Our pick for a waffle maker in most Australian homes is the Breville Smart Waffle Pro: Waffle IQ calculates the cooking time for the style and colour you select, with 12 browning settings and a No Mess Moat that keeps excess batter under control. The Sunbeam Vertical Waffle Maker is the tidy alternative, and the Cuisinart 4 Slice Belgian Waffle Maker is the one for a family that eats together.
A waffle maker is one of those treat appliances that earns its keep on weekends, school holidays and lazy Sunday brunches rather than every single morning. It will not get the daily workout your toaster or kettle gets, but on the mornings it does come out, a good waffle maker turns a basic batter into cafe style waffles. The difference between a frustrating cheap machine and a genuinely good one comes down to three things: the type of waffle it makes, how much control you have over browning, and how it handles the inevitable mess.
The range in Australia spans from compact mini makers through to smart machines that sense and time the cook for you. Understanding which features matter (and which you can skip) is what this guide is about. We cover the types of waffle maker, why browning control is the feature to weigh first, how to size capacity to your household, and how the best machines stop batter overflowing all over the bench.
How the six waffle makers compare
Style, capacity and how much control you get over browning are what separate these six.
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Rating |
|---|
| Bestron Mini Waffle Maker | Mini maker for kids and snacks | One mini waffle at a time, a Global Store import on 15 October 2026 | 4.4 |
| Breville Crisp Control Waffle Maker | Novelty shapes, could not be bought on 15 October 2026 | Heart shaped plates, variable temperature control | 4.5 |
| Cuisinart 4 Slice Belgian Waffle Maker | Best for families | Four deep pocket waffles at once, 5 browning settings | 4.6 |
| Sunbeam Vertical Waffle Maker | Best for tidy pouring | Vertical pour, 5 shade settings, automatic start timer | 4.6 |
| Breville No Mess Waffle Iron (BWM520BSS) | Best for overflow control | Built around a wide wrap around moat | 4.5 |
| Breville Smart Waffle Pro (BWM640BSS) | Best overall | Waffle IQ sets time and shade automatically | 4.7 |
How we picked these waffle makers
Last checked: 15 October 2026
We compared the six waffle makers on what each is best for, its key feature and its rating. Every specification on this page comes from two saved sources for each one: the Amazon Australia listing and the maker specifications stated in that listing's product information. Ratings and stock move, so check the live listing before you buy.
The Types of Waffle Maker
Not all waffle makers produce the same waffle. Before comparing brands, it helps to know which style suits the waffles you actually want to eat, because the machine type, more than the price, decides the result.
Belgian and Deep Pocket, Including the Cuisinart
Belgian waffle makers produce thick, fluffy waffles with deep square pockets that hold syrup, cream and fruit, the cafe style 'real waffle'. The deep grids are forgiving: they hold toppings beautifully and give you that satisfying crisp outside, soft inside texture. The Cuisinart, our family pick, is a deep pocket Belgian maker.
Browning Control: The Feature That Matters Most
If you only weigh one feature when buying a waffle maker, weigh this one. A shade or browning dial lets you choose anywhere from light and fluffy to dark and crispy, and it is the difference between a waffle you love and a waffle that is somebody else's idea of done. Everyone has a preference, and a fixed temperature machine simply cannot honour it.
More settings mean finer control. The Cuisinart and the Sunbeam each offer 5 shade settings, which is plenty for a household to find its sweet spot, and the No Mess Waffle Iron sits a notch higher with a 7 setting dial. The Breville Smart Waffle Pro goes furthest with 12 browning settings plus an 'A Bit More' button that adds extra colour without restarting the whole cycle, genuinely useful when one person likes their waffle a shade darker than the rest of the table.
Just as important is knowing when the waffle is ready. Indicator lights (ready to bake and ready to eat, as on the Cuisinart) or a screen timer (as on the Sunbeam) take the guesswork out of timing, so you are not lifting the lid early and tearing a half set waffle. A machine that tells you when it is done is worth far more than its price difference in saved waffles.
Capacity: How Many Waffles At Once
Capacity decides whether your family eats together or in shifts, so match it to your household and how often you host brunch.
A 1 waffle maker suits a couple or a single person household, quick to heat, easy to store, but slow if you are feeding a crowd. A 2 waffle maker, like the Breville Smart Waffle Pro, suits a small household that does not need to feed a crowd in one go. A 4 waffle maker, like the Cuisinart, bakes four deep Belgian waffles in a single batch, so a family or a table of guests is served at once rather than the cook eating last and cold.
If you regularly host weekend brunch or have hungry kids on school holidays, the larger capacity earns its bench space. If waffles are an occasional treat for two, a smaller machine is plenty.
