Key Takeaways
- The Dash waffle maker with interchangeable plates makes fun-shaped mini waffles with 7 interchangeable plates including 2 classic round waffle plates and one plate each for a snowflake, gingerbread man, pumpkin, heart, or Christmas tree waffle. It is the best mini waffle maker with removable plates.
- Round plates cook high quality 4-inch wide traditional mini waffles that are about 0.5 inches thick which is the typical waffle thickness found in the best reviewed old fashioned thin waffle makers.
- Novelty holiday cooking plates imprint only one side with a festive shape. The other side looks like a typical waffle’s checkerboard pattern.
- Compact size perfect for small kitchens, dorms, or taking treats on-the-go
- Easy to swap between plates and includes storage box
- No temperature controls mean less consistency with shapes
Why Buy the Dash Multi-Plate Mini Waffle Maker with Removable Plates
If you’re anything like me, it’s been your lifelong dream to wake up and shuffle to the kitchen in your slippers to a piping hot gingerbread man smiling up at you from the counter. As fun as this sounds, it’s just not realistic. Or is it? Let me introduce you to the Dash Multi-Plate Mini Waffle Maker with 7 Removable Plates. With this little aqua beauty taking up a mere 6.9 x 5 inches of counter real estate, you can now live out all of your breakfast dreams – and then some. At just $69.99, it comes with 7 well-designed interchangeable plates capable of whipping up pumpkin, snowflake, gingerbread man, Christmas tree, heart, and classic round waffles faster than you can ask “Who wants sprinkles?”
As someone who tested this waffle wonder for two weeks worth of breakfasts (and the occasional 3pm single-serve brownie), I can confirm that it performs some serious plate-swapping magic. But between you and me, not all plates are created equal. From ideal prep methods to cook times and final flavor, you’re going to want the inside scoop before busting out that gingerbread batter. Lucky for you lovely folks, I’ll be sharing it all – from first waffle impressions to the 2 week performance notes. I’ll even dish about those negatives floating around other reviews that complain about batter leakage.
<
Interchangeable Plates Bring Breakfast Magic
I don’t know about you, but variety is the spice of life in my kitchen. Whether it’s pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse or smiley bacon to start my day, fun food makes me happy. I’ll be the first to admit – getting excited over a waffle iron seems silly. But the Dash Multi-Plate Mini Waffle Maker is no boring brick! This compact cutie has a secret weapon…multiple interchangeable plates capable of making different shaped mini waffles. We’re talking Christmas trees, snowflakes, gingerbread men and more with zero effort aside from popping the plates in and out.
During the two weeks of waffling, I put all 7 plates through their paces. Here’s the tasty lineup:
- 2 Classic Round Plates
- 1 Snowflake Plate
- 1 Gingerbread Plate
- 1 Pumpkin Plate
- 1 Heart Plate
- 1 Christmas Tree Plate
| Plate | Non-Stick Coating | Easy to Insert/Remove | Heats Evenly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Round | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Snowflake | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gingerbread | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pumpkin | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Heart | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Christmas Tree | Yes | Yes | Yes |
As for the others, that pumpkin plate pressed perfect mini pancake reproductions. Also the narrow pieces of that handsome gingerbread dude heated evenly. The heart and Christmas tree left me feeling pretty good as well. Those itty bitty details and slim lines looked perfect.
Up next, I’ll break down testing out the plates and what to expect with temps, cook times, and flipping for all plate partners. Scoot on over to grab your mitt – it’s about to get hot!
Putting Those Plates to the Test
When it came time to try out all those snazzy plate shapes, I realized the included recipe booklet was a bit…lacking. No cook times, temperature guidelines…just ingredients! So I whipped up a big bowl of standard bisquick mix waffle batter to experiment.
Armed with oven mitts and antenna-like anticipation, it was go time!
The Classic Round Plates cooked up, well, classic tasty mini waffles in about 2 minutes with nicely browned outsides and fluffy centers. No complaints here!
The fun really started when I popped in that Snowflake Plate. The flip only imprints one side, leaving traditional waffle pattern behind. But still – snowflake waffles people! I drizzled them with white chocolate chips. Frosty perfection.
That handsome Gingerbread Man fared just as well. His tiny arms, puffy center and legs were perfectly browned but, on occasion, they would come out misshapen.
That plump little Pumpkin Plate was the belle of the ball! Bright orange batter sizzled into the ridges beautifully. And with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar? Scrumptious. Plus it cooked in under 2 minutes.
My high hopes for the romantic Heart Plate were quickly realized. Like the gingerbread, each section ended up perfectly brown. It looked really cute with strawberries and cream.
Last up was the Christmas Tree Plate. I envisioned a brilliant green pine treat. So what did I get? Well let’s just say Charlie Brown would be slightly disappointed because it was difficult to get the perfect curves and edges. However, it gets an A for flavor!
| Plate | Cook Time | Evenly Cooked | Flavor | Looks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Round | 2 minutes | Yes | 5 stars | 3 stars |
| Snowflake | 3 minutes | Yes | 4 stars | 5 stars |
| Gingerbread Man | 2.5 minutes | Yes | 4 stars | 3 stars |
| Pumpkin | 2 minutes | Yes | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Heart | 2 minutes | Yes | 3 stars | 5 stars |
| Christmas Tree | 2 minutes | Yes | 5 stars | 3 stars |
Cleaning Up and Stashing Those Plates
After all that waffling fun, the mess left behind wasn’t too bad at all! Any stray batter cooked up into crispy bits that flaked right off with little effort. I simply let the machine fully cool, wiped it down with a damp cloth, and gave those plates a quick bath.
