belgian waffles at a time.
All Clad Gourmet Digital vs Breville Smart Waffle Pro: The Breville Smart Waffle Pro 4-slice Belgian waffle maker has the same features as the All Clad Gourmet Digital including a digital LCD screen and pre-programmed waffle types but it does not have plates that can be detached and easily cleaned in a dishwasher.
Comparison Chart
| Features and Specifications | Special Features | Measurements |
|---|---|---|
 All-Clad Gourmet Digital WD824D51 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker with Removable Plates | • Removable Plates • LCD screen • Countdown Timer • Six Pre-programmed Waffle Types • 7 Temperature settings • Audible Alarm • Power Consumption: 1600 watts | Dimensions - 15.59 x 10.75 x 5.94 inches Weight - 17.41 pounds Waffle Size - 4.5 inches long, 1 inch thick |
 All-Clad Gourmet Manual WD822D51 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker with Removable Plates | • Removable Plates • 6 Temperature settings • Audible Alarm • Power Consumption: 1600 watts | Dimensions - 15.59 x 10.75 x 5.94 inches Weight - 13.27 pounds Waffle Size - 4.5 inches long, 1 inch thick |
 Breville BWM640XL Smart Waffle Pro 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker | • LCD screen • Countdown Timer • Five Pre-programmed Waffle Types • 12 Temperature settings • Audible Alarm • Power Consumption: 1800 watts | Dimensions - 15.5 x 12.5 x 5.75 inches Weight - 14.5 pounds Waffle Size - 4 inches long, 1 inch thick |
 All-Clad 99010GT Stainless Steel 4 Square Belgian Waffle Maker | • 7 Temperature settings • Audible Alarm • Power Consumption: 1600 watts | Dimensions - 15" x 11" x 5" inches Weight - 12.1 pounds Waffle Size - 4.5 inches long, 1 inch thick |
All-Clad 99012GT Stainless Steel Classic Round Waffle Maker | • 7 Temperature settings • Audible Alarm • Power Consumption: 850 watts | Dimensions - 11.75"(L) x 8.5"(W) x 4.5"(H) inches Weight - 6.3 pounds Waffle Size - 6.5 inch diameter, 0.5 inches thick |
Do any other All Clad Belgian waffle makers have detachable waffle grids?
All Clad has only one other 4 Slice Belgian waffle maker for sale, the All-Clad 99010GT, but its cooking plates are not removable so they will have to be cleaned manually with a toothbrush and soapy water. The All Clad 99010GT has many of the same features as the All-Clad Gourmet Manual waffle maker including adjustable browning settings, overflow batter drip tray that catches excess batter, 1600 watt heating elements, and indicator lights.
Do any All Clad classic waffle makers come with changeable cooking plates?
The All Clad 99012GT is their only classic waffle maker that makes thin American-style waffles that look just like Eggo waffles but it does not come with changeable plates that can be removed because there is not a huge market for classic-style waffle makers. It is one of the two best classic-style waffle makers because it has excellent heat distribution, is easy to clean, and has a sturdy construction that will last for years.
My favorite features on the All Clad Gourmet Digital and Manual waffle makers
Digital LCD screen with countdown timer
The All-Clad Gourmet Digital has a digital LCD screen that tells you whether your waffle maker is preheating the cooking plates, ready to cook the batter, or cooking the batter. It will also display a countdown timer and the 6 different types of waffles that it can make for you including Belgian, Classic, Berry, Buttermilk, Chocolate, and Gluten-free.
Reheat and extra time buttons
It has a reheat setting that is great for reheating frozen waffles for a quick breakfast or snack and an extra time setting that gives you 30 additional seconds of baking time to give your waffles some extra browning.
Pre-programmed waffle types
The All Clad Gourmet Digital comes with pre-programmed settings to make 6 different types of waffles including Gluten-free, Buttermilk, Belgian, Classic, Berry, and Chocolate. The pre-programmed setting for each waffle type determines the baking time and temperature.
Thick and Heavy die-cast aluminum waffle plates
Both the digital and manual models have thick, heavy die-cast aluminum waffle plates that will evenly cook your waffles very quickly and they will reheat quickly as well. These plates will give you short baking times because aluminum is a great heat conductor and the extra thickness and mass will improve the heat retention, resulting in less of a temperature drop after you pour the cold batter onto the bottom plate which enables the batter to be cooked at a higher temperature for longer.
