This article will tell you about the waffle and pancake makers with interchangeable plates that I was able to find. I looked on several retail websites and I found several appliances that came with both waffle plates and griddle plates. The waffle plates are for making waffles and the griddle plates are for cooking eggs, bacon strips, sandwiches, and pancakes. The problem with the griddle plates is that they do not come with recessed holes for pouring the pancake batter in. If you don’t mind making pancakes that are not perfectly round, then I would recommend purchasing one of these appliances.
However, if you want perfectly round pancakes, then I would recommend looking for an appliance with both waffle plates and pancake plates with recessed holes. After doing some research online, I was able to find one appliance that comes with both waffle plates and pancake plates with recessed holes, the Cuisinart WAF-300.
The Cuisinart WAF-300 waffle and pancake maker is one of the top rated Belgian waffle irons with interchangeable plates because it is well-built, sturdy, has both waffle and pancake plates, distributes heat really well so you will not see any burnt edges or raw patches, and reheats quickly. It was released in October 2013.
The Cuisinart WAF-300 is the only Cuisinart waffle maker with interchangeable nonstick plates that you can easily clean in a dishwasher. It has a temperature control knob with six different browning settings. Also it is durable and spreads the heat evenly across the cooking plates so you won’t see any raw spots in your waffles and pancakes.
It comes with two 4-slice Belgian waffle plates, a 4-slot pancake plate, and a flat plate with no slots. It is designed to bake either four 4-inch square, 0.75-inches thick Belgian waffles or 4 pancakes at the same time. You cannot use both a waffle plate and a pancake plate together to make both pancakes and waffles.
These Belgian waffles are 0.75-inches thick which is thicker than the 0.5-inch traditional waffles made by the only Cuisinart traditional waffle iron, the Cuisinart WMR-CA.
Best Features of the Cuisinart WAF-300
• Two waffle and two pancake plates – You get one set of waffle plates and another set of pancake plates. You cannot use both at the same time
• All of the waffle and pancake plates are dishwasher safe and coated with Teflon
• ‘Power’ indicator light turns red to tell you when the appliance is receiving electricity
• ‘Ready to bake/serve’ indicator light turns green to tell you when the preheating process is finished or when the waffle is ready to eat
• Loud beeping audible alert – Signals when it is ready to cook and when waffles or pancakes are finished baking and ready to eat
• Power Cord Storage Area – The power cord wraps around the back so you won’t have to deal with a messy power cord
• Compact, vertical storage – You can store the appliance in a vertical position to give it a smaller footprint and save space
• Rubber Feet – Feet will keep the unit anchored in one position and won’t mark up your countertop
• Tongs – for flipping and easy removal of cooked foods
• BPA Free – All materials that come in contact with food are BPA free
• tongs and recipe book included
• Dimensions (Length x Width x Height): 12.2″ x 9.7″ x 6.3″ inches
• Weight: 8.2 pounds
• Country of Origin: Made in China
• 2-in-1 appliance that can make either waffles or pancakes
• waffle and pancake plates are dishwasher-safe so they can be easily cleaned in your dishwasher
• Plates pop right out by just pushing a button on the side
• loud audio beeps to signify your waffles or pancakes are done
• 6-setting browning control dial for varying degrees of crispiness and shading
• Powerful 1200 watt heating elements will evenly heat your waffles and pancakes so that there are no raw spots
• waffles are small enough to fit into your toaster just in case you want to put them in your refrigerator for later use
• cannot make pancakes and waffles at the same time
• no on/off switch
• short power-supply cord (3.5 feet long) might be a problem if the areas near the power outlets are too crowded
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the differences between waffles and pancakes?
Waffles and pancakes are both breakfast staples, but what are the differences between them?
Recipe: Both Belgian Waffle and Pancake batters are made with all-purpose flour, milk, eggs, butter, granulated sugar, salt, and vanilla extract but each batter uses varying amounts of each ingredient.
Belgian waffle batter uses more all-purpose flour, eggs, butter, and granulated sugar because it has a crispier exterior while pancake batter uses more milk because this makes pancakes thinner and floppier. Also pancake batter is leavened with baking powder while Belgian waffle batter will rise even higher because it is leavened with yeast.