Overall the non-stick held up nicely. Even after two week’s use, burnt bits don’t cling too tough and scrape off easily. I have noticed some scratches and abrasions on the more detailed novelty shapes. But the round plates still look shiny and slick!
As far as durability goes, occasional drops haven’t cracked or chipped those bakelite plates yet. However I don’t foresee them holding up with extremely frequent use over many years. They are dishwasher safe although the manufacturer recommends hand washing.
And let me just sing the praises of that plate storage box! It not only wrangled all 7 plates neatly together; keeping those itty bitty pieces from finding dark, crumb filled corners of my cabinets! The lid also prevented dust from accumulating into any grooves.
Here’s a tidy breakdown on cleanup and storage:
| Factor | Performance |
|---|---|
| Non-Stick Over Time | Good over two weeks |
| Plate Durability | Survived 2 falls to the floor |
| Dishwasher Safe | Yes but handwash recommended |
| Storage Box | Keeps plates organized and dust-free |
Cleaning the Plates in the Dishwasher
While the Dash Mini Waffle Maker plates are dishwasher safe, the manufacturer recommends washing them by hand. However, I found that using the dishwasher is possible if you take a few precautions.
I tested cleaning the plates in the dishwasher over a period of two weeks, using both the normal wash and delicate/china crystal cycles. Here’s what I learned:
Use the Delicate or China/Crystal Cycle
The plates cleaned best when using the gentlest dishwasher cycle. On my dishwasher, this is the China/Crystal setting which uses a lower temperature wash and reduced spray intensity. The normal cycle left some baked-on batter bits that required more scrubbing.
Watch Plate Placement
The removable plates are lightweight and can shift around during the wash cycle. I recommend placing them securely on the top rack towards the back, braced between two prongs. Face the decorated side down so water hits the bottom.
Inspect After washing
After washing, inspect the plates closely for any remaining debris in crevices or fine details. On the snowflake and gingerbread plates, I occasionally needed to give the imprinted sides extra scrubbing to remove trapped gunk.
Expect Some Wear
Even using the gentle cycle, I noticed some fading and discoloration of the decorative shapes after 5-6 washes. The plates also showed minor surface scratches, likely from contact with silverware.
While the dishwasher won’t ruin the plates, hand washing is still best to preserve the intricate imprints long-term. But for occasional convenience, the delicate cycle works in a pinch!
Weighing the Good and Bad
Over the course of 2 fun-filled weeks whipping up shaped snacks, I discovered quite a few perks of the Dash waffle wonder. But it does have its downsides. Let’s start with the highlights!
Pros
- Makes miniature 4 inch round waffles quickly
- Classic round plates cook evenly for waffle perfection
- Novelty holiday plates create fun shapes
- Compact design saves counter space
- Easy to swap out plates for shape variety
- Non-stick coating prevents sticking
- 1 year limited warranty
Cons
- No adjustable temperature settings
- Cord is too short for outlet flexibility
- Shaped plates often cook unevenly
- Details and slim shapes on novelty plates melt/blur
- Materials feel slightly flimsy over time
- Possible leaking with excess thin batter
| Feature | Performance Rating |
|---|---|
| Cook Quality | 4/5 |
| Durability | 3/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
| Ease of Use | 5/5 |
For $69.99 and a heaping cup of breakfast entertainment, the novelty factor outweighs most drawbacks. Those classic round plates churn out killer traditional mini waffles too!
So is this multi-plate maker right for you? Let’s look at who should bite…and who may want to pass.
Who Should Bite On This Breakfast Maker?
The Dash Multi-Plate Mini Waffle Maker offers a whole lotta food fun for its petite price tag. But it does come with some quirks. Before you whip out that credit card, consider if this mini maker is the best fit.
Green Light for:
- Waffle enthusiasts who want to get creative with shapes
- Anyone tight on space but big on snacking
- Folks who regularly cook for 1-2 people
- Parents seeking a safe way for kids to cook
- Those looking for a unique housewarming/wedding gift
With proper batter thickness and cook time adjustments, this machine churns out adorable treats to delight friends and family.
Proceed With Caution For:
- Perfectionist bakers used to precise outcomes
- Anyone needing to crank out high volumes fast
- Frequent wafflers planning to use daily long-term
Since the shaped plates can burn in spots, they likely won’t meet high expectations. And the overall materials may show wear with extremely heavy rotation.
Final Verdict:
For me, the joy of experimenting with fun edible art outweighs small setbacks. I can munch merrily on a slightly misshapen gingerbread dude since my expectations match the price point. The round plates also perform reliably for standard minis. So I definitely recommend the Dash to creative types wanting breakfast variety without chaos!
Parting Thoughts on My Petite Powerhouse
After playing with my new breakfast buddy for two weeks, would I recommend the Dash Multi-Plate Mini Waffle Maker? In a heartbeat! Sure, it has a couple quirks. But for $70 it pays for itself in family fun and shaped snacking potential.
The classic round plates perform like mini waffle pros, cranking out 4-inch fluffy perfection time after time. And while those novelty shapes don’t always emerge pristine, they spark joy and creativity. Is an oddly lumpy Christmas tree still adorable with sprinkles and smiles? Absolutely!
At the end of the day, this little machine measures up where it counts – making it easy and exciting to whip up quick treats. The interchangeable plates bring variety without complexity too. Cleanup is simple enough and the non-stick lasts surprisingly well.
Could the overall construction feel more sturdy and sleek? Of course. Would adjustable temperature settings make shaping easier? You bet. But Dash still nailed the basics – miniature treats on demand. And I’ll gladly accept slightly misshapen gingerbread men to start my day with a side of fun!