How to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy, According to Martha Stewart (2024)

Updated: Mar. 17, 2023

All you need is a simple toss.

When it comes to the infamous pancakes versus waffles debate, I’ve always been (and will always be) on the side of waffles. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and the perfect shape to cut. Not to mention all the little squares are perfect for holding just the right amount of syrup without immediately becoming too soft. And whether you prefer lots of tasty toppings or just a waffle, plain and simple, you’ve made the right choice.

It’s important to keep a waffle crunchy in the morning, so here’s how to keep waffles from getting soggy the easy way.

How to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy, According to Martha

All hail our kitchen queen, Martha Stewart! She’s the purveyor of this invaluable hack that will surely have you making the greatest waffles you’ve ever had in your life. No one does it like you, @marthastewart.

@marthastewart Soggy waffles no more! #waffles #wafflemaker #brunchtok #tiktokpartner ♬ It’s A Wrap – Sped Up – Mariah Carey

The hack is so incredibly simple. Start with your favorite waffle recipe and whip ’em up in your waffle maker. Once they’re ready and rarin’ to go, simply fork them out and toss them back and forth between your hands. It may look and feel silly, but you’ll have the crispiest waffles known to man. By tossing your fresh waffles, you’re letting the steam escape in an efficient way. No excess steam, no soggy waffles. What could be better?

We don’t want you burning your beautiful hands, so make sure to pick up some heat-resistant oven gloves. You can keep them specifically for your waffle-makin’ mornings!

Other Ways to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy

Here are some other ways to keep the sogginess at bay:

Place your waffles on a cooling rack in a low-heat oven (don’t stack the waffles on top of each other).
Throw your waffles in a toaster to refresh their crispiness.
Make sure your waffle iron is very hot.

Waffles Worth Waking Up For

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BLT Waffle SlidersCraving a BLT for breakfast? Try a deliciously different version that features crisp bacon and fresh tomatoes between two golden cornmeal waffles. Prepare the waffles ahead of time and reheat in the toaster for quick assembly. —Stacy Joura, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania.Get RecipePut your waffle maker to good use with these waffle iron recipes.

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Oat WafflesThese family favorites have more fiber and less fat than standard waffles. My 2 year-old daughter loves them with fresh berries.

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This Dash snowflake mini waffle maker is a must-have to make your breakfast time magical this holiday season. Want more? They've got an egg-shaped waffle maker for Easter, too!

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Apple Spice WafflesThese apple waffles are cozy and comforting anytime—morning or evening. The smell of toasty waffles with apples is sure to warm you up on even the most blustery of winter days. —Jane Sims, De Leon, Texas

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Breakfast BLT WafflesI'm not a big fan of sweets for breakfast, but I love a crisp waffle. My son and I tried these BLT waffles, and they were a huge success! We used gluten-free, dairy-free waffles with fantastic results. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

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Birthday Cake WafflesThese super fun waffles—soft on the inside, crisp on the outside—taste just like cake batter! They are quick to whip up anytime but would make birthday mornings feel even more special. —Andrea Fetting, Franklin, Wisconsin

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Savory Waffles with Asparagus, Gruyere and Onion Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Savory Waffles with Asparagus, Gruyere and OnionI took one of our family’s favorite puff pastry recipes, which uses a similar mix of ingredients, and translated it to savory waffles. It’s a change of pace from sweeter fare. Served with a ham steak and fried eggs, it makes a fabulous meal. Feel free to add maple syrup or a spicy glaze. —Leslie Ponce, Miami, Florida

Chocolate Peanut Fluff Waffles

Try adding chocolate chips to the batter, then top the waffles with banana slices and a dollop of peanut butter fluff (equal parts peanut butter and marshmallow fluff, plus a touch of honey). —Rachel Maidl, Birds & Blooms Editor

Toasty Pumpkin WafflesWhen I really want to impress folks, I serve these waffles. They're beautiful stacked and layered with pink sweet-tart cranberry butter. When I owned a bed and breakfast it was the recipe guests requested most. —Brenda Ryan, Marshall, Missouri

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Taste of Home

Coffee Butter Waffles

The best waffle I've ever had was topped with caramelized bacon, maple syrup and coffee butter. You can make coffee butter at home by mixing 1/2 cup of softened butter, 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules, 2 teaspoons water, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar. —Maggie Knoebel, Culinary Assistant

