Waffle iron

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Professional 180° cast-iron waffle maker
Waffle iron held over a fire in Pieter Bruegel's The Fight Between Carnival and Lent, 1559

A waffle iron or waffle maker is a

wafers,[2] and several other snacks including kue gapit, a waffle-shaped but crunchy Indonesian snack which can be made with both sweet and savoury flavours.[3]

History

The oublies baked by this early waffle iron were much thinner and wafer-like than modern-day waffles.[2]

Waffle irons were common in France as early as the 12th or 13th century, and became widespread in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe from the 14th century. Secular waffle irons developed alongside host presses, a similar but religious tool used to produce sacramental bread.[4] The earliest waffle irons had shallow indentations suited to baking unleavened wafers, and might better be described as wafer irons or wafer presses.[note 1] Waffle irons gained deeper indentations as leavening agents were introduced into recipes.[2][5] There is evidence of primitive waffle irons in Sweden and Norway in Viking Age women's burials.[4]

Host press used to bake sacramental bread inscribed with religious symbols. Host presses like this developed alongside early waffle irons.

Waffle irons were originally constructed of two hinged iron plates connected to two long, wooden

religious symbols. Waffles would be held at a distance and baked over the hearth fire.[6]

In 1869, American Cornelius Swartwout patented the stove-top waffle iron. While waffle irons of sorts may have existed since the 1400s, Swarthout intended to perfect the design by adding a handle and a hinge that swiveled in a cast-iron collar,[7][8][9] allowing the waffle-maker to flip the iron without danger of slippage or burns.[10] In 1891 John Kliembach, a German immigrant living in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, became a traveling salesman of waffles after fashioning an iron for the Mansion House Hotel. Kliembach sold waffles for a penny each or ten cents for a dozen.[11][self-published source] This was popular at the Chicago World's Fair. In 1911, General Electric produced a prototype electric waffle iron, and production began around 1918.[11] Later, as the waffle iron became more prevalent, its appearance was improved.[11]

Varieties

Traditional waffle irons are attached to

household appliances using electric heating elements controlled by internal thermostats. Electric irons can come with either removable or non-removable plates.[12] Professional waffle irons are usually made of uncoated cast iron, whereas domestic models, particularly cast aluminum ones, are often Teflon
coated. Many have a light that goes off when the iron reaches a set temperature.

Some waffle makers produce a very thin waffle, and can be used for making waffle cones or

pearl sugar.[13]

Dutch Empire,[citation needed
] and exported abroad.

Gallery

  • A North American Belgian-style waffle iron
    A North American Belgian-style waffle iron
  • A waffle iron used to make stroopwafels in Nijmegen
    A waffle iron used to make stroopwafels in Nijmegen
  • Waffle iron with logo of Country Inns & Suites, advertising the company logo on waffles made by customers
    Waffle iron with logo of
    Country Inns & Suites
    , advertising the company logo on waffles made by customers
  • This is a waffle iron of the type commonly found at breakfast counters at motels/hotels in America. Customers pour in batter, close the waffle iron, and a timer begins, then sounds off when the waffle is ready.
    This is a waffle iron of the type commonly found at breakfast counters at motels/hotels in America. Customers pour in batter, close the waffle iron, and a timer begins, then sounds off when the waffle is ready.
  • A waffle iron in the shape of Texas, commonly found at motels in the state
    A waffle iron in the shape of Texas, commonly found at motels in the state
  • In Scandinavia, heart-shaped waffle irons are common.
    In Scandinavia, heart-shaped waffle irons are common.
  • Waffle made with a customized waffle iron, showing the Harvard escutcheon
    Waffle made with a customized waffle iron, showing the Harvard escutcheon

See also

  • Brown Bobby, a triangular American donut made in a waffle iron–like machine
  • Krampouz, a French manufacturer of small cooking appliances
  • List of cooking appliances
  • Pancake machine
  • Sandwich toaster
    , various machines, often waffle iron sized, that press and cook a filling between two slices of bread, to make a hot filled sandwich, with the edges sealed together

Notes

  1. ^ In many European languages, the names for waffles and wafers are the same, along with the irons used to bake them, e.g., German Waffel and Waffeleisen.

References

  1. ^ Mifflin, Mariette. "Waffle Maker - Definition and Use". The Spruce. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Eschner, Kat. "These Beautiful Medieval Wafer Presses Are Where Waffles Come From". Smithsonian Magazine.
  3. ^ Ida Romlah (4 August 2014). "Terus Berinovasi dengan Rasa Kue Gapit" [Always Innovating with Flavors of Kue Gapit]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b Ernst Thiele (1968). "Waffeleisen und Waffelgebäck. Geschichte, Stilentwicklung, Ikonographie." [Waffle irons and waffle pastries]. Kunstgeschichte des Backwerks (in German).
  5. ^ Wells, Jeff (24 August 2016). "From Wafel Wafers to Belgian Breakfasts: A Brief History of Waffles". Mental Floss. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  6. ISBN 978-0-89087-804-0
    . Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  7. ^ Who was who in America: a companion biographical reference work to Who's who in America. Marquis-Who's Who. 1967. p. 58. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Cornelius Swartwout: Inventor of the Waffle Iron". The Swarthout Family. Mark Swarthout. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  9. ^ US patent 94043, Cornelius Swartwout, "Waffle-iron", issued 1869-08-24 
  10. ^ Rushing, Erin. "Waffle Iron Patented". Unbound. Smithsonian Library. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  11. ^
    ISBN 9781553956327. (For the GE 1911 model description, p. 74, click here
    )
  12. ^ "Step-by-Step Guide on How to Clean a Waffle Maker". Beatmykitchen. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  13. ^ Purvis, Kathleen (17 May 2011). "What's the difference between a regular waffle and a Belgium waffle?". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  14. ^ "What Makes Daelmans Stroopwafels So Unique?". Rima's Blog. 9 March 2023.
  15. ^ Stroopwafel. Van Dale Taalweb. Retrieved on 2 January 2008. (in Dutch) Archived 18 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Waffle irons.
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