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Presto Flipside Belgian vs BLACK+DECKER WMB500 Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (50%)6.5/10
- Design (20%)6.6/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.2/10
- Performance (50%)6.7/10
- Design (20%)8.7/10
- Ease of Use (30%)9.5/10
The Presto Flipside Belgian waffle maker is a mid-range model. Meanwhile, the WMB500 is positioned as the entry-level model in BLACK+DECKER’s portfolio.
But putting aside the pricing, the Presto Flipside Belgian waffle maker comes with many additional features that the BLACK+DECKER WMB500 doesn’t have. These features, such as the flippable baking chamber and the built-in timer, may convince you to pay the extra.
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 has a basic design that reflects its price. Its performance, according to our test data, is also unremarkable. While it can make waffles with decent enough quality to serve as breakfasts, it’s not restaurant-level.
So, between these two, it will come down to whether you think all of the extra features of the Presto Flipside Belgian waffle maker are worth the money or not.
Presto Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.0/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.0/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.8/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.5/10
Self-Mixed Recipe
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The Presto waffle maker did a mediocre job in this test. The crust was overdone, as evidenced by the dark coloring of the crust. Though there were quite a few air bubbles and cavities in the waffle’s interior, they weren’t large enough to give it the ideal consistency we were looking for. As for the taste, the bitterness of the carbonized crust carried over the tongue with each bite due to the burnt crust.
Color (35%) — 5.5/10
- Color tone: Charred black (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The Presto has very strong heating elements. Combined with the lack of any temperature control function, the outer crust of the waffle was close to being burnt. The wells on the waffle have very dark brown coloring. Some of which were approaching the point of blackening.
The bottom of the waffle was lighter in color, but the wells were still dark brown.
Texture (25%) - 6/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low; the aeration process had begun, but the air bubbles were still too small
The intense heat cooked the batter enough to kick-start the aeration process. But, by the 5-minute mark, the air bubbles were still tiny. Excess moisture was still present inside the waffle, making the waffle very mushy.
Taste (40%) - 6.5/10
- Flavor: Sweet and buttery, but bitter from the overcooked crust
- Mouthfeel: Dry on the outside, mushy on the inside
The desired sweetness of the sugar and the buttery aftertaste of the batter was there. But unfortunately, the bitterness of the charred spots on the crust ruined the tasting experience.
The crust felt dry on the tongue, which was an off-putting contrast against the mushy core.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The coloration was decent despite the waffle’s wells looking slightly burnt, and some spots on the crust looked undercooked. It received only a passable grade due to having a low aeration rate. Fortunately, it picked up the slack with its tastiness.
Color (7) — 35%
- Color tone: Very dark brown - Light brown (both)
- Color distribution: Even
The crust has a very delectable light gold tone around the perimeter and on the raised lines of the waffle pattern. Inside the deep wells, the color has a darker brown color.
The color distribution is great for the waffle. Both sides have relatively similar color tones and gradients.
Texture (5.5) — 25%
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium; air bubbles have begun filling the interior of the waffle. However, their sizes were small and their numbers were few
The concentration of air bubbles within the waffle’s core was way less than ideal. Most of the bubbles were concentrated near the crust, leaving the core dense with un-aerated batter. The result is a rather chewy waffle.
Taste (7.5) — 40%
- Flavor: Sweet with a buttery aftertaste
- Mouthfeel: Slightly mushy
The waffle tastes great, according to our chef. The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 was able to unlock the potential of the batter, releasing its sweetness and buttery aftertaste. But the mouthfeel was less than ideal due to the dense interior of the waffle. Its chewy texture ruined the tasting experience.
Birch Benders Mix
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 6 minutes 30 seconds
The Presto did a great job on this test. After 6 minutes and 30 seconds, the waffle came out with a beautiful, light brown crust. Taste-testing the waffle, our chef considered it to be very flavorful. However, the texture was a bit too spongy due to a low aeration rate.
Color (35%) — 7.25/10
- Color result: Light brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle’s coloration was great. Both sides sported a brown, crispy crust that was light in the middle and gradually darkened the farther it got from the center. Inside of the wells, the batter was cooked to a dark brown. Fortunately, none of the wells were charred.
Texture (25%) — 5/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low, few air bubbles
For texture, it didn’t score highly due to a low aeration rate. Air bubbles were small in size and few in number, resulting in a fairly dense-looking interior that indicated mushiness. And indeed, the waffle’s texture was quite mediocre.
Taste (40%) — 8/10
- Flavor: Savory, slightly sweet
- Mouthfeel: Mushy due to the waffle’s underdeveloped interior
Our chef rated the waffle as flavorful: savory, and pleasantly sweet. But the mushy mouthfeel detracted from the tasting experience.
- Heat Level: N/A
- Cooking Time: 7 minutes
The waffle has beautiful coloration thanks to its dark golden brown crust. In terms of texture and taste, the waffle was mediocre. It was mushy and chewy inside, and the waffle was a bit too bland. Nonetheless, the waffle should still be good if you're not picky and want a simple, classic breakfast waffle. This waffle maker certainly won't be able to make anything gourmet!
