Frozen Waffles Taste Test

Epicurious.com

We tested 10 varieties to find our top three frozen waffle favorites
by Carolina Santos-Neves,Epicurious.com

You don't have to be a kid to love waffles-parents love them, too, especially on busy school mornings when breakfast prep puts a premium on speed. But at any age and any moment, cravings can occur for a waffle topped with maple syrup, whipped cream, ice cream, or all of the above. When convenience counts, the frozen waffle is hard to beat.

Some of us on the Epicurious editorial team are huge fans of both frozen and homemade waffles, while others were resistant to the store-bought variety. There was only one way to resolve this great debate: to taste frozen waffles of all sorts, from "home style" to gluten-free to multigrain. We sampled them all in one sitting, and it was mostly pure bliss, with only a few disappointments. The result? We all agreed on three winners that we'd gladly serve to friends (and pretend we made them ourselves).

See more:Healthy Comfort Recipes for Any Day

EPI TOP PICK
Best Frozen Waffle Overall
Julian's Natural Butter Waffles with Vanilla ($7.99 per box)
Editors' rating: 4 forks
Pros: The first thing all tasters noticed was this brand's homemade good looks and cakey-doughnut aroma! Tasters described it as buttery, sweet, buttermilky, and moist. "I could eat this every day," stated one fan. "Tastes like a state fair waffle. Nice and crisp, sweet and dense; almost cakelike," said another
Cons: Sweet enough! Not ideal to pair with toppings.

First Runner-Up
Van's 8 Whole Grains Multigrain ($3.49 per box)
Editors' rating: 3.5 forks
Pros: Tasters loved the slight cinnamon accent and just how moist this variety is, as well as its healthy profile (two waffles have less than 200 calories and 6 grams of fiber). Some described these as chewy yet light, crisp, and fluffy. "Some Greek yogurt on top would really do the trick," commented one editor
Cons: Unpleasant aroma.

Second Runner-Up
Nature's Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle ($4.99 per box)
Editors' rating: 3 forks
Pros: Aside from being gluten-free these waffles were a fave because of their slightly buttery taste and great shape. "I love the nutty flavor," stated one editor. Many enjoyed how airy and crispy this brand was.
Cons: Not sweet enough.

See more:The Best Barbecue Secrets

The Other Contenders: The Bottom Three
Though most tasters loved the fact that Earth's Best Organic waffles were miniature, they looked fake and cardboardlike. Many described them as bland and in need of some serious melted butter and maple syrup. 365 Organic Homestyle looked better than they tasted, but their brown and tan coloring is not reason enough to buy them. Some editors called this Whole Foods brand chewy, and others dry. "More like a receptacle for syrup," is how one taster described the 365 version. Lastly, Van's Totally Natural Wheat-Gluten Free did not fare well. Testers found this pick too moist and not crunchy enough. It also seemed oily and too yellow. One taster ventured, "If I got this for breakfast, I'd cry."

Additional Taste Test Details
All 10 types evaluated are available nationwide in supermarkets or online. Listed from highest to lowest score achieved, they are: Julian's Natural Butter Waffles with Vanilla, Van's 8 Whole Grains Multigrain, Nature's Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle, Aunt Jemima Homestyle, Kashi 7 Grain, Eggo Buttermilk, Waffle Waffle Original, Earth's Best Organic Mini Waffles, 365 Organic Homestyle, Van's Totally Natural Wheat-Gluten Free.

Methodology: In a blind taste test, judges compared the flavor, consistency, and appearance of 10 types of frozen waffles. These breakfast/brunch/dinner faves were all prepared in a toaster oven and sampled with and without maple syrup. We ranked them according to the Epicurious four-fork rating system (four being best).

More from Epicurious.com:
Eat Like an Olympian
Top 7 Celebrity Juice Cleanses
Essential Tools for Portion Control
Best Burger Recipes