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Presto Flipside Belgian vs Oster Belgian 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%)6.0/10
- Design (20%)6.2/10
- Ease of Use (30%)5.0/10
Right out of the gate, we can tell you that the Presto Flipside Belgian waffle maker is the better choice.
The Oster Belgian waffle maker delivered some of the worst performances in our database. While the Presto doesn’t have excellent cooking ability by any means (it has a notable tendency to overcook its waffles), the waffles it produced were still considered palatable by our chef.
Plus, the Presto waffle maker, being a mid-range option, has a great design and build quality. It also comes with extra features. For example, a special flippable design and a built-in timer.
In contrast, the Oster, being a budget model, doesn’t have any of these features. However, it does have a complete control panel with a browning control dial. It’s the only feature that the Presto doesn’t have.
Presto Waffle Maker’s Performance
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)6.0/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)7.0/10
- Self-Mixed Recipe (50%)5.2/10
- Birch Benders Mix (50%)6.8/10
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: Max
- Cooking Time: 5 minutes
The Oster didn’t do well in our performance test. The coloration of the waffle—with its blotchy, charred crust—was disappointing. Cutting it open, the waffle had a dense and under-developed interior. It translated to an underwhelming mouthfeel in the taste test. And because the batter was only half-cooked, the waffle still tasted like raw batter.
Color (35%) — 5/10
- Color result: Very dark brown - Dark gold (Both sides)
- Color distribution: Even
The waffle’s crust was darkly colored, especially within the wells of the waffle, which had dark brown to very dark brown coloring. Fortunately, while they may look charred, we didn’t see any carbonization when we closely looked at each well.
Outside the wells, the waffle was a rather beautiful dark gold. But it’s still not enough for us to give the waffle a higher score than a five.
Both sides have roughly the same color gradient.
Texture (25%) — 5/10
- Texture: Wet, mushy
- Aeration level: Low
Despite the burnt-looking crust, the interior of the waffle wasn’t as well-developed as we had hoped. Air bubbles were visible, but they were small and few. Furthermore, the waffle’s core was dense and slightly mushy.
Taste (50%) — 5.5/10
- Taste: Bland, bitter at charred spots.
- Mouthfeel: Dry on the outside, mushy on the inside
The contrast between the overcooked outside and the undercooked inside makes for a disappointing tasting experience. There was a hint of the batter’s sweetness and buttery taste. However, the tastiness was ruined by the bitterness of the burnt crust and the egg-like taste of the undercooked core.
Ultimately, our chef rated the Oster waffle maker 5 out of 10.
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: Max
- Cooking Time: 3 minutes
Although color distribution is uneven, the brighter and more palatable color tones are a big step up. The interior has developed this time, resulting in a soft and fluffy waffle. Our chef also rated the waffle’s taste highly, appreciating its sweetness and velvety texture.
Color (35%) — 6.3/10
- Color result: Very light gold and dark brown (Both)
- Color distribution: Uneven
Coloration is slightly better this time around with the pre-made mix. Unfortunately, the difference between this one and the earlier sample made from our self-mixed batter isn’t drastic enough to give it a significant score boost.
The color tone is better with a nice golden brown shade at the center of the waffle. Surrounding the center is a noticeable “ring” of burnt batter that ruins the aesthetic of the waffle. Out along the edges, the crust there has a light gold of undercooked batter.
It’s because of this unequal distribution of colors is the reason why it doesn’t get a higher score in this segment.
Texture (25%) — 6.5/10
- Texture: Mediocre
- Aeration level: Medium; air bubbles were beginning to form, but their sizes were still small
Texture is acceptable. Despite the unattractive coloring, the inside of the waffle has nicely developed. The aeration process has formed a lot of tiny air bubbles on the inside, creating a soft, fluffy texture. Although it is not excellent, the texture of this one is at least acceptable.
Taste (50%) — 7.5/10
- Flavor: Sweet
- Mouthfeel: Soft, no excessively dry spots
Taste is the best part of this test. Compared to the earlier test done with self-mixed batter, the sample produced with the pre-made mix tastes better, according to our chef. Because there’s very minimal burnt spots, the flavor is sweet without any hint of bitterness. This, combined with the fluffy texture, creates a decently-tasting waffle that comes closer to the “restaurant-quality waffle” slogan that Oster has placed in its advertisements.
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%)4.5/10
- Waffle Plates (30%)8.5/10
- Control Panel (10%)9.0/10
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.
- Oster waffle maker
- User manual
In the box, you get the waffle maker and a simple user manual. There are no extra accessories. This is not surprising considering the budget price point of this waffle maker.
