Author: Tosh Lubek Published: 10th December 2021
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Introduction
If you enjoy crispy waffles but only have a sandwich maker, are you out of luck? No – you can make waffles in a sandwich maker in almost exactly the same way as a waffle maker. You won’t get those classic holes or the normal waffle shape, but otherwise, you don’t need to change anything.
You might be surprised to learn that your sandwich maker can double up as a waffle maker. It will make perfectly good waffles – all you will sacrifice on is the waffle’s classic shape, and the dimples to fill with maple syrup.
How To Make Waffles in A Sandwich Maker
Firstly, you will need to prepare some waffle batter. You can make it from scratch or use a packaged mix – whichever you prefer.
If you don’t already have a favorite waffle recipe and you want an ultra-simple one, try the following Classic American Waffles recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250g) All-purpose flour (Plain flour)
- 2 Large eggs
- 2 tbsp White granulated sugar [this is important for getting your waffles crispy, so don’t leave it out]
- 2½ tsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1/3 cup (80g) Melted butter
- 1½ cups (350ml) Milk
Method
The ingredients will need to be mixed together, starting with the dry ingredients.
STEP 1: Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar together into a large bowl. Then form a small hollow or depression in the middle of the dry ingredients.
STEP 2: Separate your egg yolks from the eggs into two medium-sized bowls.
STEP 3: In a small to medium-sized bowl beat together the yolks, milk, and melted butter together.
STEP 4: Mix the egg yolk, milk, and melted butter into the flour bowl. You want everything to be combined, but do not over-mix your recipe. If you over-mix the batter you will develop the gluten, like in bread making, and lead to chewy waffles. A few lumps in the batter are fine; just leave them.
STEP 5: Next, whisk the egg whites until you get stiff peaks. If you are using a hand whisk this may take some time, so it’s quicker and easier to whisk the egg whites using an electric mixer. Don’t leave out this step because the whisked egg whites do help to make these waffles great, and they are the key to the light and fluffy texture inside.
STEP 6: Tip the egg whites into the bowl with the rest of the waffle ingredients, and then gently fold the egg whites into the mixture. Do not be too energetic with your folding in, since you are trying to keep as much air in the mixture as possible. This air will ensure the waffles will become light and fluffy.
STEP 7: Heat up your sandwich maker. When it has reached cooking temperature, add a little olive oil or melted butter to the grills with a brush, or your preferred method. Even if the grill plates are non-stick the oil or butter will help stop the waffles from sticking. The fat will also help the outsides of your waffles to crisp up.
STEP 8: When the sandwich maker is hot, pour in a generous scoop of waffle batter and allow it to spread before putting the lid of the sandwich maker down.
STEP 9: Wait until the waffles stop steaming before you lift the lid. This will probably take about ten minutes. Once the steam stops, check that the waffles are golden and crispy on the outside, and then lift them onto a plate.
Is it Quicker to Make Waffles in a Sandwich Maker?
No, it’s not usually quicker to make waffles in a sandwich maker than in a waffle maker. You are likely to find that waffles take up to ten minutes in your sandwich maker, whereas they should only take around five minutes in a waffle maker. This is because waffles made in the sandwich maker will be thicker and puffier, and so they need more time to cook.
However, one benefit of making waffles in a sandwich maker is that you do get bigger waffles. So, you may not end up needing to make as many batches! Overall, that will save you time.
What Will Sandwich Maker Waffles Look Like?
The waffles that come out of your sandwich maker will not look like the waffles that come out of a waffle maker. Instead, they will take on whatever shape your sandwich maker is, spreading to fill the mold and fluffing up into the top layer.
You can’t make sandwich maker waffles look like waffles from a waffle iron; there is simply no way to do this. That means that you won’t end up with nice holes you can fill with maple syrup or melted butter. However, if you’re happy with your waffles in the shape of sandwiches, there’s nothing you need to worry about – just enjoy!
What Temperature Does the Sandwich Maker Need to Be?
Ideally, you want your sandwich maker at the same temperature that most waffle irons use. 375° F is a common choice, although some waffle irons do vary. If your sandwich maker is hotter than this, the waffles will cook more quickly, but there is a risk of them burning on the outside.
Do Sandwich Makers Ever Double as Waffle Makers?
Some of the modern sandwich makers are designed to double up as waffle makers and will have interchangeable grill plates for when you want to make waffles in them instead. These may manage to produce the classic shape that you know and love – so you will end up with dimples after all!
Should I Buy a Waffle Maker?
Most people deliberate before buying a waffle maker. It’s always hard to know whether a gadget you buy will be used a lot, or whether it’s something that will sit in the cupboard, gathering dust and never getting used.
A waffle maker has to do a lot of work to justify the space that it needs in the kitchen. If you make waffles every day, or even every weekend, you might feel it’s worth having one.
However, if you only make waffles occasionally and you already have a sandwich maker, you might feel that also getting a waffle maker isn’t worth it, either in terms of money or kitchen space. A sandwich maker will do almost as good a job. That is especially true if you decide to get a model with interchangeable grill plates, as shown above.
Will My Waffles Be as Nice Using a Sandwich Maker?
It’s a little tricky to answer this, as it depends on your sandwich maker and your waffle recipe. Overall, waffles made in a sandwich maker will not be quite up to the same standard as waffles made in a dedicated waffle iron.
Some people say that they are just as good, but many people find that they aren’t as crispy or fluffy. Nor will they have the distinctive pockets typical of waffles. If you like plenty of syrup and butter over your waffles, those pockets may be important to you. You will have to try it to see whether your sandwich maker can create acceptably enjoyable waffles.
What Problems Might I Run Into?
You may find that your waffles do not crisp very well in a sandwich maker. If it doesn’t get as hot as a waffle iron, it might not make the outsides of the waffle as crunchy as a proper waffle maker.
The other issue you may find is that the insides might not cook. If you need to add a lot of batter to the sandwich maker to fill the holes, the inside may stay soggy when the outside is already cooked.
It is important to wait for steam to stop coming out of the sandwich maker before you decide that the waffles are done. If the waffles will not cook properly, try changing the temperature of the sandwich maker. Turning it down may give the insides more time to cook, but you might not achieve such a crispy exterior.
If you find the outside doesn’t really turn golden, try tossing the waffles into a hot skillet for a few seconds to give them a little extra crispiness. Be careful not to leave them for too long, or they will get tough.
Conclusion
You can make crispy waffles in a sandwich maker, but it can be a bit challenging, and not everyone has success with this method.
If you are thinking of buying a sandwich maker, consider getting one that has the plates to make waffles in, as this should also have the relevant heat settings to successfully cook crispy waffles. If you already have your sandwich maker, give it a go and see whether it works for you.
Tosh learned how to cook while watching his Polish Mom at home. He also worked in a family-owned restaurant while a student and learned much from the chefs. Cooking has always interested him, especially the hearty Polish recipes he learned from his mother. He has helped create and appeared on cookery shows on radio stations in Scotland.
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