BLACK+DECKER WMB500 vs KRUPS Belgian Side-by-Side Comparison
What to choose between the budget-friendly BLACK+DECKER WMB500 and the premium KRUPS Belgian? Here’s a short comparison to help you out!
Specifications
Design
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 has a simplistic, blocky design—typical of an entry-level waffle maker. It looks quite similar to the Cuisinart WMR-CA, which is in the same price range.
However, its stainless steel baking chamber adds a shiny touch to the otherwise mundane look, making for a visually pleasing aesthetic overall.
Despite its low price point, the construction quality is great. The only downside is the noticeable absence of a control panel. Rather than buttons or the like, an indicator light at the top alerts you when your waffle is ready to eat.
Contrary to its performance, the KRUPS waffle maker has one of the best designs and overall build quality in our database. From the sturdy, stainless steel top lid to the solid weight and feel of the machine, it's clear just by looking at it that the KRUPS is a high-end waffle maker.
But it's more than just good looks that sets this model apart from basic models. It comes with removable waffle plates that provide added convenience. There's an audible alarm that can help you monitor the cooking process more easily.
Usability Comparison
It’s simple to start with the BLACK+DECKER WMB500, mostly because it doesn’t have a control panel. Most of BLACK+DECKER’s budget-friendly offerings don’t have a control panel (case in point, the BLACK+DECKER Double waffle maker.)
All you need to do is plug it in and wait for the power light to go off, signaling that it's ready for use. Pour in your batter, wait for the waffle to cook, then lift the lid and extract your waffle.
The waffle maker did excellently in both fields regarding cleanability and safety.
The KRUPS waffle maker has outstanding safety ratings. During our thermal safety tests, all of the oft-touched surfaces on the waffle maker (the handle, the lid, and the bottom side) are all cool. It’s very easy to clean and boasts user-friendly features like straightforward controls and an audible chime that make it easier to interact with the machine. We also like the oversized handle and lid lock, which greatly enhance the user experience.
Performance Test
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 displayed impressive cooking performance across both test recipes. The resulting waffles weren't restaurant-level quality, but certainly more than enough for a healthy homemade breakfast. It’ll be an ideal choice for families who simply need a reliably good option for breakfast.
By June 2022, the KRUPS waffle maker was the sole model that failed our performance test. It miserably earned last place on our rankings after its inability to cook self-made batter and even worse, transforming Birch Benders mix into an inedible mush in the second test.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- Affordable pricing
- Decent cooking performance across both test recipes
- Good-looking stainless steel baking chamber
- The lid can dampen the force of a strong push, preventing the lid from accidentally snapping close to the user’s hand
- The non-stick coating on the waffle plates works very well
- Excellent safety rating
- Solidly built from high-quality materials
- Able to cook four waffles simultaneously
- The waffle plates’ non-stick coating works great
- Controls are straightforward to use
- Easy to clean
- Lacks control panel
- The stainless steel baking chamber needs regular cleaning to look its best
- Waffle’s quality is mediocre in the self-mixed recipe test
- Failed at producing an edible waffle in the test with the Birch Benders mix
- Power cord is too short
Conclusion
Built to be as wallet-friendly as possible, the BLACK+DECKER WMB500 is without extra bling and doesn’t try to pass itself off as being more expensive than it is. It has a simplistic design and doesn’t come with many features.
Fortunately, it’s still able to serve up some decent waffles. In our tests, the quality wasn’t restaurant-level, but it was more than enough for breakfasts and daily meals.
The KRUPS Belgian waffle maker’s highlight is its ability to cook four 4-inch square waffles at the same time. It can do this thanks to its large waffle plates, which measure over 10 inches long.
However, despite having a visibly more premium design, the KRUPS’ cooking performance is disappointing. So far, it is the only waffle maker to fail one of our cooking tests. Even after 10 minutes, it still didn’t manage to cook the Birch Benders premade batter to completion.
So, if you dislike the BLACK+DECKER WMB500, we still recommend you choose an alternative to the KRUPS, like the DASH No-Drip Belgian.
Behind the Comparison
Matthew Lee is a writer and editor for HealthyKitchen101. With over 8 years working for various outlets and agencies, specializing in tech review and other subjects of note, such as current affairs.
Tuyet Pham is an award-winning Saigonese chef passionate about delicious and healthful foods. At HealthyKitchen101, she develops recipes and collaborates with our Research, Testing, and Review lab to evaluate the performance of cooking appliances. Her assessments add a strong authoritative voice to our product scoring process.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
