Presto 03510 FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker

Comment: I received the Presto Flipside Waffle Maker from my sister for Christmas. I was extremely excited as I've always wanted a waffle maker but really couldn't justify spending the money on something I probably wouldn't use on a regular basis. It took me about a month and a half to finally pull this out of the box, but after the first use, Sunday mornings officially became "Waffle Day" in the Itmustsucktobeyou's household.

This waffle maker works extremely well once you figure out how long to actually cook your waffles. Many reviews I have read complain about burnt waffles or waffles that are overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside. I've had no issues with either of these complaints. The one thing I will mention, however, is that the cook time in the instruction manual is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off. I've found that waffles tend to turn out best in the 2:30-2:45 minute range while the manual suggests cooking time in the 4-4:30 minute range. A lot of this really depends on the type / brand of batter you're using.

I have three issues with this waffle maker, hence my rating.

1. The non-stick surface isn't exactly non-stick. I followed the manual's instructions and "seasoned" the waffle maker before it's first use. According to the manual, you should never need to use oil on the non-stick surfaces again. not true. Each use usually requires a quick brush with oil. Without it, the waffles tend to stick and while still coming out and one piece, can be a bit of a pain to get out.

2. The timer. probably the biggest complaint you'll read regarding this waffle maker. It really is mind boggling why Presto chose a battery operated timer. Completely removing the battery after each use is a pain... and you have to completely remove it. Failure to do so will result in a dead battery in less than 24 hours. After the 2nd dead battery, I stopped using the built in timer and just started using the $4 egg timer i had sitting in my kitchen.

3.) This is the big one for me... and I'm surprised I didn't read more complaints about it... The hollow handle collects heat and steam as it's part of the same mold as the actual waffle maker and after one or two waffles, it becomes so hot that it's almost impossible to touch without burning your hand. After the second waffle, I usually resort to opening the machine with a fork and using a hot pad to flip the waffle. You simply shouldn't have to do this. The handle got so hot, in fact, that after first use, I actually had a few tiny blisters on the palm of my hand... just from touching it for five seconds.

Overall, a decent waffle maker for the money. If fact, I probably would have rated it much higher (maybe even given it 4 stars) had it not been for the issues with the handle.

Comment: If you are running a bed & breakfast this unit may not be the right one for you, but it fit my needs exactly. I used to think of waffle makers and foot massage machines as gag gifts. Now that I'm getting older, I still think that about foot massagers but after having homemade waffles over the holidays I decided I wanted to do that at home once in a while. Enter the Presto FlipSide.

If you're looking for a compact machine to make waffles a couple of times a month this is a great little machine. Heats up quickly and cooks waffles evenly. I figured out which one of my small measuring cups to use (I fill the 1-cup just below full) and pour the right amount of batter every time, no overfills. The battery operated timer works fine, just tap the button a few times to get to the desired time and it starts counting down automatically. About 3 minutes or less later, it beeps and I have a perfect waffle. Repeat once or twice and we are done cooking breakfast. Since there is no overfilling, cleanup just involves dusting it with a paper towel when it cools.

I'm limited on cabinet space and found that I could stack this on top of a slow cooker to keep it out of the way. If this one disappeared I'd buy another FlipSide in a heartbeat. Now how long will it be before I decide a foot massager is a must have...

Comment: We looked at lots of waffle makers and chose this one for price and customer reviews. It is excellent! We cook the waffles for 3.5 minutes and they come out crispy outside and fluffy inside and everyone just loves them. Many people seem to get hung up on the battery operated timer, but it's so not a big deal - The waffles are what count and they are great!

Comment: This is by far the best waffle maker I have ever used! It makes the waffles crispy on the outside yet light and fluffy on the inside that makes them melt in your mouth. This is just as good, if not better, than the commercial ones you find in buffet lines and hotels. I'll even admit I have been using a generic boxed mix that is complete - just add water and they are amazing!! I am very frugal and did not think I should have to spend more than $15-$20 on a waffle iron. After going through 3 different irons without being able to eat the waffles that come out of them, I decided to splurge just this once. I did the testing for you so don't fill the garbage dump like I did just start out with this - it would make an excellent wedding shower gift!! I'm confident this space saver will hold out for years and be one of my favorite appliances.

Comment: Ive never owned a waffle maker before but this one is wonderful. Easy to use easy to clean and makes waffles in less then 4 minutes. And my kids love to watch me flip it over lol.