We spend most of our time on power tools, but invariably all the work has a purpose. Many times, that purpose ends up being the redesign or remodel of a kitchen or bathroom. Other times we find that builders are constantly looking for perks to draw prospective buyers to purchase their homes over others. This is what led to our discussion on building with premium appliances and independent reviews of products like the Bosch induction range and the Franke pull-down kitchen faucet. This go-around we took a look at two products: the Gourmia waffle maker (GWM440) and the Gourmia deep fryer (GDF500).
Gourmia Waffle Maker Features
The GWM440 Stainless Steel Gourmia Waffle Maker is your traditional Belgian-style waffle maker. It uses the expected cast iron greats so you can pour, flip, cook, and serve. This unit doesn’t come with the foldable plastic handle of the GWM460, but the T-handle design takes up nearly the same amount of space when stored away.
On the outside, the Gourmia waffle maker features a stainless steel shell for easy cleanup and a removable metal drip tray to catch any stray batter. That makes this one of the most simple waffle irons I’ve ever used. Adding to that ease-of-use is the combination of toggle power button, LCD display, and simple pushbutton controls for setting cook time.
For cooking various waffles, an adjustable temperature control lets you visually dial in the cook time. The color feedback adjusts cook time (which you see on the LCD). This not only compensates for different mix densities but also lets you go from fluffy to crisp waffles as desired. Gourmia even includes a free recipe book to give you ideas (try the chocolate, you won’t be disappointed!)
The cord is long enough, but not so long as to present a trip hazard if you’re using this away from the traditional countertop location.
Specifications & Features
- Power: 1000 watts
- Simple Flip Operation
- Easy grip “T” handle
- Adjustable Timer Control
- Removable Drip Tray
- Stainless Steel Housing
- Power On/Off Toggle Switch
- LCD Display for baking time
- UL Listed
- Dimensions: 11 x 5.5 x 6 in.
- Weight: 4 lbs.
Using the Gourmia GWM460 Stainless Steel Waffle Maker
After you plug in the Gourmia waffle maker flip the toggle switch to power it on. The LCD display comes on and the unit begins to preheat (note the flashing flame icon). The cook timer shows in the LCD display (the default timer is 2:15 minutes).
When the unit is done preheating, the flame icon stops flashing, and the LCD display turns orange. If you press the Color button you can adjust the cooking time in 0:30 increments.
All you do next is drop in your waffle batter and rotate the handle 180 degrees. The timer should start automatically. When the timer hits zero, a buzzer sounds three times and you can remove your waffles or press the ‘a bit more’ button to add another 0:30.
Gourmia recommends you use a non-metallic utensil to remove waffles from the heating plates. Between batches, the LCD will again turn orange to let you know it’s ready. Keep it closed while pre-heating and re-heating.
Considering the MSRP on this Gourmia waffle maker is just $49.99, the delicious waffles that it allowed us to make made for an easy recommendation.
Gourmia Double Deep Fryer
The GDF500 Gourmia Triple Basket Deep Fryer provides up to 4.2 liters of frying capacity. It also delivers options with three baskets. You can either use two separate side-by-side baskets for keeping different foods apart or opt for a single larger basket to make a larger batch.
Like the Gourmia waffle maker, the deep fryer has a stainless steel outside that makes cleanup easy and keeps you separated from the hot interior components. Controls are digital and look complex, but really you’re dealing with a digital countdown and integrated thermometer. The power cord magnetically attaches to the rear of the Gourmia deep fryer, and it will detach if it is bumped or pulled against. It is very safe, although I wish the magnets were a tad stronger. It could also stand to be a couple feet longer in length.
While I expected the system to have a preheat mode followed by a cooing mode, the system actually seems to only have a single timer function. It’s a tad confusing in that it doesn’t seem to preheat without activating the countdown. Subsequent timer settings also seem tied to activating the unit. As an example, french fries typically take just a few minutes to cook, but the user manual indicates 10-15 minutes for frozen fries. I suspect a lot of that time is estimated for the warm-up of the oil.
In either case, the timer will function adequately once you understand the desired cooking times you need and the oil is heated to its full cooking temperature.
Specifications & Features
- Power: 1700 watts
- Baskets: 3 (1 XL basket, 1 double basket that detaches into 2 smaller baskets w/safety handles)
- Adjustable LCD Timer Control
- Stainless Steel Housing
- Capacity: 4.2 liters
- Activated Carbon FryFilter
- Direct Contact Heating Element
- TriSafe 2-way Safety System with auto shutdown thermostat
- Completely detachable power cord
- Easy to Clean
- Removable fry tank
- UL Listed
- Weight: 10.5 lbs.
Using the Gourmia Deep Fryer
We made wings, french fries, and doughnuts with the Gourmia deep fryer. It passed all of our delicious “tests” with flying colors. Aside from the few aforementioned quirks, this is a solid product for frying all manner of foods. At a street price of around $55, it’s not the least expensive system on the market, but it’s close. It also looks good and takes up little space in the cabinet. If you want a more health-conscious alternative, be sure to also check out Gourmia’s line of air friers.
These are two great products that I find easy to recommend to anyone looking for some excellent “kitchen tools”. My summary is basically: Fun, easy to use, and a decent value.
Check out the entire line at the Gourmia website.
