Gourmet Belgian Waffle Maker vs Original Stovetop Belgian Waffle Maker: which is safer?
Nordic Ware Original Stovetop Belgian Waffle Maker is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
All-Clad
Gourmet Belgian Waffle Maker
PFAS grade
Bad 15/100
Overall grade
Bad 1/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
Nonstick-coated cooking surfaces; specific coating chemistry not disclosed
Confidence
42%
PossibleTeflon-type coating fume risk (thermal degradation)
ReportedCoating degradation and spalling
Our pick
Nordic Ware
Original Stovetop Belgian Waffle Maker
PFAS grade
Poor 40/100
Overall grade
Bad 24/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 4
Material
Cast aluminum with unspecified nonstick coating
Confidence
42%
PossibleNonstick coating degradation and fume release
PossibleAluminum leaching
PossibleCoating flaking into food
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PTFE fume risk (thermal degradation) and Coating degradation and spalling on the All-Clad and not on the Nordic Ware.
- We flag Nonstick coating degradation and fume release, Aluminum leaching, Coating flaking into food and Handle or fastener corrosion on the Nordic Ware and not on the All-Clad.
- The All-Clad is Nonstick-coated cooking surfaces; specific coating chemistry not disclosed where the Nordic Ware is Cast aluminum with unspecified nonstick coating, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Nordic Ware is the one to buy.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More waffle makers: see the full ranking