It is not always about throwing a skillet onto the fire. Just imagine being able to sink to the ground after a great hike, with stars overhead and waffles tantalizing your senses. Heaven on earth, if you like. That fantasy can be real if you try a stovetop cast iron waffle maker.
The first time I had heard tell of making waffles over a campfire, I thought it was as ridiculous as juggling porkupines. Can this contraption that looks like something out of the Inquisition really yield golden squares? Spoiler alert! It can. In style.
You have to start with the right waffle iron. Cast iron wafflemakers, built to withstand a Viking raid, will be your trusted companions. These heavy bricks are indestructible, conductive, and ageless. Long used by campfire cooks for fluffy, crispy breakfasts, they might end
There’s just something charming about Rome Industries that some people swear by. Rome Industries has been making waffle irons since before color TV was a thing. Simplicity is what makes it a winner. The fewer small parts, the less stuff gets lost in the woods. The super-robust hinge will make sure that your waffles are cooked properly and not look as if a raccoon has been playing catch-up with them.
Pie iron-shaped models exist, too. Apparently, these models age forever. Long handles with clamshell design keep your knuckles away from the flames. These come from Rome Industries and others. Great for chefs who get intimidated by a little heat.
Cooking with these pieces of iron art is a new adventure. The best friend you could have is the one called the art of heat control. It can also be a wild card. Just like the steady hug your grandma used to give you, smoldering coals are best. They are not hot enough to handle and never cold enough to care. For those who do not want their waffle turned into coal, well, they should not use the wildfire heat.
You don’t need thermometers or lasers to cook outdoors. Channel your inner caveman. It’s “like dancing with a tiger–you don’t force it.” So says my friend, who never misses breakfast. Rotate. Flip. Be constantly checking. Use a towel or mitt. You will thank yourself.
Let me tell you a story – when I attempted initially to cook waffles in front of the fire, I was cocky. I used more batter than you could possibly find in Aunt Polly’s casserole dish. What happened? It overflowed like Niagara Falls on dough day. What was the lesson? Less is better. Fill each side no more than half.
The waffles are also becoming increasingly popular. But nothing like the priming power of an oiled cloth. Bring back the old rag that your grandfather used to clean his wagon wheels. Rub the inside of the jar before adding the batter. What is the result? The waffles are easier to make than the Sunday gravy.
When will your magnum opus be ready? If you want to be chic, you can top it with berries. Or you can use just syrup. Add some peanut butter to give it that earthy, sticky goodness.
There are plenty of other cast-iron champions out there. The ones with heft, heat, and usability are the great ones, the ones that when you want something more substantial than beef jerky will be your best friends out in the woods.
A campfire cast iron waffle maker may not just feed your stomach but may also nourish your soul. Who would have thought a gadget could do that? Next time you go on a trip, throw one in your bag. Waffle away into happiness. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. They keep telling me this.