Best Ways to Cook Frozen Waffles at Home

Author: Tosh Lubek Published: 22nd February 2022

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Frozen waffles are an iconic childhood breakfast for many people. While most people cook their frozen waffles in the toaster oven, that is only one of several ways you can cook frozen waffles to make them taste great.

Below you’ll find the four best ways to cook frozen waffles along with some special tips for improving their texture and flavor. Keep reading to get the most out of a box of frozen waffles for your next breakfast.

How to Cook Frozen Waffles

When it comes to cooking frozen waffles, there are two important things to remember:

1. The waffles are already cooked: This precooked status greatly reduces their cooking time and also makes frozen waffles vulnerable to burning if you cook them too long or under heat that is too high.
2. The key to crispy waffles is heating them quickly. Heating the frozen waffles too slowly causes moisture from the melted water content to be retained, making the waffles soggy. However, cooking the waffles fast, so that they reach the correct temperature quickly, evaporates excess water rapidly. This makes the middles fluffy while causing caramelization on the surface to give the waffles a golden-brown crust.

With those concepts in mind, let’s look at four methods for cooking frozen waffles and how they affect the taste of the waffles.

Cooking Frozen Waffles in the Toaster Oven

Cooking frozen waffles in a toaster oven is probably the most conventional way to cook them. While this method will result in waffles that are pale and lightly crisped, this is one of the plainest ways to cook them, in terms of taste and texture. Nonetheless, this method of cooking waffles is a good choice if you have children who are picky eaters since the cooking doesn’t give the waffles a strong flavor.

Here’s how to cook frozen waffles in the toaster oven:

• Place the toaster oven on a light or low setting. This will help prevent the outside of the frozen waffles from burning before the inside is properly heated through.
• Cook the waffles for two and a half to three minutes. Depending on the power of your toaster oven, you may need to toast the waffles twice to get them thoroughly crisped. It’s also a good idea to turn the waffles halfway through so that they can get baked evenly on both sides.

An advantage of using a toaster oven is that it is the quickest way to cook frozen waffles if you need to get them on the table in a hurry.

Cooking Frozen Waffles in an Air Fryer

Cooking frozen waffles in an air fryer is similar to cooking them in a toaster oven. This is because you can cook the waffle fully while keeping the interior of the waffle slightly soft but properly heated. This is a good cooking option for people who like a crispy texture to their waffles since the heated air prevents the waffle from getting soggy.

Here’s how you can cook your frozen waffles in the air fryer:

• Preheat the air fryer to 360° F. This will help crisp the outside of the waffles quickly as they defrost, without drying out the interior.
• Cook for about six minutes. Be sure to turn the waffle over halfway through to keep the cooking even.

Depending on your air fryer, it may take a bit of experimentation to hit on the ideal cooking time. For a softer waffle, try lowering your cooking temperature, your cooking time, or both. Keep an eye on your waffle while cooking since it is easier to overcook a waffle when using this cooking method.

Cooking Frozen Waffles on the Stovetop

Cooking frozen waffles in a skillet on a stovetop is a more labor-intensive way to make frozen waffles. Even so, many people believe this is the best way to use, out of all familiar methods. This is especially true if you want your waffles to have a browned and crispy crust to them.

Here’s the best way to cook frozen waffles on the stovetop for maximum crispness and flavor:

• Butter each side of the frozen waffle. This layer of fat helps the waffle crisp up in the hot skillet.
• Add a dash of cinnamon. This helps give the otherwise plain-flavored frozen waffles an extra special taste. Naturally, if you don’t like cinnamon, you can skip it altogether.

The disadvantage of cooking frozen waffles in a skillet on the stovetop is that you will have more to wash up and clean at the end of breakfast. Also, if you’re counting the calories, this method adds extra fat during cooking. Even so, it’s still much quicker and easier than making waffles from a batter mix or making them from scratch. Also, many people think it gives the waffles more flavor, making them taste much more like homemade than the other methods of cooking frozen waffles.

Cooking Frozen Waffles in a Convection Oven

Cooking frozen waffles in a convection oven is about as easy as doing them in a toaster oven. But you’ll need to make sure the oven is nice and hot to prevent the waffles from getting soggy. Be sure not to put the waffles in the oven and forget about them either, since you could end up burning them. If you’re busy getting other things ready for breakfast it might be a good idea to set a timer. 

