We Tried 10 Frozen Waffles to Find the Very Best

Homemade waffles are excellent. But they can also be a bit of a mess, especially if you don't have the time or inclination to make the batter and heat the iron every morning. That's where frozen waffles come in. They may not typically have the fluffiness associated with a freshly made batch, but they still taste delicious coming out of the toaster. And for those with busy schedules or little energy for cooking, they can make putting together breakfast—whether it’s classic waffles with syrup and fruit, a fun frozen waffle creation like chicken and waffles, or just a snack—that much easier.

To help you find the best waffles to stock in your freezer, we tested seven brands and 10 types of plain and whole grain waffles, all of which are available online or in stores. Discover are our picks, from best in show to best budget option.

What We Looked for When Testing and Ranking Frozen Waffles

Taste: For this test, we looked for plain and whole wheat ready-made waffles that delivered plenty of flavor even when eaten without toppings. Contenders with particularly strong hints of sugar or cinnamon are noted, as are those that let the grains in their recipe stand out a bit more strongly.

Price: Frozen waffles are a convenient staple in part because they're inexpensive. We've taken note of which brands give you more waffle for your wallet, as well as which varieties might cost you a bit more dough.

Texture: Some prefer waffles on the softer side, others favor a crispy texture. To please both crowds, we've shared which brands boast a bit more crunch and which are a tad easier to sink your teeth into.

Additional Features: In addition to the above considerations, we looked at which brands have lower amounts of sodium or sugar, as well as notable amounts of dietary fiber. Most of the brands we tested contained about 300 milligrams of sodium, 3 grams or less of sugar, and 2 grams or less of dietary fiber per serving. We've noted the exceptions to those averages below.

How We Tested Each Waffle

Frozen waffles are always welcome in my apartment as an easy breakfast or snack. For this test, I tried two waffles from each brand: one plain, and one with a topping. Since I didn't have syrup and have been gravitating toward savory toppings, I spread peanut butter on my waffles. Each waffle was heated for 10 minutes at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) in my oven before it was tested. And now for the winners!

Best Frozen Waffles at a Glance

Best Overall: Annie's Organic Homestyle Waffles

Runner-Up: Kroger Homestyle Waffles

Most Nostalgic: Eggo Homestyle Frozen Waffles

Best Thick Waffle: Eggo Thick & Fluffy Waffles; Eggo Thick & Fluffy Whole Grain Waffles

Best Crisp Texture: Simple Truth Organic Homestyle Waffles

Best Whole Grain: Kashi Seven Grain Waffles

Best Budget Option: Great Value Buttermilk Waffles; Great Value Homestyle Waffles

Best Low-Sodium Option: Van's 8 Whole Grains Multigrain Waffles

Best Overall: Annie's Organic Homestyle Waffles

Frozen waffles can have a tendency to be a bit on the thin side, but Annie's, despite its standard size, manages to have some amount of heft. The dough is not fluffy, necessarily, just more present than some of its more airy competitors. Annie's waffles were also a bit sweeter despite containing about the same amount of sugar as other whole-grain brands we tried, so they might be a more palette-friendly option for whole-grain resisters.

Runner-Up: Kroger Homestyle Waffles

We didn't conduct a blind taste test, but we're pretty sure Kroger's homestyle waffles could serve as passable dupes for some of their name-brand competitors, chiefly Eggo. These waffles have about the same thickness, texture, and overall taste as some of their more costly cousins. Their main drawback is that at 500 milligrams of sodium per two waffles, they contain a mite more salt than some of the other options featured below. But if sodium isn't a concern in your household, Kroger's generic might be your best bet for finding top-tier waffles at bottom-barrel costs.

Most Nostalgic: Eggo Homestyle Frozen Waffles

Eggo's whole-grain waffle does not taste whole grain at all. In fact, it just tastes like an original Eggo. That's somewhat to your benefit if you're shopping for eaters that have become accustomed to the classic Eggo and don't want to move too far outside their comfort zones. If you're looking for a slightly healthier version of the classic frozen waffle, Eggo's Homestyle is a good bet.

Best Thick Waffle: Eggo Thick & Fluffy and Eggo Thick & Fluffy Whole Grain Waffles

Thickness seems to be one of the main factors that frozen waffles lack when compared to their freshly made counterparts. These frozen contenders still don't quite stack up to a waffle hot from the iron, but they do provide a refreshing alternative to the smaller, crunchier discs that populate the frozen waffle section. For reference, these waffles are about twice as thick as a regular Eggo, but since the fluffiness is largely airy dough, they're not necessarily more filling. If you're a sucker for a soft inside, then these pre-made waffles are the ones for you.

Best Crisp Texture: Simple Truth Organic Homestyle Waffles

Looking for an audible crunch when you bite into your waffle? Then Simple Truth has you covered. These waffles have an exceptionally crispy outside while still retaining a slightly fluffy inside. At 4 grams for two waffles, they also contain a bit more protein per serving than some of the other options we tested.

Best Whole Grain: Kashi Seven Grain Waffles

Love the taste of whole grains? Don't like a lot of sugar, even in your breakfast confections? Then Kashi's frozen waffles are the ones for you. These waffles have a barely discernible sweetness, despite containing more sugar per serving than some of our other picks. At 5 grams per two waffles, Kashi's offering also contains a fair amount of dietary fiber compared to some of the other brands we considered.

Best Budget Option: Great Value Buttermilk Waffles and Great Value Homestyle Waffles

If you need to stock up on waffles without spending a lot, Walmart's generics are probably gonna be your best pick. They may not be at the top of our taste test, but they're still tasty, with the buttermilk option packing in a fair amount of sweetness and the homestyle option providing a heartier, slightly healthier alternative. The value packs also make it easier to keep a stash of waffles on hand without forking over much cash.

Best Low-Sodium Option: Van's 8 Whole Grains Multigrain Waffles

Yes, we've put this brand in the low-sodium ranking; at 290 milligrams of sodium per two waffles, it does have some of the best stats in that category. But truth be told, we considered Van's for our best overall or runner-up categories because it had one of the best flavor profiles of the varieties we tried. Surprisingly, it's one of the few waffles we had in this test that had discernible notes of cinnamon in it along with sweetness. Even if you're not conscientious of your salt intake, Van's whole grain is worth picking up the next time you're in the grocery store.