My kids vacillate between waffles and pancakes most days, and I’ve resorted to the frozen variety out of convenience, but also because frankly I suck at making pancakes. Cooking pancakes on the stovetop is literally a 20-30 minute anxiety attack. I always burn them, they come out all different shapes/sizes, the kitchen fills up with smoke, and I go through way too much butter to keep the griddle greased. Not to mention the mess afterwards.
Enter Cuisinart. I’m a huge Cuisinart fan. Their appliances have never let me down. I own their blender/food processor, toaster/convection oven, bread maker, stick blender, and the list goes on. Everything works well, and everything is easy to use. So when I saw yet another magical combo kitchen appliance from them, I knew it was the one.
There is no learning curve to using this appliance. With a cacophony of toddlers in my general vicinity, I was able to make a batch of waffles with ease day 1. The kids loved them. Day 2 was pancake day, and as you can see from the video, IMHO, the Cuisinart Breakfast Central is the most civilized way to make pancakes. No smoke, no mess, no stress. Indeed, it was so enjoyable that I made 4 batches so that I had leftovers to freeze for the week. I whistled a happy tune all the while, basking in the anxiety free breakfast experience.
My favorite feature, however, is that the PLATES COME OUT AND ARE DISHWASHER SAFE. Game. Changer. I can actually clean the appliance properly after use, instead of just kind of wiping it down and hoping nothing grows in there when it goes back into storage. I haven’t put the plates in the dishwasher since they’re so easy to clean, but it’s nice to know that I can. The entire outside seems to be non-stickish as well, so that when batter overflows (which sometimes it does), it wipes clean with ease.
The Breakfast Central also comes with recipes included, which you’ll actually want to make (sweet and savory waffles, infused maple syrup recipes, and unique pancake recipes). I’m always impressed with the recipes Cuisinart includes with their appliances, and this is no exception.
Other pros:
1. It’s surprisingly lightweight.
2. The handle stays nice and cool no matter how long I use the appliance.
3. The non-stick surface is excellent; absolutely nothing gets left behind.
4. There is only one control knob—super simple to use.
5. It cooks fast!
I am beyond thrilled with this appliance and look forward to using it for years to come. Thank you, Cuisinart, for helping me to master cooking pancakes after all these years!