I Thought This Mini Waffle Maker Was Just a Fun Gadget, But It Became a Family Favorite

Hello to everyone who's dropped by!

My 12-year-old son has been getting really into cooking lately. He's been picking out recipes online and experimenting in the kitchen every evening, even making his own pies without any help (luckily, they're edible!). I'm really happy to see him develop this interest, even if it does mean I get to clean up the kitchen afterwards.

I decided to get him a mini waffle maker, which he actually requested himself. I thought it would just be another kitchen gadget for us to play with, something that would get lost in our collection of kitchen 'toys'. The price at the time of purchase was 1040 rubles (I bought it on WB), and after purchasing, many sellers had discounts on it and similar mini waffle makers. Even now, the price is super low (I checked the item's card and it's less than 500 rubles), so I didn't think it would be anything serious.

The mini waffle maker came in a cardboard box, which was a nice touch. When I opened the package, I was surprised to find the mini waffle maker snugly wrapped in foam on both sides. This was a great way to protect the device during shipping.

The design of the waffle maker is really compact and looks almost toy-like. It's so light, almost weightless, as you can see from the photos below, it's small enough to fit in the palm of an adult woman's hand.

Dimensions:

Dimensions: 120*90 mm

Weight: 570 grams

I found it to be ridiculously easy to use – even my son figured it out quickly without any hassle. I think a seven-year-old wouldn't have had any issues either, as long as they warmed up the plates properly, were careful, and got the dough right. We didn't try the mix from the set on our first go, and instead made our own.

The first waffles were a bit wobbly, but the process was an absolute blast for the kid. We've since tried everything: classic waffles with sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, berries, chocolate chips, and even veggie and oatmeal waffles.

I've even experimented with savory batter to make unsweet waffles for soup, and you know what? It works like a charm! The waffle iron cooks everything evenly and relatively quickly. The only downside is when the waffle starts to puff up and expand in the iron, the lid doesn't quite seal, so you have to press down and hold for 20 seconds to make sure it's cooked through. It's not exactly convenient, and it can get hot enough to burn your hands if you're not careful. If you've got a big family, you'll have to get ready to wait, as it takes around 4-5 minutes to cook one waffle, depending on the batter. To cook for the whole family, you can imagine how long that would take. It's probably better to just get a waffle iron with at least two panels.

Let me summarize the pros and cons of buying this waffle iron in a nutshell:

Pros:Price: That's its biggest advantage.Non-stick coating: The batter doesn't stick, and the waffles come out easily.Cleaning: Just wipe it down with a damp cloth, and it's good as new. Even chocolate stains come off easily.Indicator light: The green light tells you when the waffles are done, so you can just relax and make some tea or coffee while you wait.Compact size: The waffle iron doesn't take up much space on the counter.Cons:One thing I didn't like was the super short power cord. Our kitchen is one of those weird setups where the outlets are behind the cabinets, so we had to get creative. We ended up moving a stool next to the outlet and baking our waffles from there – not exactly the most convenient solution!I also mentioned earlier that the lid doesn't close tight when the waffles are expanding during baking.Despite these minor drawbacks, the benefits far outweigh the cost for this waffle maker. I'd definitely recommend giving it a shot!