VillaWare V2002 UNO Belgian Waffler, Round
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of VillaWare V2002 UNO Belgian Waffler, Round
Customer Review: Great waffler
Summary: 5 Stars
Bought this waffler at a local close out store. I have used only once, but so far I LOVE it. The waffles can be made crisp on the outside and moist on the inside, or soft on the outside yet completely cooked on the inside. I am just learning how to use it, but so far so good. I used Krusteaz Belgian Waffle mix. The waffles were very yummy.
I previously owned a Chef's Mate waffle iron, very simple and very cheap. I was never happy with the unit as it was very difficult to clean. I also never made enough waffles to remember how long to cook them. With that unit, I had to keep an eye on the waffler and open it when the steam had dissapated. I wanted to find a waffler that was easy to use, not crazy expensive and easy to clean up. I think the UNO fits that description.
The first use: While preparing the batter, I set up the waffler. Just in case I overpoured the batter, I placed a cookie sheet below the unit. Using a silicone brush, I coated the cooking surface with canola oil, closed the lid and waited. After maybe three minutes, the ready light turned on the buzzer rang to let me know the waffler was ready to use. I ladled in the batter to cover the grids and spread around a bit, then closed the lid. After two or three minutes, the buzzer sounded again to let me know it was done. After opening the lid, the waffle came out quite easily with a wooden fork. Once the unit was heated the next waffles went faster. I coated the waffler again between waffles.
My boys like their waffles at about a 4 setting. I liked mine best at about 6. I did overpour one time, and the cookie sheet did a good job of catching the batter, making counter clean up easier. Unlike the Chef's Mate waffle maker I previously owned, the UNO was extremely easy to clean even with the batter overflow. The cord wrap beneath the unit is convenient as is the stand up storage capability.
Overall I am extremely pleased with this waffler. My sister in law has the Waring waffler that you turn over before cooking. I was concerned without that turning motion, the batter might not be loaded evenly. That was not the case. I was worried without a measuring cup to show me exactly how much batter to use I would use too much and create a cleaning nightmare. That was not the case. I was afraid if I didn't spend a lot of money on the waffler, I would get more junk like the Chef's Mate. That was not the case.
I know it's only been through one use, but so far I love this little waffler. My boys love pancakes and waffles and now we can have restaurant quality waffles at home for a fraction of the price. I will post again if anything changes. I highly recommend this unit to anyone who is waffling about buying it! LOL. Sorry, I coudn't help myself.
Customer Review: Great Waffle Iron
Summary: 5 Stars
We received this waffle iron as a wedding gift four years ago and have been using it frequently ever since. We wanted a heavy duty waffle iron like the food service department had at our colleges, only not as expensive and one that does not require as much counter space, so we got this one.
What is great about this waffle iron:
1. After four years of frequent use the cooking surface is in great condition. Granted, you MUST spray the surface with cooking spray to avoid sticking, but for those of us who forget to do that every once in a while the clean up is easy. I only spray the iron twice while cooking a batch of four to five waffles.
2. Easy storage! We live in a small house and do not have a lot of counter space. It is so helpful that the cord wraps around the base and the iron is light enough to be stored high up in a cupboard so I only need to use one hand to reach it.
3. CLEAN! This is the cleanest waffle iron I have ever had the pleasure of using. Things tend to get messy in this household and I have always been impressed with how easy it is to clean this waffle iron. All I ever use is a clean cloth to wipe down the inside. Occasionally I'll have to scrub the outside if we overfill it and leave it sit too long.
4. It rarely overflows. It seems that whenever we attempt to overfill it the waffle puffs up rather than spill over the sides. This is a great feature, even if it is accidental.
5. I have tried at least 10 different waffle recipes in this iron and they all turned out great. My favorite recipe is the one that is included with the waffle iron when you buy it, but I have temporarily lost the book.
6. I have never had a burnt waffle. It is probably due to the combination of the beeper and the temperature settings, but I am satisfied.
CONS:
1. The hinge seems to have gotten a little loose with age, although it has not affected the quality of the waffles.
2. I like my waffles crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and have found that I need to set the iron at 7 (the max) before they come out the way I like. It would be nice if the iron had a little more range than 7 but I suppose they are trying to avoid a "burnt" setting.
3. The beeper is effective in that I must attend to the waffle iron or else I'll go nuts from the chirping. Although, it is a nice way to let the family know that breakfast is ready and the chirping does not appear to bother anyone else but me.
4. This has nothing to do with the iron itself, but I wish they posted their waffle recipes on their website.
This is the best waffle iron we have used that is not industrial grade. I highly recommend this to anyone who does an average amount of waffle making.
Customer Review: Easy to use, excellent results!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read all the reviews prior to purchasing. My choices came down to this Villaware Belgian waffler (V2002 UNO)and the Villaware V3200 -- also a round Belgian waffler.
I called Villaware to get the differences between the two models:
UNO V2002 model
1. ridged exterior
2. 7 adjustable temperatures
3. newer model
V3200 model
1. smooth exterior with temperature knob on top of waffler
2. 6 adjustable temperature settings
3. slightly older model
4. can be stored on its side
While I was initially interested in the V3200 due to the smoother exterior and the fact that it can be stored on its side (not sure the lid would stay closed), I opted for the UNO model since Amazon decreased the price by $5 and offered free shipping on the UNO model only. So I got the newer model for less than the older model. I also liked the fact that Alton Brown from "Good Eats" highly endorsed this UNO model.
