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Cuisinart WMR-CA Classic vs DASH No-Drip Belgian Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)7.2/10
- Design (20%)7.7/10
- Ease of Use (30%)8.8/10
- Performance (50%)6.7/10
- Design (20%)8.7/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.6/10
The most distinguishing feature of the Cuisinart WMR-CA Classic is its waffle plates, designed in the classic style (also called “American style”). Besides the smaller pockets, its waffles are also thinner when compared to Belgian-style waffles.
Due to their reduced size, classic-style waffles cook far faster than their Belgian counterpart, which is a major reason classic models like the Cuisinart WMR-CA are still popular today. And sure enough, during our tests, the Cuisinart WMR-CA produced a waffle in about 3 minutes.
Meanwhile, the DASH No-Drip Belgian waffle maker has plates imprinted in Belgian patterning. The plates are large and can cook four 4-inch square waffles. This waffle maker is excellent for bulk cooking.
Quality-wise, both models are considered mediocre by our chef. The taste won’t wow you, but works fine for breakfasts and daily meals.
Cuisinart Classic Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.7/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.7/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.5/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.9/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- 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.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 3 minutes
The coloration of the waffle wasn’t great but still passable. There were some prominent burnt spots on the crust that introduced a degree of bitterness and dryness to the waffle. The interior of the waffle was soft, which garnered a good score from us. However, it was still slightly mushy. And taste-wise, our chef judged the waffle to be flavorful, despite the bitter aftertaste that the burnt spots on the waffle produced.
Color (35%) — 5
- Color tone: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven
There were prominent dark spots on both faces of the waffle. They mainly concentrated inside the wells and on the right side. On the left side, the coloring was light.
The uneven color distribution and the burnt spots ruined the waffle’s aesthetic. But since the burnt spots weren’t charred black and the light spots weren’t so pale that they looked undercooked, the waffle still passed this part of the test.
Texture (25%) — 7
- Texture: Good
- Aeration level: Medium, small bubbles were filling the interior of the waffle, but large cavities hadn’t formed yet
The texture of the waffle was soft and spongy, which was a pleasant surprise considering the half-burnt state of the crust. Additionally, though not numerous, there were a lot of tiny air bubbles and cavities within the waffle, which explained its softness.
Unfortunately, the waffle's interior was still developing, so the consistency was slightly mushy.
Taste (40%) — 7.5
- Flavor: Sweet and rich, but with a hint of bitterness due to burnt spots on the crust
- Mouthfeel: Soft and pliant, dry at the burnt spots
Though it didn't look quite as appealing, our chef judged the waffle as flavorful. The mouthfeel was great (soft and pliant). But, as we mentioned earlier, the burnt spots were dry, tough, and bitter in the mouth. Due to the bitterness, we knocked a few points off for this section.
Birch Benders Mix
- 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.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The waffle was mediocre in all aspects: the coloration and texture were acceptable but weren’t outstanding. Taste-wise, according to our chef, it was palatable and relatively flavorful. The spongy mouthfeel, however, prevented it from getting a better score.
Color (35%) — 6.5/10
- Color tone: Very light gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle has the appearance of being undercooked with its pale gold crust. Some of the wells on the waffle were dark brown, slightly improving its look. But, as a whole, we still found the coloration to be poor.
Texture (25%) - 6.5/10
- Texture: Soft and pliant, lacks crispiness
- Aeration level: Medium
The waffle was nicely aerated but compared to some of the better waffles we have tested (like that of the Cuisinart WAF-F20P1), the air pockets were quite small few in number.
Still, despite the room for improvement, the waffle was soft and pliant. It was a bit limp and there was little to no crispiness but not to the point of being gooey.
Taste (40%) - 7.5/10
- Flavor: Sweet and slightly salty
- Mouthfeel: Fluffy and soft
Our chef gave the waffle a “Good” score. It was flavorful: the sweet and slightly salty flavor of the Birch Benders mix goes very well with the soft texture of the waffle. However, the waffle could use some crispiness in the crust, which would have improved its score significantly.