Removable dishwasher-safe waffle plates and overflow batter drip tray
A black plastic overflow batter drip tray is clipped onto the opening in the back of the bottom waffle plate which allows any excess batter to flow through to the batter tray.
The waffle plates and overflow batter drip tray are removable and dishwasher-safe which makes this one of the easiest waffle makers to clean. You can either soak the plates and drip tray in a sink full of warm water and dish soap for 10 minutes or just use the delicate cycle on your dishwasher.
The plates and drip tray work the same in both models. They are easy to insert and detach and they are dishwasher-safe.
Power Consumption
The All Clad Gourmet uses 1600 watts of power each baking cycle which will enable it to distribute enough heat to evenly cook your waffles. The All Clad Gourmet’s 1600 watts is higher than the 1200 watts used by the Cuisinart WAF-300 and Krups GQ502 4-square Belgian waffle makers but lower than the 1800 watts of power used by the Breville Smart Waffle Pro.
Steam release vents
The All Clad Gourmet has a series of vents that help release the steam created during the baking process. This will stop too much moisture from building up which can cause your waffles to turn out too soggy and squishy. Reducing the accumulation of moisture will ensure your waffles end up crispy across its entire surface.
Temperature control dial
The All-Clad Digital Gourmet also has a 7-setting Shade control dial for adjusting the shading and crispiness of your waffles while the All Clad Manual Gourmet has 6 settings to choose from.
Stainless steel housing
Both have the same shape and design. The housing for both appliances is made from the same sturdy polished stainless steel. There is a die-cast handle branded with the All-Clad name that is riveted to the top of both appliances. The stainless steel housing will ensure that this device will last for a very long time.
Save some space with vertical storage
The only problem I have with this appliance is that storing it in a horizontal position will take up a lot of space. However, because of two clever design features, you can store it in a vertical position which will make your life a lot less complicated. Fortunately, there are safety catches on each side of this appliance that will lock down the lid and a cord storage compartment that will keep the power cord out of the way so that you can store this device in a space-saving vertical position without worrying about the lid flying open or the messy power cord getting in the way.
Features only found in the All Clad Gourmet WD822D51 Manual Waffle Maker
In the middle of the front panel of the All-Clad Gourmet WD822D51 Manual is a 6-setting shade control dial. There are ‘Power’ and ‘Ready’ indicator lights on opposite sides of the dial that signify the operating status of the waffle iron. The All Clad Gourmet WD824D51 Digital does not come with indicator lights because you can monitor the status of the waffle iron on the LCD screen.
While the All-Clad Gourmet WD822D51 Manual has one dial to select the browning level, the All-Clad Digital Gourmet comes with two dials, one for selecting the browning level and another to select the type of waffle you want to make.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Only All Clad or Breville waffle maker that uses removable plates • All Clad Gourmet Digital has an LCD screen, timer, pre-programmed waffle types, reheat button, and extra browning time button • Overflow batter tray clips to the back of the appliance to catch any overflowing batter • 6 Temperature settings (the Breville BWM640XL Smart Waffle Pro Waffle Maker has 12 temperature settings) • Stainless Steel Housing that makes this unit really durable and built-to-last • Steam vents release steam so that condensation does not build up and make your waffles soggy instead of crispy • Uses 1600 watts of power (higher than the 1200 watts of the Cuisinart WAF-300 and Krups QD502 but lower than the 1800 watts of the Breville Smart Waffle Pro) |
• Most expensive All Clad waffle maker – The Digital model costs over $300 while the Manual model costs about $280 • The Digital model weighs 17 pounds while the Manual model weighs 13 pounds so they weigh more than typical Belgian waffle makers and will be difficult to move around |
Takes up a lot of space
One complaint that some customers had with this waffle maker is that it is big and bulky. At 13.27 pounds, it weighs a little more than any of the Belgian waffle makers from Cuisinart or Krups but it is a little lighter than the Breville Smart Waffle Pro. It has dimensions of 15.59″ (Length) x 10.75″ (Width) x 5.94″ (Height) which means it will take up a lot of space on your counter or in your cabinet.
