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Nostalgia MWF5AQ vs Euro Cuisine WM520 Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.3/10
- Design (20%)8.4/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.3/10
- Performance (50%)6.3/10
- Design (20%)9.8/10
- Ease of Use (30%)6.6/10
The Nostalgia MWF5AQ is a mini waffle maker suitable for making breakfast on the go or for making light snacks at home. The unit is no larger than a softball, and the waffles it creates only measure 4 inches across.
Meanwhile, the Euro Cuisine WM520 is a full-size waffle maker. It bakes Norwegian-style heart-shaped waffles making it an excellent waffle maker to have around during festivities or when you want to add some visual flair to your family’s breakfast.
So, for most people, it comes down to what you’re seeking in a waffle maker. Do you want a compact waffle maker or a model that can make uniquely-patterned waffles?
Performance-wise, both models have roughly the same level of performance. The quality of the waffles they created in our tests was mediocre. Nonetheless, they’re more than adequate for breakfasts and daily meals.
Just don’t expect restaurant-level quality!
Nostalgia Mini Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)5.9/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.3/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.4/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 6 minutes
The crust’s coloration was decent, with an appealing light brown color throughout. Within the wells were some dark brown burnt spots. They weren’t charred, but they still introduced a slight bitterness to the waffle. The texture was soft and fluffy, thanks to a high aeration rate. And taste-wise, our chef rated it as flavorful but held back from giving it a higher score due to the bitterness from the burnt spots.
Color (35%) — 6.5/10
- Color tone: Light brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
On the whole, the waffle had good coloration. The outer crust was light brown, with most of the darker spots concentrated inside the wells. Though it had a slightly mottled appearance, we still considered the waffle’s coloration to be uniform.
Texture (25%) - 6/10
- Texture: Good
- Aeration level: High - air bubbles were plentiful and well-sized within the waffle
The interior of the waffle was fully developed and aerated, resulting in a soft, fluffy core. Large air bubbles and pockets could be seen throughout the waffle’s interior.
Taste (40%) - 7.5/10
- Flavor: Rich and sweet, slightly bitter
- Mouthfeel: Soft and fluffy
Our chef described it as having a rich, sweet taste. Although the burnt spots on the crust introduced a slight bitterness to the waffle’s flavor profile, it was still delicious. Hence, the waffle received a good score in 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: 8 minutes
Though the pale coloration of the waffle didn't look great, the texture and taste were decent. It was soft and pliant with a taste that—while not gourmet—was good enough for breakfasts and light snacks.
Color (35%) — 5/10
- Color tone: Pale gold (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The crust had a very light gold tone, with the pockets being slightly darker. Because the color was too light with the same tone as undercooked batter, we didn’t rate the waffle highly in this section.
Texture (25%) - 7/10
- Texture: Soft, but overly moist and mushy
- Aeration level: Medium
The overall texture was acceptable but certainly could have been better. We found several air bubbles throughout the cake's core when cutting the waffle open. They were small and had inconsistent distribution, resulting in a soft but spongy waffle.
Taste (40%) - 6/10
- Flavor: Sweet and slightly savory
- Mouthfeel: Soft, but mushy in certain spots
Our chef rated the Nostalgia’s performance in this test as “Good.” The full flavor of the Birch Benders mix was extracted: we got a sweet, slightly salty taste profile in this waffle. But where it fell short was in the mouthfeel. Though it was indeed soft, its mushiness affected the overall experience greatly.
- 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.
Nostalgia MyMini Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)9.0/10
- 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
In The Box
- Nostalgia MWF5AQ MyMini waffle maker
- Instruction manuals
- Euro Cuisine WM520 waffle maker
- Instruction manual
In the box are the waffle maker itself and an instruction manual. No other accessory is included.
Nostalgia My Mini Waffle Maker’s Dimensions & Weight
- Length:6.8" (17.1 cm)
- Width:6.5" (16.5 cm)
- Height:3.5" (8.9 cm)
- Weight:1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
True to its name, the Nostalgia MWF5AQ has a lightweight and compact design. The waffle maker weighs 1.25 pounds and is small enough to fit in one’s palm. Consequently, Nostalgia has focused a lot on travelers and hikers in their marketing for the MWF5AQ as they may enjoy having a waffle maker that is small enough to fit in their backpacks or luggage.
- 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
The Nostalgia waffle maker has a solid build quality for the price. Although its plastic construction makes it look and feel quite cheap, every part is built and finished well. The coloring on the lid is vibrant, the lid hinges are solid and don’t wobble, and we didn’t find any significant design or build-related issues.
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:Classic-style
- Plate Area:15.9 inches2
- Plate Length:4.5" (11.4 cm)
- Plate Width:4.5" (11.4 cm)
- Material:Die-cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates are Belgian-style and are coated with a layer of non-stick. Nostalgia didn’t disclose the chemical composition of the non-stick layer. Nevertheless, throughout our performance tests, the coating held up well. We have never had to deal with a sticky waffle.
- 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 Nostalgia MWF5AQ has a single indicator light at the top. It does not have any additional control features.
- 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.
Nostalgia MyMini Waffle Maker’s Power Cord
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:8.2" (20.8 cm)
- Cable Management:Yes
The power cord only measures around 8 inches long. As such, you will most likely need an extension cord.
- 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 Nostalgia 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.
Nostalgia Mini Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)7.5/10
- Safety (40%)2.5/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.5/10
- 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
Working with the Nostalgia waffle maker is easy. Since the waffle maker has no control feature, most people won’t need to read the instruction manuals before getting started.
The lid can be opened and closed smoothly, and the hinges are solid enough that the top doesn’t jiggle or sway too much from side to side.
Like most mini waffle makers, its small size means the surfaces on the unit heat up to dangerous temperatures after a while. So, oven mitts are a must for handling the waffle maker.
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:169.9°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:127.9°F
- Handle Temperature:149.2°F
Due to its small size, the waffle maker’s surfaces heat up quickly. So, every surface—from top to bottom—got dangerously hot.
We also noticed the Nostalgia having the same problem as other mini-size waffle makers: hot steam. After a cooking session, a hot plume of steam wafts upward from the plates when you open the lid. The flash of pain can be startling if you’re unprepared and may cause you to drop the lid, potentially damaging the waffle plates.
As such, you should always wear oven mitts while operating this waffle maker (Nostalgia included this point in the safety section in the user’s manual).
At the top of the lid, the temperature measured around 170°F.
- 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 non-stick plates help a lot with the clean-up afterward. Since the batter and the waffle didn’t stick to the plates, we only had to wipe lightly with a cloth to remove the debris and residues.
But because it’s so small, there were waffle spills from time to time. But thanks to the outer shell of the waffle maker being made from smooth plastic, which doesn’t grip onto batter tightly, they can be cleaned with just a cloth and mild detergent.
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 waffle maker’s sole indicator light is bright. We could observe it easily from afar as well as under harsh studio lighting.
The indicator lights are bright. They can be seen from afar and underneath harsh studio lighting.