All-Clad Stainless Steel Classic Review

Performance Comparison

The All-Clad is one of the best looking appliances we've tested.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Excellent Waffles

We'd like to let you in on a little secret: most waffles makers produce a similar quality of waffles, no matter their price. In general, we wouldn't suggest that you spend more on a waffle maker unless you're looking for something that is more durable or easy to use. With that disclaimer out of the way, we feel that the All-Clad's waffles are a slight cut above the rest of the field. Along with the Breville No-Mess, this machine made some of the most evenly cooked, perfectly browned waffles in our testing. Most people wouldn't notice the difference between the All-Clad's waffles and those made on a cheaper machine, but if you fancy yourself a waffle connoisseur, you'll likely appreciate this slight superiority.

The All-Clad makes excellent, classic style waffles.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Consistent Shade Settings

Once you start to make waffles at home to your own specifications, it's surprising how quickly you become attached to a particular level of browning and exterior crunchiness. The All-Clad offers seven different shade settings, so you can find the perfect one for your tastes. We also found the results of these shade settings to be quite consistent from morning to morning, so you can rest assured that your morning syrup will have the perfect pillowy bed every time you decide to make waffles.

The shade settings are very consistent and accurate.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Slightly Messier than the Competition

Making waffles with the All-Clad is by no means a messy process; it has the same issues with batter overspill as pretty much every other machine. However, in its relatively lofty price range, the All-Clad's main competition is the Breville No-Mess. As the name suggests, this Breville machine utilizes a moat to catch any spilled batter, essentially eliminating the mess most would associate with making waffles. So at this price range, unless you're enamored with the All-Clad's looks, you may want to go with a slightly cleaner option.

The All-Clad looks great, but the handle can sometimes get a bit hot.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Surfaces Can Get Hot

We noticed that the All-Clad's outer surfaces could sometimes get quite hot during extended use. This is really only a problem with the metal handle, which can get uncomfortably hot by the third or fourth waffle, necessitating that you use a pot holder or rag to open it. Most other models have some sort of insulating material on the handle to avoid this issue.

Getting down to business with the All-Clad.

Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Value

Asking a hefty list price, the All-Clad is priced for those who want to make waffles frequently and want a maker that will last a long time. However, if you fall into that category, we think it would probably be worth spending extra for the additional user-friendly touches of the Breville No-Mess.

Conclusion