Commercial Waffle Maker Use & Maintenance

The best commercial waffle iron for your establishment is the one that meets your menu's needs. Some units are square, and some are round; some bake two waffles at a time, while others only house one. Waffle irons are constructed with approachable controls that your customers will be able to operate on their own, freeing up staff to focus on other dining needs. To refine the waffle-making process and give you more control over product quality, commercial waffle makers are designed with variable voltages, capacities, controls, waffle size accommodations, and grid finishes. Grids are usually square or round, though rectangular options are available. Unit voltage is determined by product output – higher voltages can create more product, but lower voltages can be used in more places. Be sure to select a waffle maker that can be installed in your kitchen.

Accessories such as waffle cone display cases, which keep product fresh and display it for customers, and drip trays, which catch dripping batter and aid in cleanup, will also enhance the general baking process. However, the most important accessory in your waffle-making process will be the waffle mix itself, and different types of waffles require different mixes. Another crucial necessity is the cleaning brush. This tool will help you reach the small crevices in your waffle maker that can be difficult to clean, helping extend the service life of your machine. In this piece, we'll be focusing on the best practices for proper waffle maker use and maintenance over time.

To begin, keep in mind that there are different types of waffles and that, based on varying temperature ranges and controls, a specific commercial waffle iron is best suited for each one.

How to Use a Commercial Waffle Maker

When it comes to baking waffles, you should always add plenty of melted butter or oil to your recipe to reduce sticking. Be sure to preheat your waffle maker before completing any other step. It should be placed on a flat, heat-safe surface before you plug it in and select your desired heat setting. See if your commercial waffle iron has an indicator light as this will let you know when your waffle iron is ready for use.

But do you need to spray a waffle iron? Well, that depends. To prevent sticking and simplify cleanup, grease your waffle iron plates with melted butter, oil, or cooking spray. However, if you have a nonstick commercial waffle maker, skip the greasing as it can result in unwanted residue buildup. Check your operator's manual to see if greasing is necessary.

Once the preheating and greasing steps have been completed, you can pour the batter into your commercial waffle maker's plates. It's okay if some of the batter seeps out! This just means you need to use a little less next time.

After pouring the batter, close the waffle maker's lid and let it cook. Steam will escape during this process, but when the steam stops, you can check to see if the waffle is done. So, how do you know when your waffle is ready? Commercial waffle irons finish baking at different times, though 5 minutes is generally a reasonable amount of time to check on your waffle. Checking on it too soon, however, can result in ripping your waffle apart, so please be patient and either wait for the indicator light to tell you when your waffle is ready or observe the parts of your waffle that are visible from the side. If those parts appear cakey, your waffle is ready for consumption.

Only remove your waffle with utensils constructed of rubber, silicone, or plastic as metal utensils could scratch its surface. To make your kitchen safer for everyone, be sure to close your commercial waffle iron when it's not in use.

How to Clean a Waffle Iron

Your commercial waffle maker needs time to completely cool down before it's ready for cleaning, though you shouldn't wait so long that product sticks to the machine. Cleaning up as soon as it's cool is the best way to maintain your commercial waffle iron's wellbeing in the long run, and here is a step-by-step guide on how to do so:

1. When it has sufficiently cooled, take a damp paper towel or cloth and wipe down the plates.
2. Use a soft kitchen brush to take care of any crumbs and a rubber spatula to pick off stuck pieces of batter. Cooking oil can be used for especially stubborn spots: simply pour the oil on, wait a few minutes, and then wipe it off with a soft cloth.
3. Using steel wool or scouring pads could damage your waffle maker, and some units can't withstand soap, so be sure to read the instructions for your commercial waffle iron before cleaning.
4. Removable plates can be soaked for a more thorough cleaning, but the entire unit should never be submerged in water if it's electric.
5. Wipe off any excess batter stuck on the outside with a damp cloth and then make sure your commercial waffle maker is dry before you store it away.
6. To clean the oil that collects in your waffle iron's grid, get an instrument with a pointed end, such as a pencil or chopstick, and wrap a bit of paper towel around it.
7. Moisten it with white vinegar, then use it to wipe away the residue and oil that builds up within the grid.

Additional Waffle-baking Tips and Tricks

If you still aren't quite achieving the waffle quality you had in mind, consider adding stiff egg whites to your batter. This will lighten the waffles and help keep them from getting dense and heavy. Adding cornstarch will protect waffles from getting soggy, and the addition of amaretto liqueur, vanilla, or almond extract will heighten its flavor and aroma. Throwing whole buttermilk into the mix also enhances taste. We recommend a flip waffle maker because it enables the batter to spread evenly, cooking the waffle evenly on both sides.