There is a particular kind of weekend morning that calls for a Belgian waffle: the kind where the coffee is already going, the kitchen is warm, and nobody is in a hurry. The Presto 03510 Ceramic FlipSide Belgian Waffle Maker is built for exactly that ritual, with a twist that sets it apart from the flat grid irons on the shelf. It flips. The entire cooking surface pivots 180 degrees during the bake, which is how it spreads the batter evenly and produces a waffle with deep pockets and an even brown on both sides. I made a dozen waffles in this machine over a month of Sunday mornings, and this review is the record of what it does well and where it gets fiddly.
A quick note before the batter. This article contains affiliate links, and if you purchase through them the site earns a commission at no additional cost to you. That commission does not change what I write or how I test, and the waffle maker reviewed here was purchased new at retail.
Belgian waffles are defined by their deep pockets, which are meant to catch butter and syrup rather than let them run onto the plate. The FlipSide delivers those pockets through thick, ceramic coated grids that hold a generous pour of batter, and the flipping action is the mechanical trick that makes the pockets fill evenly. This review covers the design, the ceramic coating, the real performance across many batches, and how it compares to the non flipping irons and the more expensive models in the category.
Design and Build
The FlipSide is a compact, round machine with a stainless steel exterior and a black base, and it takes up less counter space than its round footprint suggests. The two cooking plates are hinged on a central frame that rotates the entire cooking cavity 180 degrees, so the unit literally tips over partway through the cook. A handle on the front gives you a grip for the flip, and a set of feet keeps the base stable when it is resting flat between batches.
The build is solid for the price. The hinge mechanism that allows the flip is the part that could fail, and after a month of regular use it still moved smoothly with no slop or grinding. The plates are coated in a ceramic nonstick finish rather than the darker traditional coating, which gives a lighter release and a less scratched appearance over time. The power cord is a fixed cord with a heat resistant casing, and the machine has a simple indicator light that tells you when it has come up to temperature.
Key Features
The headline feature is the flip. Because the whole cooking surface rotates, the batter is redistributed across both sides of the mold at once, which is how the machine gets that even, deep-pocketed result without you manually pouring and spreading. The flip takes one hand and a moment of attention, and it is the difference between a waffle that is dense on one side and fluffy on the other and one that is uniform all the way through.
The ceramic nonstick coating is the second feature worth attention. It releases cooked waffles cleanly with no torn edges, which is the classic failure point of a cheap waffle iron, and it wipes clean with a damp cloth. There is a ready indicator light that shows when the plates have reached baking temperature, and a temperature dial with a range from dark to light lets you tune the brownness to your preference.
The round shape makes one large Belgian waffle at a time, and the deep pockets are generous enough to hold a real pour of syrup. That single waffle format is the right size for the weekend breakfast it serves, and the removable drip tray at the front catches any overflow from over eager batter pours, which keeps the counter clean.
Real-World Performance
The first waffle is the moment of truth for any iron, and the FlipSide handled it well. I let the machine preheat until the indicator light changed, poured in a generous cup of batter, closed the lid, and waited for the light to signal the first phase. Then came the flip: I grasped the handle, tipped the whole machine over, and let it finish. The result was a waffle with deep, well formed pockets, an even golden brown across the entire surface, and a fluffy interior that did not have the soggy middle that plagues cheap irons.
Over the next several batches I tested variations: thicker buttermilk batter, thinner classic batter, and a gluten free mix. The flip handled all of them, with the thick batter producing the best pocket definition and the thin batter producing a crispier, lighter waffle. The ceramic coating released every single waffle without a struggle, and I never once had to pry a torn waffle out of the grids, which is the experience that ends most people's romance with a waffle maker.
The browning control made a real difference in practice. On the lower setting the waffles came out pale and soft, perfect for kids who want theirs plain; on the higher setting they came out deep amber and crisp, the kind that snaps when you cut into it. The dial responds predictably, and the ready light cycles back on quickly between batches, so making waffles for four people was a steady rhythm rather than a waiting game.
