I was given a Smart Waffle for the purposes of review. All opinion, editorial and imagery is my own.

All waffle lovers out there know that one of the biggest annoyances we have is dribbling waffle batter all down the side of our machines during cooking. The Smart Waffle maker solves this as it has a wide wrap around moat that catches the extra batter AND cooks it too for some extra munching. Awesome right? Choose the best waffle maker to amp up your brunches, even when cooking from home. In our top 10, we've featured models from Sage, Breville, Dualit, and more top brands. Some models have space for cooking two waffles at once, whereas others are smaller and more compact, perfect for single servings.

While it may be on the expensive side, the Sage No Mess Waffle Maker packs in more than enough clever design touches to justify its price

When you close the lid, be careful not to clip the latch shut. This machine needs to give the waffle a little wiggle room to rise and somewhere for the steam to escape. You might notice the lid lifts slightly as the waffle cooks. The waffles only took about 2-3 minutes to cook and I’d say they were near-perfect. They had the right amount of crispiness on the outside and fluffiness in the middle. I was also very impressed with how neat they looked. After the first waffle I was smitten. Perfect waffles on our first attempt – light, golden brown and with a crispy and crunchy exterior – so so much better than from the now defunct cheaper machine. The waffle maker is super speedy taking a few minutes to both heat up, and to cook. There is an audible beep once cooked so you can get on with other things and do not have to watch the machine. Each quarter waffle is smaller than a traditional sized waffle making this machine very suitable for those with children, the machine can be used by a (supervised) 8 year old, and the handy drip moat will catch overflowing batter caused by over enthusiastic pouring. The machine is about the same size as a mini health grill – about 28 x 23cm standing about 15cm high, it is nicely solid weighing about 3kg. To make the waffles simply switch it on choosing your heat setting, wait for the blue “ready” light to come on, pour in the batter, close the lid and wait for the waffle to cook then remove and eat. Sage by Heston Blumenthal No Mess Waffle Maker – Key Features

There areoptions for different batter types (Belgian, Classic, Chocolate or Buttermilk), plus a special "custom" setting READ NEXT: The best waffle makers you can buy Sage The No Mess Waffle Maker review: What’s good about it? Yes, yes, and hell to the yeah!!! As long as you have a batter of the right consistency, adding in chocolate chips – or anything you might add to a cake batter, really – is absolutely fine. You could add dried fruit, lemon zest, even mini marshmallows! How much waffle batter should you put in your waffle maker? Even the most basic machine will turn out a tasty waffle – the secret is in the recipe, after all – but the key to consistent and really fluffy results is power, so look for at least 800W or ideally 1,000W. Fast preheating saves time, but patience is key and you should expect to wait at least five minutes for your waffles to cook.

What features should I look for in a waffle maker?

This is a serious bit of kit for the dedicated waffle maker. In appearance, it actually looks like a mini Aga with its 2 flat-domed lids side by side. These two hot plates operate individually with separate switches. Each switch has a power light but there is no temperature gauge or indicator light to let you know when the waffle maker is heated, instead the instructions say to wait 8 minutes before cooking – you can use that time to prep your toppings. Don’t lift the lid too early. Wait for the indicator light to come on for the machine to stop steaming before taking a peek. If you lift the lid before they are done you may cause your waffle to rip. Looking for more family food gadgets? Read how family pizza nights have become legendary since we got the brilliant Roccbox pizza oven Sage Smart Waffle Maker Review

The Smart Waffle Pro is incredibly simple to set up, and making your waffle batter is similarly a cinch. While there are several batter mixes available in supermarkets, nothing can beat the homemade version, whipped up freshly from scratch. You’ve got a cup measure included which handily indicates how much batter to make per amount of mouths to feed.

There is a variable temperature gauge which allows you to cook them how you like – if you like crisp and crunch then crank up the dial to max or if you favour a lighter texture just lower the heat. A few trial runs and you will know what works best for you. The short answer? Pretty much everything. But to go into a little more depth, the Sage No Mess Waffle Maker looks and feels like a premium product straight away. Its sleek circular shape and sturdy stainless body make for a very aesthetically pleasing piece of kit, with the waffle plate inside looking similarly sturdy and well-designed. Sage The Smart Waffle Maker 2 slice non-mess moat and Waffle IQ. The waffle maker that knows the correct cooking time. Once you tell the Smart Wafflewhat kind of waffle you're making,the cooking time is automatically calculated to suit your waffle style and colour Now that you have feasted on the waffles, let’s get down to business drooling over the rather sleek Smart Waffle Maker. It is part of the Heston Blumenthal range and with his scientific mind and attention to detail you already know it works and works really really well.

For an extra light and fluffy waffle, separate your egg whites from the yolks. Beat the whites until they form soft peaks and then folding them into the rest of the mix. Waffles can be flavoured with just about anything but adding a little sugar to the mix will help to crisp them up.

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The Smart Waffle™ Pro is all about delivering pinpointed precision with every function, from the precise even colouring of the waffle to varying heat settings and adjustable timings. It also wants to know what style of waffle you’re looking to make so it can ensure it comes out perfectly. From classic buttermilk to chocolate, they’ve even made it that much easier for us as there’s a dedicate ‘Belgian’ setting. *bows to waffle gods*