Waffle makers: the downsides, first

Amazon's review summary says value for money is mixed, with some owners saying it isn't worth the price. It costs $169.95 at Breville and makes one waffle per batch.

Amazon's summary says nonstick experiences are mixed: some say waffles come off easily, others find them difficult to remove.

Serious Eats' only con is that it's a bit bulky (the moat enlarges the footprint). Good Housekeeping says it had one of the longest preheat times.

Wirecutter often had to pry waffles out, leaving misshapen waffles and crumbs; it blames the deep bottom grid. Amazon's summary says some owners find cooked waffles impossible to remove.

Wirecutter calls the 1-year limited warranty not especially generous for such a costly machine; Serious Eats says it's one of the most expensive it tested.

Wirecutter says it weighs 15.3 pounds and a staffer found it too cumbersome for a small kitchen. Amazon owners are mixed on its size.

Wirecutter says it offers no sound to indicate when the waffle is cooked, only a green 'ready' light, so you have to hover.

Wirecutter followed the manual's 1-cup batter instruction and the machine was too full to close, with batter oozing out; a scant cup (closer to the included 3/4-cup measure) worked.

Amazon's review summary says opinions on sturdiness are mixed: some find it quite sturdy, while others describe it as flimsy and not well machined.

Serious Eats calls it a bulky machine that takes up cabinet space; Good Housekeeping says it is bulky to store; Wirecutter says it won't clear an upper cabinet when fully open.

Serious Eats says the plates aren't removable, so cleaning requires fiddling in the nooks. Good Housekeeping says it lacks an overflow channel, so the machine needed wiping after every use.

Amazon's review summary says cooking performance is mixed: some report perfectly cooked results while others say it doesn't heat evenly.

Amazon's review summary says owners report durability issues, including the handle breaking within a month, though some say nothing comes apart.

Good Housekeeping had to cook on higher settings for crispiness. Amazon owners are mixed on heating, with some saying it doesn't get hot enough and the temperature control isn't accurate.

Amazon's summary says nonstick is mixed (some report food sticking) and the anti-overflow feature is mixed, with some owners still seeing batter spill over the sides.

Wirecutter found it cooked unevenly and so quickly that waffles started to burn. Serious Eats says it tended to burn at higher temperatures.

Good Housekeeping notes there's no shade selector; you set a timer, and it beeps until you press a button again.

Serious Eats says it took about 90 seconds longer to heat than the best flip models and makes one waffle at a time; Wirecutter says it takes a lot of counter space in use.

Wirecutter says it feels flimsy, the lid wiggles, and a staffer who has used one for over five years says parts start to break. Amazon's review summary for this listing flags a flimsy hinge and a feeling that it may fall apart.

Wirecutter got overflow with the manual's 1/2 cup of batter; Serious Eats' only complaint is a too-thin moat.

Wirecutter found a hot spot that made the center darker than the edges, a cosmetic issue that didn't affect taste or texture.

Wirecutter notes it has no sounds, dials or even an on/off switch, and its indicator light is almost too dim to see. Serious Eats and Good Housekeeping list no settings.

Good Housekeeping says the 4-inch size means it takes a considerable time to work through a normal batch of batter, and waffles need longer than one light cycle (2 to 2.5 minutes) to crisp.

Amazon's review summary says heating is mixed, with some owners saying it doesn't get hot enough and the temperature can't be controlled. Serious Eats says not to expect burnished, crispy waffles at 420 watts.