Griswold Waffle Iron

ClubChapin · August 16, 2015, 10:02:14 PM

I recently picked up a Griswold Waffle Iron.

It took three sessions, but finally I have figured it out. This thing requires some heat, much more than U use with my CI griddle when making pancakes.

First I tried it not on the grill, but with 4, then 8 or so, coal in the base of the unit.

Next, I tried it on the 22" kettle with a 1/3 - half chimney or so piled below it. I was certain that this was going to work.

Neither of the above worked.

Today, I tried it over a Vortex, that was half full of used coals. This worked well.

My batter was Kodiak flapjack mix. This has become our go to pancake mix recently. Costco sells it at a good bargain.

It did take some time for the waffle iron to heat up. I did find that cooking times varied from waffle to waffle. I think next time I will start with new coals. I think these peaked and deterioated pretty quickly on me.

I found it really useful to use a timer to keep an eye on the waffles. After flipping, it seems that the 2nd side took 50% longer than the first side. I think this is due to the top cooling for two cycles while cooking side 1. My process was pour batter,cook, flip, cook, remove waffle, pour batter, cook, flip, cook, remove etc. I tried pour, cook, flip, cook, remove, flip, pour... a few times. This worked too. Neither way was the time the same for both sides. That would be nice if It was.

The WI has been well recently. I sprayed the WI with Pam before the start of each waffle. They consistently released well.[/size]

[/size]
I found the metal handles got pretty warm. If I were to get another, I would consider one of the wood handle models.[/size]

At anyrate, I give this a 3.5 of 5. It is a pretty niche product. It does work as advertised and the waffles it produced were crispy and tasty. It does require more patience and experimentation and is more advanced than my pancake set up.

Sometimes you want a waffle rather than a pancake.

Pics:

LaTuFu · August 17, 2015, 04:25:01 AM

When I am DO cooking, I usually leave a few coals on the top when I am switching out foods, just to keep the lid warm during the "re-prep" process.

Maybe you can do something similar with an improvised "warmer lid."

A stainless steel dog's water dish or something similar that is about the same diameter as your WI.

2-4 coals in that (depending on if you want it to help cook the waffles or just keep the lid temp up), place the bowl on the WI while you're cooking.

argentflame · August 17, 2015, 07:45:46 AM

Nice pickup.

LightningBoldtz · August 17, 2015, 08:31:11 AM

bucket list, I now need one of those........

Craig · August 17, 2015, 06:29:06 PM

That's a sweet WI! Griswold is some sweet old school CI!

Troy · August 18, 2015, 07:51:50 AM

nice. i didn't even know that existed.

i edited title to make it a little more obvious what the post was about.

Craig · August 18, 2015, 07:54:08 AM

Quote from: Troy on August 18, 2015, 07:51:50 AM
nice. i didn't even know that existed.

i edited title to make it a little more obvious what the post was about.

At first I thought it meant Griswold Wisconsin which I don't believe exists

Troy · August 18, 2015, 07:54:45 AM

Quote from: Craig on August 18, 2015, 07:54:08 AM

Quote from: Troy on August 18, 2015, 07:51:50 AM
nice. i didn't even know that existed.

i edited title to make it a little more obvious what the post was about.

At first I thought it meant Griswold Wisconsin which I don't believe exists

yeah me too

ClubChapin · August 18, 2015, 08:11:31 AM

Quote from: Troy on August 18, 2015, 07:51:50 AM
nice. i didn't even know that existed.

These things have been around longer than our beloved kettles.

I think mine is from around 1908.

I don't know when they stopped producing them.

Here is some info:

http://www.castironcollector.com/waffle.php

I do need to say that it was this site that got me going on cast iron. Certainly, skillets and dutch ovens are popular here. It was chasing those down that I found the WI.

One of these may be next for me (I know, aluminium, not CI):

Original:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waffle-Dog-Iron-1950s-or-60s-Vintage-Waffle-Batter-Hot-Dog-Cooker/161793687433?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33097%26meid%3Df6ff43b9736c4e55a863effb0937cb56%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D331405264549

Repro:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waffle-Dog-Iron/271948050912?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D32936%26meid%3D74ad4a7bba974e579ea9346daafed9b7%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D161793687433

ClubChapin · August 18, 2015, 08:16:40 AM

I should add that Wagner and others made Waffle Irons back in the day, if you happen to be partial to Wagner over Griswold.

stubblebum · August 18, 2015, 02:42:51 PM

I have been looking for one of these at the right price for a year or so. I think some of them are differentiated as high base or low base. Is that a high base?

Whoa! Waffle dog iron. I now have visions of being in northern Wisconsin with a kettle-fried chicken tender inside a waffle dog iron and vat of hot freshly made maple syrup awaiting. Now I have something else to buy.

ClubChapin · August 18, 2015, 06:10:41 PM

Quote from: stubblebum on August 18, 2015, 02:42:51 PM
I have been looking for one of these at the right price for a year or so. I think some of them are differentiated as high base or low base. Is that a high base?

Whoa! Waffle dog iron. I now have visions of being in northern Wisconsin with a kettle-fried chicken tender inside a waffle dog iron and vat of hot freshly made maple syrup awaiting. Now I have something else to buy.

Mine is the high base. I think the low base would be less desirable with the size of the lip of the kettle.

The high base allows the waffle iron part to flip without being lifted. I think the low base is designed for a wood stove with an open hole into the fire box.

I broke down and ordered the repro waffledog maker.

ClubChapin · August 18, 2015, 06:21:01 PM

Quote from: LightningBoldtz on August 17, 2015, 08:31:11 AM
bucket list, I now need one of those........

Here's a real nice looking Wagner. Seems like a fair price for the condition it is in.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-WAGNER-MFG-CO-WAFFLE-IRON-on-High-Bail-Handle-BASE-Patd-1910-NICE-Clean-NR/252055319592?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D29979%26meid%3D35d6cb1e553345cda035429772f99825%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D24%26sd%3D171892880072

Mine was less $, but needed a lye bath followed by an electrolysis bath before I seasoned it for use.

stubblebum · August 19, 2015, 04:53:39 AM

Quote from: ClubChapin on August 18, 2015, 06:10:41 PM

Mine is the high base. I think the low base would be less desirable with the size of the lip of the kettle.

The high base allows the waffle iron part to flip without being lifted. I think the low base is designed for a wood stove with an open hole into the fire box.

I broke down and ordered the repro waffledog maker.

Thanks- That is the kind of info I was looking for when I asked. I would think the handle on the low base would possibly get hotter (or scorched if it was made of wood) when you use it over charcoal.

ClubChapin · August 20, 2015, 06:48:25 PM

Quote from: stubblebum on August 19, 2015, 04:53:39 AM
Thanks- That is the kind of info I was looking for when I asked. I would think the handle on the low base would possibly get hotter (or scorched if it was made of wood) when you use it over charcoal.

This is how I will set up next time, with the handle hanging over the edge. It will help with handle heat.

The low base would not do this.

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Griswold Waffle Iron