Nutrition: Waffles have more calories, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates than pancakes do because it uses more eggs, butter, and sugar. According to https://www.nutritionvalue.org/, 100 grams of waffles contains 369 calories while 100 grams of pancakes contains 194 calories. Also 100 grams of waffles contain 8.7 grams of protein, 2.5 grams of dietary fiber, and 19 grams of total fat while 100 grams of pancakes contain 5.2 grams of protein, 1.2 grams of dietary fiber, and 2.5 grams of total fat.
Texture: Belgian waffles are denser than pancakes. Waffles are fluffy and dense because it uses yeast and more all-purpose flour, eggs, butter and sugar while pancakes are light and fluffy because it uses more milk.
Flavor: Waffles have a richer and sweeter flavor than pancakes because it uses more butter and sugar.
Toppings: Waffles can be topped with syrup, fruit, whipped cream, and nuts, while pancakes are typically topped with only syrup and butter.
Preparation: Pancakes can be prepared on a griddle because the top and bottom do not come with an intricate pattern like the checkerboard pattern in waffles while waffles are typically prepared in a waffle maker with plates that come with a checkerboard pattern.
Can you make waffles from pancake mix?
Sure you can make waffles from pancake mix, but there are some things to keep in mind.
First, you have to make certain the waffle batter is not thinner than pancake batter because really thin batter will run down the sides of the waffle iron. To thicken the waffle batter, add some more flour and eggs so that the batter will have the required amount of structure to hold up the waffle.
Second, be sure to use enough butter to give your waffles a crispy outer layer and a fluffy interior. If you don’t use enough butter, your waffles will come out soggy and will not bake properly. Conversely, too much butter can cause your waffles to come out too dry and leathery. In my experience, the best waffles are crisp and golden brown on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Also be sure to preheat your waffle iron so that it is nice and hot before you pour in your batter because this will help ensure consistent results.
Are there any waffle makers that do not use Teflon?
Yes there are many ceramic waffle makers that use a ceramic-coating on their plates instead of Teflon. One of the best is the Presto 03510 ceramic flipside Belgian waffle maker. The Presto 03510 flipside Belgian waffle maker will make one round 7-inch wide, 1-inch thick Belgian waffle at a time and comes with a digital timer, 180 degree flip feature, and good heat distribution.
Are there Teflon free ceramic waffle makers with interchangeable plates?
Yes the Hamilton Beach 26031 Teflon free ceramic waffle maker with interchangeable plates can bake one round 7-inch wide, 1-inch thick Belgian waffle at a time and it also comes with a flip feature, five browning settings and drip tray.
How does the Cuisinart WAF-300 compare to the Krups GQ502?
The main differences between the two is that the Krups GQ502 Belgian waffle maker with removable plates does not come with pancake plates and it takes up more space on your kitchen counter.
How long does the preheating process take?
It takes about 5 to 7 minutes for the preheating process to finish and the cooking plates to reach the selected temperature.
How long does it take to cook the waffles, pancakes, etc.?
It takes about 4 to 5 minutes for the waffles, pancakes, etc. to be done cooking.
Do the plates come out easily?
Yes they do. The plates can be removed with the push of a button. It has two waffle and two pancake plates. Both the waffle and pancake plates snap in securely but this will come out pretty easily just by pressing the release mechanism located on the side of the device.
Is there another waffle and pancake maker with interchangeable plates?
Yes there is. However, it will make thin, traditional-style waffles instead of the thick Belgian-style waffles this appliance makes. The Black and Decker Thin Waffle Maker and Grill/Griddle will enable you to make waffles, bacon, eggs and pancakes.
How does this device work?
You put in the plug into the outlet and the red indicator light turns on to tell you that it is heating up. Then the green indicator light turns on and the appliance beeps several times when it reaches the proper baking temperature. This is when you put the batter in and lower the lid. The green indicator light will turn off. Then the light will turn back on again and beep when your pancakes or waffles are finished baking. The beep is loud enough to get your attention.
How do you make crispy waffles?
Yes you can use the higher settings (4, 5, or 6) of the six-setting temperature control knob to make really crispy Belgian waffles.
What is the wattage?
The heating elements use 1200 watts of power which is typical for this type of device.
Can you wrap the cord neatly around the appliance?
The cord is not retractable but you can wrap it neatly around the waffle iron.
Is i easy to store?
Yes it is. You can store it with the waffle and pancake plates inserted and the cord wrapped securely around the back of the appliance. You can even store it upright for compact storage. You can stand the appliance on the back end with the control panel facing up.
