Saturday, May 9, 2009

Choosing the Best Waffle Maker For Your Family

By Wilson G Myer

The ubiquitous but tasty waffle is made from a liquid better that is poured onto a waffle iron. Waffle irons feature a trademark criss-cross pattern that gives the waffle its characteristic shape. There are plenty of variations when it comes to waffles, depending on the type of iron used and the ingredients in the batter.

Pilgrims brought waffle making to America in 1620 since Europeans traditionally made waffles. Thomas Jefferson used to hold waffle frolics or waffle parties. In the Middle Ages people made waffles by using two metal plates that were equipped with a hinge, as well as wooden handles. This was placed over a fire, and subsequently flipped to cook both sides of the waffle but at the time they were called wafers.

There are a number of different kinds of waffles and waffle makers. For instance there is Belgian or Brussels waffles which sometimes is made with deeper indentations that are also wider than the American waffle. They were first introduced to America at the New York's World's Fair in 1964. The Lige waffle also comes from Belgium.

Some waffles are meant to be topped or filled, then folded in half. For example, Hong Kong style waffles are round and cooked in four quarters, and typically filled with peanut butter. Similarly, Dutch Stroopwafels are topped with a sweet and succulent mixture of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and syrup.

Swedish style waffles are made from a heart shaped waffle iron, and filled with sour or whipped cream, along with fresh berries or jams. In Norway, salted varieties of waffles topped with brown or bleu cheeses are also available.

Nowadays, waffle makers are electric appliances with a non-stick coating, and most have light signals that indicate when the iron is hot enough to pour on the batter. The lights even tell you when the waffle is fully cooked. USA waffle makers come in a vast array of different shapes and styles, including cartoon characters such as the always popular Mickey Mouse character from Disney, as well as hearts, flowers, and other cute shapes. Children especially love waffles in fun shapes.

Not only will you have to decide on a shape, but also if you need to conserve space a retractable cord is handy, and so are waffle makers that can be stored on their side. Waffle makers come with a lot of bells and whistles too, such as versatility to make sandwiches or even grill meat. You can also purchase an electronically controlled waffle maker featuring an LED display. Some models will even beep you when to add batter, and when they are ready.

Depending on what you are going to use your waffle maker for and how often you are going to use it, you can purchase waffle makers online or in department stores. If you require one with all the modern gadgets or if you are going to use it very often, then a restaurant supply store is your best bet. Just remember that once you begin making them, chances are that your family will be asking for waffles often! They then can become a healthy part of a balanced breakfast.

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