Oster (CKSTWF2000) Belgian Waffle Maker Reviews

I've tried 4 different waffle makers. They all had issues; some were very hard to clean; some made terrible uneven waffles. Most cost at least twice as much as this unit. I tried it in desperation. I figured that if it didn't work either, at least it was cheap.

Boy, was I wrong. This unit MAKES THE BEST WAFFLES, IS SUPER EASY TO CLEAN, AND MAKES ALMOST NO MESS. Pay special attention to the "seasoning" instructions. You wipe it down with a little veg oil, and heat it up. Do this BEFORE making any waffles. The instructions say if waffles start to stick, just season it again. I've been using mine every weekend for a month, for a family of four, and haven't had to re-season it yet.

Perfect golden brown CRISPY waffles that fall right out of the unit. Almost zero clean up. I like mine especially crispy, so I cook them for about 7-8 minutes. Great every time.

My daughter bought this for me for Christmas and I love it!

Obviously it's not a top of the line appliance but it does a great job.

1. Make sure you read the directions. I skimmed over them and couldn't figure out why it wasn't heating up initially. You have to adjust the temp first. It has to be on at least "min". I saw a review that said the waffle maker came on but never heated up. It'll come on and light up but you have to turn the dial for it to actually heat up.

2. I know it's not as healthy but I seasoned my griddle with vegetable oil instead of cooking spray. If you like crisper edges on your waffle, use oil.

3. My first waffle I only put the temp on min and it was a bit softer than what a prefer. I was so hungry I just ate it like that and it was delicious!

4. Turned the temp up for the second waffle, I turned the dial half way between min and max and it turned out perfect.

5. I think it's definitely a great value and depending on how you like your waffles it may take a couple times to figure out the perfect temp and cook time. There is no timer on it so you will need to keep an eye on it. The directions say the waffle is ready when the steam stops rising. I found that the be accurate.

6. I saw complaints about it not having a timer but it wasn't a big deal to me. I'm used to cooking and I don't use a timer any other day when I'm cooking, so a waffle maker not having one isn't an issue. Cooking is a skill that is learned so if cooking isn't your thing and you need something simple I would suggest getting frozen waffles! ?

First off there are a lot of people complaining about how the green light doesn't work (by this they mean that when the waffle is done, the waffle maker doesn't flash a steady green light to let you know you're delicious waffle is ready). If you read the instructions, the green light only goes on when the waffle maker is heating up to the selected temperature. All in all, The waffle takes about 5 minutes to cook.

Now, I love this waffle maker. It does exactly what I wanted it to do; make waffles. Its nothing fancy but it's great for the price. You can adjust the heat settings depending on how "done " you want your waffle. An added bonus is that in the manual they provide, they have 6 pretty good waffle recipes that get pretty fancy. So in short:

Pros:

Makes waffles

Doesn't fall apart

Cons:

It costs money

You could just make pancakes which are boring waffles but at least you don't have to buy another thing

This waffle iron is cheap, does a great job of evenly cooking the waffles and can make hundreds of waffles without any problems. I used this waffle iron to write a keto friendly waffle cookbook. For months on end I made waffles every day and for every meal with this mighty little beast. It cooked consistently through all the greats and even the, "Good golly that's awful" waffles. The adjustable temp isn't 100% accurate but neither is the burner on a stove. It's an awesome feature for adjusting to a lower temp to cook up a three stage fudge brownie waffle, cranking up to full heat for a pepper jack ranch waffle or settling somewhere in the middle for a maple bacon waffle. Sure, you may be looking at this waffle iron for basic waffles., but know that it's held it up to the tests of a lot of crazy and creative waffles without any issues. 10/10 would buy again!

(I actually own 3 of them now and they all work fantastically)

That book?

I very much recommend this waffle maker from Amazon. The waffles turned out great and were very filling. I didn't realize how thick they were going to turn out and was only able to eat one. If you purchase this then just make sure to read the instructions before using it. I saw a few Amazon reviews saying that their waffles were sticking to the metal plates and falling apart. It turns out that you have to "season" the metal plates before using it for the first time, which means that you just have to lightly coat it with oil. It says it right on the first page in the instructions, so people need to really read. But yeah, I 100% recommend this waffle maker!

As I write this review, I just received my third Oster waffle maker. #2 is still working but it's well used and they were on Lightning sales today for $14.

This is a very basic unit with a bit of a learning curve. There is no ON/OFF button, no timer, it's somewhat shallow and doesn't flip. The lightweight material used for the plates (guessing aluminum and Teflon) doesn't make the greatest waffles as compared to cast iron plates. The thermostat is cheap with proximal sensors only.

However, it is cheap, can be stored vertically and does a decent job (if you learn how to work it).

