ci waffle iron low or high base

[Eunice]

When buying a waffle iron which is better? the low base or the high base? and explain why please. ok I made this a poll to see who has what.
Eunice

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Eunice,
Up until very recently, I didn't know why some were high and some were low but prefered the high base, until Kevin obtained an old book on cast iron waffle makers...
The book says that the high bases were for gas stoves and the low bases were for wood stoves...
Jerome also pointed out that he has a low base and uses it all the time on Coleman gas stove...
And to add more... Joanne did a test with briquettes as feul to make waffles and pointed out that the base needs to be elevated to allow air flow underneath it to keep the briquettes lit...
Kinda makes me think a low base would have an advantage over a high base using briquettes or coals...
Myself, I have three high base waffle iron... #8 round Wagner, square Wagner and a Griswold Heart Star.
Oh... And one salesman's sample/toy Wagner low base.

[Eunice]

thanks Dean. I am looking at an old low base one but if I get it I would have to be making the waffles instead of eating the waffles at gatherings. part of me wants to leave that up to the men. haha
Eunice

[mfkaplan]

Mine has a low base and I've been using it on my electric stove. I don't think the high base would work very well.I guess they both work on gas stoves in kitchens. I plan to use mine on the camp stove too.

[Eunice]

thanks mary. I think it is about the same as Chinese woks. The low base was for electric and the high base was gas but I guess you can make it work with whatever you have.
Eunice

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Eunice,
I finally got my hands on Kevin's book that I've been mentioning a lot lately.
Read the entire book in about two minutes...
It's about 2" x 3" and has about 8-10 pages.

[Kevin A]

Eunice,
I finally got my hands on Kevin's book that I've been mentioning a lot lately.
Read the entire book in about two minutes...
It's about 2" x 3" and has about 8-10 pages.

Yeah, but ya gotta admit, it's a neat little bookLET

[Eunice]

ok more details please. name of booklet and where is it?
Eunice

[jplock]

Mine is a low base and use it on the kitchen gas stove and on the coleman stove camping and work great!
jplock

[Lazybones]

I think a low base would be better. I have been cooking with a high base and it takes too long to heat the waffle maker. I am looking for a low base myself.

[pgwilli]

Just got the word that my highbase is "in the mail".
Now I'll be able to try 'em out side by side.
I think the low base is harder to get the temp even, but then again, I'm not very experienced + I don't have handles on my irons yet so its harder to rotate them properly.

[pgwilli]

I just got my Griswold in the mail today. Its in really nice shape except for a weak seasoning job and a little light rust.



Either set of irons can be used in either base, but they index the irons a little differently.
Western Importing uses a protrusion on the side of the irons that fits into a slot in the base.



Griswold has a ridge on the handles that fits into a groove in the base.



I'll just have to pay attention to level when I use the Gris irons on the WI low base.

[Eunice]

very nice Paul. You can cook breakfast at the next gathering. I am going to just stay with my one for now.
Eunice