Which waffle iron base to use?

[Harry]

I am shopping for a Heart and Star waffle iron for actually cooking waffles.  I have an electric stove.  My son who is a chef wants to use one in his kitchen that has professional restaurant grade gas stoves.  

Which base is best for which application?  

Are the waffle iron bases interchangeable across the various Griswold waffle irons?


Thanks

[C. B. Williams]

Harry: First welcome. bases are not neccessarily interchangable, some do, some don't. there is a stop pin that can be located in various places. I like low base only for electric stoves. Gas will take either.

[Greg Stahl]

ditto for what CB says

[Steve_Stephens]

I've used many different waffle irons over 30 years on my electric coil burner stove and prefer the high frame for its ease of turning plus I think the heat is more even.  Low frames were made for wood and coal and high for gas and vapor stoves.   Griswold's last waffle iron design (hammered one) had only a low frame.  You have to decide which you like or try several.  I'll always recommend high frames but the others recommending low frames are not novices so I guess it's a case or preference.  Your mouth probably won't be able to tell if waffle was made on high or low.  No.8 size is my favorite and the Alfred Andresen heart shaped irons may make the best waffles of all.

Waffle frames vary quite a bit.  Some irons and frames are interchangeable while others will work but have some feature or construction that isn't necessarily compatible between the irons and frame.  If you have any questions put up a post or email private message me and I'll tell you which goes with what.  It's not uncommon to find irons with the wrong frame.

Steve

[Roger Barfield]

the Alfred Andresen heart shaped irons may make the best waffles of all.

I agree, they do work really well.  I use a low base Alfred Andreson heart waffle iron on my gas stove top, but I flip a burner upside down on top of another to raise it up and make it sit flat.  Greg has a really good recipie posted in the recipie section.

[C. B. Williams]

Note #2 to Harry: I don't know if you realize it but, there are available some 'heart only' irons. The 'heart only' irons have the points of the hearts coming together at the center. Not quite as available as the hearts and star but two sold on ebay in the last few days. Next, Once upon a time when I had an electric cooktop, I tried both high and low base irons. electric is slow to react when something is touching the coil, so the farther away it is, the s l o w e r it becomes. That is why I suggested the low base for electric and was assuming you have the standard coil type eyes. Then one day about 5 years ago, I installed a high quality gas cooktop and "everything is beautiful". C B

[rust]

I have to agree, although we have not used our Alfred Andresen yet (just arrived today) it is a gorgeous waffle iron and the heart design is striking. I love the wooden handles too. We originallly wanted a heart star one also. Best of luck in your hunting.

[Tom Neitzel]

The heart only waffles, usually 5 of them in the iron, are a traditional scandinavian dessert.  They irons are still made today and readily available.  The easiest ones to use are the electric, teflon coated ones, Villaware, Cuisinart and others.  If I wanted a reasonably priced, quality cast iron one I would get one made by Jotul, nearly always available on eBay, just search for Jotul (they don't make them anymore, but were made into the 1970s).  Sell for $20 to $40 and are worth it.  These irons have a very short base, like 3/4" high, or can be placed directly on the stove.  The base was optional.

I'll look in the recipe area at what's posted.  I have one for these that is mainly butter and heavy cream with a touch of flour to hold it together.  They are crisp, light, tasty, and a cholesterol nightmare.

tom