Enjoy your Sunday morning waffles without the forever chemicals. Here are our top picks for non-toxic waffle makers.
When it comes to toxic chemicals and sustainability, I don’t waffle. I aim to provide clear, concise, helpful info, not meaningless blather. When it comes to breakfast, though, I do like a good waffle.
The trouble is, most waffle makers are made with toxic forever chemicals (i.e., PTFE).
If you’ve been missing out on waffles because of concerns about chemicals, I’ve got good news:
Cast iron waffle makers are easier to use than you might expect.
Traditional waffle irons also have the following advantages over plastic, non-stick, PTFE and ceramic coated electric waffle makers:
- More affordable, typically
- Can last a lifetime or longer, with proper care
- Don’t expose you to toxic chemicals
- Make perfect waffles, once you figure out your system
- Work on every kind of stovetop, including induction
- Can go camping with you!
- Don’t take up a ton of counter space
- Don’t need plugging in
- Are easy to clean
- Won’t stop working if batter drips everywhere.
All in all, a totally non-toxic cast iron waffle maker is far more sustainable than even the best electric waffle maker. And after some gruelling research, I offer my top choices for cast iron waffle makers below.
Not on board with cast iron? I also include a few suggestions below for electric PTFE-free waffle makers that stand out from the crowd.
Our Top Picks
Appalachian Cast Iron Great American Waffle Iron
Highlights: Sturdy, made in America, cast iron waffle iron with a smart, functional design and totally PFAS-free. Pricey though.
- Made in USA
- PFOA/PTFE/PFAS-free
- Pre-seasoned with certified Kosher natural grapeseed oil (ready to use out of the box!)
- Durable cast iron construction
- Suitable for all cooktop types
- Unique design (50 stars and engraved eagle)
- Ergonomic handle with cool-touch spring
- 7-inch waffle iron
- Great gift!
- Super expensive!
- Requires manual flipping and monitoring
- Not dishwasher safe
- Heavier (14 lbs.) and more cumbersome than smaller options and electric waffle makers
- Learning curve for perfect waffles
The Great American Waffle Iron by Appalachian Cast Iron is an impressive piece of kit. At a staggering $239, this waffle iron is far pricier than competitors, but if you’re looking for a made in America, high quality cast iron waffle maker, this is it.
Even if you don’t tend to sing the USA anthem over breakfast, chances are you and your kids will like the unique star waffle design that emerges from this iron. And the eagle stamp is pretty cool too.
We also love that this waffle iron comes pre-seasoned with grapeseed oil. No faffing about removing factory wax and creating a polymer oil coating at home. Just give this waffle iron a quick rinse and you’re good to go.
Personally, I’m not a fan of the coiled handle and would rather use silicone grips. However, the handle does offer a cooler surface than straight up cast iron. The overall design is also very sturdy and ergonomic, with the extra side handle and a solid hinge system that doesn’t detach to cause surprise messes.
Sure, this is a significant upfront investment, but when you consider that most electric waffle makers last a few years at best, you’ll definitely save money long-term. This beautiful waffle iron fits the bill as a BIFL product and also makes a great family heirloom.
Rome Industries Old Fashioned Waffle Cast Iron
Highlights: Affordable, easy to use and clean, durable cast iron waffle iron. PFAS-free and non-toxic. No pre-seasoning though.
- Affordable!
- Durable
- Light (just 4 lbs.!) and compact (easy to take camping!)
- Easy to clean (it separates into two)
- Easy to preheat both sides
- Despite lack of height, the wells are deep enough for a decent waffle
- Comes with wax finish for protection in transit (need to scrub this off)
- Need to pre-season (twice or more if you can)
- No seasoning or care instructions included
- Detaching hinge might make for surprise messes for some users
- Small (just under 7-inch diameter), so you might want two for faster waffle output
- Short handle does get hot (you’ll need silicone grips or similar to flip iron)
- Short (just 1 inch tall!)
Costing nearly $200 less than the Appalachian waffle iron, the Rome Old Fashioned Cast Iron Waffle Iron is a fantastic choice to give this kind of waffling a try. Aside from its affordability, this iron also has many other advantages, including being much more compact and lighter.
If cast iron’s heaviness is a barrier for you, give this waffle iron a whirl. You may be pleasantly surprised, especially as the two sides separate at the hinge for easy maneuverability, preheating, and clean-up.
I have an ongoing wrist issue that means I struggle with some of my heavier cast iron pots and pans. This smaller, lighter waffle iron is a breeze to use though!
The major downside of this waffle iron is that it doesn’t come pre-seasoned. It does, however, have a protective wax coating to help prevent rust in transit. Unfortunately, my iron was left on a slightly wet kitchen counter when we first got it and developed a little touch of rust on the rim, despite the protective coating.
Once you’ve scrubbed off the wax, which takes a bit of elbow grease and a good amount of soap, you’ll need to season the waffle iron. This also takes time and effort, so don’t expect to be making waffles right away after getting this waffle iron. There are no seasoning instructions or any care instructions or packaging with this iron. All you get is the iron, so follow my tips below for how to season bare cast iron.