On a business trip years ago, I got the idea for waffles with chicken and spinach. When I serve it, people go back for seconds, even thirds. —Vicki Melies, Elkhorn, Nebraska

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Blueberry Oat Waffles Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Blueberry Oat WafflesI truly enjoy recipes that make just enough for the two of us, like this one for yummy waffles. Instead of blueberries, you can slice ripe strawberries on top—or use the batter to make pancakes. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington

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Croque-Madame Waffles

One of my favorite waffle combos ever was a savory croque-madam—bechamel sauce, sliced ham and an over-easy egg. —Joe Hrdina, Country Designer

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Hawaiian WafflesI created this waffle recipe to recapture the memorable tropical tastes we enjoyed while visiting Hawaii. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

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Waffle Monte CristosWe love the sweet, smoky flavor of these morning sandwiches. I use store-bought frozen waffles to save time, but have at it if you want to put your waffle maker to good use. —Kelly Reynolds, Urbana, Illinois

Lemon & Blueberry Waffles

I eat waffles with lemon curd and a blueberry sauce I make by simmering blueberries with a little water, sugar and a sprig of thyme. Remove from heat and stir in a tablespoon or two of butter. Top with whipped cream and lemon zest. —Jeanne Ambrose, Former Content Director

Banana-Nut Waffle Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Banana-Nut Waffle CakeI wanted to use waffles in a creative way and came up with an idea of making a cake out of them. Not only did it take much less time than making an ordinary cake, it came out just as delicious as a traditional cake. Waffles can be made ahead, wrapped and stored in the fridge until ready to assemble this cake. —Kristina S., Yonkers, New York

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Spicy Hash Brown Waffles with Fried Eggs Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Spicy Hash Brown Waffles with Fried EggsRefrigerated hash brown potatoes will help you make quick work of these crunchy waffles. Put out lots of toppings so everyone can design their own. —Nancy Judd, Alpine, Utah

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Taste of Home

PB&J Waffles

I like to spread mine with peanut or almond butter for some protein. Then I top them with fresh berries, kind of like a PB&J. —Shannon Norris, Senior Food Stylist. Learn how to make healthy protein waffles.

Pumpkin Waffles with Orange Walnut Butter Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pumpkin Waffles with Orange Walnut ButterThis is so delicious! Bring a flourish to the breakfast table with these unique and flavorful waffle. —Brandi Davis, Pullman, Washington

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Over-Easy Waffles

I like to dress a waffle with an over-easy egg, sprinkle it with sea salt and fresh ground pepper, then add a generous splash of maple syrup over it all. Here's how to make an over-easy egg like a pro. —Deb Mulvey, Former Copy Chief

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Amish WafflesThese waffles are so crispy and tasty, you wouldn't believe they could get any better—until you add the topping. It's so delicious.—Neil and Jeanne Liechty, Pensacola, Florida

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Taste of Home

Bananas Foster Waffles

I love waffles topped with bananas Foster or the four B's (sliced bananas, butter, sugar and booze). I also like to fold crumbled bacon into the batter. —Rashanda Cobbins, Food Editor

Bacon and Cheese Waffles Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Bacon and Cheese WafflesIncluding bacon and cheese in the waffle batter makes an all-in-one breakfast flavor. Freeze extras to reheat another day. —MarGenne Rowley, Oasis, Utah

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Taste of Home

Churro Waffles

I make a churro-inspired version: I top waffles with cinnamon, whipped cream and dulce de leche sauce. —Justin Williams, Former Culinary Assistant

Pecan Chocolate Waffles Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pecan Chocolate WafflesIf you like waffles and chocolate, this recipe is for you. These tender but crunchy waffles are great for breakfast, brunch or an after-dinner dessert. Instead of chocolate topping, top with berries and whipped cream or simply sprinkle with powdered sugar. —Agnes Golian, Garfield Heights, Ohio

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Taste of Home

Savory Mustard Chicken and Stuffing WafflesAdding mustard to the chicken coating adds a tang that's amazing with the savory waffles and sweet maple syrup. —John Ginn, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

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Taste of Home

Nutella Waffles

I top my waffles with Nutella, peanut butter, bananas and a sprinkling of crushed peanuts. Mmm. —Beth Tomkiw, Chief Content Officer

