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DASH No-Drip Belgian vs Euro Cuisine WM520 Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.7/10
- Design (20%)8.7/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.6/10
- Performance (50%)6.3/10
- Design (20%)9.8/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.6/10
The key to choosing this pair is to ask yourself whether you want the ability to bulk cook or not.
The Dash No-Drip Belgian has a set of large waffle plates divided into four smaller quadrants. Each quadrant can make a 4-inch square waffle. So, when filled, this waffle maker can make four waffles.
On the other hand, the Euro Cuisine WM520 is a standard-size waffle maker. But the waffles it bakes are special: they have a heart-shaped pattern, bringing a bit more visual interest to the meal.
It can only make one at a time, though, unlike the DASH No-Drip Belgian.
So, in the end, if you have a large family and need to cook many waffles regularly, invest in the DASH No-Drip. But if you don’t need the bulk-cooking ability and like the heart-shaped patterning of the Euro Cuisine WM520, then go ahead and pick one up!
DASH No Drip Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.5/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.9/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.3/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.4/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- 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.
- Heat Level: Medium-high
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes 30 seconds
The waffle has beautiful coloration: golden-brown on the outside with dark brown spots within the wells. However, the interior was mushy, which also affected the taste of the waffle by introducing a slight raw batter-like taste to its flavor profile.
Color (35%) — 7.5/10
- Color tone: Light brown
- Color distribution: Even
We rated the waffle to have great coloration. The outer crust had a light brown tone, and the diamond-shaped wells had a dark brown color. Examining the wells closely, we found that they weren’t charred, which is ideal.
Both sides of the waffle were roughly the same color, but the wells at the bottom were lighter-colored than the top.
Texture (25%) - 5/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low, minimal presence of air bubbles and air pockets
Though the outside of the waffle looked splendid, the interior was a different story. It was clear that the batter hadn’t had the chance to fully develop, judging by how mushy it still was.
The low aeration level was also apparent in the low number of air bubbles and air pockets within the waffle’s interior.
Taste (40%) - 6/10
- Flavor: Sweet and savory, with a hint of raw batter
- Mouthfeel: Soft and fluffy, but slightly dry
Our chef found the flavor of the waffle to be acceptable. The sweetness and the savory taste of the batter were there. However, there was also a slight taste of raw batter due to the undercooked interior, which effectively ruined the tasting experience.
Birch Benders Mix
- 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.
- Heat Level: Medium-high
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes 30 seconds
The Euro Cuisine WM520 managed to carry over the same level of performance it displayed in the self-mixed recipe test to this second test. The coloration—slightly lighter than in the previous test—was still considered good. Texturally, the waffle has a marginally better aeration rate compared to the waffle from the previous test. It resulted in a slightly better taste score from our chef due to the improved softness.
Color (35%) — 7/10
- Color result: Light brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
Both sides of the waffle were covered in a light brown-gold crust. While beautiful, it was a smidge lighter than ideal, resulting in a slightly lower score than the waffle made from our self-mixed recipe. Within the diamond-shaped wells of the waffle, the coloring was an attractive light brown.
Texture (25%) — 5.5/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low, few air bubbles
The aeration rate of the waffle remained low, but it still has more air pockets spread out throughout the interior than the waffle from the previous test. Texturally, the waffle was moist and mushy.
Taste (40%) — 6.5/10
- Flavor: Savory, slightly sweet
- Mouthfeel: Fairly soft, but mushy
Due to the improved texture, the tasting experience was also better. Since the Birch Benders mix had a different composition than our self-mixed recipe, the flavor was different too. It was more savory and less sweet, but tasty nonetheless.
Though the waffle was still considered mushy, our chef welcomed the soft texture.
DASH Deluxe No-Drip Belgian Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)9.5/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
- Build Quality (60%)9.0/10
- Waffle Plates (35%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)9.5/10
What’s in the Box of the DASH No-Drip Waffle Maker
- 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.
- Euro Cuisine WM520 waffle maker
- Instruction manual
In the box are the waffle maker itself and an instruction manual. No other accessory is included.
Dimensions
- 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.
- Length:10.0" (25.4 cm)
- Width:8.0" (20.3 cm)
- Height:4.5" (11.4 cm)
- Weight:4.0 lbs (1.8 kg)
The Euro Cuisine WM520 has an average size relative to other standard-size waffle makers in our database. It weighs 4 pounds and has a broad body that measures 10 inches long and 8 inches wide. Thus, it will take up quite a lot of space on your countertop.
