Croquade U11001 Belgian Waffle Maker Bundle, includes Belgian Waffle Plate and Stuffed Waffle Plate (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

The Croquade waffle maker makes the best waffles I've ever had. They look beautiful, are crispy on the outside but light and soft on the inside. I have yet to make Liege waffles with it, but I have no doubt they, too, will be extraordinary. The unit is relatively compact and feels very solid. If you love waffles, this is the waffle maker for you.So why only four stars? The answer lies in the idiosyncratic design of the darn thing. On a minor level, look at the handles in the picture of the unit. Notice how each handle extends in only one direction and those directions are the opposite for each extension? That's nuts. This is a waffle iron that you flip over; these handle extensions have no functional purpose whatsoever as you must grasp the two sides of the unit in the center of the handle where they attach to the unit in order to flip the iron over. This a bit awkward but is not a "flaw" per se; it is an odd, idiosyncratic, poorly thought out feature that makes no sense to me. (Note: the handles also each have a "leg" that extends vertically away from the irons. This leg provides support when the iron is horizontal.)A more important matter is the process of removing the irons for cleaning. First, as others have noted, the instructions for removing the irons that are provided in the owners manual are completely worthless. Apparently Croquade knows this because they have an instructional video on youtube. Don't even try to do it without watching the video; it is very clear and easy to follow. For some reason, Croquade has chosen to use two screws to hold the irons in place, screws that scream to fall into a crevice to be seen never again. But if you're careful, that won't happen to you. I'm careful. My complaint concerns what happens after you remove the irons. You see, the irons are hinged; they come out of the unit together. (All of the optional irons are also hinged.) That hinge is THE hinge for the unit and the only thing that connects the two sides of the waffle maker to the base. When the irons are removed, the unit essential falls apart into three pieces linked only by electrical cords. As I write this, my waffle irons are in the dishwasher and the rest of the unit is in a small pile on the kitchen counter, a pile that can only be relocated by gathering it up in both hands. What were they thinking? Were they thinking at all?This design flaw is visible to some extent in the youtube video, but the woman demonstrating the process is far better practiced than I (and you), and finesses the matter brilliantly so it's easy to overlook.In good conscience I can't give the Croquade five stars: it is not superb in all aspects. That being said, it does make the best waffles, the very best waffles. When you remove the irons for the first time, however, remember you were warned :)

After ruining my variable temperature oyster waffle maker (plates became uncleanable from caramelized sugar), I decided to replace it with this one, and it did not dissapoint. The oyster unit is much cheaper, and depending on your needs, may be just fine. But if you want to make true European waffles or can afford to splurge, this unit is recommended. Below I detail my first use, give reasons as to why I like it, and finish with who I think may benefit by splurging for this unit.First use:I got this unit with the liege waffle plates, and immediately made the batter for this waffle type. I followed the instructions for oiling the plates, set the temperature to 7 (recommended from the included recipe book), waited for the light to turn off, them put my first piece of dough in. I rotated the iron a few times, then waited 3 minutes. Periodically I would lift the iron to check, and to my delight there was ZERO sticking, which allowed me to ensure these waffles were done to my liking. I highly recommend the companion waffle fork to remove the waffles once done. Avain, removing the waffles was a breeze. As you can see in the picture, the sugar caramelized just as it should, and the waffles had the correct firmness. Just like the street vendors sell in europe. When I was done, I unplugged the unit, let it cool, removed the plates, and cleaned.Why I like this unit:-You can remove the plates, which means you can easily clean them. This is a huge upgrade from other irons, as inability to clean plates is what did my old unit in. It also greatly simplifies the cleaning process.-You can also swap the plates for different waffle types. Want American style Belgian waffles? Check. Ice cream cones? Check. Stuffed waffles? Check. Etc. This unit even has a plate for toasting sandwhiches. So you can make what you and your family or friends want. This is great, as i like liege waffles, but also appreciate Belgian waffles and want to start making ice cream cones.- Plates so far are high quality and really nonstick. The ease of cleaning no doubt will increase the plate lifetime, as no more scratching the plates. And if you do ruin them, you can just replace them.-The iron flips over so you can evenly spread the dough. Adding to this, the unit heats uniformly, side to side, and top/bottom.-Adjustible temperature. This allows you to make a variety of waffles to your liking.Who is this for?-Anyone who makes waffles frequently, and particularly those who get away from what I'll call "traditional" American recipes. By these I mean batters that you laddle in, and generally do not stick to the plates (though this iron is good for those too). If you want liege waffles, I highly recommend. When I tried to use my older unit to make liege waffles, cleaning was a mess, the waffles cooked unevely, and the waffles never were the correct thickness and consistency.I'm not against the cheaper units, which may work fine for your needs. I never had issues when I stuck to the laddle in type recipes, other than some sticking and occasional burning. But for the trickier recipes, this unit proves to be superior, and in my opinion, worth the cost.