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Apple Pie Ricotta WafflesI had apples and ricotta cheese to use up, so instead of making a pie I decided to do something different. The result was these fluffy, tender waffles with just a hint of sweetness. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

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Peaches 'n' Cream Waffle Dippers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Peaches 'n' Cream Waffle DippersI've prepared these for many brunches—peaches are my favorite fruit to add, but you can use strawberries or blueberries. People of all ages enjoy dunking crispy waffle strips into creamy dip. —Bonnie Geavaras-Bootz, Chandler, Arizona

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Easy Morning WafflesMaking your own fluffy waffles from scratch takes no time at all, and the touch of cinnamon in these beats any frozen store-bought version. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Gingerbread Belgian WafflesI like to combine the sweet and spicy taste of gingerbread with the cool and dreamy taste of cream cheese frosting. It's a heavenly way to start the day! —Jannine Fisk, Malden, Massachusetts

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FAQs

How to Keep Waffles from Getting Soggy, According to Martha Stewart? ›

"Take the waffle out of the maker and toss them back and forth to let the steam escape," she says. "It helps make sure that the crispiness of those edges is retained." If you're making waffles ahead of time, this is also a great way to ensure they heat up nicely later.

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How to stop waffles from going soggy? ›

3 Tips for Making Crispy Waffles

Make Sure Your Waffle Iron Is Hot.
Swap Half the Buttermilk for Milk.
Bake the Finished Waffles in the Oven.

Get More Info ›

How to store waffles without getting soggy? ›

Place the waffles in an airtight container labeled with today's date.

Use a plastic straw to reduce the amount of air left in freezer bags. Close the bag almost all of the way, put the straw in, then stuck the air out. ...
For a different approach, wrap the waffles up in plastic wrap, then cover them with foil.

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How do you keep waffles crispy for catering? ›

As you are cooking, simply transfer each finished waffle from your waffle maker to the wire rack. That's it! The low temperature of the oven will keep the waffles warm and crispy without burning them and the the elevation of the rack in the baking sheet helps keep away sogginess. The result?

Learn More Now ›

How do you keep waffles warm and soft? ›

Grab a wire cooling rack and a warm oven.

If you're making an extra-big batch of pancakes, double that setup. Set the duo on a rack arranged in the middle of the oven, and set the temperature to 225°F. This temperature will keep the pancakes and waffles warm without continuing to cook them.

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What is the secret of making crispy waffles? ›

You can substitute whole grain flours like whole wheat or spelt flour, but expect the waffles to be more dense. Cornstarch: The secret ingredient for making the crispiest waffles. Cornstarch guarantees that the waffles will be perfectly crisp and tender.

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How to make soggy waffles crispy again? ›

How do you make soggy waffles crispy again? Put them in the toaster, or toaster oven. Even the regular oven can re-crisp them.

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Can I make waffles ahead of time and reheat? ›

If you're working ahead, cool the waffles and store in the fridge or freezer. When it's breakfast time you can reheat your waffles toaster oven, cut into dippable pieces, and serve with maple syrup on the side. A make-ahead breakfast your kids will love.

Why are my frozen waffles soggy? ›

For starters, you should be cooking your frozen waffles in the oven. While it's tempting to simply toss them in the microwave (or, as the name suggests, the toaster), everyone knows just how soggy and chewy a microwaved waffle can become.

What causes waffles to dry? ›

Sounds like you are cooking them to long. Usually 4–5 minutes is all it takes to cook them. Though times may vary for many reasons, but dry if they are dry and extra crispy, they probably have been cooking to long.

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How do you keep waffles crispy for brunch? ›

While an oven would be ideal to keep waffles warm and crispy, a portable toaster oven could do the trick. Even popping them into regular toasters on low right before plating should be fine.

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How to make waffles ahead of time for a party? ›

Yes, it is quite easy to make waffles that are perfect for eating on another day. By purposefully undercooking them a bit, you can then allow them to cool before wrapping them in pairs with plastic wrap and then placing them in an airtight plastic bag. (Cook them until they are still pale in color, but cooked through).

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How to make store bought waffles crispy? ›

Cook frozen waffles on the stove for perfectly crispy edges.

If you prefer your waffles with crunchy, browned edges, preparing them on the stove may be ideal. "Instead of placing them in the toaster, try covering your waffles in butter and cooking them in a hot pan on your stovetop," Young told Insider.