Did you know a commercial waffle maker is the secret to fluffy, sweet, and aesthetically pleasing waffles?
If you’ve ever tried making this popular breakfast treat with your home machine, you understand the difference. If not, you’re about to learn tips that’ll change your menu from basic to unforgettable.
With the fast-growing foodservice market, you need a commercial waffle maker to make your breakfast or dessert treat stand out from other businesses.
You’ve probably seen the different types of waffle irons while shopping and wondered about the difference. A quality machine like the VEVOR round commercial waffle maker should have humanized functions, easy cleaning features, multipurpose use, and durability.
So, what other features make a waffle-making machine stand out, and how do you pick the best commercial waffle maker? This guide answers the question by showing you practical ways to make that million-dollar choice.
Table of contents
What is a Commercial Waffle Maker?
Let’s start from the beginning. Firstly, there are several types of waffles worldwide, and each has a specialized maker.
Definition and Purpose
A commercial waffle maker is any waffle iron used in commercial kitchens to make the perfect baked treat. Unlike the regular machines used in homes, this one has all the features to ensure your customer leaves your restaurant or diner wanting more waffles.
The commercial waffle maker is built to last while taking on heavy-duty tasks like baking thick or thin batter at the right temperature.
Benefits of Using a Commercial Waffle Maker
With a commercial waffle maker, you’ll never have to worry about the following:
- Efficiency: The machine bakes as many waffles as you like to perfection. It doesn’t overheat and has indicators that alert you when the waffle is ready.
- Durability: There’s no fear of overworking a commercial waffle maker because it’s made to perform in high-demand settings.
Essential Features of a Commercial Waffle Maker
You’ve seen the benefits of having a commercial waffle maker, but can you identify a high-quality industrial waffle iron? Or do you think all brands are the same? Because they’re not. Don’t panic. Here’s a checklist you can use on your next shopping trip.
Build Quality and Durability
Check the materials used in making the commercial waffle machine because that determines its durability.
- Cast Iron: It’s highly durable and retains heat easily, but you’ll need seasoning like oil or butter to make it non-sticky.
- Cast Steel: It allows uniform heat but requires a long preheating time and takes a long to bake evenly. You can clean it in a dishwasher, though.
- Stainless Steel: It’s not non-stick until you add some water or seasoning.
- Teflon (PTFE): The famous non-stick is the best material used for commercial waffle machines. You can cook as much batter non-stop without seasoning, and the waffles will still come out perfect.
Besides the machine’s material, you must ensure it has sturdy construction to withstand high-volume use. The last thing you need is your waffle maker falling apart while cooking.
Temperature Control and Consistency
When cooking commercial waffles, perfection is key. A good commercial waffle maker must have precise temperature settings like adjustable thermostats to allow even heat distribution and multitasking. You can set the table while your batter cooks to perfection.
Size and Capacity
If we put Single vs. Double Waffle Makers on a scale, which one would be better? This depends on the waffle size and thickness you prefer. Get a double waffle maker if you typically have large numbers of orders to fulfill every minute.
But if your customers are few, you can afford to get a single waffle maker. Note that the double waffle maker machine has a stronger capacity than the single plate one.
Cooking Speed and Efficiency
Again, if you have a busy kitchen, you need a high-capacity waffle maker like the 1300W VEVOR round waffle maker. It should have a quick heat-up time to satisfy fast cooking cycles and keep every customer fed.
Non-Stick Plates and Easy Cleaning
Earlier, we highlighted non-stick plates as the best material for commercial waffle makers. But did you know there are different types of non-stick coatings?
While we recommend Teflon, which VEVOR uses, other brands also use anodized aluminum, titanium-reinforced, and enameled cast iron. So, double-check to ensure your commercial waffle iron uses PTFE (Teflon).
Besides keeping your waffles intact when transferring from machine to plate, non-stick plates are easy to clean. Some brands take it a step further by making removable plates.
Additional Features
More features to look out for include timers and audible alerts in case you’re far from the machine when cooking. Drip trays and overflow channels are used to catch excess batter and ensure a clean cooking station.
You can also choose between rotating and fixed plates for even cooking. Most cast iron commercial waffle machines have fixed plates, while modern non-stick versions make rotating plates.
Types of Commercial Waffle Makers
It’s time to choose what type of commercial waffle maker best suits your business. Note that this choice depends on your menu and preferred waffle type.
Classic Belgian Waffle Makers
The Belgian waffle maker has thick square plates with deep pockets to bake classic fluffy Belgian waffles. Because of the shape, this machine cooks the batter evenly and gives the pastry a crisp edge.
Benefits
- Allows easy expansion of waffle batter
- Make fluffy texture waffles with crisp edges
- There is good heat distribution for even cooking on both sides.
Liege Waffle Makers
This machine has dense plates for handling thick dough since the Liege Waffle is made from sweet dough and not batter. The density allows the dough to cook evenly despite its thickness.
Benefits
- Ideal for reheating frozen or pre-baked waffles.
- Easy-to-Clean
- Can handle the thick dough
Bubble Waffle Makers
The Bubble waffle maker is sometimes called an egg waffle maker because of its distinct bubble plates. Unlike classic waffle irons with square pockets, this one has small round holes.
