Ninja BW1001 NeverStick PRO Belgian Waffle Maker In-depth Review
Overall Verdict
The Ninja BW1001 Belgian Waffle Maker PRO represents a solid mid-range option that delivers on its promise of excellent non-stick performance and consistent results. With its unique vertical design and NeverStick™ coating, this waffle maker excels in design and build quality, earning our highest marks in those categories. While it produces decent waffles across both test recipes, it falls short of restaurant-quality results that some users might expect at this price point.
The standout feature is undoubtedly the vertical heating design, which provides more even heat distribution than traditional horizontal models. However, safety concerns with high surface temperatures and some handling quirks prevent it from achieving a higher overall score. For families looking for a reliable, well-built waffle maker with excellent non-stick properties, the BW1001 offers good value at its current discounted price of $79.99.
Things We Like
- Great performance for the price
- Compact vertical design
- Well-built construction with quality materials
- Excellent NeverStick™ coating performance
- 5 shade settings plus specialty setting
- Audible and visual completion alerts
Things We Don’t Like
- Handling can be awkward and unsafe, especially if you’re used to using traditional-styled waffle maker
The Ninja BW1001 is one of the best-selling waffle makers on Amazon at the moment, and not without a good reason. Compact, with an extremely unique design that even after reviewing dozens of waffle makers, we’ve never seen before. Instead of the regular clamshell design, the Ninja BW1001 has a top receptacle that you can pour batter down, where it’d cook into a perfect, Belgian-style waffle.
Jury’s still out on whether is worth the $80 or not, however. And that’s exactly what we’ve set out to do in today’s review of the Ninja BW1001!
8.0 Performance
Considering its unique design, we didn’t have a lot of expectations for this waffle maker going in. But the results were surprising (and tasty, too).
9.0 Self-Mixed Recipe
*Color (35%)
- Color tone: Golden brown (both sides)
- Color distribution: Very even
The vertical heating design really shows its strength here. The waffle was beautifully golden-brown across both the raised grid pattern and the deep wells.
*Texture (25%)
- Aeration Level: Medium
- Texture: A good balance between cripsiness and fluffiness
The waffle achieved reasonable aeration with medium-sized air pockets distributed fairly evenly. While not as light and fluffy as we’d hoped, the texture was pleasant and provided a good balance between crispiness and fluffiness.
*Taste (40%)
- Flavor: Sweet and buttery
- Mouth-feel: Balanced, not too moist or too dry
The consistent heating allowed the batter's flavors to develop well, resulting in a satisfying sweet taste with good buttery undertones. The mouthfeel was balanced, avoiding the dense chewiness that was problematic for some other waffle makers.
7.0 Birch Benders Mix
* Color (35%)
- Color tone: Golden brown (both sides)
- Color distribution: Very even
The waffle showed beautiful light golden coloration that was remarkably even across the entire surface. The vertical heating system prevented the hot spots and uneven browning common in many waffle makers.
* Texture (25%)
- Aeration Level: Medium
- Texture: Gives a pleasant bite, but not as light or fluffy as we’d hoped
The texture was decent with reasonable aeration throughout. The waffle maintained structural integrity while providing a pleasant bite, though it didn't achieve the light, fluffy texture of premium models.
* Taste (40%)
- Flavor: Balanced and sweet
- Mouth-feel: Balanced, not too moist or dry
The flavor profile was well-balanced with the signature Birch Benders taste coming through clearly. The consistent heating helped develop the flavors properly, though the overall taste was somewhat dulled.
9.7 Design
The Ninja BW1001 showcases impressive design innovation with its unique vertical heating system. The build quality is excellent for the price range, and the attention to detail in features like the PrecisionPour cup and multiple browning settings demonstrates thoughtful engineering.
In the Box
- Ninja BW1001 Belgian Waffle Maker
- PrecisionPour measuring cup
- Instruction manual
Weight & Dimensions
The BW1001's vertical design makes it taller than traditional waffle makers but more compact in terms of counter footprint. At 5.7 pounds, it's substantial enough to feel well-built without being cumbersome to move or store.
10 Build Quality
The BW1001 features a robust construction with a combination of high-quality plastic housing and stainless steel accents. The vertical hinge mechanism is well-engineered and feels solid during operation. All components show attention to detail and quality manufacturing standards.
The housing materials feel premium and show good resistance to fingerprints and smudges compared to all-stainless steel models. The control panel integration is seamless, and all moving parts operate smoothly.
9.0 Waffle Plates
The NeverStick™ coating on the BW1001 is exceptional. Unlike many non-stick surfaces that can feel rough or matte, Ninja's coating has a smooth, almost glass-like finish that provides superior release properties. Throughout our testing, we never experienced any sticking issues.
The Belgian-style grid pattern creates deep, well-defined pockets perfect for holding syrup and toppings.
10 Control Panel
The control panel offers excellent functionality with a clear browning control dial featuring 5 standard settings plus an exclusive specialty setting for high-sugar batters. The combination of audible beeps and visual indicators ensures you won't miss when your waffle is ready.
While lacking a built-in timer, the audible completion alert effectively serves the same purpose for most users.
Power Cord
The 32-inch cord provides excellent reach, longer than many competitors. Basic cable management allows for tidy storage, though the vertical design makes cord wrapping slightly more challenging than horizontal models.
Accessories
The included PrecisionPour measuring cup is a thoughtful addition that makes batter preparation and pouring much easier. The clear measurement markings are helpful, but as we’d found out, it doesn’t always guarantee consistent waffle sizes. The cup, without a sprout, can be difficult to pour at times.
9.2 Ease of Use
While the BW1001 offers good functionality and features, the vertical design creates some handling challenges that impact the overall ease of use score. There were also concerns about safety due to the hot top batter funnel.
10 Handling
The vertical orientation, while beneficial for heating, makes the handling experience somewhat different from traditional waffle makers. Opening and closing requires a different motion, and the higher center of gravity can feel less stable during operation.
The lid mechanism operates smoothly, but users need to adjust their technique compared to horizontal models. The overall handling experience is good once you adapt to the vertical design.
8.5 Safety
Our biggest issue with the BW1001 is that, if you’ve ever used a normal waffle maker, it’s very easy to act on instinct and grab on the top funnel of the waffle maker instead of the side handle. Two reviewers have ended up with burnt hands because of this. While it’s not an inherent safety flaw, we’d appreciate the top funnel being more clearly marked (with something like a reflective orange warning strip).
Other than that, the waffle maker’s safe to operate: the side handle is cool and the base of the waffle maker is cool to the touch.
9.0 Cleanability
- Machine-Washable: No
The NeverStick™ coating that Ninja’s proud of really does work: it makes cleanup exceptionally easy. Batter residue wipes away effortlessly, and the smooth surface resists buildup of oils and debris.
The non-removable plates mean you'll need to clean them in place, but the superior non-stick performance makes this a minor inconvenience.
10 Indicator Light Visibility
The indicator lights are bright and clearly visible even in bright kitchen lighting. The combination of visual and audible alerts ensures you'll always know when your waffle is ready.