| Product: |
De Longhi Argento Waffle Maker W 30 |
| Date: |
30/04/08 (80 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Easy to use, tasty waffles, ok to clean, small and compact
Disadvantages: None
To go with my Delonghi toaster and kettle I decided to keep up with tradition and add a Delonghi waffle maker to my wedding gift list last year. I registered at John Lewis where it can be purchased for £29.95.It is obviously a very popular item as it took months for it to be finally delivered to us but we were very impressed when it did arrive. We choose it because it mentioned on the information that it, "makes Belgian style waffles par Excellence"!
For anyone who does not know what a waffle is, the dictionary gives the definition as "a waffle is a light batter cake cooked in a waffle iron, between two hot plates, patterned to give a distinctive and characteristic shape." Being half American I have always loved my waffles and syrup for breakfast, so this machine was a must for me. Waffles can be served both sweet and savory. As I mentioned before, the Americans like to serve them for breakfast with butter, maple syrup, cream and lots of different fruit toppings but they can also be savory when teamed with say chicken, made popular by the restaurant Roscoe's in California. Apparently waffles have been served in America since 1620 when the pilgrims brought the method from Holland. Thomas Jefferson (the third President of the United States) brought a waffle iron from France, and waffle frolics or parties became popular in the late eighteenth century.
Now, back to the Delonghi waffle iron. It is made from die-cast aluminum plates which according to the pamphlet, distribute the heat evenly allowing you to cook your waffles to perfection. The waffle iron is really easy to use. You firstly whisk up the batter (I use an Aunt Jemima's waffle mix from the United States, you can buy it here in specialty shops but it is very expensive. Alternatively you can make your own but as I don't know how to do this I stick to the shop bought variety) Then you must turn the machine on. There is an adjustable thermostat that lets you choose your desired temperature for medium or crispy waffles. This is great, as, like my toast, I like my waffles quite light while my husband likes them quite dark. Once the appliance reached the set temperature a little green light will come on to let you know that it is time to pour the batter onto the baking surfaces. This is a great help as I generally never know when to cook things on machines and then they end up being undercooked or overcooked.
The maker has a handle that allows you to close it without burning your hands which is a great safety feature and it also has a latch so the maker stays closed throughout the cooking process. Now, and I have found this out from experience, you only need to use a little bit of the mix for each waffle. When I first started I poured the mix right up to the top of the maker and when it started cooking it all seeped out the edges and made an almighty mess. If you pour a dollop into the middle it will spread out when the lid has been closed and makes a perfect waffle. Obviously if you want them a bit thicker you can add a bit more batter but not right up to the edges! The green light turns off during the cooking process and then only comes on again once the waffle is done, another great way to let you know your food is ready without having to keep lifting up the top and spoiling the food.
The waffle maker does have a non-stick coating but I lightly greased each side of the waffle maker before use just so it would be easier to get the waffles out. Cleaning it was a little bit of a pain as obviously the sides will be a bit greasy once the waffles come out and because of all the holes and ridges it is hard to get all the little bits of batter out of the cracks but the non-stick does help and the batter does come out eventually. This did not put me off using it again. The plates are detachable so that makes it easier too. The outside can be wiped down with a damp cloth as the machine cannot be immersed in water.
The amchine is fairly small and can actually be stored vertically when not in use so it will not take up too much room in your kitchen cupboards which is great.
No my only concern with this machine is that it does not turn off automatically, the only way to turn it off is by unplugging the waffle maker from the socket so to keep safe make sure you always do this.
All in all if you do buy this machine, which I recommend, you can look forward to lovely tasty waffles!
Summary: For lovely tasty Waffles this machine is a must!
|
|
