Hamilton BeachBelgian Waffle Maker with Removable PFAS-Free Durathon Nonstick Coated Plates, Easy Flip, Ceramic Grids, Black (26031)

I really like this one! Waffles are my thing and I make them 1-2x/week faithfully. I like having removable plates but did not want to purchase the same brand I owned previously which had removable plates. After a lot of searching and considering, I went with HB for the ceramic, removable plates. I've used it a couple of times and love it. Waffles are perfect, plates remove and clean up with ease. I hand wash after each use and give a quick spray of oil prior to use. I have not had an issue with sticking--waffles lift right out. If you are having a time deciding like I was, move this one to the top of the list if it sounds like this will suit your needs!

This Hamilton Beach Flip Belgian Waffle Maker is capable of making some excellent waffles--every bit as good as the kind many people enjoy at the continental breakfast line at some hotels, with the only difference being that this waffle maker does not have an automated timer that beeps when the waffle is ready. Instead, you dial in the desired temp setting (I set mine on 1, the second-lowest option), pour on the batter, close the lid and rotate the handle to turn the griddles over, then wait approximately five minutes until the steaming tapers off. Lift the lid and VOILA! You have an exquisite waffle!Obviously, the taste and cook time of the waffles depends on the recipe for the batter you use. I find that mixes which include eggs make the fluffiest most authentic tasting kind, but if you look around you can find a good one that does not require you to whip/beat the egg whites, which is tiring and time-consuming. There are also some good instant mixes out there.I noticed other reviewers commenting that some of these do not heat properly. I did not have that problem. Mine gets piping/steaming hot and has given me no trouble. It takes about 5-7 minutes to initially warm up, at which point a green "Ready" light illuminates. After every 2 waffles you cook, it's good to let it re-heat for a moment because if you keep pouring on the batter in rapid succession, it will overwhelm the heating element, causing it to take noticeably longer to re-heat and cook the third waffle (and will cook that waffle inconsistently as a result). Not a big deal. The only quibble I have here is that this waffle maker doesn't feel particularly durable. It works fine, but only time will tell if it holds up. For $22 on a lightning deal, I think it was an outstanding value regardless.One last point: These waffles are quite large. Many folks will be satisfied to split one in half with a significant other. Otherwise, you had better be hungry if you're going to eat a whole one yourself.[UPDATE 12/18/2017: One year later and this waffle maker is still going strong! I love it! I've used it at least 50 times this year, probably quite a bit more than that, and all the waffles have come out great!]

After doing much research on non-stick coatings, I settled on a waffle maker with a ceramic surface. I have birds, and non-stick coatings can give off fumes that are deadly to birds. However, having never had an appliance with a ceramic coating, I couldn't judge the fairness of the negative reviews and that made me hesitant to order. In the end, I decided to just go for it, trusting that with my years of cooking and baking I could probably make this work. Turns out, I needn't have worried. This is a great waffle maker.I purposely waited until I'd used this appliance a number of times, so I could write an informed review. First, the ceramic coating is fantastic. After many batches of crispy, brown waffles, I've never had one stick. Cleanup is a breeze.Second, there's no need to eliminate oil in your recipe or do anything special with preparing the grids. My waffle recipe uses a half cup of vegetable oil and it works just fine. I preheat the waffle maker while I'm mixing the batter. Once it’s hot, I brush the grids with a very small amount of oil - and I do mean small. I just dab the brush in the oil. If you have oil running down the grids as you brush them, you're using too much. (Note #1: I rarely have to re-oil the grids after the first time. Note #2: I don't use cooking spray, it damages non-stick finishes).Third, I use the waffle maker on the #3 setting to ensure it gets hot enough to crisp the waffle. I spoon about 3/4 cup of batter onto the hot grids, close the waffle maker and flip it. Wait until most of the steam stops coming out (the green ready light usually comes on about then), then flip it back and open it. The waffles are always nicely browned and crispy.Lastly, I’m careful about maintaining the appliance. When I'm finished, I never put the grids in the dishwasher. Dishwasher detergent is very harsh. It takes only a couple of minutes to wash the grids by hand with soapy water, dry them, and put them back in the waffle maker. Mine still look and work like new. I hope this helps anyone who might be on the fence about whether or not to take a chance on this appliance.