Compare Waffle Makers
GreenPan Elite 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker 26031 5.8/10 and the GreenPan Elite 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker 9.0/10 on the same waffle makers scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The GreenPan Elite 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker comes out ahead, led by its safety score (10.0/10 vs 6.4/10).
The most important dimensions, side by side.
See which one actually scores higher — and why
Free account unlocks full safety scores, spec-by-spec breakdown, and the R3 verdict on Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker 26031 vs GreenPan Elite 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker.
Unlock the full Hamilton Beach Belgian Waffle Maker 26031 vs GreenPan Elite 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker breakdown
Free account unlocks all safety scores, complete spec comparison, scoring rationale, and the R3 verdict on which one to buy.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
PFAS-free coating is your priority but you're not focused on the specific ceramic tier above that baseline
You want the easiest possible cleanup: removable plates, dishwasher-safe, light enough to store easily
Budget is a constraint and you want a PFAS-free waffle maker under $83
You make waffles occasionally rather than in high-volume back-to-back batches
You cook waffles for a family of four and want the best-verified food-contact safety available
You want Mamavation 'Best' tier coating combined with the convenience of removable dishwasher-safe plates
Chemical safety is your top priority and you're willing to pay a premium for independently verified credentials
You have dedicated counter space and don't need to store the appliance between uses
The main thing to know
The 800W wattage is the biggest limitation — expect longer cook times and temperature recovery variance between batches compared to 1,200W+ alternatives.
At 13 lbs this requires dedicated counter space — most users won't move it in and out of storage regularly, so budget the counter real estate before purchasing.
Skip this if you...
You want Mamavation 'Best' tier coating — nano-titanium ceramic doesn't reach that bar
You regularly cook multiple back-to-back rounds for a large family — 800W doesn't recover as quickly as 1,200W+ models
Sequential single-waffle batches for a family of four will be time-consuming with this design
You need to store the appliance between uses — 13 lbs requires dedicated counter space that not every kitchen has
Budget is a consideration — there are PFAS-free options that cost significantly less
Performance metrics alone drive your decision — wattage and browning settings are strong, but coating layer count is undisclosed like every other brand
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Waffle Makers options at every price pointEvery Waffle Makers in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Hamilton Beach and GreenPan across 3 independent criteria: Safety (78%), Efficacy (16%), Usability (5%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with GreenPan GreenPan Elite 4-Square Belgian Waffle Maker - it scored 9.0/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Waffle Makers across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects how we weight those three pillars, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