Here’s the best way to cook frozen waffles in a convection oven: 

1. Set the oven to 375° F. This will help cook the waffles evenly on the outside while leaving the inside nice and soft.
2. Defrost the waffles in a toaster first. Set the toaster on the lowest possible setting so that the waffles only defrost but don’t cook. Alternatively, use your microwave oven set on defrost.
3. Sprinkle the tops of the waffles with a little water before cooking in the oven for five minutes. The water helps protect the waffles from overcooking while they crisp up. 

Cooking frozen waffles in a convection oven is a great cooking method if you’re using the waffles as part of an open-faced sandwich. Cook the waffles in the oven until they are nearly ready. Then top them with some cooked breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese. Return the waffles to the oven for about a minute, or until the cheese has melted. The result will be a breakfast that is not only flavorsome but will also fill you up all morning.

Tips for Cooking Frozen Waffles

Using the methods above are a good shortcut towards making some killer waffles, but there are a few other techniques you can use to make sure your frozen waffles turn out perfect every time. Follow these tips to get a good result every time you bake frozen waffles:

• Eat frozen waffles soon after buying them. Even though frozen waffles can last several months in the freezer, according to their expiration date, they do diminish in quality the longer they spend in the freezer. The texture may not be as good, and they do lose some of their initial flavor. For the best flavor, you should eat your frozen waffles within a week or two of purchase.
• Store frozen waffles at the back of the freezer. If you store waffles in the freezer door, this can cause them to thaw slightly each time you open the freezer. Over time, this can mess up the texture of the frozen waffles when you do eventually cook them.
• Use a high-quality syrup or fruit compote. Many artificial syrups are overly sweet and are so thin that they’ll quickly soak into the waffles, making them a bit soggy. Authentic maple and fruit syrup is a more delicious option and being a thicker consistency, it will stand on the crispy waffle surface rather than soaking into it.
• Use high-quality topping. Toppings such as real whipped cream, fruit compote, and fresh spices, like cinnamon. Since frozen waffles tend to be plain by themselves, these sweet or savory toppings can help boost the overall flavor experience. So don’t skimp on adding quality toppings, otherwise, you won’t be able to take the waffles to the next level.

Good Frozen Waffles Need Watching

The major key to all the above cooking methods for making the best-frozen waffles is watching over the waffles while they cook.

It doesn’t take long at all for waffles to overcook. So make sure to keep an eye on them and pull them out as soon as they look done. This will help keep you from serving crunchy, hard, unappetizing waffles. Top off with high-quality maple syrup and you’re good to go.

Breakfast Frozen Waffle Supplies

Waffles

I know we all have our own favorite waffles, but here are three frozen waffles I think are worth trying.

Buttermilk Protein Waffles from 365 by Whole Foods Market use high-quality ingredients, like unbleached enriched wheat flour, but come in at a good price.

Kashi GO frozen whole-grain protein waffles burst with the sweetness of wild blueberries will keep you satisfied and active, with 13g protein per 76g serving.

Kodiak Cakes frozen buttermilk & vanilla waffles. These Power Waffles are not heavy on carbs and have a good amount of protein. They’re not too sweet, letting the taste of the grain come through. They certainly make you feel full for longer.

Whichever brand of frozen waffle you try, each one is a great way to kickstart your day.

Maple Syrup

If you are like me, waffles just aren’t complete unless they are served with maple syrup. The real thing isn’t cheap, but I think it’s worth it. You can get many types of maple syrup, some dark with a robust flavor, while others can be light amber and have a complex taste.  

I love the organic steam-crafted maple syrup from Maple Guild in Vermont. Not only has the Grade A Amber syrup a subtle and nuanced flavor but they also produce a wide range of syrups and other produce.

Maple Guild has an innovative way of producing maple syrup. Instead of boiling the sap for hours to remove the excess water Maple Guild uses reverse osmosis and then steam crafting. The steam-crafting method does not need to heat the concentrate to as high a temperature and is quicker. The company says that as a result, the process produces a more nuanced maple flavor.

Before trying some, see what it takes to turn about 44 gallons of Vermont maple sap into a gallon of grade A amber maple syrup.

If you want a different syrup option here are three really fine alternatives.

Need a new waffle maker? See the excellent choice on Amazon

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4