Cooking Irons

Waffle and wafer irons are similarly shaped and work the same way. Patterns (not necessarily identical) are impressed or incised in two facing metal plates of matching dimensions. The plates are joined at one side by a hinge or hinges. The irons are heated, then opened to fill with batter or dough and immediately closed for cooking. As the filling cooks or dough cooks (literally bakes) between the heated plates, it takes on the pattern of the plates, and often the form of the plates themselves. Some irons are large enough to make multiple wafers at a time; the size of each wafer is determined by the amount of batter or dough used with each portion.