Making waffles with the Rome Old Fashioned Waffle Iron did involve a bit of a learning curve. I am very familiar with and a big fan of cast iron cooking, but waffles are fickle foodstuffs, especially if you’re making vegan batter.
Lehman’s Cast Iron Waffle Maker
Highlights: Affordable, PFAS-free, pre-seasoned cast iron waffle iron with deeper design and double rim. Short handle though.
- Cast iron only – free of PFAS and other coatings
- Pre-seasoned with soy oil
- Made (in China) by a long-established American company
- Affordable
- Deeper than the Rome (1.68 inches vs. 1 inch tall)
- Lighter and more compact than the Appalachian (8 lbs. vs. 14 lbs)
- Can detach the two sides for easier moving and cleaning
- Short handle that’s a bit uncomfortable to hold
- Made in China
- Twice the weight of the Rome (8 lbs. vs. 4 lbs.)
Lehman’s has been around since 1955 and was originally an American company specializing in goods for Amish families. These days, its products are almost all made in China or otherwise outside the US, so don’t be taken in by the ‘All American’ marketing.
All that said, this cast iron waffle maker is a great choice for an affordable, smaller waffle iron that is PFAS-free. It makes excellent 7-inch waffles, and has a smart double rim to minimize messes.
The main issue I have with this waffle iron, though, is its very short handle. This is even shorter than with my Rome waffle iron, which means it’s even harder to flip and move the waffle iron around. It’s also twice the weight of the slightly more compact Rome, even though it makes waffles the same size.
As such, if you’re looking for a back country camping waffle iron, go for the Rome or the Lot 45 below. If weight isn’t an issue for you and you want to skip the seasoning process at home, the Lehman’s is your best affordable option (or treat yourself to the Appalachian).
Lot45 Cast Iron Waffle Maker
Highlights: Small and lightweight cast iron waffle maker for under $30! Rougher factory finish though, so needs extra care for seasoning.
- Compact, lightweight (4 lbs.) cast iron waffle iron
- Very affordable (less than $30!)
- Separable hinge design for easy preheating, seasoning, and cleaning
- Smaller than Rome and Lehman’s (6-inch only)
- Factory coating is a bit rough, which can make it hard to season
- Not pre-seasoned – need to do this at home, at least twice
- Short handle gets very hot
- Not as deep as the Lehman’s or Appalachian
If you’re looking for an affordable, compact, lightweight cast iron waffle iron, Lot 45 rivals the Rome. At the same weight, with a similar design, the Lot 45 iron seems like a cheaper option, but (no pun intended) I’d stick to the Rome.
That’s because the Lot 45 cast iron has a rougher factory finish which makes it trickier to season well. And the result is a greater chance of your waffles sticking.
The Lot 45 cast iron also has a smaller cooking surface, making 6-inch waffles only.
LD HuYY 8-inch Cast Iron Waffle Maker
Highlights: Larger waffle maker with similar hinged design to others. Light for its size, but still pretty clunky.
- Slightly larger waffles (8-inch!)
- Separable hinged design for easy cleaning, preheating, etc.
- Lighter than Lehman’s (but makes bigger waffles!)
- Shallower waffles (less than an inch)
- Heavier than Rome’s – nearly 8 lbs.
- More expensive than Lehman’s, Rome’s and Lot 45’s
- Made in China
- Not pre-seasoned
If you want slightly larger waffles, LD HuYY’s cast iron waffle maker is a decent choice. It makes 8-inch waffles, albeit less than an inch thick.
Other than that, this waffle iron is very similar to Rome’s and Lot 45’s, in that it arrives without seasoning and has a hinged, separable design.
This waffle iron is heavier, though, at 7.65 lbs. This makes it more like the Lehman’s waffle iron, though a bit more expensive.
Wonderffle Cast Iron Stuffed Waffle Iron
Highlights: The best cast iron option for a stuffed waffle maker. Albeit small and with some sketchy handles.
- The only cast iron stuffed waffle maker around
- Makes very deep waffles (2-inch thick)
- Affordable
- Long handle for easier flipping and maneuverability
- Heat-resistant handle sleeves included for long handles
- Pre-seasoned
- Also sold as cast aluminum with non-stick coating (make sure to get the cast iron)
- Handles of the middle insert seem to be made of some sort of plastic that isn’t heat resistant
- I would love to see greater transparency about the materials!
- Only 5-inch diameter waffles
The Wonderffle cast iron stuffed waffle maker is basically the only option for a cast iron stuffed waffle iron. It makes 5-inch waffles that are a whopping 2-inches deep, and you can stuff these beauties with pretty much anything for less messy waffle snacks on the go. (Make sure you cook all your meat etc., before layering it in the waffle, and give the waffles themselves time to cook – 6 mins each side typically.)
The waffle iron is pre-seasoned and pretty intuitive to use. It works on induction and other stovetops, but I wouldn’t take this one camping as there does seem to be some plastic coating on the handles of the middle insert.
This waffle iron is also a little pricier (about $20 more) than the Rome and Lehman’s, though much less than the Appalachian.