Mess Management: The Number One Annoyance
Ask anyone who owns a waffle maker what they dislike about it and the answer is the same: batter overflows easily, and baked on batter is a chore to scrub off the bench and the machine. This is a common waffle maker complaint, and the good news is that several of our picks tackle it a different way.
The Cuisinart has a locking mechanism and an easy to open and close handle that, the listing says, prevent batter from leaking. The Breville Smart Waffle Pro has a No Mess Moat that the listing says keeps excess batter under control. The Sunbeam tackles the problem with its vertical pour funnel: batter goes in from the top of the upright design, which the listing says gives no mess.
Breville No Mess Waffle Iron
If overflow is your biggest gripe, the Breville No Mess Waffle Iron is built around the fix: a wide wrap around moat catches and cooks overflow, per the listing. It pairs that with a browning dial with 7 colour settings and Thermal Pro heat distribution.
A machine with no mess feature means wiping cooked on batter off the counter every time, which is exactly the kind of friction that sends a waffle maker to the back of the cupboard for good. It is a feature worth paying for.
Even Heat: No Crispy Edges With Raw Middles
Cheap waffle makers have a habit of giving you crispy, almost burnt edges with a raw, doughy middle, because the heat is concentrated in one spot rather than spread across the plate. Even heat distribution fixes this. The Breville Smart Waffle Pro and the Breville No Mess Waffle Iron both list Thermal Pro heat distribution, and the Sunbeam's upright design is listed as evenly distributing heat, which helps the waffle cook edge to edge. If you have ever bitten into a waffle that was perfect on the outside and gluey inside, even heat is the feature that solves it.
Nonstick Coating and Care
Look for a PFOA free nonstick coating, as on the Breville Smart Waffle Pro plates. A few care habits help protect that coating:
- Never use metal utensils on the plates. They scratch the nonstick coating. Use silicone or wood to lift waffles out.
- If your manual allows it, a light brush of oil on the plates before the first use helps the coating season and release cleanly.
- Let the machine cool fully, then wipe the plates clean rather than soaking them.
- Never submerge the body in water. It houses the electrical element. Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth.
Always check your manual for the care steps that suit your model.
The Australian Context: An Occasional Use Treat
It is worth being honest about where a waffle maker sits in an Australian kitchen. Waffles are a weekend brunch and school holiday favourite rather than a daily breakfast, so a waffle maker is a treat appliance. It lives in the cupboard between uses and does take up shelf space. That is the main trade off, and it is why a cheaper, simpler machine is genuinely plenty for the occasional weekend batch.
The other honest trade off is mess: batter overflow is the main hassle, which is exactly why the mess features above earn their keep. And whichever machine you buy, technique helps: a thick batter, a hot, fully preheated plate, and a light brush of oil if your manual allows it. A four slice Belgian maker such as the Cuisinart handles the occasional family brunch beautifully; the smart machine suits people who make waffles often and want them dialled in every time.
If you are still kitting out a first kitchen, a waffle maker is a nice extra rather than a first week essential. The everyday workhorses (kettle, toaster and a sandwich press) come first, and a kitchen essentials guide covers the priority order before you start adding treat appliances like this one. A benchtop pie maker belongs in the same bracket: a weekend machine rather than a weeknight one.
How to use a waffle maker
Preheat first and do not rush it. Let the plates come up to temperature, because batter poured onto a half warm plate sticks and steams instead of crisping. Unless your manual says otherwise, brush the plates lightly with a neutral oil the first time you use them, even on non stick, then again when the waffles start clinging.
Make the batter thicker than pancake batter so it holds its shape in the pockets. A stand mixer makes short work of whipping the egg whites separately and folding them through, which makes a big difference between a dense waffle and a light one.
Pour into the centre and stop short of the edge, because batter spreads as it cooks and overflow is a common complaint. Close the lid, leave it alone, and let the machine tell you when it is done: on the picks here that is a ready light, a shade setting or the Waffle IQ timing on the Breville Smart Waffle Pro. Lift with a silicone or wooden tool rather than metal, and rest the finished waffle on a rack rather than a plate so the underside stays crisp.
What else can you cook in a waffle maker?
More than you would think. Hash browns from grated potato, toasted cheese sandwiches, leftover mashed potato, brownie batter, cornbread and even falafel mix all work in a waffle maker, because the deep plates give you a lot of crisp surface for very little cooking time. Anything with cheese or sugar in it will stick harder than batter does, so oil the plates properly and clean them while they are still warm. If pressed weekend cooking is the appeal, a benchtop pie maker covers the savoury side of the same job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of waffle maker is best?
