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Chefman Anti-Overflow vs Cuisinart WMR-CA Classic Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.6/10
- Design (20%)8.8/10
- Ease of Use (30%)5.6/10
- Performance (50%)7.2/10
- Design (20%)7.7/10
- Ease of Use (30%)8.8/10
The most remarkable difference between the Chefman Anti-Overflow and the Cuisinart WMR-CA Classic is the style of waffle they produce.
Suppose you prefer thicker and larger Belgian-style waffles. In that case, the Chefman will be a better suit. But if you’re looking for a waffle maker that can produce thinner classic-style waffles, go for the Cuisinart WMR-CA.
Performance-wise, the Chefman is slightly better than the WMR-CA. The waffles it produces are usually more evenly-cooked. The latter tends to sear the crust of the waffle due to its overpowered heating element.
The Chefman has an outstanding balance between form and function. Despite being in the same price range, the Chefman waffle maker has a considerably more premium design.
This balance, combined with its higher overall performance, makes the Chefman a slightly better buy than the WMR-CA.
Chefman Anti Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.3/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.9/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.7/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.7/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: 3
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The coloration was decent but could be improved. But the texture, which was dense and very mushy, needs the most improvement. Despite all that, the texture of the waffle was good. The waffle would have received a perfect score if it wasn’t for the pulpy mouthfeel due to the mediocre texture.
Color (35%) — 6/10
- Color tone: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven
The overall coloring of the waffle was not impressive. The crust was a patchwork of golden brown and dark brown spots. Because of its blotchy appearance, the waffle doesn't get a high score in terms of color distribution.
Texture (25%) - 5/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low; next to no air bubbles present inside the waffle’s interior
The texture was mediocre. After 5 minutes, the core of the waffle still hasn’t been aerated. Cutting the waffle in half, we found very few air bubbles within. And sure enough, the low aeration rate resulted in a mushy waffle.
Taste (40%) - 7.5/10
- Flavor: Buttery and sweet, slightly salty
- Mouthfeel: Very mushy due to low aeration
The bad texture, fortunately, didn’t prevent the Chefman from receiving a good score from our chef. Its mushy mouthfeel was a turn-off, but the waffle maker did a great job developing the waffle. The final waffle has all the flavors we expected from the batter. The creamy butter, sweet sugar, and slight saltiness of the single teaspoon of salt came out nicely.
- Heat Level: 3
- Cooking Time: 3 minutes
The waffle has a bright color but noticeably lacks uniformity. Rings of burnt batter were stamped to the top and bottom of the waffle. The texture and taste were surprisingly decent. The interior has begun to fill with air bubbles, producing a soft, fluffy texture. And the taste—while not exceptional—was decent enough to make for a hearty breakfast.
Color (35%) — 6.25/10
- Color result: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven
After spending only 2 minutes in the waffle maker, our self-mixed waffle already achieved a dark gold — almost brown — color. Reaching this color after such a short stint and only half power suggests that the heating element must be extremely strong. This was further evidenced by the large circle of burnt batter on the top of the waffle.
Texture (25%) — 7/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium, air bubbles have begun to fill the interior
The interior of the waffle has started to aerate. Thanks to this, the waffle had a soft, almost fluffy texture. But the size of the bubbles was small, and their number was few compared to the waffles we had baked with other models. This led us to believe that the overall texture of the waffle could be improved further.
Taste (40%) — 7/10
- Flavor: Bland, unexceptional. Still tastes like raw batter.
- Mouthfeel: Dry on the outside, mushy on the inside
Flavor-wise, the waffle was great. The sugar and salt in the batter were converted into a delectable sweetness with a slight hint of savoriness. Combined with the buttery aftertaste, the waffle was quite delicious.
The mouthfeel was unexceptional. As we mentioned earlier, we believed that the Cuisinart WMR-CA hadn’t managed to unlock the full potential of the batter here. It could be far softer and fluffier.
