Best Holiday Breakfast Equipment: Juicers, Waffle Makers, and a Griddle Worth Owning

Introduction

For most of the year, breakfast is a quick bite before heading out the door. During the holidays, though, there is time to slow down and enjoy the things that make a morning feel special, like fresh squeezed orange juice or a stack of Belgian waffles. This roundup covers four pieces of equipment that help deliver exactly that: two electric citrus juicers at very different price points, a double Belgian waffle maker, and a double burner griddle for pancake lovers.

Fresh-Squeezed Juice: The Citrus Juicers

Is there a better start to the day than fresh squeezed orange juice, or maybe grapefruit? An electric citrus juicer is the tool for the job, and the goal is simple: extract the most juice possible for the least effort.

The standout is a machine that could fairly be described as the Rolls Royce of citrus juicers. It extracts an impressive amount of juice from a single orange half, and it could hardly be easier to use. It also happens to be handsome enough that it would not look out of place sitting on the counter every day. The trade-off is the price, which sits at the premium end of the citrus juicer market.

Budget Pick: Dash Go Dual Citrus Juicer

If you want to spend about a tenth of that price, the Dash Go dual citrus juicer is a compelling alternative. It is easy to use and comes with two reamers: one sized for oranges and grapefruits, and a smaller one for lemons and limes.

Because you press the fruit with your hand, you can really feel the reamer doing its work, and it extracts just the right amount of juice. The juice catches neatly in its own little pitcher underneath. One limitation worth knowing: it does not section the fruit the way a larger machine does, so it is best for straightforward juicing rather than presentation.

Best Belgian Waffle Maker: Cuisinart Double Belgian Waffle Maker

Along with your orange juice, the second best way to start the day is waffles, especially Belgian waffles with deep pockets for extra maple syrup. Plenty of Belgian waffle makers on the market produce lousy waffles, so the details matter.

Testing has shown that the best waffles cook between three and four and a half minutes, at temperatures between 400 and 435 degrees. If a waffle maker misses those marks, the waffles suffer for it. Waffles from the Cuisinart double Belgian waffle maker never do: they come out evenly brown, crisp on the outside, and custardy inside, every time. As a bonus, the double design makes two waffles per batch, which matters when feeding a holiday crowd.

For Pancake Lovers: Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Double Burner Griddle

If you are a pancake person, what you need is a double burner griddle, because you want to cook a bunch at once. A few things to keep in mind when choosing one.

First is real estate: you want as many pancakes cooking at once as possible, which means at least 160 square inches of cooking surface. Width matters more than length, so look for at least nine and a quarter inches of width. The Cuisinart Chef’s Classic nonstick double burner griddle measures 10 inches wide, enough to fit two rows of four pancakes. Second, sidewalls matter: without them, batter can leak down onto the stove and even hit a gas burner and cause a flare up. This griddle has one inch sidewalls, which is just right.

It is built from anodized aluminum with a stainless steel bottom, so it is induction compatible, and the sturdy handles stand up for easy handling. At about $70, it is a tool you can cook pancakes and bacon on all day.

Overall Buying Advice

Match the tool to your morning. If fresh juice is the centerpiece and you want a machine that looks great on the counter, the Breville earns its price. If you just want easy, reliable juice for far less, the Dash Go covers the basics well. For waffles, the Cuisinart double Belgian waffle maker is the safe bet because it hits the ideal cooking time and temperature consistently. And if pancakes are your tradition, the wide, walled, induction compatible griddle is the practical choice.

Conclusion

Holiday breakfasts feel special when the equipment makes the good stuff easy. A great citrus juicer, a dependable double waffle maker, and a roomy griddle each earn their place, and any one of them can turn an ordinary morning into something worth lingering over.