The Sage Smart Waffle Maker, Brushed Stainless Steel, BWM620UK

Product Information

I was given a Smart Waffle for the purposes of review. All opinion, editorial and imagery is my own. After lightly greasing the plates (I would recommend using a pastry brush) pour a large tablespoon of batter into the centre of the plate and let the machine do the work for you. The Sage might not be the cheapest option for your breakfast waffle fix, but it's well worth the investment. Handy accessories that come with the smart waffles are a measuring cup so you know how much batter to add in, a recipe booklet with four recipes and tips from Heston about how to achieve the perfect waffles. Heston, my waffle loving children seriously thank you.

Fear not, for we have tirelessly searched for the very finest models for both your budget and your appetite. But first, this is what to look out for… What features should I look for in a waffle maker?Now that you have feasted on the waffles, let’s get down to business drooling over the rather sleek Smart Waffle Maker. It is part of the Heston Blumenthal range and with his scientific mind and attention to detail you already know it works and works really really well. Once heated you will need to brush or spritz some fat on the trays before adding your batter. The manual doesn’t advise on quantity but I found two cups to be enough. If you do overfill, the handy drip tray will save you from messing up your work top.

With a large cooking surface, it makes two 6 inch circular waffles at a time. The plates aren’t particularly deep so take care not to add too much batter. There is no advised quantity in the manual but I found 90 ml per circular waffle enough. After 4 minutes it was still steaming but I lifted the cool-touch handle anyway. Not looking quite ready, I left my waffle for a further 3 minutes – not the speediest. Don’t lift the lid too early. Wait for the indicator light to come on for the machine to stop steaming before taking a peek. If you lift the lid before they are done you may cause your waffle to rip. Look for designs with interchangeable hotplates and variable temperature settings to vastly expand your waffle maker’s repertoire to include flat plates for paninis and grilling and toasted sandwich inserts for cheese-filled lunches. The short answer? Pretty much everything. But to go into a little more depth, the Sage No Mess Waffle Maker looks and feels like a premium product straight away. Its sleek circular shape and sturdy stainless body make for a very aesthetically pleasing piece of kit, with the waffle plate inside looking similarly sturdy and well-designed.For an extra light and fluffy waffle, separate your egg whites from the yolks. Beat the whites until they form soft peaks and then folding them into the rest of the mix. I have to admit that until the Sage by Heston Blumenthal no mess waffle maker landed in my kitchen I was slightly skeptical about the need for a top notch waffle maker. We do already have a very ordinary bargain waffle maker that makes very unremarkable waffles, but there is nothing I enjoy more than playing with a new gadget so was happy to be converted. Now before I get on to telling you how to make classic waffles ("Sage waffles" as they're known in our house) allow me to share some of my favourite features on this brilliant machine:

This waffle maker also has temperature dial to control the cooking temperature, so you can make your waffles more or less crispy, A rare feature for such a well-priced machine. Aside from that, it has a red notification light that lets you know when it’s ready to go, though there’s no automatic switch to turn off the Global Gourmet once the waffle is cooked, so be sure to keep an eye on it. Sage The Smart Waffle Maker 2 slice non-mess moat and Waffle IQ. The waffle maker that knows the correct cooking time. If you want to make a large batch and eat together with friends or family, then you can keep cooked waffles warm in the oven. A few minutes in the oven can actually improve their crispiness. Don't wrap them in foil as they may go a bit limp and soft. Choose the best waffle maker to amp up your brunches, even when cooking from home. In our top 10, we've featured models from Sage, Breville, Dualit, and more top brands. Some models have space for cooking two waffles at once, whereas others are smaller and more compact, perfect for single servings.The instruction books contains 4 recipes, we tried 2 (classic and Belgian-Style) and both worked perfectly Right, this one is a matter for experimentation. I’d advise starting with a recipe from the leaflet that comes with your waffle maker. Once you’ve made your batter, pour it into a measuring jug, and only put in the exact amount your recipe states for one waffle. We’ve learned with the Sage Smart Waffle Maker that the waffles come out so fluffy that less is more. I’d say it also depends on your settings. For us Belgian comes out fluffier (and therefore expands more in the machine) than Classic. About the Sage Smart Waffle

Choose a waffle maker with an audible or visible alert to help you know what is going on. Most will light up or chime when its preheated enough, ready to cook another batch or when your waffles are done. A sound is preferable to light as it allows you to step away and get on with other things instead of hovering nervously over the machine. 6. Ease of storage The secret is the Sage Smart Waffle. I’ve wanted one of these ever since I saw my friend Tanya reviewing it a couple of years ago. This week, Sage finally made my kids dreams come true by asking me to review the Smart Waffle machine, and as today is waffle day, I wasted no time in putting it through its paces. The machine is about the same size as a mini health grill – about 28 x 23cm standing about 15cm high, it is nicely solid weighing about 3kg. To make the waffles simply switch it on choosing your heat setting, wait for the blue “ready” light to come on, pour in the batter, close the lid and wait for the waffle to cook then remove and eat. Sage by Heston Blumenthal No Mess Waffle Maker – Key FeaturesEven the most basic machine will turn out a tasty waffle – the secret is in the recipe, after all – but the key to consistent and really fluffy results is power, so look for at least 800W or ideally 1,000W. Fast preheating saves time, but patience is key and you should expect to wait at least five minutes for your waffles to cook.