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There are a few tricks that will lead to better waffles:

1. Ignore the READY light. Preheat this Oster so that the plates get fully hot before using it. I usually turn mine on HIGH, wait a while, test the distal edge with a small drop of water and watch for a sizzle. No sizzle, wait some more. When those plates are fully hot, pour the batter (edges first, middle last) then reduce the temp to your desired setting. I can't stress -GET IT HOT- enough.

2. I oil the plates just once before pouring the first batter (not before preheat or oil may burn). Just before I pour the batter, I give both plates a good quick spray of non-stick. The waffles will be less likely to stick and it helps gives the outsides a much better crisp. I treat my Oster like it has cast iron plates -- but that's just my preference because I like very crispy outsides and soft insides.

3. Use a real waffle mix or make your own. Waffle mixes have a higher fat and sugar content which makes better waffle texture. Combo pancake/waffle mixes or just plain pancake mixes are going to be more like waffle shaped pancakes.

4. Cold batter cooks differently than room temp batter. Cold takes longer for the fats to break down and for the sugars to caramelize. So, you will need to adjust your times and heat.

5. Don't put the top plate down immediately. I let a little steam escape then lower the top. If your oiled plates trap steam, your middles will be a different texture than the edges. Because the batter lowers the temp of the bottom plate and not the top plate, the top plate will be hotter and hit hotter batter. So, the waffles will still cook evenly. I never time how long I wait but it's maybe 10 or so seconds.

6. If your first couple of batches aren't great,

be patient. You will need to experiment and practice. It took me a while before my waffle and cornbread results were perfected for my preference. For example, when my waffles weren't fully cooked in the middle and the outsides weren't crisping, I changed from 2% cold milk to 4% room temp milk, decreased milk content and replaced with room temp sour cream, added more sugar, changed to salted, room temp butter and replaced one whole egg with powdered whole egg. I kept notes using exact measurements and weights with changes (I worked in a bakery for 5 years).

Upgraded from 4 stars to 5. Anything device that gives me years of good service and only costs $15 deserves 5 stars.

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Update

2/23/19 Units 2 and 3 still work fine, both are well seasoned and the non-stick is fully intact on both.

This waffle maker is so easy to use and clean. You can make the waffles as soft or as hard as you like depending on how long you let the waffles cook. The cook time will also determine the color (tan, golden, or brown) of the waffle. Great product to have!

I love waffles and needing to go Gluten-Free meant I had to give up the convenience of frozen waffles. This was the second waffle maker that was recommended to me in a Amazon Discussions. When I asked what would be a good waffle maker for a beginner to try. The first was the Oster CKSTWF 1502- Eco. Which I disliked because the Dura -Ceramics plates were giving off a strong chemical smell and taste. After several attempts I got rid of it

Between the awful odor and the rubbery waffles. I wasn't impressed with the idea of making waffles at home. I wasn't very optimistic when it came to trying this waffle maker. However, a friend swore by theirs so I gave it a try.

It truly amazed my grandmother and I that Oster manufacturers both waffle makers we tried As they are what we consider night and day differences. One of them the worst possible experience and the other makes the absolutely perfect crispy Belgian waffle. Just like the one's we have had in restaurants.

Pros

- The ready light let's you know when the waffle maker is pre-heated to your desired level of crispy waffle consistently

- Dial allows you to easily select various levels of crispy to soft tender waffles . My grandmother preference for a crispier waffle to the more tender waffle I like. Isn't a hassle to change the settings . We heat the maker at the higher level first then, turn the dial back. My estimation is between 1 to 2 minutes it's down to the lower temperature and ready to make a waffle.

The plates- We find the plates easy to prep, as well as cleaning. For our first use we added a little corn oil to the plates. The new appliance smell burnt off after the first 2 waffles, which I don't recommend using. To clean I use a Ocello non-scratch sponge and a drop of Ajax Dish soap.

Wishes - It is my opinion that a timer on the unit would have been nice.

There are no cons for me with this waffle maker. It's definitely a I love it purchase and, although there are many things that I would consider top 5 star rated. They aren't necessarily something that I am loving the experience. In this case the experience has been far beyond our expectations. As I 'm able to have the exact waffles I hoped for. My grandmother who hasn't ever really been a fan of waffles is really enjoying these. The outcome couldn't be better.

Gluten-free living can be less than desired at times because of the sacrificing foods completely, or having to get use to a new taste or texture. I have found that by using Bisquick Gluten-Free Pancake and baking mix. Along with this waffle maker it is possible for me to have a perfect Belgium waffle with syrup or as a waffle sandwich. Without sacrificing anything.

Dessert waffles are also easy to make. Here is our favorites to use for dessert waffles. Bisquick Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix toppin the waffles with our favorite pie filling. Or Choice Batter Gluten-Free Chocolate chip cookies mix or their Brownie mix.

We are using this waffle maker at least twice a week if not more between sweet and savory waffles.

We would give this our highest recommendation to others.

