Old waffle iron - advice?

Kenneth Simon said:

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box.
We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking
at different heat settings. But, all that happens when we
open the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Quoted message said:

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

You might try making waffles from scratch, instead of from
Bisquick as an experiment. I have a feeling though that
the waffle iron just isn't getting hot enough, but it
could be that you simply need to use a different type of
waffle batter.

"Kenneth Simon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I bought a pretty old waffle iron and so far have had no
luck with it. Maybe someone can help?

This is a JC Penney model 4894 "Penncrest" waffle iron.
Old enough to have a cloth-covered power cord. It has some
kind of pre-teflon nonstick coating and settings: off;
low; medium; high.

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box.
We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking
at different heat settings. But, all that happens when we
open the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and answer
any questions.

Thanks, Ken

I remember back when I was a kid, after my grandfather died
my mom cleaned out his house and found an old waffle iron.
We thought, cool, score! I think it took my mom about 2
months to figure out what type of batter to use in that
thing. She finally *did* get it right, but it was alot of
trial and error. We'd open it up and the batter would either
have gooped over the sides, stuck terribly, stuck to the top
half and broke apart by still sticking to the bottom half.

I think what she partly did was let it fully heat up first -
like do a dry run halfway through and then spray the heck
out of it, but I know she altered her batter as well.

But I remember how frustrated she was and she was ready to
throw the darn thing away. Perseverance paid off. We
enjoyed waffles for YEARS after that. She probably still
has the thing.

Keep trying!

kili
--
"Beer, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems." - - Homer
Simpson

Quoted message said:

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles using
a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box. We
sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking at
different heat settings. But, all that happens when we open
the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and answer
any questions.

Ken, everything dies, even waffle irons. Pat

Kenneth Simon <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I bought a pretty old waffle iron and so far have had no
luck with it. Maybe someone can help?

This is a JC Penney model 4894 "Penncrest" waffle iron.
Old enough to have a cloth-covered power cord. It has some
kind of pre-teflon nonstick coating and settings: off;
low; medium; high.

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box.
We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking
at different heat settings. But, all that happens when we
open the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and answer
any questions.

Thanks, Ken

The spray oils, like Pam, don't do a very good job when the
temps are high - like in a waffle iron - at least, that's my
experience.

The best thing to do is to brush on some lard or Crisco
(lightly) - you're gonna sacrifice your first waffle, anyway
- but after the first one, brush lightly each time before
you pour the batter in, and they should be fine. You'll have
to figure out when to check doneness so they don't get
pulled apart by you opening the lid, and when to take them
out so they aren't burned.

My family used one of those round, old, cloth-cord irons for
years, and never had a problem with doneness.

I like the Bisquick ones - I've found that if I use a "real"
recipe, with added separately whipped egg whites, they tend
to stick more.

When you clean the waffle iron, just use a paper towel to
wipe off the cooking surface - soap will kill your built-up
"seasoning."

Or, buy a new one - the cloth-covered cords deteriorate
easily when they're as old as yours - and new ones have a
more-or-less non-stick surface, and aren't expensive.

N. (who still uses a cloth-covered-cord deep fryer)

"Kenneth Simon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I bought a pretty old waffle iron and so far have had no
luck with it. Maybe someone can help?

This is a JC Penney model 4894 "Penncrest" waffle iron.
Old enough to have a cloth-covered power cord. It has some
kind of pre-teflon nonstick coating and settings: off;
low; medium; high.

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box.
We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking
at different heat settings. But, all that happens when we
open the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and answer
any questions.

You aren't beyond hope but the waffle iron probably is. I
struggled for a long time with an ancient waffle iron like
the one you are describing. The frustration ceased when I
finally gave in and spent $20 for a new one. I tend to like
old stuff too but you have to draw a limit sometimes.

Kenneth Simon said:

Hi all,

I bought a pretty old waffle iron and so far have had no
luck with it. Maybe someone can help?

This is a JC Penney model 4894 "Penncrest" waffle iron.
Old enough to have a cloth-covered power cord. It has some
kind of pre-teflon nonstick coating and settings: off;
low; medium; high.