Cuisinart WMR CA Round Classic Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)8.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)7.0/10
- Control Panel (10%)8.0/10
- Build Quality (60%)9.5/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
What’s In the Box of the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker
- 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.
- DASH No-Drip Belgian waffle maker
- Instruction manuals and leaflets
The shipping box contained the waffle maker, instruction manuals, and leaflets. This waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
Dimensions
- 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.
- Length:6.3" (16.0 cm)
- Width:5.0" (12.7 cm)
- Height:2.5" (6.4 cm)
- Weight:8.0 lbs (3.6 kg)
Due to its bulky frame, the DASH DNMWM400AQ takes up a lot of room on the countertop. It is heavy to boot at 8 pounds. Unless you just leave the waffle maker on the countertop, finding somewhere to store it could be a problem.
Build Quality
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.
Overall build quality is good despite the cheap-looking design. The unit was spotless when first taken out of the box (no scratches, scrapes, or dents). Every detail is well-built and solid. The hinges have very little travel, so the lid doesn’t wobble when we shake it.
Control Panel
- 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.
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:No
The DASH No-Drip Belgian waffle maker does not come with any control feature. It has a pair of indicator lights at the top so that you can monitor the cooking process, but that’s it.
Waffle Plates
- 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.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:69.6 inch2
- Plate Length:8.7" (22.1 cm)
- Plate Width:8.0" (20.3 cm)
- Material:Aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The plates are the most impressive part of this waffle maker. They are made from aluminum and coated with a Teflon non-stick layer. During our performance tests, the coating worked very well. It didn't take much effort to coax a cooked waffle off the plates.
The plates are divided into four equal quadrants, each measuring around 4 inches.
DASH have built large gaps onto the lines that divvy up the plates to form "links" between the four waffles. You can shear off these links with your hands and separate the waffles. However, these gaps are troublesome if you want to pour enough batter to fill one section and cook a single waffle. The waffle will form stubby lumps that you must cut off if you want a symmetric waffle.
Attached to either side of the waffle plates are large trenches. In the event of a batter spill, the trenches will catch the excess and stop them from flowing out of the machine. The plates are smartly designed with four "ventilation holes'' on each side to discourage the liquid batter from flowing through the machine's front or back.
Cuisinart WMR-CA Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- 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.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.3 ft (0.7 m)
- Cable Management:Yes
The power cable of the unit is fairly long, at 31.5 inches. You most likely won’t need an extension cord for it.
There is a grommet built onto the back foot of the waffle maker. The cord can be wrapped around it for easier storage.
Accessories
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Cuisinart WMR-CA waffle maker doesn’t come with any extra accessories.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The DASH waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
Cuisinart WMR CA Round Classic Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)9.0/10
- Safety (40%)8.9/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.5/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)6.5/10
- Handling (25%)9.5/10
- Safety (40%)9.2/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
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.
The DASH waffle maker is easy to handle. As we said earlier, the lack of a control panel makes using it as straightforward as can be. You can start using it without having to read the user’s manual at all.
The lid can be opened and closed via the large handle at the front, which doesn’t heat up at all despite being made from plastic.
Safety
- 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.
- Top Side Temperature:202.3°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:151.5°F
- Handle Temperature:120°F
Safety is great for this particular model. After several continuous cooking sessions, using a thermometer, we found that most of the waffle maker’s surfaces were still at acceptable levels. Especially the handle, which was only warm to the touch, not scorching hot.
Top side temperature was recorded at 202°F.
The temperature at the bottom, around the front foot of the unit, was at 151°F.
In the areas surrounding the handle, we recorded a relatively cool temperature of 120°F, which was merely warm.
Cleanability
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.
The large anti-spill channels to the side of the waffle maker are very effective at catching excess batter. We noticed that these channels are easier to clean than the add-on drip tray that many waffle makers use these days.
The non-stick coating of the waffle plates further improves cleanability. We never encountered one sticky waffle throughout the performance test phase.
Indicator Light Visibility
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.
The indicator lights are bright enough to be clearly visible under studio lighting.