Presto 3510 FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Presto 3510 FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker
Customer Review: They sent me a Pre-Owned Copy!--TWICE!! :(
Summary: 1 Stars
Update: I left a review not long ago in which I described receiving a waffle maker in a damaged box that had OBVIOUSLY previously been opened. The same happened with the replacement order sent, however this yellow waffle maker box was in even worse condition with more pathetic-looking re-taping of the product. I am very saddened by this as I have always had such nice luck with products from Amazon... You know, the items are NICE looking and NEW when one thinks that is what they are purchasing, not arriving in a dingy, squished box with a finger hole poked through it along with old tape under one or two layers of new packing tape.
I wanted to use the waffle iron to make Christmas morning waffles. That plan was foiled, and I then planned to make New Year's Day waffles. Neither will happen as I refuse to open an item which has so obviously been opened/pre-owned/refurbished. I will not give the site the opportunity to accuse me of using the waffle maker for a special occasion and then returning it when no longer needed.
Amazon should let their customers know they are ordering an item that may or may not arrive in a damaged/pre-opened state. I have never before purchased a NEW item in a box appearing such as this one, and I guarantee the two I received HAD been in the hands of others. I do wonder if you all have received waffle irons in the same box condition and had luck with them. I cannot imagine many of you would be happy to receive an item in the condition the two I ordered were, especially when you expect to get a brand-spanking-new product in the mail.
I may try to order a different kind of waffle maker or order the same model from Wally's site for the same price but with the addition of tax and a small shipping fee. I wonder if their product is also in a damaged, retaped, borderline dirty box.
I do want to note that it was not the shipping carrier who damaged the shipping or the product boxes. Shipping conditions were perfect. It is the product itself that is the problem here, distributed and prepared for shipment by Amazon, presumably.
I could not give this waffle maker as a gift since it definitely appears to be opened, used, and then "re-gifted". I am appalled.
1st review: I could not believe my eyes when I opened the UPS box. There inside was a damaged waffle box that had obviously been re-taped shut, returned, and then re-sold to me. I am so disappointed. I was really looking forward to starting a new tradition of waffles on Christmas morning, but I won't even open this box to inspect. The exterior was enough proof for me: two sets of tape on the top of box one which it was evident had been cut open and the "loose ends" of the older tape were even soiled.
I wish I could write a great review of this item, but I cannot do that unless Amazon sends me a brand new, previously unopened product to own. They better not even think I'll be paying for the return shipping.
So disappointed.... Now, I have to explain why there will be no waffles as promised to my little boy. Zero stars for the distributor of this waffle maker. Most items ordered at this time of year are intended as gifts. Why would they expect someone to buy and give an item that had been previously opened without first disclosing such information so the customer could make an informed choice??
Customer Review: Excellent Product
Summary: 5 Stars
To help balance some of the negative reviews,(do people read instructions before they use appliances, I wonder?) I'll add my 2 cents.
I made my first waffles (with this product) last night using Stonewall Farms Pancake and Waffle Mix. I doubled the recipe on the canister and got 3 perfectly browned, crispy, fluffy, delicious waffles. I used exactly 1 cup on the first 2 and a little shy on the 3rd. All 3 came out perfect.
As to the timer: it's handy. I, of course, have other timers in my kitchen, but it was convenient to (following the instructions) pour in the batter, set the timer, then flip the waffle. Just that small amount of time before flipping may make a difference, if not--oh, well. It's just a count-down timer. It does beep when the set amount of time is reached (four times, I think.) The thing is, when making waffles, you don't really go by the amount of time, you watch for the steaming to stop. What is convenient about the timer is, not only that it is conveniently right in front of you when you're pouring and flipping, but when it beeps it brings your attention back to the waffle maker in time for you to watch the steam. I thought it was kind of a nice little extra. I've never before seen a waffle maker with a timer. If you don't like it, don't use it. It has no affect on the on/off function--good thing because cooking time is going to vary according to several factors including what batter you are using.
This was the easiest waffle making experience I've ever had. I was very impressed. Really easy clean-up, too. You just wipe it out--if there is any thing to wipe out. The instructions tell you that if there is a little bit of cooked batter stuck somewhere, you just put a little cooking oil on it to soften it, then wipe it off. I didn't get to experiment with this. Nothing stuck. The waffles came out perfectly. I did, as instructed, brush the grids with cooking oil after it had first pre-heated. It is recommended, for even browning, to use oil rather than spray. I did not need to re-apply it and won't unless waffles begin to stick.
I'm usually kind of compulsive about hot soap and water, but in the case of the waffle iron, as long as there is no material in the grids, any germs will be killed during the initial heating up process.