Benefits
- Perfect for food truck owners who specialize in street food.
- Ideal for adding fun waffles with toppings to your menu.
Now let’s discuss how to choose the perfect industrial waffle maker for your business using the tips you’ve learned so far.
How to Choose the Right Commercial Waffle Maker
It’s time to choose one of these fantastic commercial waffle makers for your kitchen. You should pick your machine based on your needs but also prioritize quality brands with the best reviews. Let’s show you how –
Assessing Your Needs
Start by determining the kind of kitchen you run. If it’s a fast-paced traffic business with many hungry customers, choose a heavy-duty commercial waffle maker. It’ll produce the right size and texture of waffles in one to three minutes, giving you enough time to satisfy every customer at rush hour.
However, if you have only a handful of customers, you should get a basic commercial waffle maker. We understand that you want the best machine but also consider that quality is expensive. Unless it’s necessary, don’t splurge on pricey commercial waffle irons.
Comparing Different Brands and Models
Although some brands are household names in home and kitchen appliances, you shouldn’t overlook the newcomers. Instead, look for key differences in their features and specifications.
Each brand has different models to make each type of waffle. So, if you pick VEVOR, you must decide whether you want the round commercial waffle maker machine or the square model.
Reading Reviews and Seeking Recommendations
Once you’ve settled on a brand and model that suits your needs, it’s time to listen to other customers. You can’t be too careful when investing in your business by buying kitchen equipment. Getting feedback from regular customers and experts will save you from unnecessary mistakes and wasted money.
Select products with stellar or almost perfect reviews.
Recommended For Your Project
Why Consider VEVOR Commercial Waffle Maker
VEVOR round commercial waffle maker fits the criteria for a high-quality waffle-making iron, and here’s why:
- Quick Service: This waffle maker runs on 1300W and can make an evenly-cooked 1-inch thick waffle within 5 minutes. It’s fast because it only requires 3 minutes of preheating before you get the fluffiest or crispiest waffles.
- Smart Temperature Control: You can adjust the heat on this machine from 122℉ – 572℉ and wait for the beeping light to alert you when the waffle is ready.
- Durable Material: The VEVOR round commercial waffle maker is made of stainless steel and non-stick plates, making it easy for you to move the waffle from the machine without splitting it.
- Easy-to-Clean: It has a diversion groove to catch overflowing batter and keep your workstation clean. The stainless steel and non-stick materials are also easy to clean without rusting.
- Compact Size: Although it’s a commercial waffle iron, this machine can fit your home kitchen. So, you can enjoy professional quality waffles during personal brunches and family time.
Maintenance and Care Tips
We’ll start with regular cleaning instructions and then share troubleshooting advice and longevity tips to ensure your investment lives up to its durability hype.
Regular Cleaning and Upkeep
You must clean your waffle maker often to prevent a build-up of mold and dirt from leftovers. The best practices for daily and deep cleaning include wiping the plates after use and cleaning them with soapy water periodically to remove leftover batter or dust and dirt.
Deep cleaning is done once a week, at least for heavy-duty waffle makers, and once a month for lightwork machines.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some tips on handling common problems with commercial waffle makers.
- Uneven Cooking: Adjust the temperature and ensure your batter isn’t too thick for the machine.
- Sticky Waffles: Deep clean your waffle maker plate, then season it with oil or butter while it preheats.
Buy a VEVOR round commercial waffle maker for a one-year warranty, so you don’t have to DIY your troubleshooting.
Longevity Tips
If you’re thinking about how to extend your waffle maker’s lifespan, it’s easy. The first step is buying a high-quality machine and then maintaining it. Always clean after use. Don’t leave it plugged in to avoid a power surge.
Use a surge protector and tuck it in a clean, dry corner during and after use to prevent damage.
FAQs About Commercial Waffle Makers
Are you still confused about commercial waffle irons? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions from other users like you.
How do I Choose a Good Waffle Maker?
It depends on your preferred waffle type. So, if you want classic Belgian waffles, you must choose a waffle iron with deep holes in the plates. But if you want thinner and crispier American-style waffles, get waffle makers with shallow plates.
What is a Good Wattage for a Waffle Maker?
The best commercial waffle makers have wattages between 1500W – 2000W, while 800W – 1000W waffle irons are okay for personal use. That means the VEVOR round commercial waffle maker is ideal since its wattage is between personal and commercial optimal figures.
What is the Difference Between a Belgian Waffle Maker and a Regular Waffle Maker?
Belgian waffle makers have deeper plates than regular waffle makers. They make the pastry fluffy yet thick, unlike regular waffle irons that make thin and crispy waffles.
Parting Note
We’ve come to the end of our commercial waffle maker guide. By now, you should be an expert at choosing the right machine for your kitchen. Remember to prioritize your needs, but don’t sacrifice quality for a budget.
You can buy the VEVOR round commercial waffle maker if you need an affordable yet efficient machine. It costs only $147.99 for the 4-piece plate and $69.99 for the 2 x 4-piece plate. You can also get the narrow square plates for making American-style waffles at $44.99. You can register on the VEVOR website for up to a 15% discount or pay in four installments using Klarna.