Cleanup is where the machine earns real credit. Once the plates cooled, a quick wipe with a damp cloth removed the light residue, and the ceramic coating never stained or darkened the way traditional nonstick waffle grids do. The drip tray slides out and rinses in the sink, and the whole unit stays out of the dishwasher, which the manual recommends against. In a month of use, I never had to scrub the grids, and they still release like new.
The honest criticisms are about workflow and volume. The flip demands attention at the right moment, so this is not a walk away appliance; you need to be present to turn it. And it makes one waffle at a time, so a large family brunch takes a while, though the fast recovery between batches softens that. The machine also runs noticeably warm on the outside during the flip, so the handle is the only safe thing to grab, and the fixed cord limits where you can place it on a small counter.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Flip action produces deep pockets and even browning
- Ceramic coating releases waffles cleanly every time
- Adjustable browning dial from pale to crisp amber
- Wipes clean with a damp cloth, no scrubbing needed
- Compact round footprint that fits a modest counter
- Consistent results across different batter types
Cons:
- Makes one waffle at a time, slow for large groups
- Flip requires you to be present during the cook
- Exterior gets hot during the flip
- Fixed power cord limits counter placement
How It Compares
The Belgian waffle maker field splits into flip models and fixed grid models, and the price gap between them is significant. The table below lines up the FlipSide against the main alternatives.
| Feature | Presto FlipSide | Fixed Grid Iron | High End Flip Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flip action | 180 degree pivot | None | 180 degree pivot |
| Grid coating | Ceramic nonstick | Traditional nonstick | Ceramic or metal |
| Browning control | Adjustable dial | Often fixed | Adjustable dial |
| Pocket depth | Deep | Shallow to medium | Deep |
| Cleanup | Wipe clean, drip tray | Wipe clean | Wipe clean |
| Price | Budget friendly | Lowest | Expensive |
If you only want a waffle occasionally and never care about pocket depth, a fixed grid iron is cheaper and simpler. If you take Belgian waffles seriously, the flip action is worth the money, because it is the mechanism that delivers the evenly filled deep pockets. The FlipSide gives you most of what an expensive flip model does at a fraction of the price, and the ceramic coating is a genuine upgrade over the traditional finish found on budget irons.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Presto FlipSide if you enjoy weekend waffles, if you prefer Belgian waffles with deep pockets over flat breakfast waffles, or if you have been put off by cheap irons that tear your waffles apart on release. It is also a sensible pick for a first waffle maker, because the price is low enough to justify and the results are good enough to keep. You can check the current price of the Presto FlipSide on Amazon to see how it compares today.
Skip it if you regularly feed a crowd, where a double model or two machines would serve better, or if you want a waffle maker you can walk away from mid cook. For the classic two or four person weekend breakfast, this is a reliable, easy to clean machine that makes a genuinely better waffle than its price suggests.
How We Test
I made twelve batches of waffles over a month, using three different batter types, testing the full range of the browning dial, and timing the recovery between batches for a four person brunch. I evaluated release quality on every waffle, checked the depth and evenness of the pockets, and cleaned the machine after each session to confirm the wipe down claim. I also deliberately overfilled the batter once to test the drip tray.
For a broader look at what separates a good waffle maker from a mediocre one, Serious Eats has a thorough guide to waffle irons and Belgian waffles that is worth a read before you decide, and Wirecutter's pick for the best waffle makers rounds out the comparison. The Presto FlipSide listing on Amazon shows current pricing and any updated packaging or model revisions.
Presto FlipSide: Questions People Ask
Does the waffle maker really flip?
Yes, the whole cooking assembly pivots 180 degrees during baking, which spreads the batter evenly and produces an even golden brown on both sides of the waffle.
Are the waffle grids ceramic coated?
Yes, the grids use a ceramic nonstick coating that releases waffles easily and wipes clean, so there is no need for heavy greasing and no risk of torn waffles on release.
What size waffles does it make?
It bakes one large round Belgian waffle with deep pockets at a time, which is roughly enough for two people at a weekend breakfast.
How do you clean the Presto FlipSide?
Wait for the grids to cool, wipe them with a damp cloth or soft sponge, and do not submerge the body or the power cord in water.
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