How to Make Waffles With a Waffle Maker
Waffles are a comfort food that can be enjoyed any time of day. Not just for breakfast, waffles are great for lunch or dinner, and also make an excellent dessert. There are a lot of unused waffle makers out there sitting in the back of the cabinet because people think waffle making is too labor intensive and the recipes too difficult to make. Some prepared waffle mixes require nothing more than adding some water and oil and mixing, but there are some great recipes for waffles that require little more than the easily prepared mixes and result in a gastronomically pleasing end product. Using the waffle maker is really quite easy.
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Plug in the waffle maker and allow it to heat until the indicator shows that it is ready to use. If your waffle maker doesn't have an indicator, allow it to heat up until a drop of water dances on the surface.
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Spray both the top and bottom surfaces of the waffle maker with a light coating of nonstick cooking spray. Just a light mist should be adequate.
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Pour about a half-cup of batter onto the bottom surface and close the lid. Some waffle makers will require more batter and some less, but after a few tries, you'll be able to tell how much batter to use for each waffle.
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Close the lid of the waffle maker. The amount of time needed to cook the waffle will depend on the individual waffle maker, but you can tell the waffle is done when there is no more steam coming out between the top and bottom. If you like crisper waffles, allow the waffle to cook for a few more moments, but be careful to not overcook or burn.
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Open the waffle maker and remove the waffle. Some times, the waffle will be stuck to the top, but lightly prod the waffle with a fork to loosen its bond to the waffle maker.
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Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 for as many waffles you wish to make. There is no need to respray your waffle maker after your initial batch.
Things You Will Need
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Batter
Tip
- Substitute olive oil for the vegetable oil called for in most recipes. Olive oil will give the waffles a very light and crispy crust. Blend in bacon bits, nuts, berries, or chocolate chips to add variety to your waffles.
Warning
- Don't be tempted to open the waffle maker before the waffles are done cooking, as the top and bottom of the waffle may separate and become difficult to remove when it is finished.