Since it’s roughly the same size as the average Belgian or classic-style waffle maker, it shouldn’t be any more challenging to store.
Build Quality
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.
The build quality of the unit is very decent.
The outer chrome plate has a mirror finish, which looks stunning out of the box. However, like with any other mirror-finished surface, we noticed that it’s highly susceptible to scratches and fingerprints. Oil splashes during cooking can also cause faint black stains on the lid.
Due to being mounted on a pair of loose hinges, the lid tends to wobble when in use.
The chrome-plated lid aside, other components like the control panel and the bottom casing are made from plastic. The front handle is also made from plastic and is rubberized to protect the user from the heat.
Underneath the handle is a rubber piece that comes off very easily, only needing a light tug. Behind it is a pair of screws. We presume the screws are to attach the handle to the front of the lid. It’s a clever way to hide the hideous screws and make the design look seamless.
However, many people may throw it away, not knowing what it does since Euro Cuisine did not mention it in the manual. Or, it could be easily lost due to its size and how it comes off so readily.
Waffle Plates
- 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.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Norwegian-style
- Plate Area:50.27 inches2
- 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 waffle plates are built remarkably well. The patterning on the plates is clear and precise. Within each heart-shaped segment are several “spikes” in the shape of diamonds. They are responsible for creating the wells on the final waffle. Each spike is sharp and well-built.
According to Euro Cuisine, the plates are coated with a layer of non-stick ceramic. Additionally, it’s completely PFOA and PTFE-free. In our test, the coating worked well enough that we never had to deal with a sticky waffle.
Control Panel
- 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.
- 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. There are markings on the dial, which correspond to four heating modes.
These amount to a MIN and a MAX mode. In-between are two unnamed heating modes marked with one and two dots. For easier identification, we named these settings “Medium” and “Medium High,” respectively.
Above the dial are two indicator lights; each one is marked. A red POWER button turns on when you plug in the unit. The yellow READY button at the back will turn on once the plates are heated and ready for use.
DASH No-Drip 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 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.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:2.3 ft (0.7 m)
- Cable Management:Yes
The power cord is relatively short, measuring around 26.5 inches. You will need an extension cord if it can’t reach an outlet in your kitchen. The user manual has more information on what type of extension cord you can use with the waffle maker.
Underneath the waffle maker is a convenient cord wrap that you can use to make storage simpler.
Accessories
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The DASH waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Euro Cuisine WM520 doesn’t come with any accessories.
DASH No Drip Belgian Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)9.5/10
- Safety (40%)9.2/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
- Handling (25%)8.5/10
- Safety (40%)2.5/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
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.
The Euro Cuisine WM520 is rather straightforward to use. Tune the browning dial to the desired setting, wait for the READY light to come on, then load in the batter. If you have used a waffle maker before, you should be able to do everything without consulting the user manual.
During our test, the wobbly lid was a point of annoyance. Fortunately, the wobbling motion wasn’t serious enough for it to become an obstruction or an outright safety problem.
Safety
- 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.
- Top Side Temperature:146.8°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:107.6°F
- Handle Temperature:137.8°F
The Euro Cuisine WM520 gets a fairly low score in this section. The entire waffle maker became piping hot after only three cooking sessions.
In particular, the control panel area became so hot that we had to use oven mitts to safely turn the browning control dial. Using a thermometer, we recorded a temperature of 146.8°F. You could receive a burn injury if you held your bare fingers there for only a few seconds.
The temperature at the bottom of the waffle maker was, fortunately, merely warm at 107.6°F.
The handle is our most serious concern. After three cooking sessions, it had already heated up to a toasty 137.8°F. which may result in a minor burn. So, wear your oven mitts while handling the waffle maker.
Cleanability
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.
The non-stick layer on the waffle plates makes it very easy to clean. In our performance tests, very little debris or residue was left behind. Any leftover could be easily wiped off with a clean cloth.
In the case of a batter spill: as the exterior of the waffle maker is made from smooth plastic, the dried-out batter doesn’t stick. We only had to apply a little bit of detergent and scrub lightly with a cloth to knock any dried batter traces loose.
Indicator Light Visibility
The indicator lights are bright enough to be clearly visible under studio lighting.
The indicator lights are bright. They can be seen from afar and underneath harsh studio lighting.