The design

The earliest waffle irons had long elegant handles and are tong-shaped, the two iron plates connected by a hinge from the long side. From the 20th century most irons changed: their handles became shorter as they were no longer used on an open fire, but on a stove or a hob. The way the waffle iron opens also changed: the hinge that connected the two iron plates now opened from the short side instead. The advantage of earlier waffle irons was that you could place one end of a handle on the floor, while keeping the iron open to be filled with waffle batter, as can be seen in Joachim Beuckelaer’s A Dutch Kitchen Scene (c. 1561–1570), a painting held by the National Trust in the Treasurer’s House, York, UK – and also in the photograph. You cannot do this with the more recent ones, which were clearly made with a kitchen and a hob in mind, rather than for use on an open fireplace or a fire outside. The earliest waffle iron kept the baking iron from touching the floor thanks to the way it opened; if you’re using a recent version you’d need to put it on a stool or table.