A Closer Look – All Clad Digital Gourmet vs Breville Smart Waffle Pro
Both Breville and All-Clad make great Belgian waffle makers but the All Clad Digital and Manual Gourmet are the only Breville or All Clad removable plate waffle makers. You will be able to clean these plates in a dishwasher. They also come with a dishwasher-safe overflow batter tray for catching excess batter.
The All Clad Gourmet Digital has many great features that make it the best in the market. It is really durable, easy to clean, and reliable. It does a great job of evenly cooking your waffles so that each morsel will have the same delicious taste because it has advanced heating technology for homogeneous browning.
Both the All Clad Gourmet Digital and Breville Smart Waffle Pro bake 4 thick Belgian waffles at the same time and come with an LCD display with a countdown timer and different batter settings for Belgian, Classic, Buttermilk and Chocolate waffles.
However, the All Clad Digital Gourmet comes with 7 different browning levels while the Breville Smart Waffle Pro has more temperature settings with 12. Also the All Clad Digital Gourmet uses a wattage of 1600 Watts while the Breville Smart Waffle Pro uses a higher wattage of 1800 Watts to more evenly brown and bake each Belgian waffle.
So which is better – All-Clad Digital Waffle Maker or Breville Smart Waffle Pro?
The Breville Smart Waffle Pro has more temperature settings and a higher operating wattage for more even baking and browning but the All Clad is easier to clean because it has removable plates. So if an easy cleanup is your priority, then you should definitely purchase the All Clad Digital Gourmet instead.
Customer Reviews for the All-Clad Gourmet
The All-Clad Gourmet was released in September 2021. Ever since then, it has garnered over 2100 Amazon customer reviews, 80% of which gave it 5-stars and 11% gave it 4-stars. Out of more than 2100 total customer reviews, it has received more than 1300 5-star reviews, which comes out to about 80% of all customer reviews. Another 11% of the reviews gave it 4 stars and 3% gave it 3 stars. Only about 5% of the customer reviews gave it 2 stars or lower.
• Average Amazon Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
• Number of Amazon Customer Reviews: more than 2100 reviews
• Number of 5-star Amazon Customer Reviews: more than 1300 5-star reviews
• Percentage of Amazon Customer Reviews that gave it 5 stars: 80%
• Percentage of Amazon Customer Reviews that gave it 4 stars: 11%
• Percentage of Amazon Customer Reviews that gave it 3 stars: 3%
• Percentage of Amazon Customer Reviews that gave it 2 stars: 2%
• Percentage of Amazon Customer Reviews that gave it 1 star: 5%
The Breville BWM640XL Smart Waffle Pro was released in October 2013. It has an average Amazon customer rating was 4.8 out of 5 stars which makes it the highest-rated Belgian waffle maker. Out of more than 600 customer reviews, 90% percent of the reviews gave it 5 stars, 4% percent of the reviews gave it 4 stars, and 3% percent of the reviews gave it 3 stars. Only about 3% of the reviews gave it 2 stars or lower.
Final Verdict
The All-Clad Digital Gourmet Waffle Maker uses easy-to-clean dishwasher-safe removable plates to make four 1-inch thick, 4-1/2-inch square Belgian waffles at a time that can be evenly browned with one of six different browning settings. It also has an audio alert for when your waffles are done and it is made from sturdy materials that will hold up to daily use. All Clad obsessed over every detail with this waffle maker which is why it is made with superior makesmanship. The metal makesmanship that went into the making of this waffle maker has the same uncompromising quality as their highly-regarded cookware. This All-Clad waffle maker is thoughtfully made to their uncompromising standards which ensures outstanding performance and durability. They only stamp their signature embossed marque of authenticity only when this waffle maker meets these rigorous standards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you remove the waffle plates from the rest of the waffle maker?
There is a release button on the side of the device that, when pressed, will release the plates for easy removal.
Is this waffle maker as Eco-friendly as a ceramic waffle maker?
No it is not. This is because it has cooking plates that are coated with a nonstick coating that contains no PFOA but it does contain PTFE. This means this waffle maker is not as safe as a ceramic waffle maker since it does not contain either PTFE or PFOA which are both used to make Teflon.