With this kind of simplicity and success, we will be having waffles much more frequently than ever before.
If you have any of the problems I have read described here, and if you have read and followed the instructions, you must have a faulty product and should return it for a
replacement.
If mine develops problems or dies early, I will update my review. Until then, I highly recommend this product. I couldn't be more satisfied.
Customer Review: Great waffles with a side of 2nd degree burns!
Summary: 2 Stars
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 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.
Customer Review: Half the price and still every bit as good after three years.
Summary: 5 Stars
[updated January, 2011]
We bought the Presto FlipSide to replace a faux pro waffler made by the blender company who shares its name with Fred W's Glee Club. That one cost twice the price and lasted a mere three years before going to pieces. It was "Pro" in name only.
Presto took a simpler and possibly more durable approach: Engineer the hinge on a traditional counter-top Belgian waffle maker so it can flip 180 degrees and let gravity work its special magic. The entire weight of the baking platform is supported by the counter top, not by a pair of screws driven into failure-prone plastic.
When I unpacked the iron and set it on the counter, I noticed that the upper grid "floated" slightly when the grids were resting at the left side of the hinge. It might just be a mass-production variance but it was cause for concern because the iron has to close tightly for proper baking. When I flipped them to the right, the grids closed firmly, so the left side became the filling side and the right, the preheating and baking side. Do the same when yours arrives.
The nonstick grids are deep enough to fall into, with dimpled tapered studs that assist in releasing the baked waffle. The baking surface is surrounded by a fairly generous overflow rim. At 1350 watts, it bakes hotter than the 1200 watt pro-look model. The Presto lacks a browning control but you can compensate by adjusting the baking time. What's important is the initial temperature when the batter hits the grids, and if you turn a browning control too low, the grids are too cool to "fry" the outside. What you end up with is a textured pancake, not a real waffle.
The battery-powered timer is a nice feature but not really a necessity if your kitchen, like mine, has plenty of timers (the stove, the kitchen scale, the microwave oven).
The waffles come out about an inch and then some in height with a crisp, crackly exterior and a cloud-fluffy interior. We make our waffles from biscuit-and-baking mix but use the professional technique of separating the eggs and beating the egg whites before folding them into the batter. Baking time is 3 minutes for a waffle that would cost you at least a 10-spot plus tax and a tip on a hotel room service menu.
Time has proven that the Presto FlipSide, at half the price, is twice the waffle iron for the money.
Customer Review: Converted "Flip 'n Fluff" Customer
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been making waffles for my family several times a week for over 10 years. The best waffle maker I ever had prior to this one was a Hamilton Beach Flip'nFluff - I liked them so much that when they wore out, I just bought a new one. I was on number 3 when it suffered a profound Gust of Gravity onto a tile floor, that was the end.
So I went hunting for a new maker. The Flip kind *do* make better waffles - lighter and fluffier for sure. That narrowed it down to the Presto, and a few more expensive choices.
I bought the Presto, and I have been delighted. It makes different waffles than the Hamilton Beach, but in this case, different is better.
Pros:
Much better nonstick surface than the Hamilton Beach
Better temperature maintenance
Timer helps - though waffles take me 2 minutes or so (not sure how 3:30 would not crisp them beyond recognition).
Flip mechanism does not wear the iron or chafe the cord - I can see it working reliably for many many years.
Stand-up storage helps
Timer is useful
Waffles are a decent size, and 4 pieces works well. I feed 8 people breakfast from a single waffle maker - it works.
No burn danger for the chef.
Cons:
The tab for helping it standup for storage seems frail. If it breaks, then the maker might fall over.
Otherwise, I am delighted with this product. If you buy it, DO season the iron as recommended (make it hot, then coat with cooking oil. Let cool, repeat, then use - improves the nonstick coating).
Of course, results are sure to vary with recipes. So here is the recipe I use, and I recommend highly. Kids who *never* eat pancakes or waffles (yes, they exist), go nuts for these.
4 cups of 2% milk. Add 1/4 cup or so of lemon juice and stir. Let sit for a few minutes.
Add 4 extra-large eggs
Add splash of vanilla
Add mixture of 4 cups flour (King Arthur all-purpose is definitely superior - we buy it in 50 pound bags for $14 or so at a restaurant supply house), 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of baking powder.
Use immersion blender, and blend all together.
Melt 1 stick of butter, and blend in as well.
These are awesome. It is hard to not keep munching.
The batter is better as it gets older - if you expose it to air for a while, then refrigerate, you'll end up with a sourdough waffle. Sourdough is not as loved by all, but for those of us who like the taste... yummy.
In sum: Great product!