Color (7) — 35%
- Color tone: Very dark brown - Light brown (both)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle looked great to the eyes. The crust had a beautiful light gold color on both sides of the waffle. Inside the wells, the coloring was slightly darker, but not by much. None of the wells were charred.
Texture (6) — 25%
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium; air bubbles have begun filling the interior of the waffle. However, their sizes were small and their numbers were few
The aeration level was low. Very few air bubbles or pockets exist within the waffle, resulting in a very crumbly and mealy texture.
Taste (6.5) — 40%
- Flavor: Sweet with a buttery aftertaste
- Mouthfeel: Slightly mushy
Flavor-wise, the waffle was mediocre. The sweetness was there, and so was the signature salty taste of the Birch Benders mix. However, our chef assessed that the waffle's flavors didn’t seem fully developed. It’s still a bit too bland, possibly due to the underdeveloped core of the waffle.
Presto Flipside Belgian Waffle Maker’s Design
- Build Quality (60%)6.0/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)8.0/10
- Control Panel (10%)6.0/10
- Build Quality (60%)9.5/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)10/10
- Control Panel (10%)0/10
In The Box
- Presto Flipside waffle maker
- Instruction manuals
The shipping box is simplistic. Inside, you will find the waffle maker and the user manual. No extra accessory is included.
- BLACK+DECKER WMB500
- Instruction manual
The waffle maker itself and an instruction manual are the box’s only content.
Dimensions & Weight of the Presto 03510 Ceramic Flipside Belgian Waffle Maker
- Length:12.0" (30.5 cm)
- Width:11.0" (27.9 cm)
- Height:4.4" (11.2 cm)
- Weight:4.9 lbs (2.2 kg)
Its compact size sets the Presto 03510 apart from every other flip waffle maker. Thanks to its unique design, the waffle maker measures only 4.4 inches tall (on its side). That’s less than half as tall as the more “traditional” flippable models like the Hamilton Beach 26031, which measures 8.7 inches in height.
However, while it is more compact vertically, the waffle maker takes up a lot of counter space. As you flip it back and forth, the waffle maker requires a working area two times its length (around 25 inches on both sides of the waffle maker).
When it’s time to store it away, you need to grab it by the handle and lift the body upright. Then, there is a “vertical lock” — a red piece of plastic attached to the base — that you can use to keep it standing vertically.
It brings the waffle maker’s height to 11.5 inches. In return, its length is reduced to just 4.5 inches.
- Length:13.1" (33.3 cm)
- Width:10.0" (25.4 cm)
- Height:4.7" (11.9 cm)
- Weight:4.0 lbs (1.8 kg)
The WMB500 has roughly the same dimensions as your average Belgian waffle maker. At 4 pounds, it’s not much heavier, as well.
But the special part is that BLACK+DECKER has used a smart trick to make it more compact and easier to store for the user. The rear of the machine is flat so that you can stand the waffle maker up vertically, making storage easier.
Build Quality
Build quality is great, but it could be better in some respects. The body of the waffle maker is made from solid stainless steel. Its metallic gleam gives the waffle maker a beautiful, premium look.
The base is made from plastic. It looked sturdy at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, we observed many design and manufacturing flaws.
At the bottom of the handle, two big dents can be seen. They were already there when we took it out of the box, so it’s likely to be a manufacturing defect.
In addition to the damaged handle, a large gap can be seen in the joints that connect the waffle maker’s body with the base. The way that they’re unevenly set made us suspicious of bad workmanship.
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500’s baking chamber is made from stainless steel. While the metallic shine improves its look somewhat, we noticed that the metal is highly prone to fingerprints and smudges. So, to maintain the look, you must scrub down the waffle maker daily.
Except for the baking chamber, every other part of the waffle maker is made from plastic. That includes the handle, the back foot, and the lid hinges. All the components are well-built, and we didn’t find any obvious flaws during our inspection.
Waffle Plates
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:44.18 inch2
- Plate Length:7.5" (19.1 cm)
- Plate Width:7.5" (19.1 cm)
- Material:Ceramic
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle maker comes with a pair of ceramic plates coated with a layer of non-stick. Each measures 7.5 inches in diameter and has a small moat running around the perimeter of the plate to catch spilled batter.
The non-stick coating works most of the time. But, every so often, a waffle would stick to the plates, and we would have to pry it out with utensils.
- Number of Plates:2
- Grid Pattern:Belgian-style
- Plate Area:50.27 inch2
- 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 thing that stood out most to us was the coating on the plates of the WMB500. While most models we have tested have a matte, rough non-stick coating, the ones found on the WMB500’s plates are glossy and smooth. Unfortunately, BLACK+DECKER doesn’t disclose the formula of non-stick it uses for the WMB500.
