Author Topic: Waffle Irons - Please school me  (Read 6674 times)

Offline Tommy Harris

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Waffle Irons - Please school me
« on: June 12, 2016, 08:31:05 PM »
I have fallen in love with the cast waffle irons.   The problem is, well, I know nothing about them other than I think they are beautiful  and really neat.   When I purchase one, it will be a user.   I would like a nice one.  I would like one that will hold its value.    Is there anything to look out for when buying?  Specific damage, missing parts, wear areas, etc..? What is a good price range?  I am not scared of a really cruddy and dirty one that needs some tlc.  In fact, I prefer that.   One, for the lower price, two, for the fun in cleaning it up and ringing it back to life.    I will be using it on an electric stove with traditional coil burners.   Do I need a low base or high base? 

Please help me.  I need Waffles.  :)

Offline Dwayne Henson

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2016, 08:44:53 PM »
A high base was the one design for modern ranges. As the paddles can rotate or flip without hitting the burner, or electric eye. The low base was designed for use in a wood/coal burning stove with the "eye" removed. the waffle paddles, when rotated, would swing through that eye hole when flipped to the other side. Does that make sense to you?
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Offline Tommy Harris

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2016, 08:47:07 PM »
That makes perfect sense.   So, I will be looking for a high base.  How bout the other stuff? 

Offline Cheryl Watson

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2016, 08:52:34 PM »
What type of stove do you plan on using it on?

Offline Tommy Harris

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2016, 09:01:30 PM »
  I will be using it on an electric stove with traditional coil burners.

Offline Jim Glatthaar

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2016, 10:33:51 PM »
Tommy, for cooking on coil burners you would want a round as opposed to square or rectangular waffle iron, high base as Dwayne recommended,#7 or #8 size. I will warn you they are a PITA to season so you may want to consider buying a WI cleaned and seasoned from a WAGS member.

Personally, I prefer the metal handles.  It is risky to treat wood handled WIs in a lye bath since you have to keep the handles out of the water.  But the handles are a matter of preference.  I hope this helps.

Offline Cheryl Watson

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2016, 10:40:48 PM »
The #7 Griswold New American, High Base, Coil Handles is the one I got to use on my Electric range... fits the coil burner perfectly, and flips through with no lifting. (The #8 High Base requires a little 'lift' when flipping the paddles).

The Problem Is, that it is in such excellent, perfect condition, that it looks too pretty in the display case... ::) ::)  and now I don't want to get it all dirty! :D :D

Offline C. Perry Rapier

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2016, 12:26:09 AM »
Quote
The #7 Griswold New American, High Base, Coil Handles is the one I got to use on my Electric range... fits the coil burner perfectly, and flips through with no lifting. (The #8 High Base requires a little 'lift' when flipping the paddles).

The Problem Is, that it is in such excellent, perfect condition, that it looks too pretty in the display case... ::) ::)  and now I don't want to get it all dirty! :D :D

 ;D ;D ;D Cheryl I know EXACTLY what you mean. When I want to put a piece back into the workforce I look for the fugliest piece cause I don't want to use a nice pretty one, or I'll mess it up.  :-[ ;D

Offline Duke Gilleland

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2016, 05:48:12 AM »
EVERYONE gets the urge to try it and you usually do. But most of the time they are just displayed ;) Have used tall & short frames on an electric range. Have your dog close at hand to gobble up the mistakes ;D
« Last Edit: June 13, 2016, 05:49:11 AM by DG_TX »
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Offline Jonathan Sutton

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #9 on: June 20, 2016, 09:20:11 PM »
I have a Griswold #8 with a low base. It works just fine on my electric range, although it does require an extra lift when flipping it.

A couple key observations from my experience.

1. Season it a couple of times before trying to use it, and add some extra oil to the batter. If you (a) have enough oil and (b) there is a good coat of seasoning and (c) the waffle iron is at the right temperature, the waffles shouldn't stick at all. (More on (c) in a moment.)

2. When cooking, flip the waffle iron twice: once immediately after pouring the batter, and once after a minute or two. Then leave it on the heat for another minute or two. The first flip ensures that both the top and bottom paddles are sufficiently hot to get it cooked nicely on both sides without burning or being doughy.