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:10.0" (25.4 cm)
- Width:8.0" (20.3 cm)
- Height:4.0" (10.2 cm)
- Weight:3.2 lbs (1.5 kg)
The Oster waffle maker is quite compact. Thanks to its size, it won’t take up much space on the countertop, and storage is easy. Notably, you can also store the waffle maker standing upright (vertical).
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 stainless steel housing gives the Oster waffle maker a sharper, pricier look. However, the waffle maker’s rough edges are clearly revealed when you scrutinize it up close. Fingerprints can easily smudge the stainless steel surface. Even when you lightly scrape the surface with your fingernails, ugly scratches can appear on the metal.
After a couple of days in the lab, the top surface of the waffle maker lost its original shine. We couldn’t restore it even after several attempts at wiping it down and polishing it.
Like most affordable waffle makers, detailing like the handle, base, and control panel section are made from plastic. They look and feel cheap.
Build quality is poor on the review unit we received. The lid’s hinges are loose and rattle even when lightly tugged. On the backside, we found poorly tooled parts with rough edges, scrapes, and dents. Worse still, the backside of the waffle maker has gaps that reveal its guts, exposing its internal wiring and circuits.
For these reasons, we assess the Oster’s construction quality as mediocre at best and sub-par at worst.
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:7.8 inch2
- Plate Length:7.1" (18.0 cm)
- Plate Width:7.1" (18.0 cm)
- Material:Die-cast aluminum
- Non Stick Coating:Yes
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The waffle plates are made from die-cast aluminum. It is imprinted with the classic Belgian-style grid pattern. The total diameter of the waffle plate (with the outer anti-spill moat included) is 7.8 inches. It is able to produce a 7-inch waffle.
According to Oster, the non-stick coating is food-grade polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE — also known as Teflon), and has been approved by the USDA.
The inclusion of PTFE can be a deal-breaker for many. However, note that, unlike PFOA, PTFE is inert and relatively harmless at temperatures under 400°F. Only when the temperature exceeds 400°F can the PTFE coating become a problem by releasing toxic gasses. During normal operation, the waffle maker isn’t going to come even close to this threshold. Thus, the waffle plates are still classed as safe for use.
The waffle plates are not removable.
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:Yes
Though the control interface is barebones, that is to be expected for such an affordable waffle maker. There are two indicator lights. One will glow red when you plug it in (POWER light), and the other green light will light up when the waffle maker is heated to the correct temperature.
Above the indicator lights is a temperature control knob. The knob takes some force to turn and makes a distinct clicking sound as it does so.
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:2.3 ft (0.7 m)
- Cable Management:Yes
The unit’s power cord is short. You will either have to move the waffle maker very close to a power outlet or use an extension cord.
The back foot of the waffle maker has a grommet. You can wrap the power cord around it for easier management and storage. However, since there’s no lock or notch to hold the cord in place, it can unravel easily.
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 Oster waffle maker doesn’t come with any extra accessories. Once again, at this price point, that’s what we expected.
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%)6.5/10
- Safety (40%)1.7/10
- Cleanability (25%)9.0/10
- Indicator Light Visibility (10%)4.5/10
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.
Generally speaking, the Oster waffle maker is easy to handle. Even when it’s heated up, the large plastic handle at the front remains cool to the touch. However, the lid’s hinges are shaky. They make the closing and opening motion a bit awkward.
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:176°F
- Bottom Side Temperature:143°F
- Handle Temperature:189°F
Using a thermometer, we checked the temperature of the waffle maker’s various parts.
The handle was dangerously hot, with a temperature of 189°F. After several cooking sessions, the heat from the heating element and the hot steam raised the handle’s temperature to the point that it could easily cause a burn injury. This is the most serious safety problem of the Oster.
Not just the handle, the control panel area was also piping hot at 176°F.
On the underside of the waffle maker, the front plastic “leg” got quite toasty at 143°F.
So, be careful if you pick up the waffle maker by grabbing the bottom legs. The front part may be quite hot.
The exposed electronics and wiring on the backside could turn the machine into an electrical hazard. A point was further deducted from the overall score.
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 Oster receives a good score in cleanability. Although it doesn't have a drip tray for spilled batter, it can be dealt with fairly easily when a batter spill does happen. Even when the batter dries out and settles on the waffle maker’s body, all surfaces can be scrubbed down easily with a dash of mild detergent.
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 unit we received has very dim indicator lights. Under normal lighting conditions, the two lights are hardly visible.
It’s only when we cupped our hands above the lights to shade them from the ceiling lights that the indicators became clear. The lights aren't visible in harsh daylight and studio lights.