Ones to avoid
There are a lot of ‘cast iron’ waffle makers available for online purchase. The trouble is, several of these are not what they seem. I would definitely check any listings very carefully, scouring reviews for any issues.
Some waffle maker manufacturers offer the same design in both cast iron and cast aluminum. This can be confusing on marketplaces like Amazon, so be sure to choose the cast iron.
One product I would avoid is the Hawok cast ‘iron’ waffle maker, which seems to be very poorly made. I suspect this is not actual cast iron but coated cast aluminum instead, despite the product description.
Best Electric Waffle Makers – PTFE/PFAS-Free
GreenPan Elite 4-Square Belgian & Classic Waffle Iron
Highlights: Larger waffle maker with ceramic coated non-stick plates – PFAS-free – that are removable and dishwasher safe. Four color options.
- Ceramic coated non-stick PFAS-free cast aluminum plates
- Stainless steel body with less plastic than most waffle makers
- Removable plates for easy cleaning
- Dishwasher safe plates (I recommend handwashing to preserve lifespan)
- Makes four waffles at a time
- Good range of shade and crunch settings
- Large moat to avoid overflow
- Easy-to-use presets
- Easy-to-read LCD display
- Four color options
- Expensive
- GreenPan isn’t transparent about its coatings
- Can’t use metal utensils
- Short lifespan – not as durable as cast iron or, arguably, PTFE
GreenPan offers a range of waffle makers of different sizes. These all use non-stick ceramic coated cast aluminum plates that are free of PTFE and PFAS. The ceramic coating is Thermolon Volt, which is diamond-infused, purportedly to make it extra tough.
GreenPan also says the coating is free of lead and cadmium, though the company continues to avoid publishing and third-party testing.
For ultimate convenience, the GreenPan Elite waffle makers (available in two- and four-square options) have removable plates that are dishwasher-safe. Given that these are meant to be non-stick, though, clean-up should be a breeze by hand, no?
Other features of the Elite include a well designed, user-friendly LCD display and one-touch controls, good shade and crunch settings, and a wide overflow moat to prevent big messes.
The Elite range is also available in four color options, so can make for a nice gift to match someone’s kitchen aesthetic. If you don’t care about colors, check out the options anyway as sale prices differ significantly sometimes.
GreenPan Stainless Steel 2-Square Waffle Maker
Highlights: PFAS-free, ceramic coated cast aluminum plates and stainless steel body. Easy to use electric waffle maker.
- PFAS-free, ceramic non-stick plates made of cast aluminum
- Good range of shade and crunch settings
- Large moat to avoid overflow
- Easy-to-use presets
- Easy-to-read LCD display
- Expensive
- Only makes two waffles at a time
- GreenPan isn’t transparent about its coatings
- Can’t use metal utensils
- Short lifespan – not as durable as cast iron or, arguably, PTFE
- Plates aren’t removable, so clean-up is a bit tricky
At $129 at time of writing, you’re paying a lot for the convenience of this GreenPan two-square electric waffle maker. It also means a lot more resource use over the years. And a longer wait for waffles if you need more than two.
That said, this waffle maker has a lot fans. It boasts easy one-touch controls and a handy LCD display, with a good range of shade and crunch settings.
The big difference between this model and the Elite range from GreenPan is that the plates aren’t removable. If you want to pay a lot more, you can get the Elite two-square waffle maker for just under $200 and have the convenience of removable plates that can go in the dishwasher. The Elite also comes in four colorways, rather than just stainless steel.
- Scrub off any wax or other residual coatings
- Dry the pan by hand
- Heat the pan to make sure it’s really dry
- Let it cool
- Wipe the entire pan with a layer of grapeseed oil or similar (use a silicone pastry brush to get in nooks and crannies)
- Wipe away any excess oil (it should almost feel dry to the touch)
- Heat the pan upside down for an hour in the oven at 350 F (use a baking sheet beneath to catch any drips)
- Let the pan cool in the oven
- Repeat the seasoning steps (5-8) at least once more for bare or stripped cast iron.
Avoid using a lot of oil for seasoning. This doesn’t make for quicker or better seasoning and can instead make your pan goopy and sticky. Something you definitely don’t want when cooking waffles.
Final thoughts
If money is no obstacle, treat yourself to the Appalachian cast iron waffle maker. It’s well designed, makes beautiful waffles, and will stand the test of time. It also comes pre-seasoned, removing that whole hassle.
However, if you’re looking for a more affordable, less fancy, pre-seasoned waffle iron, check out Lehman’s. It’s smaller, more compact, and about a fifth of the price of the Appalachian.
If you’re like me and want to know exactly what’s in the seasoning of your cast iron, the Rome Old Fashioned is a top choice. Simple, affordable, and tried and tested by yours truly, this waffle iron is great for making waffles at home and I’m excited to take it camping too!
Finally, as replacements go for PFAS-riddled waffle makers, the GreenPan collection is a good choice. Arguably the only choice. Still, I’d weather the learning curve of cast iron if possible and never have to buy a waffle maker again.