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Black+Decker WMD200B Double vs BLACK+DECKER WMB500 Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.2/10
- Design (20%)8.8/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.2/10
- Performance (50%)6.7/10
- Design (20%)8.7/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.5/10
There’s a world of difference between the Black+Decker WMD200B Double and the WMB500.
For one, the WMD200B is aimed at the mid-tier level of the market. And you can see it right from the design. It has a sleek appearance seems very well-built, with strong plastic parts and metal sleeving on the cabling. The waffle maker has a flippable double-sided baking chamber, allowing you to cook two waffles simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the WMB500 is a lot more simple in terms of design. It doesn’t come with a control panel and only comes with a single set of waffle plates (so it can only cook one waffle at a time.)
Still, BLACK+DECKER still gave this model a high-quality feel with metal housing. Sure, it may not look as luxurious or impressive as the pricier WMD200B Double, but for an entry-level waffle maker, the WMB500 is seriously impressive!
In terms of performance, both models did a decent job in our cooking tests. But notably, despite being cheaper, the WMB500 did marginally better. It served up more consistently cooked waffles (the WMD200B has a notable issue of undercooking the underside of its waffles.)
Black and Decker Double Flip Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.1/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.3/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.5/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The WMD200B’s performance was disappointing in this test. With the updated recipe, we had expected it to show better results. Unfortunately, the coloration, texture, and taste were still acceptable at best and mediocre at worst.
Color (35%) — 5.25/10
- Color result: Very dark brown (Top)—Very light gold (Bottom)
- Color distribution: Uneven
The BLACK+DECKER WMD200B still suffered from uneven heating, a problem we already noticed in the first rounds of testing. The top side of the waffle was so well-cooked that some spots looked charred. Meanwhile, the bottom was several shades lighter. The odd difference in coloring made the waffle look very unappealing.
Texture (25%) — 6.5/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium level. Bubbles were beginning to form but hadn’t finished developing
The aeration rate was low. Nonetheless, we still saw plenty of air bubbles spread throughout the interior of the waffle. And while there was a degree of mushiness to the waffle, it wasn’t so bad to the point of being limp and soggy.
Taste (40%) — 6.5/10
- Taste: Sweet and flavorful. A hint of bitterness from the burnt spots.
- Mouthfeel: Soft. Burnt spots give the waffle a dry texture.
Flavor-wise, our chef gave the waffle a passable score. Although the flavors were there, the bitterness from the burnt top crust ruined the overall taste profile of the waffle. Plus, the unremarkable texture of the waffle didn’t do the WMD200B any good in this section.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The coloration was decent despite the waffle’s wells looking slightly burnt, and some spots on the crust looked undercooked. It received only a passable grade due to having a low aeration rate. Fortunately, it picked up the slack with its tastiness.
Color (7) — 35%
- Color tone: Very dark brown - Light brown (both)
- Color distribution: Even
The crust has a very delectable light gold tone around the perimeter and on the raised lines of the waffle pattern. Inside the deep wells, the color has a darker brown color.
The color distribution is great for the waffle. Both sides have relatively similar color tones and gradients.
Texture (5.5) — 25%
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium; air bubbles have begun filling the interior of the waffle. However, their sizes were small and their numbers were few
The concentration of air bubbles within the waffle’s core was way less than ideal. Most of the bubbles were concentrated near the crust, leaving the core dense with un-aerated batter. The result is a rather chewy waffle.
Taste (7.5) — 40%
- Flavor: Sweet with a buttery aftertaste
- Mouthfeel: Slightly mushy
The waffle tastes great, according to our chef. The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 was able to unlock the potential of the batter, releasing its sweetness and buttery aftertaste. But the mouthfeel was less than ideal due to the dense interior of the waffle. Its chewy texture ruined the tasting experience.
Birch Benders Mix
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 7 minutes 30 seconds
Coloration is better with a more eye-catching golden brown tone. The color is distributed uniformly across the whole waffle. Despite not having a high aeration level, the waffle still attains a soft and spongy texture, albeit slightly mushy. Our chef rated the waffle’s taste as good, citing its sweet flavor. But she clocked a few points due to the taste of raw batter still being present.
Color (35%) — 6.3/10
- Color result: Golden brown (Top) - Pale gold (Bottom)
- Color distribution: Even
In the pre-made mix test the coloration was better compared to our self-made recipe. The top side achieved a beautiful golden brown color that was spread evenly throughout the waffle. The indents had slightly darker coloring, but they weren’t burnt or charred.
The bottom of the waffle was a lot less impressive. It had a pale yellow, almost white color, which seemed to point to the waffle being undercooked.
