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Black+Decker WMD200B Double vs Holstein Housewares HH-09125016B 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%)6.3/10
- Design (20%)7.0/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.5/10
The Black+Decker WMD200B Double waffle maker can cook two waffles at once, thanks to a double-sided baking chamber. As such, this model is very popular among people who have to bake large batches of waffles regularly (like those with big families.)
The overall build quality of the WMD200B is great, considering how it’s a mid-tier offering in Black+Decker’s portfolio. And while performance can be improved, it got a passing score on our cooking tests.
The Holstein Housewares HH-091215016B, on the other hand, is a mini waffle maker. Its 4-inch waffles can make for great mid-day snacks. The small size of the Holstein also explains its popularity in the traveling circle. You can fit it neatly in your backpack and bring it along as you globetrot. Plug it into an outlet, pour in a pre-mixed batter, and you’ll get fresh waffles on the go.
Considering how these two models target two totally different audiences, we think it should be a pretty easy pick!
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%)6.4/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.3/10
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: 3
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The coloration was decent but looked slightly burnt. The interior was filled nicely with bubbles and softened, though it was still mushy. As for the taste, the waffle only received a mediocre score from our chef, on account of its mushy core and slightly bland taste.
Color (35%) — 5.75/10
- Color tone: Very dark brown
- Color distribution: Uneven
Most of the waffle’s crust was a light gold color but within the deep wells are dark brown spots that indicate overcooking. Several of the wells were darkened beyond the point of “overcooked” and into “burnt” territory.
The color distribution is messy. The upper left-hand side is darker than the rest, which is a symptom of an uneven heating grid.
Texture (25%) - 7/10
- Texture: Soft and fluffy, but still slightly mushy
- Aeration level: High, with multiple air bubbles and pockets within the waffle’s core
Texturally, the waffle had filled out nicely with bubbles and air pockets all through its interior. This resulted in a decently soft and airy consistency. But our chef assessed the interior to be excessively moist and mushy still, resulting in only a “Good” score.
Taste (40%) - 6.5/10
- Flavor: Sweet and buttery, but has off-tastes from burnt spots on the crust (bitter) and undercooked spots in the interior (raw batter taste)
- Mouthfeel: Soft and fluffy, dry at burnt spots, and mushy on the inside
The overall taste was flavorful. The waffle’s flavor profile was sweet and buttery. However, burnt spots on the crust imparted a slightly bitter taste. And within the waffle, the mushy, undercooked spots also gave the waffle a raw batter-like taste. They effectively ruined the overall tasting experience.
In the mouth, the waffle was generally soft and spongy, but it wasn’t a consistent experience. Burnt spots on the crust felt dry on the tongue. And the undercooked portions within the waffle’s interior were disconcertingly wet and mushy.
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: 5 minutes
Though the waffle may not be the most attractive or have the best texture, it was edible and, most importantly, quite tasty. It would do the trick for breakfasts or snacking.
Color (35%) — 5.25/10
- Color tone: Very light gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle had a very light gold crust, with the deep wells having a dark brown tone. Although the color distribution on both sides of the waffle was even, we noticed the wells at the top to be more erratically colored. Notably, some wells are darker than others. This may indicate that the top lid's heating element is slightly unbalanced.
Texture (25%) - 6.5/10
- Texture: Soft, but overly moist and mushy
- Aeration level: Medium
The waffle’s texture was acceptable. It had a medium aeration rate, and air pockets had populated the waffle’s interior. But many portions of the waffle were still quite dense. These thick, mealy parts significantly affected the overall texture.
Taste (40%) - 7/10
- Flavor: Sweet and slightly savory
- Mouthfeel: Soft, but certain parts are mushy
The flavor was well-developed. Our chef appreciated the sweet and slightly savory taste of the waffle. The tasting experience was impacted by the mushy mouthfeel of the underdeveloped parts, though.
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%)7.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)9.5/10
- 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.
- Holstein Housewares 4” Personal Waffle Maker
- User manual
The box contains the waffle maker itself and the instruction manual.