A Belgian or deep pocket waffle maker suits anyone who wants thick, fluffy, cafe style waffles with deep squares that hold syrup, cream and fruit. If mess and bench space are your main concerns, a vertical pour machine like the Sunbeam is a tidy option because the listing says batter goes in through a funnel at the top with no mess. If you make waffles often and want consistent results with no guesswork, a smart machine like the Breville senses and times the cook for the exact style and shade you choose. The right type depends on the waffle you want and how much control you are after.
What is the difference between Belgian and classic waffles?
Belgian waffles are thick and fluffy with deep, large pockets that hold plenty of syrup, cream and toppings. They are the cafe style waffle. Classic or traditional waffles are thinner and crisper with a shallow, finer grid pattern. Belgian makers are a popular type and tend to be more forgiving with toppings, while classic makers are cheaper and lighter and suit people who prefer a crisp edged waffle or want novelty shapes like heart shaped or mini waffles. Neither is better in absolute terms. It comes down to whether you want a thick, fluffy waffle or a thin, crisp one.
How many waffles should a waffle maker make at once?
Match the capacity to your household. A 1 waffle maker suits a couple or a single person. A 2 waffle maker, like the Breville Smart Waffle Pro, suits a small household that does not need to feed a crowd in one go. A 4 waffle maker, like the Cuisinart, bakes four deep Belgian waffles in a single batch, so a family or a table of guests is served at once rather than eating in shifts while the cook waits. If you regularly host weekend brunch or feed hungry kids on school holidays, the larger capacity is worth the extra bench space.
How do I stop batter overflowing and making a mess?
Batter overflow is a common waffle maker annoyance, and there are three good solutions. A locking mechanism, like the one on the Cuisinart, is listed as preventing batter leaking. A moat that catches and cooks overflow, like the one on the Breville No Mess Waffle Iron, means there is less to wipe up afterwards. A vertical pour funnel, like the Sunbeam, takes batter in from the top of the upright design, which the listing says gives no mess. Beyond the machine, using a slightly thicker batter and not overfilling the plates also helps. Pour a little less than you think you need, because the batter spreads and rises as it cooks.
How do I clean a waffle maker?
Let the machine cool fully first, then wipe the nonstick plates clean with a damp cloth or paper towel rather than soaking them. Never submerge the body in water, because it houses the electrical element. Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth. Never use metal utensils on the plates, as they scratch the nonstick coating; lift waffles out with silicone or wood instead. If batter has baked on, a soft brush or a damp cloth with a little warm water usually lifts it, and a light brush of oil before the next use keeps the plates releasing cleanly. Check your manual for the care steps that suit your model.
Do I need browning control on a waffle maker?
Yes, browning control is the feature to weigh first. A shade or browning dial lets you choose anywhere from light and fluffy to dark and crispy, and it is the difference between a waffle you love and one that is somebody else's idea of done. More settings give finer control: the Cuisinart and Sunbeam each have 5 shade settings, while the Breville has 12 plus an 'A Bit More' button for adding extra colour without restarting. Indicator lights or a screen timer also matter, because they take the guesswork out of knowing when the waffle is ready so you do not tear a half set waffle by lifting the lid early.
Which waffle maker should I buy?
For most Australian homes, our pick is the Breville Smart Waffle Pro: Waffle IQ calculates the cooking time for the style and colour you select, there are 12 browning settings plus an A Bit More button, and a No Mess Moat keeps excess batter under control. If mess is your main worry, the Sunbeam Vertical Waffle Maker takes batter through a funnel at the top and its screen timer starts automatically when it detects batter. If you are feeding a family, the Cuisinart 4 Slice Belgian Waffle Maker bakes four Belgian waffles at once with browning control and a locking mechanism that the listing says prevents batter leaking. Choose based on how often you make waffles and how much you care about mess.
How do you make waffles without a waffle maker?
You cannot make a true pocketed waffle without the plates, but you can get close. A ridged stovetop griddle or a sandwich press with flat plates gives you the crisp outside and the shape, if not the deep pockets. Waffle batter also cooks well as thick pancakes in a heavy frying pan, or baked in a hot oven in a muffin tin for a crisp edge. If you want real pockets, the plates are the machine.
Can you use pancake mix in a waffle maker?
Yes, but thicken it first. Pancake mix is deliberately runny, so straight from the packet it spreads past the plate edges and comes out soft rather than crisp. Add an extra tablespoon or two of oil or melted butter per cup of mix and cut the liquid back slightly. The fat is what crisps the outside, which is the real difference between waffle batter and pancake batter.
How long do waffles take in a waffle maker?
It depends on the machine and the shade you choose, so go by the machine's own ready signal rather than a fixed time. The Cuisinart has ready to bake and ready to eat indicator lights, the Sunbeam has a screen timer that starts counting down automatically when it detects batter, and the Breville Smart Waffle Pro calculates the cooking time itself for the style and colour you select.