Birch Benders Mix
- Heat Level: 3
- Cooking Time: 7 minutes
The waffle received a beautiful, light golden brown color throughout. But while it looked excellent, the waffle's interior hadn’t fully developed. Luckily, the waffle maker's heat still unlocked the full range of flavors that the batter had to offer. So, despite being a bit mushy, the waffle tasted excellent.
Color (35%) — 7.5/10
- Color result: Light brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
Coloring was good. Both the top and the bottom had a light, golden brown tone. We deducted a few points due to its undeveloped color. It almost appeared like the waffle wasn’t thoroughly cooked.
The color was distributed evenly across both sides of the waffle. It wasn’t perfect as there were still lightly seared spots within the wells. Nevertheless, the bottom and the top could be considered acceptably uniform.
Texture (25%) — 6/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low, air bubbles were few and inconsistent in size
The texture could be better. Although bubbles began to form within the batter, they were small and their numbers were few. It resulted in the core of the waffle being moist and less fluffy than it should be.
Taste (40%) — 7/10
- Flavor: Sweet and savory
- Mouthfeel: Mushy and moist
Despite the texture being less-than-ideal, the Chefman did its job. The machine extracted this batter's complete flavor profile: sweet and savory. The slight mushiness hampered our enjoyment, but overall, it was an acceptable Belgian-style waffle.
- Heat Level: 3
- Cooking Time: 4 minutes
The waffle’s coloring is excellent in this taste. An appealing golden-brown crust covers both sides of the waffle uniformly. The interior has filled out nicely with air bubbles and becomes soft and pliant. However, it’s still slightly mushy in certain parts. It is flavorful and without a trace of bitterness.
Color (35%) - 7.5/10
- Color result: Light brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The pre-made mix managed to bring out more of this machine’s potential. After 4 minutes, the waffle maker produced a beautiful waffle with a light golden tone, highlighted by faint pockets of browning near the center.
Color uniformity was also good. But for a faint brown circle on the upper surface, its light golden brown tone was spread evenly throughout the entire waffle. We’re pretty sure the brown was caused by the unit’s powerful heating element, and is the main reason the WMA-CA lost points in this category. In contrast, the distribution of color at the bottom was almost perfect.
Texture (25%) — 7.5/10
- Texture: Good
- Aeration level: High, air bubbles were large and well-developed
The waffle filled out well. Its interior ended up nicely aerated, and we found large bubbles when we cut the waffle open. In terms of texture, it was soft and fluffy. Regrettably, our chef assessed the waffle to be still slightly mushy, so its score took a hit.
Taste (40%) - 8/10
- Flavor: Sweet, slightly salty (due to the mix). No bitterness.
- Mouthfeel: Soft and spongy. Slightly mushy.
The waffle received a high score from our chef. The crust reached just the right level of crispiness, and the inside was reasonably soft. The batter had fully developed on the inside, unleashing its complete flavor profile. However, as previously mentioned, our chef still noticed a faint hint of mushiness.
Chefman Anti Overflow Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)8.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)9.5/10
- Build Quality (60%)8.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)7.0/10
- Control Panel (10%)8.0/10
In The Box
- Chefman waffle maker
- Instruction manual and quick-start guide
- A measuring cup
Besides the waffle maker itself, you will also get an instruction manual and a quick-start guide. A measuring cup is included to help you pour the correct amount of batter.
- Waffle maker
- User manual
In its small shipping box you will find just the WMR-CA waffle maker and the user manual. It doesn’t come with any extra accessories.
Dimensions & Weight of the Chefman Round Waffle Maker
- Length:10.6" (26.9 cm)
- Width:8.3" (21.1 cm)
- Height:4.3" (11.0 cm)
- Weight:3.6 lbs (1.7 kg)
The Chefman waffle maker is compact and lightweight. It doesn't take much space on our countertop or storage shelf. It can even be stored vertically with the aid of a convenient supporting foot at the back.