But while we can’t tell for certain what the coating is made of, we know that it works very well. We have never once had to deal with a sticky waffle during our performance tests.
Control Panel
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:Yes
- Timer:Yes
- Browning Control:No
A large red light is situated on one side of the waffle. When you plug the waffle in, the light will glow red. Once the waffle plates have reached the right temperature, the light will turn off.
Underneath the light is a timer with a digital screen. You can set the countdown via the small button underneath the screen. The corresponding numbers will appear on the display. Once the countdown is completed, a small speaker will alarm you.
Note that the timer only keeps the time. It won’t shut down or control the waffle maker for you. The timer is a separate component from the waffle maker and operates on batteries. So, even if you unplug the unit, the timer will still work.
- Indicator Lights:Yes
- Audible Alarm:No
- Timer:No
- Browning Control:No
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 doesn’t have any control feature except an indicator light at the top.
Presto Flipside 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 is very long, measuring over 36.5 inches. There’s no cable management feature. When we need to put it away and into storage, we have to wrap the cord around the waffle maker's body.
- Plug Style:Type A (Flat Blade Attachment Plug)
- Length:1.9 ft (0.6 m)
- Cable Management:No
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 comes with a power cord measuring about 23 inches long. It’s quite short, so having an extension cord close at hand.
There is no “official” cable management feature on the waffle maker. You can wrap the cord around the back foot of the machine, but only while it’s staying flat. However, the cord will prevent the waffle maker from standing upright and makes it even more problematic to put into storage. A solution we have found is to simply wrap the cord around the baking chamber.
Accessories
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The Presto waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
- Material:N/A
- Removable:N/A
- Dishwasher Safe:N/A
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 doesn’t come with any extra accessory.
Presto Flipside Belgian Waffle Maker Review
- Handling (25%)9.5/10
- Safety (40%)9.8/10
- Cleanability (25%)7.5/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
- Handling (25%)10/10
- Safety (40%)9.9/10
- Cleanability (25%)8.0/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)10/10
Handling
Handling is great. The hinges – of the lid and the flipping mechanism — are built exceptionally well. The lid opens and closes without wobbling. We can flip the waffle maker back and forth fluidly, too.
The handle is made up of two halves. Each half is built into the two lids of the waffle maker. You just need to split them apart when you want to open up the lid.
When you need to flip or carry the waffle maker around, bring the two halves together to make a complete handle.
Our only issue is with the timer. Even after reading the manual, it’s still hard to use and imprecise. So, for all of our tests, we use our timer rather than the built-in one. Fortunately, this is a minor annoyance.
The handling experience of the WMB500 is easy. The lid doesn’t wobble when lifted, like many other models we have tested in this price range.
Notably, when the lid is pushed all the way back, the hinges have a slight dampening force. It can protect you from a recoiling lid when you’re in a hurry and accidentally use too much force to open it.
Safety
- Top Side Temperature:167°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:95°F
- Handle Temperature:94°F
Safety is excellent for the Presto waffle maker.
We recorded a top-side temperature of 167°F. While the temperature is dangerous, you’re never meant to touch the top of any waffle maker. Thus, the figure here doesn’t affect scoring much.
The base and the handle are both at room temperature. They were found to have a temperature of 95°F and 94°F, respectively.
- Top Side Temperature:156.7°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:104.2°F
- Handle Temperature:111°F
The BLACK+DECKER WMB500 did excellently in this respect, achieving a near-perfect score. Measuring temperatures at three critical points on the waffle maker—the top side, the bottom, and the handle—the figures are all within acceptable limits.
At the top, above the back foot, and near the indicator light, we measured a temperature of 156.7°F.
The bottom is where most people will hold onto when they need to pick up the waffle maker. Here, we measured a cool temperature of 104.2°F, which is merely warm.
The handle’s temperature was warm, but not uncomfortably so at 111°F.
Cleanability
Cleaning the waffle maker is easy for the most part. We rarely have to clean the plates, thanks to the non-stick coating. However, as aforementioned, the coating can sometimes fail and leave sticky remains on the plates. Fortunately, the residues can be easily removed with some vigorous scrubbing.
Certain parts of the waffle maker are challenging to clean, like the inside of the handle. The dried batter can bind to the plastic here very tightly. We could not scrub droplets of dried batter off even after applying mild detergent.
Cleaning up after a cooking session is fast and easy. Spilled batter can be quickly scraped off from the exterior of the machine. And since the non-stick coating already works pretty well, we only had to pick stray crumbs and pieces of debris off the plates from time to time.
The stainless steel baking chamber is the real issue in this part. As we said earlier, it’s prone to smudges and fingerprints. You will need to clean it regularly if you want to maintain a pristine look for it. Else, it’s going to lose its luster in a week or two and look very worn.
Indicator Light Visibility
The indicator light to the side of the waffle maker was very bright. It’s easy to see even under studio lighting.
The light is decently bright and is visible even under studio lighting.