Interestingly, the same disparity in coloration between the two sides of the waffle can be observed in other performance tests that we’ve done with the WMD200B.
Texture (25%) — 5/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low level, bubbles were tiny in size.
The aeration level is low. The waffle was filled with small bubbles, which created a soft and spongy texture. However, because the batter hadn’t been fully developed, the core of the waffle still felt a little mushy and moist when touched.
Taste (40%) — 7/10
- Taste: Sweet and flavorful, but with a hint of raw batter due to the undercooked bottom
- Texture: Soft at the top, pulpy at the bottom.
Our chef rated the waffle “good”. The WMD200B brought out the waffle's sweet and slightly savory flavor.
Unfortunately, the undercooked bottom impacted the mouthfeel of the waffle, which was pulpy compared to the soft and consistent top side.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 7 minutes
The waffle has beautiful coloration thanks to its dark golden brown crust. In terms of texture and taste, the waffle was mediocre. It was mushy and chewy inside, and the waffle was a bit too bland. Nonetheless, the waffle should still be good if you're not picky and want a simple, classic breakfast waffle. This waffle maker certainly won't be able to make anything gourmet!
Color (7) — 35%
- Color tone: Very dark brown - Light brown (both)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle looked great to the eyes. The crust had a beautiful light gold color on both sides of the waffle. Inside the wells, the coloring was slightly darker, but not by much. None of the wells were charred.
Texture (6) — 25%
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium; air bubbles have begun filling the interior of the waffle. However, their sizes were small and their numbers were few
The aeration level was low. Very few air bubbles or pockets exist within the waffle, resulting in a very crumbly and mealy texture.
Taste (6.5) — 40%
- Flavor: Sweet with a buttery aftertaste
- Mouthfeel: Slightly mushy
Flavor-wise, the waffle was mediocre. The sweetness was there, and so was the signature salty taste of the Birch Benders mix. However, our chef assessed that the waffle's flavors didn’t seem fully developed. It’s still a bit too bland, possibly due to the underdeveloped core of the waffle.
Black and Decker Double Flip Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)10/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)9.5/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
- Build Quality (60%)9.5/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
What’s In the Box of the Black and Decker Rotating Waffle Maker?
- Waffle maker
- Drip tray
- User manual
In the shipping box, you will find the waffle maker, a drip tray, and a user manual. Everything is nicely packaged in plastic wraps and foam blocks.
- BLACK+DECKER WMB500
- Instruction manual
The waffle maker itself and an instruction manual are the box’s only content.
Dimensions
- Length:13.0" (33.0 cm)
- Width:7.5" (19.1 cm)
- Height:7.0" (17.8 cm)
- Weight:7.3 lbs (3.3 kg)
The body is bulkier and larger than standard models, which might make storage a challenge. The WMD200B is heavier, too. At 7.25 pounds, it is easily twice the weight of your average waffle maker. Most of the additional weight comes from the extra pair of waffle plates.
- Length:13.1" (33.3 cm)
- Width:10.0" (25.4 cm)
- Height:4.7" (11.9 cm)
- Weight:4.0 lbs (1.8 kg)
The WMB500 has roughly the same dimensions as your average Belgian waffle maker. At 4 pounds, it’s not much heavier, as well.
But the special part is that BLACK+DECKER has used a smart trick to make it more compact and easier to store for the user. The rear of the machine is flat so that you can stand the waffle maker up vertically, making storage easier.
Build Quality
The exterior of the waffle maker is made from black plastic. While durability is a definite concern, plastic is lighter and less thermally conductive, thus safer than metal.
Other parts of the waffle maker, like the base, the handle, and the hinges, are all solidly constructed. We especially like the metal-clad cabling connecting the heating elements and electronics. The metal cladding ensures durability and protects from electrical leakage.
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500’s baking chamber is made from stainless steel. While the metallic shine improves its look somewhat, we noticed that the metal is highly prone to fingerprints and smudges. So, to maintain the look, you must scrub down the waffle maker daily.
Except for the baking chamber, every other part of the waffle maker is made from plastic. That includes the handle, the back foot, and the lid hinges. All the components are well-built, and we didn’t find any obvious flaws during our inspection.
Waffle Plates
- Number of Plates:4
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:36.32 inches
- Plate Length:6.8" (17.3 cm)
- Plate Width:6.8" (17.3 cm)
- Material:Cast iron
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates are made from cast iron and boast a layer of proprietary non-stick coating. BLACK+DECKER hasn’t elaborated much on its non-stick formula. However, they did tell us that the coating is: “stable, inert, non-reactive, and PFOA-free”.