3. My electric range seems to like the heat being on about a medium setting. If it's too hot, your waffle will burn on one side, and the resulting crispy critter will be difficult to remove. Too low and it won't get cooked or browned. Early on, err on the side of too short a cook time, rather than too long. It's easy to add cook time, but impossible to take it away if you go too far.

4. Use a thicker batter. It reduces the risk of having an overflow onto the burner and makes fluffier waffles.

Offline Roger Muse

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2016, 12:14:38 PM »
I got a #8 Alfred Andreson Heart Shaped Waffle Iron, with a short base.  I have used it a couple of times, but it mostly stayed on display.

The first batch of waffles I made on it was from a recipe that was part of a 1905 ad for that exact waffle iron.

I used the short based iron on a ceramic top range.  I just lifted the iron up to about 45 degrees before flipping.  They came out great.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2016, 12:16:53 PM by Decoligny »

Offline Jonathan Sutton

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2016, 09:26:52 PM »
Quote
I got a #8 Alfred Andreson Heart Shaped Waffle Iron, with a short base.  I have used it a couple of times, but it mostly stayed on display.

The first batch of waffles I made on it was from a recipe that was part of a 1905 ad for that exact waffle iron.

I used the short based iron on a ceramic top range.  I just lifted the iron up to about 45 degrees before flipping.  They came out great.

Would you mind posting that recipe? It sounds interesting.

Offline Roger Muse

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2016, 11:44:18 AM »
Quote
Quote
I got a #8 Alfred Andreson Heart Shaped Waffle Iron, with a short base.  I have used it a couple of times, but it mostly stayed on display.

The first batch of waffles I made on it was from a recipe that was part of a 1905 ad for that exact waffle iron.

I used the short based iron on a ceramic top range.  I just lifted the iron up to about 45 degrees before flipping.  They came out great.

Would you mind posting that recipe? It sounds interesting.

The recipe as written was this:

"Take 2 cups flour, 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup melted butter, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 eggs with whites and yolks beaten separately.  Have waffle iron hot and well greased."

There were no directions on the assembly of the component ingredients, so I put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and added all the wet, except the beaten egg whites.  Once mixed, I folded in the egg whites.

The recipe is either in an old advertisement posted somewhere here on WAGS, or possibly on CastIronCollector, can't remember which.

Offline Jim Glatthaar

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #13 on: June 29, 2016, 11:14:41 PM »
There are also some waffle recipes in the WAGS cookbook, which I hope to try soon.

Offline Jeffrey Lietzke

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #14 on: August 04, 2017, 02:23:48 PM »
Quote
There are also some waffle recipes in the WAGS cookbook, which I hope to try soon.

Forgive me as Im a new member but is the WAGS cookbook still available for purchase?  I searched and could not find it.

Offline C. Perry Rapier

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #15 on: August 04, 2017, 03:12:49 PM »
Quote
Quote
There are also some waffle recipes in the WAGS cookbook, which I hope to try soon.

Forgive me as Im a new member but is the WAGS cookbook still available for purchase?  I searched and could not find it.

Excuse me if I'm mistaken but isn't the WAGS Cookbook on line and its free? That's what I was thinkin.  :-/

AND, I wonder if that ole boy got his waffle iron up and running? :-/ :-/

Offline Cheryl Watson

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #16 on: August 04, 2017, 04:45:06 PM »

The WAGS Cookbook is a Board on this Forum: 

http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=food


 :) :)

Offline Cheryl Watson

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #17 on: August 04, 2017, 04:46:16 PM »

Offline C. Perry Rapier

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #18 on: August 04, 2017, 05:25:37 PM »
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Breakfast Recipes:

http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1097670929


Thank you Cheryl. I can use all the help I can get.  :) :)

Offline Jeffrey Lietzke

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Re: Waffle Irons - Please school me
« Reply #19 on: August 06, 2017, 08:55:35 AM »
Quote
The WAGS Cookbook is a Board on this Forum: 

http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=food


 :) :)

Thank you!