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:5.1" (13.0 cm)
- Width:6.5" (16.5 cm)
- Height:3.5" (9.0 cm)
- Weight:1.1 lbs (0.5 kg)
The Holstein 4-inch waffle maker fits perfectly into the Mini class size, weighing only one pound and compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Its compact, lightweight design may put it on the radar of hikers and travelers who want a portable waffle maker to cook on the go.
For those at home, the small size takes up very little space on the countertop. And when you have to put it away for storage, it can fit easily into a cupboard or a drawer.
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 build quality of the Holstein 4-inch is acceptable.
It is made almost entirely from plastic except for the cast-aluminum waffle plates. The plastic shell feels far cheaper than some other waffle makers we have tested that are made of metal. And of course, compared to metal, plastic can be more prone to damage, too. Still, at this price point, we can't ask for more.
Certain parts of the waffle maker are very well-built. The lid hinges, for example, are solid and don't wobble a lot when opened or closed.
But when inspected closely, various manufacturing flaws reflect this waffle maker's budget price. We observed hideous gashes on the plastic at the back of the unit and exposed electrical wirings.
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:Classic-style
- Plate Area:17.72 inches2
- Plate Length:4.8" (12.1 cm)
- Plate Width:4.8" (12.1 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle maker has a set of two cast-aluminum waffle plates. They are treated with a layer of smooth non-stick that, throughout our performance test, seemed to work very well. We never had to deal with a sticky waffle, and we could easily wipe off debris and residues.
Surrounding the plates is a small anti-spill channel. It will help minimize the mess in the event of a minor batter spill.
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 Holstein 4-inch waffle maker doesn’t come with a control panel. The only thing it has is an indicator light at the top. When you plug the unit in, the light will brighten to indicate that it is receiving power. Once the plates are heated and ready for use, the light will turn off.
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:2.1 ft (0.6 m)
- Cable Management:Yes
The power cord measures roughly 25 inches long, which is shorter than average compared to other models in our database. Some users may have to rely on an extension cord.
Integrated to the back foot of the waffle maker is a small grommet. When you have to put the waffle maker away into storage, you can wrap the cord around it for easier management.
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 Holstein 4-inch waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
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%)9.0/10
- Safety (40%)1.8/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- 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.
Since the waffle maker lacks any control feature, the Holstein is a “plug-and-play” device. You only need to plug it in and let it handle the rest.
We can open and close the lid smoothly. When pushed back, the lid leans at an angle. As a result, there’s no risk of it unexpectedly snapping shut on your hand while you’re pouring the batter.
However, the lack of a control panel greatly reduces the waffle maker’s versatility.
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:234°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:85°F
- Handle Temperature:105°F
The waffle maker doesn’t do well in our safety assessment. It suffers from the same all-surface heating issue as the other mini waffle makers we tested. Particularly, after two or three cooking sessions, every surface on the unit becomes piping hot, including the handle. It warrants wearing oven mitts throughout the entire process.
But with our thermometer, the waffle maker fared significantly worse than any other mini waffle makers we have tested.
The top lid measured 219°F. This is hot enough to cause a serious burn injury.
The bottom is considered warm at 113.7°F, which is great if you need to move the waffle maker immediately after cooking. However, we still recommend wearing your oven mitts when you touch the unit, just in case.
At 160.7°F, the handle is unacceptably hot.
We also noticed a problem with steam. After a few cooking sessions and when the plates are thoroughly heated, a plume of hot steam can eject from the plates whenever the lid is lifted. It’s not going to seriously injure, but it can be startling if you’re unprepared or aren’t wearing oven mitts to insulate your hands.
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.
The waffle maker has excellent cleanability from a variety of factors. The non-stick waffle plates are helpful during post-cooking clean-ups. Any cooking residue can be easily wiped off with a cloth. And if there were to be a batter spill, the anti-spill channel surrounding the plates will minimize the amount of batter ending up on the table.
As it is made from smooth plastic, the exterior of the waffle maker doesn’t grip the batter tightly. So, even after the batter had dried out, we could quickly deal with it with a few spritzes of light detergent followed by a little buffing with a cloth.
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 sole indicator light on top of the lid is fairly bright. We could easily observe it from afar, under harsh studio lighting.