Cuisinart WAF-300P1 Belgian Waffle Maker with Pancake Plates, Brushed Stainless

I am super pleased with this waffle making machine. I spent a lot of time looking at a variety of waffle makers. I wanted to get one for my husband as he sometimes wants waffles. I am not usually a fan of waffles, but I found that I do like Belgian style. So, when I began looking for a waffle maker for him, I made sure it could make the thicker Belgian style that I like.There are so many waffle makers out there and the reviews are all over the place. I went from thinking I could get something for less than $20 to taking a peek at the offerings in the hundreds. I looked so hard and so long that I was considering giving up. At some point in my mission, I found this Cuisinart waffle maker. I have always liked this brand, and I was kinda keen on the features such as:Removable platesUse beyond making waffles, additional plates (swap out two waffle plates for a flat and a flat/round for eggs, sausage patties, sandwiches)Belgian waffle style plates with deep crevicesThe product description video helped me to see how it works, which influenced my ultimate buying decision.Basically its a breakfast station! My primary interest was waffle making, so even the lure of added functionality didn't completely sell me at first. I continued to read all the reviews- again, all mixed like every other out there- and abandoned this for awhile to continue my search.I circled back around to this because, once again, I have been pleased with anything I have by Cuisinart. I liked the overall look of this, and that it appeared to be easy to store. I also decided I liked the additional plates, and I liked that there is no need to do any flipping or rotating of the machine. It cost more ($72) than I originally set out for, but everything about this unit- if it worked- seemed to be worth it. We love "breakfast" anytime, so i knew it would be used not only for waffles but for pancakes, eggs, and sausage patties. In addition, I started looking at recipes that go beyond breakfast foods that use a waffle maker, and this size and style seemed conducive to trying out all sorts of neat recipes. SOLD!Now, as to how it did.1st-- how the waffles turn out is greatly determined by the cook. My husband makes perfect Belgium waffles each and every time. ME? they turn out.. ok. I am so glad I wasn't the only one to test this out, as I would have thought that the machine was at fault. NOPE- me. I swear I do all the things he does, but every single time his turn out better. EVEN SO, mine still look good.It has a few heat settings, just take a look at the manual for additional guidance. I don't think they take long to make. We made several in short time. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Waffles were evenly cooked, and always just turn out well. We use Krusteaz brand Belgian Waffle mix every time- not sure if that makes a difference or not.The plates pop out for easy washing, if need be (I usually just wipe with a damp cloth). I can store the unit in an upright position or resting flat. It doesn't take up much room in my cupboard, which is great. Compact- just a square. Nothing sticking out, making it weird. If you like appliances on your counter, this is pleasant to look at.Usually when we do waffles, we aren't doing pancakes. Usually when I do pancakes, I am used to using another style of pan, BUT, this is really nice as it heats up quickly, doesn't stick, and is just fun to use one unit. The round section is for batter,eggs, etc, then the top flat portion presses down. It is still being used primarily for waffles, but I am very pleased with this waffle maker. Especially when my husband makes waffles.The more we use the more I am pleased with this purchase. 5 stars at this time. If I learn anything new- good or bad- I will be back to update.

I already own the Cuisinart Griddler Five (GR-5BP1), which offers a separate waffle plate—but let me tell you, the quality difference between that and this dedicated waffle maker is night and day.This waffle maker delivers thick, crispy, golden-brown waffles every time. One batch makes four small waffles, and I usually enjoy two with fresh fruit for a perfect weekend brunch. On setting level 3+, the waffles turn out beautifully—crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside (though this can vary slightly depending on your mix and personal preference). Want them even crispier? I simply turn off the power and leave the lid closed a bit longer—works like magic.The non-stick coating is excellent. Nothing sticks, and cleanup is a breeze. If you want to go a step further, the plates pop right out and are dishwasher safe—totally hassle-free.Compared to the Griddler’s waffle plate, this feels like a real waffle maker—superior heat distribution, texture, and overall performance. It’s become a weekend ritual with coffee at home, and I honestly couldn’t be happier.Love it. Love it. Love it.

Great waffle maker. The top handle is large so you don't get your hand too close to the hot top. It is huge so the waffles are big and can easily be split for kids. It is truely non stick (I have had bad luck before). The beeps for "ready" are loud enough to actually hear. And the level of cooking is perfect.Yes you have to get used to how much mix to put in, but if some spills out the side it is easy to wipe up.

Summary: Great unit, even heating and rapid output of Waffles or Pancakes.My rating of this unit is 4.5 stars if it were possible. I'm always a fan of Cuisinart as they deliver top quality units and seem to thoroughly think things out for each product.The cons (what everyone looks for)The reason for the knock of 1/2 star is due to the heating and how it's managed. The issue is that since the heater is not bonded to the plates there's an inherit issue of overheating on warm-up. What this means is if you know you like level 3.5 and set it to that to initial-heat it will overshoot significantly and get way too hot (past max level). This is due to residual heat that builds up in the heating elements which is significant after a long initial heat-up cycle. My second use of this went badly at first because the first waffle-output was overly cooked.*Workaround* There is, however, a very easy solution. Set the dial to 1, let it heat up normally and wait an extra minute. That puts it at just about 3.5 (my personal preference) and cooks properly for that first one and after.The good:*Multi-purpose. You can do Belgian Waffles (large cavities if you've never experienced this) and 4 Pancakes.*The heating and cooking works quite well, everything is even and if you follow directions (coat with oil/etc) it will come right off. If not, waffles will stick and be an extreme pain to remove.*The pancakes (used multiple times) works very well without any spray/oil. The catch is that you must fill the cavity completely with batter or the whole thing will not cook enough. It depends on the batter rising and hitting the top plate to cook the other half.*Notification: Unlike others, this one beeps loud enough when the cooking is done. A very nice addition which allows me to do other things. Perhaps others do this, but my last one didn't.*Cleaning: Dishwasher! This is the main reason why I got this over a fixed/bonded unit. No problem yet, but this is a young unit. I do worry about plates clashing in the dishwasher so they do soak up a lot of room due to separation from everything else.*Plate insert/removal: Very, very, very easy. Push a button on the side and done. Each one is "keyed" so it only goes in the top or bottom.As a FYI, I've been using Bisquick.