I tried out the waffler on my teenaged son's very discriminating palate. He asked for seconds and does not usually do that! He said the waffles were so much better than what our old waffler (19 years old!!) produced. He said the texture was uniform throughout the outside of the waffle and moist inside. My old waffler tended to bake the perimeter a bit more than the middle.
This UNO waffler is a cinch to use and I'm one that appreciates the ready beeps and finished baking beeps. I know some have complained about the sound, but I find it helpful not annoying. My old waffler had no audible tones. The waffler is heated and ready to use just as I'm finishing mixing up the batter and cook time is quick. I didn't time it, but less than 2 min. to produce a waffle set on #5. The waffle is deep allowing the warm butter and warm syrup to just pool in the grids. Yum! I tried the Krusteaz belgian waffle mix and while Krusteaz is easy and convenient, I'll stick with mixing up my own from scratch for tastier waffles. I find Krusteaz just ok, nothing special.
Clean-up is easy with a moist paper towel. I like that the cord wraps around the bottom of the appliance with a center bracket that allows for the cord plug to sit neatly. I was also impressed by the sturdiness of this little appliance. The hinge is suprisingly substantial and seems quite durable; not wobbly like my old waffler.
I would not hesitate to purchase this for a gift.
Now, lets see if I can get 19 years out of this waffler too!
Customer Review: Awesome. But Leave the Berries at the Market.
Summary: 4 Stars
This waffler changed my life. How? you ask. Well for starters I can make my own waffles now. Generally speaking, a waffler is a great purchase. Having and becoming a waffler gives you the freedom to pursue waffles of all sorts. Not just your breakfast variety!! Specifically, this waffler is great. It isn't as boss as the one I remember from the university dining hall but for it's size and price, it is a mean machine. The waff settings offer plenty of range. Depending on your batter, I'd say it can go from quite rare to very well done and the waffles are cooked evenly. Keeping track of the amount of batter you use is important though as a bit too much is all you need for the top iron to bulge open a little as the waffle rises.
Clean up for the most part is a simple wipe down. Some ingredients though ARE NOT handled well by the iron's non-stickability. The first time I noticed this was with chocolate chips. There were some left behind when I removed my waffle but they wiped off easily enough. Blueberries on the other hand are ridiculous. They are ridiculously delicious but they are also the same in difficulty to remove from the waffler. Most of them wouldn't come off after repeated wipes once my waffle was removed and what was left only fused to the iron with added vigor as I made the rest of my waff batch. In the end I had to leave some cooking oil in the waffler overnight and still scrape the blueberry guts away with a plastic spatula the following afternoon. It was an experience I wouldn't want my least favorite TV star to deal with.
The nooks of the waffler can make cleaning very difficult when something gets stuck there hard and this same crannied landscape requires very detailed and frustrating finger and utensil work.
V2002's design offers sleek storage options. It takes up much less space than those rotating models and the cord wrap in the bottom keeps things very tight and tidy. The top iron can feel a little loose at times but, as noted by another reviewer, it is holding up just fine. The "I'm ready" ding is not as bad as it has been made out to be. It's useful if you have to run into the other room and it only dings a few times before it stops. It may ding again after a while but I've not let it sit that long yet. Usually I want my waffle before I put the batter in so once it's done, I flip that puppy out of there.
Keeping in mind this is my first personal waffler, I rate it a four out of five and would recommend it to a friend or foe.
Customer Review: I love it
Summary: 4 Stars
After going through several cheap waffle makers in just as many years, I decided to buy a decent one that will hopefully hold up for decades. (I'm optimistic)
I bought this model after reading all the reviews on the Villaware 3200. This model is newer, having shown up here on Amazon 2-2005. The styling is much more attractive than the older model and while a bit more expensive, it's worth it if it's a keeper.
I was impressed with how fast the waffles came out, having made them for the first time this morning. Much faster than the ones I have had before. The waffles were cooked through, reasonably crisp, (the recipe is important and mine might not be the best for crispiness) and released every time.
I brushed the grids with real butter before heating it up and did not regrease.
For cleaning, all I did was wipe it carefully with a paper towel. The clean up is the easiest I have ever had in a waffle maker and the design aids cleanup.
I made the first waffle on the #5 setting. It was cooked through but not brown enough. Subsequent waffles were made at the highest setting. It's important, as the booklet states, to flip the waffle over as you remove it for serving. Has to do with the gravity and settling of the finished product.
The beep is annoying on a quiet morning although useful.
This waffle maker is very solid feeling. The bottom is plastic which is a drawback but the unit as a whole is hefty and has a nice cord storage area that actually works easily.
This is the recipe I've used for years. I had such fun making these waffles this morning, I made a second batch for the freezer.
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup 9 grain cereal (optional but it is good-adds some crunch)
1/4 cup sugar -or less to taste
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt if desired- I don't use it but I use salted butter
1 stick melted butter
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk or whole milk. If using buttermilk, cut baking powder to 2 tea. and add 1/2 tea. baking soda
Possible 1/4 cup extra milk. Batter should be fairly thin.
While assembling ingredients, melt butter. Place all dry stuff in large bowl, whisk to mix.
Make a well, and add eggs and milk. Whisk everything together until just mixed. Fold in melted butter with spatula.