- Length:9.7" (24.6 cm)
- Width:7.9" (20.1 cm)
- Height:3.3" (8.4 cm)
- Weight:1.0 lbs (0.5 kg)
The compact size of the WMR-CA is an advantage in terms of storage. It will fit snugly in a small cupboard. Since it doesn’t take up a lot of space, you can also leave it on the kitchen island.
At 1 pound, the WMR-CA is lightweight. You can bring it in and out of storage with ease.
Build Quality
Depending on the version you selected, the build materials will be different. The one we chose has a top lid made from a matte plastic material. In pricier versions, the top is made from stainless steel. The matte plastic exterior looks less attractive than stainless steel, but it’s less likely to scratch or defaces.
Overall, the build quality is good. The matte outer coating has a smooth, high-quality feel. Other components of the waffle maker are built durably.
We initially liked the elaborate lid-locking system, but it turned out to create some problems which we’ll detail below.
The exterior shell of the waffle maker is made from brushed metal. All external parts are made from plastic, except for the waffle plates.
Cuisinart benefited greatly from the WMR-CA model’s simple design. There appear to be no significant design flaws. We didn’t find any part that was poorly tooled, either.
While it’s not a sophisticated or high-end design, all parts of the WMR-CA fit together and — more importantly — work together well.
There were a few minor annoyances, though. The metallic exterior is prone to fingerprint smudges and scratches. The metal went from pristine to worn after only a few days in the lab. It’s not difficult to wipe off the smears with some mild detergent, but the scratches remain.
Waffle Plates
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:54.11 inch2
- Plate Length:8.3" (21.1 cm)
- Plate Width:8.3" (21.1 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
This section gets a rare perfect score from us.
The non-stick coating works well. After it was cooked, the waffle fell off the plates easily and didn't stick. Additionally, we rarely found any debris stuck to the plates.
An "anti-spill" moat wraps around the bottom plate. The moat usually prevented the liquid batter from spilling onto the counter when the batter overflowed during our tests.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Classic-style
- Plate Area:47.78 inches2
- Plate Length:7.8" (19.8 cm)
- Plate Width:7.8" (19.8 cm)
- Material:Cast iron
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates are made from cast iron and coated with Teflon (PTFE), which is the non-stick layer.
Teflon is generally safe for use as a non-stick coating due to its relative inertness at average cooking temperatures. However, in special circumstances, the Teflon may become carcinogenic (if it’s heated beyond 570 ℉, for example).
Also, note that you should not use metal utensils on non-stick surfaces — they can scrape the coating off. The Teflon flakes aren’t harmful if you ingest them so long that it’s not overheating. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to try and keep the non-stick coating as intact as possible.
These waffle plates are designed to make classic-style waffles; they have shallower wells (the indents) compared to Belgian-style models. This is crucial information to know before you buy.
Control Panel
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:Yes
The control panel consists of two indicator lights and a browning control knob. The knob is tactile and makes a satisfying clicking sound as it turns.
This waffle maker would’ve gotten a perfect score if it had an audible alarm or a timer.
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:Yes
The control panel is bare-bones, befitting an entry-level waffle maker. You can use only a single slider at the front to adjust the temperature.
The slider is easy to manipulate, but there’s a lack of resistance. A light touch could push the slider out of the desired position.
The base features a pair of indicator lights beside the slider: a red POWER light and a green READY light.
The POWER indicator turns on when you plug in the waffle maker. The green READY light will turn on when it has reached the temperature you set using the temperature slider.
Chefman Anti Overflow Belgian Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.3 ft (0.7 m)
- Cable Management:Yes
The power cord measures 18 inches long, which is shorter than average. You may find you need an extension cord.
The underside sports a pair of hooks that you can wrap the cord around and prep the waffle maker for storage.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:3.0 ft (0.9 m)
- Cable Management:No
The power cord measures x long. The short length can be a problem in some kitchens. There’s a good chance that you’ll have to resort to an extension cord if you don’t keep the waffle maker near an outlet.
