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Presto Flipside Belgian vs DASH DMW001AQ Mini 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%)6.5/10
- Design (20%)6.0/10
- Ease of Use (30%)8.3/10
The Presto Flipside Belgian is a full-size, mid-tier Belgian waffle maker. It cooks 7-inch waffles and comes with high-end features like a flippable design and a built-in timer.
On the other hand, the DASH DMW001AQ Mini is a mini-size waffle maker with only one highlight: its small and compact form factor. Being no larger than a softball, it’s a popular choice for travelers since it can snugly fit inside backpacks and other luggage. At home, the DASH Mini becomes a great snack-maker with its bite-sized 4-inch waffles.
If you have a roomy budget and want something that can help you cook traditional Belgian-style waffles for breakfast and other meals, the Presto Flipside will be the one to choose.
Conversely, if you need a compact, affordable waffle maker that you can bring with you on the go or make little snacks with, then the DASH Mini is perfect!
Presto Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.0/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.0/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.0/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.0/10
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
In all three aspects (coloration, texture, and taste,) the DASH Mini still received mediocre scores. Nonetheless, compared to the test results in the first testing methodology (v1.0,) the DASH Mini still saw marked improvements.
Color (35%) — 6
- Color tone: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven
The waffle’s coloration was mediocre, and we assessed the waffle maker to have done a lousy job at cooking the waffle evenly. Inside some of the wells, the crust was cooked to a dark brown color, almost like they were charred. Upon closer inspection, it seems like they were only overcooked rather than burnt.
The crust was mixed between dark gold and light brown outside the wells.
Texture (25%) — 6
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Low, air bubbles were small and weren’t well-distributed
The interior was decently aerated. Air bubbles have begun to form on the inside of the waffle. However, they were pretty small and weren’t distributed evenly. As a result, the waffle was still relatively chewy and didn’t have the spongy softness we were looking for.
Taste (40%) — 6
- Flavor: Sweet and savory with a hint of bitterness
- Mouthfeel: Dense and dry
The taste was also mediocre. Our chef did recognize the sweet and slightly savory taste of the batter in the waffle. Unfortunately, the haphazardly burnt crust introduced a somewhat bitter taste to the waffle’s flavor profile. Plus, the underwhelming mouthfeel of the waffle also contributed to the waffle’s relatively low taste score.
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
Compared to the results using the self-mixed recipe, the test results using the Birch Benders mix were significantly better. Coloration was still slightly messy, but it was smoother and more attractive. The texture was soft and spongy, but the interior was still too moist to garner a higher score though the waffle certainly was flavorful.
Color (35%) — 6.3
- Color tone: Very dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven at the top, uniform at the bottom
The coloring on the top was still not great. The upper crust was still marked with seemingly random dark and light spots—the darker burnt areas being mainly concentrated within the waffle’s wells.
The underside was significantly better. It enjoyed a prettier color gradient that ranged from light gold to golden brown. The distribution of color was excellent.
Texture (25%) — 6.5
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: High, the interior was filled with sizable air bubbles
The aeration level was high, and large air bubbles could be seen within the interior of the waffle. This resulted in a decently soft and fluffy texture. However, our chef judged the inside to be still too moist to get a better score.
Taste (40%) — 8
- Flavor: Tasty, but a hint of raw batter is present
- Mouthfeel: Crunchy outer crust with slightly mushy interior
The Dash Mini was able to bring out the complete flavor profile of the batter. Sweet and savory, it was a great-tasting waffle. The well-developed crust gave the waffle a nice crunch. Sadly, the slight mushiness of the interior prevented us from giving it a perfect score.
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%)5.0/10
- 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.
- Dash Mini waffle maker
- Instruction manuals and leaflets
The shipping box contained the waffle maker along with the instruction manuals and advertising leaflets. This waffle maker does not come with any accessories.
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:1.3" (3.3 cm)
- Width:6.3" (16.0 cm)
- Height:5.0" (12.7 cm)
- Weight:2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)
The Dash Mini has a very compact form factor. All three of its dimensions measure less than 10 inches taking up very little space on the kitchen countertop. You can also easily fit the waffle maker into a cupboard when it’s not in use.
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.
Build quality is not good. The waffle maker’s outer body is made entirely from plastic with a very thin layer of paint sprayed on the top. During our tests, we noticed that the paint flaked off very easily. In fact, the layer of paint was so flimsy that fingernails could scrape it off.
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:Classic-style
- Plate Area:12.57 inch2
- Plate Length:4.0" (10.2 cm)
- Plate Width:4.0" (10.2 cm)
- Material:Cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates, however, are excellent and are coated with a layer of PFOA-free non-stick. As a result, cleaning the plates is effortless. We only needed to give them a cursory wipe with paper towels to clean off crumbs and other small pieces of food debris. We never had to deal with a sticky waffle throughout our week-long test.
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 Dash Mini doesn’t have a control panel. The only feature is the indicator light at the top, which turns on when the waffle maker is plugged in. Once the plates are heated and ready for use, the light will turn off.
With no controls, it gets a zero in this section.
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:2.5 ft (0.8 m)
- Cable Management:No
The Dash Mini has a very long power cord measuring 30 inches. Though it gives the waffle maker greater usability, the long cord can be an issue when it comes to storage. We had to loop the cord around the waffle maker’s body to store it.
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 Dash Mini waffle maker does not come with any kind of 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%)8.0/10
- Safety (40%)8.0/10
- Cleanability (25%)10/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)6.0/10
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.
Handling is adequate. As previously mentioned, there aren’t any manual controls on this waffle maker, so it functions as a ‘plug-and-play’ device. You only need to plug in the power cord, wait until the top light turns off, then pour in the batter.
The lid opens and closes smoothly. When pushed back, the lid leans backward at an angle. This effectively prevents the top from snapping closed unexpectedly.
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:191°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:120°F
- Handle Temperature:98°F
Due to its small size, the entire waffle maker heats up after just one cooking session. We had to pick up the waffle maker by the power cord and let the machine dangle by the end to move it off the countertop after testing.
Additionally, upon opening the lid after a waffle has finished cooking, you could be subjected to a startling plume of hot air from the waffle plates. The hot air isn’t dangerous, but the flash of considerable heat can still feel extremely uncomfortable.
The top surface reached a temperature of 191°F.
It is only slightly warm at the handle, measuring 98°F. However, like we mentioned earlier, beware of the plume of hot air when you open up the lid.
The base of the waffle maker is uncomfortably warm at 120°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.
The waffle maker is easy to clean. We only needed to wipe down the non-stick waffle plates once in a while to scoop up leftover debris.
Dried-out waffle batter doesn’t stick hard to the smooth plastic body when a spill happens. Cooking residues can be dealt with using mild detergent and a few scrubs with a cloth.
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 waffle maker has a large indicator light at the top. It’s difficult to see under harsh studio lighting and daylight. Under normal lighting conditions, however, the light should be clear.