The waffle plates are not removable.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:50.27 inch2
- Plate Length:8.0" (20.3 cm)
- Plate Width:8.0" (20.3 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The thing that stood out most to us was the coating on the plates of the WMB500. While most models we have tested have a matte, rough non-stick coating, the ones found on the WMB500’s plates are glossy and smooth. Unfortunately, BLACK+DECKER doesn’t disclose the formula of non-stick it uses for the WMB500.
But while we can’t tell for certain what the coating is made of, we know that it works very well. We have never once had to deal with a sticky waffle during our performance tests.
Control Panel
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:No
The BLACK+DECKER WMD200B does not come with a control panel.
Instead, it has a series of indicator lights. One is a red POWER light, which comes when you plug in the waffle maker. The other is a green READY Light, which lights up when the waffle maker reaches the correct cooking temperature.
You will find the lights at the waffle maker's top and bottom.
As it lacks any real control features, we cannot give it any points for this section.
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:No
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 doesn’t have any control feature except an indicator light at the top.
Black and Decker Double Flip Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.0 ft (0.6 m)
- Cable Management:No
The power cord is very short, measuring only around 24 inches. Be sure to keep the waffle maker close to a power outlet. If not, use an extension cord.
There’s no cable management feature on the waffle maker.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:1.9 ft (0.6 m)
- Cable Management:No
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 comes with a power cord measuring about 23 inches long. It’s quite short, so having an extension cord close at hand.
There is no “official” cable management feature on the waffle maker. You can wrap the cord around the back foot of the machine, but only while it’s staying flat. However, the cord will prevent the waffle maker from standing upright and makes it even more problematic to put into storage. A solution we have found is to simply wrap the cord around the baking chamber.
Accessories
- Material:Plastic
- Removable:Yes
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
The BLACK+DECKER WMD200B comes with a plastic drip tray.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 doesn’t come with any extra accessory.
Black and Decker Double Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)9.5/10
- Safety (40%)10/10
- Cleanability (25%)8.5/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)7.0/10
- Handling (25%)10/10
- Safety (40%)9.9/10
- Cleanability (25%)8.0/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
The large handle allows for an easier and more comfortable grip. Located right within the handle is the lid lock. It can be engaged or disengaged with a push or pull motion, respectively.
WMD200B is rotatable. The rotating mechanism of our review unit worked smoothly.
The handling experience of the WMB500 is easy. The lid doesn’t wobble when lifted, like many other models we have tested in this price range.
Notably, when the lid is pushed all the way back, the hinges have a slight dampening force. It can protect you from a recoiling lid when you’re in a hurry and accidentally use too much force to open it.
Safety
- Top Side Temperature:144°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:86°F
- Handle Temperature:87°F
The top side of the waffle maker can get quite hot after a few cooking sessions. We measured a peak temperature of 144°F, hot enough to cause a minor burn injury.
All other parts remained cool to the touch. The handle was 87°F, and the base of the waffle maker was 86°F.
- Top Side Temperature:156.7°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:104.2°F
- Handle Temperature:111°F
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 did excellently in this respect, achieving a near-perfect score. Measuring temperatures at three critical points on the waffle maker—the top side, the bottom, and the handle—the figures are all within acceptable limits.
At the top, above the back foot, and near the indicator light, we measured a temperature of 156.7°F.
The bottom is where most people will hold onto when they need to pick up the waffle maker. Here, we measured a cool temperature of 104.2°F, which is merely warm.
The handle’s temperature was warm, but not uncomfortably so at 111°F.
Cleanability
Most parts of the BLACK+DECKER WMD200B are easy to clean. But some awkward spots may give you trouble, such as the tiny nooks next to the handle. Liquid waffle batter can drip inside and dry out within. The size of the corner makes it very difficult to guide a towel inside and scrub out the dried mess.
The included drip tray makes dealing with batter spillages a lot easier.
Cleaning up after a cooking session is fast and easy. Spilled batter can be quickly scraped off from the exterior of the machine. And since the non-stick coating already works pretty well, we only had to pick stray crumbs and pieces of debris off the plates from time to time.
The stainless steel baking chamber is the real issue in this part. As we said earlier, it’s prone to smudges and fingerprints. You will need to clean it regularly if you want to maintain a pristine look for it. Else, it’s going to lose its luster in a week or two and look very worn.
Indicator Light Visibility
The indicator lights were bright enough to see from across the room under normal lighting conditions. Under studio lighting, they became very difficult to see from afar. We had to walk up to the waffle maker to view the lights.
The light is decently bright and is visible even under studio lighting.