Accessories
- Material:Plastic
- Removable:Yes
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
The Chefman waffle maker comes with a measuring cup. You will find two markings on the cup that tell you the amount of batter you need to make a thin or thick waffle. This cup is dishwasher-safe.
On the handle is a notch that can be used to hang the cup to the side of the batter bowl.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Cuisinart WMR-CA waffle maker doesn’t come with any extra accessories.
Chefman Belgian Anti-Overflow Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)7.5/10
- Safety (40%)2.5/10
- Cleanability (25%)7.0/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
- Handling (25%)9.0/10
- Safety (40%)8.9/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.5/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)6.5/10
Handling
Handling is acceptable. The waffle maker is easy to operate and the controls are simple. Most people can immediately get started using only the information on the one-page quick-start guide.
The lid opens and closes smoothly.
However, we deducted points due to the awkward locking system, which is integrated into the lid, facing downward. You have to bring your hand very close to the waffle maker's hot surfaces to unlock the lid. We burnt our fingers more than once trying to open it.
We noticed no significant problems while working with the WMR-CA. All the controls are easy to figure out, even without a user manual. Opening and closing the lid is easy and safe, thanks to the large handle at the front. The user will still be able to use the handle even after several cooking sessions.
The lid is solidly built. When open, the lid rests at a slightly backward-tilted angle. It won’t unexpectedly snap closed while you’re adding the batter.
We dropped the handling rating to a nine because the temperature control slider feels so loose.
Safety
- Top Side Temperature:202°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:124°F
- Handle Temperature:190°F
Besides the problem with the lid lock, the design of the bottom waffle plate makes it difficult to extract the waffle after cooking. The bottom plate is deep, so getting your tongs to the bottom is tricky. Sometimes, we had to use our hands to pry the waffle up, then pick it up with the tongs.
The top surface of the machine gets piping hot after several sessions, with a surface temperature of 202°F.
The bottom of the handle, where you need to put your hand to operate the lid lock, was dangerously hot at 190°F. This is hot enough to cause a burn injury. It is also why the Chefman waffle maker ultimately failed the performance test.
The front side, which most people will need to grip onto to transport the waffle maker, can get uncomfortably warm. We measured a surface temperature of 124°F. If you need to move the waffle maker, wait a few minutes for it to cool down.
- Top Side Temperature:181.7°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:94°F
- Handle Temperature:96.4°F
The Cuisinart WMR-CA received an excellent safety score. Even after multiple cooking sessions, the control panel and the handle don’t become too hot.
We recorded the handle’s temperature at 96.4°F, only slightly above room temperature.
The upper shell of the waffle maker gets quite hot, though. The metal conducts heat very well, so it could become hot enough to give you a burn after a waffle or two. The plastic piece at the top can also become hot enough to cause a burn. We recorded a temperature of 181.7°F.
We’re able to touch the bottom side of the waffle maker without feeling any heat at all. It measured a comfortable 94°F.
Cleanability
- Machine-Washable: No
The anti-spill moat helps prevent spillage, but it is not infallible. Rather than relying on the moat, use the measuring cup to ensure that you pour in the correct amount.
Cleaning the waffle maker is difficult. The rubber outer coating can hold on to dried-out batter stubbornly. It took us several minutes of vigorous scrubbing with mild detergent to remove the worst of the dry, stuck-on batter. Even then, traces remained.
The WMR-CA is relatively easy to clean. The dry batter will come off with a few spritzes of detergent and a little scrubbing.
On the inside, the non-stick layer makes it very easy to clean.
For the most part, all we had to do was run a dry cloth through the waffle plates’ grid pattern to pick up the gunk. However, the narrow indents can be hard to reach.
Indicator Light Visibility
The indicator lights are bright and can be seen even under harsh studio lighting.
This model’s indicator lights are dim. They are difficult to see under harsh studio lights or bright sunlight. However, both the red and green lights should be easy to see in the average kitchen.