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box.
We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking
at different heat settings. But, all that happens when we
open the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and answer
any questions.

Make sure the waffle iron is heated to the proper
temperature before you throw the batter on. Don't put the
top down immediately. Let the bottom cook for about 30
seconds before closing it and leave it closed until it
stops steaming. The first one often sticks, but the rest
should be fine.

I don't know about your recipe. I have never used Biscuik
for anything. You need some oil in the batter. Any basic
cookbook should have a good recipe for waffles. They are
even better when you separate the eggs, mixing beaten eggs
with the milk and then beating the whites and folding them
into the batter.

Two things with waffles.

Make sure the batter has enough shortening in it. I've had
them a sticky mess in a non-stick waffle iron because I
forgot to put it in. Low shortening ones tend to stick a lot
more than high shortening. The recipe I use has 1/2 stick
butter (4 tablespoons) to 1 1/2 cups dry.

Waffles are done when they stop steaming. Opening any
earlier you take a chance of them sticking or spliting in
half stuck to both sides.

You will have to experiment with the recipe and iron to find
the best mix that will work. The older non-stick varieties
are a lot fussier. "Kenneth Simon" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I bought a pretty old waffle iron and so far have had no
luck with it. Maybe someone can help?

This is a JC Penney model 4894 "Penncrest" waffle iron.
Old enough to have a cloth-covered power cord. It has some
kind of pre-teflon nonstick coating and settings: off;
low; medium; high.

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box.
We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking
at different heat settings. But, all that happens when we
open the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and answer
any questions.

Thanks, Ken

Kenneth Simon <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I bought a pretty old waffle iron and so far have had no
luck with it. Maybe someone can help?

This is a JC Penney model 4894 "Penncrest" waffle iron.
Old enough to have a cloth-covered power cord. It has some
kind of pre-teflon nonstick coating and settings: off;
low; medium; high.

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick box.
We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried cooking
at different heat settings. But, all that happens when we
open the waffle iron to see the results is that the waffle
inside falls apart, is either too goopy, or burned. Never
comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a waffle
iron like this? Also, what is a good method for using it?
Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and answer
any questions.

I have the same waffle iron. Make the batter from scratch.
(It's just as easy as Bisquik.) I use Pam and it works okay.
But, I remember my Mom using a little Crisco.

The key is to remember is the first waffle gets thrown out!

I think these old waffle irons work fine, and maybe make a
better waffle. You know how the Teflon doesn't get the
crispy edges?...

Karen

Thanks one and all for your advice! I was game to try it
again, but my wife's response was a little less forgiving.
😉 She doesn't have the patience for trial and error and she
rolled her eyes when I told her about the "throw away the
first waffle" rule. I think I see teflon in our future!

However, I thought I might print out some of these messages
and tuck them into the wafflemaker when we give it away.
I'll bet it will make someone quite grateful. 🙂

Again, many thanks.

Ken

In article
<[email hidden]>, Karen

O'Mara said:

Kenneth Simon <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

I bought a pretty old waffle iron and so far have had no
luck with it. Maybe someone can help?

This is a JC Penney model 4894 "Penncrest" waffle iron.
Old enough to have a cloth-covered power cord. It has
some kind of pre-teflon nonstick coating and settings:
off; low; medium; high.

The problem? My wife and I have tried to make waffles
using a basic batter mix from the side of a Bisquick
box. We sprayed a bit of Pam on the surface and tried
cooking at different heat settings. But, all that
happens when we open the waffle iron to see the results
is that the waffle inside falls apart, is either too
goopy, or burned. Never comes out right or in one piece.

Anyone know of an ideal batter recipe for use in a
waffle iron like this? Also, what is a good method for
using it? Or -- should we chuck the thing? 🙂

I hope we aren't beyond hope. We're actually good cooks
when we know what we're doing! I'll check back and
answer any questions.

I have the same waffle iron. Make the batter from scratch.
(It's just as easy as Bisquik.) I use Pam and it works
okay. But, I remember my Mom using a little Crisco.

The key is to remember is the first waffle gets
thrown out!

I think these old waffle irons work fine, and maybe make a
better waffle. You know how the Teflon doesn't get the
crispy edges?...

Karen