I love this waffle maker! It has made such an improvement in the convenience of preparing breakfast before work, which is something I think most of us can appreciate. I like to eat Kodiak Cakes for breakfast because they are AWESOME for the calorie-conscious. BUT making pancakes every morning was getting old, and having to wash the pan between uses was annoying. So I purchased this waffle maker in hopes that it would streamline the process, which it definitely did! I plug it in and it heats to medium heat in less than a minute (the green indicator light will illuminate next to the "Ready" label). I combine 1/2 cup mix, 1/2 cup water, and a tablespoon of olive oil and spread on the waffle iron (helps if you fill from the outside first). My waffle mix says that the waffles are ready when the waffle iron quits steaming, so I wait for that (typically about 4 mins) and then give it another 30-60 seconds to make sure my waffle is crisp. I remove the waffle, unplug the iron, and let it sit open until it's cool. No cleanup of the iron is necessary! It's so EASY, and allows me to make healthy, delicious Kodiak Cakes in less than 10 minutes!

*Make sure to follow the directions on the iron and grease before first use. I have used consistently for about two weeks and have not had to re-grease yet.

Well I'll start this review by saying I always wanted a waffle machine, so when Amazon had their big sale day I ordered one....I made waffles today and I must say I'm alittle confused.....the instructions seem really straight forward so I thought it was going to be smooth sailing into the land of waffles...hmmm.....I cleaned it and preseasoned it like the instructions said....ready to make them so I turned on the machine....well both the power button and ready button were on (red and green) this is where the confusion comes in....I couldn't tell when the machine was ready, 2 times the green light would go off (3 seconds) then come right back on. So I sat there for what seemed like forever waiting to start after so long I just thought this is stupid just make them....They turned out pretty good and the grandchildren really liked them so I was happy...the waffles were pretty fluffy on the inside and just crunchy enough on the outside. And they were a really good size...I didn't have to make them 3 a piece, one was plenty!!!! So I guess I'll keep it and just remember the lights don't work according to the instructions. I gave it 4 stars because they did turn out great and most importantly the grandchildren said they would have them again.

Let me just say- this thing works exelently.

I received it very promptly after ordering- literaly next day, although I only used two-day shipping. However, that may be due to the chaos of prime day.

I wiped it down with soapy water, per the instructions, heated it up, and seasoned the plates with a bit of canola oil. It was doing this process that I discovered the reason I'm not leaving a five-star review. Namely, the stainless-steel top part gets hot enough to give one first-degree burns if accidentally touched. The handle stays cool, though, so this only matters if you're clumsy. I obviously am, as I am typing this review with two burnt fingertips.

I loaded it up with Alton Brown's waffle batter (the recipe from Good Eats), and started churning out deliciousness. It was later, after a waffle feast, that I discovered the other great thing about this machine- the leftover waffles fit just neatly in a quart freezer bag.

It makes great waffles which don't stick to the iron. It heats up very quickly, and overall performs the functions you'd expect of a waffle maker. I will say that I've been trying to teach it to be self aware, and that hasn't worked.

I was a little hesitant on buying this just because it was the cheapest, but I've been really happy with it. There are no real fancy features and it doesn't tell you when the waffle is done, but it doesn't really need to. If you just like waffles sometimes and have a general idea of how long they take to cook, this will be great for you!

1. I read the reviews on this waffle maker and clearly a lot of people who write reviews don't read instructions. It's coated with Teflon and nothing will stick to it providing you "season" it prior to the first time uses - as you should do with all Teflon coated pans, etc.

2. You're buying a Teflon coated product so anything cooked in it will have a typical type texture that Teflon provides. If you want a very crisp outside texture then you need to spend a couple hundred dollars for a cast iron unit. The waffles have the type texture as you would see with those waffle makers at hotels who provide them with their continental type breakfasts they have.

3. The green light is not a timer light. It's an indicator light letting you know it reached it's chosen temperature. "You" need to decide on how hot you want it and how long to cook it to your desire. Like any type oven or cooker the indicator light will shut off and on as the heater elements maintain the selected temperature.

4. The cover is clearly designed to be lose and not because it's going to fall apart. Larger hinges with a small shaft through it allows room for the power cord to go through to the top section inexpensively for the manufacturer. Some wiggle in the cover also allows you even out the waffle mix if you puddled it some - just wiggling the top to even it out. It also allows the waffle to expand some as it rises during cooking. If you want a little thicker waffle stop pushing down on the top.

5. My unit cooked evenly and browned more the longer I left it in. Time wise it's no longer to cook than a pancake. If it's not cooking evenly be sure it's preheated long enough for the heat to distribute evenly throughout the cooking surface. Let it heat up a little longer after the green indicator light comes on if need be.

6. For $20 I got a gadget that heats up, doesn't stick and looks like a waffle - Isn't that what it's suppose to do?