# Are home donut makers worth it? Best models? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898 "2012-02-25T00:22:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/1 "2012-02-25T00:22:05Z")
I love donuts of all kinds, but the best I can find in our town is some kind of concoction that claims to be a donut, but I have my doubts. And I think they are made a day in advance and called “fresh,” which to my mind, should be illegal if they are more than 4 hours old. So I’ve always wanted to make my own. I see dozens of models of [donut makers from $14 to $100,](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=shop&q=donut+maker&oq=donut+maker&aq=f&aqi=g2g-m8&aql=&gs_sm=3&gs_upl=5495l8171l0l8338l11l10l0l1l1l0l282l1598l0.4.4l8l0) each making 4-7 donuts per batch. Are these worth it? The $100 one claims it “automatically forms, fries and drains tasty mini-donuts in just 50 seconds”. It looks like they are limited to small cake donuts, not large raised ones, but that is better than nothing, and anything fresh and hot would be an improvement over my currently boring and mundane existence. If I could bring a batch of hot donuts to my office in the morning, I’d be a big hit. Any thoughts or recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/2 "2012-02-25T00:54:51Z")
I’ve never used anything like that, but we do fresh donuts in our Thanksgiving turkey deep-fryer each year (before the turkey, of course, so they don’t taste like bird). Dee-licious. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/3 "2012-02-25T03:51:46Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > I’ve never used anything like that, but we do fresh donuts in our Thanksgiving turkey deep-fryer each year (before the turkey, of course, so they don’t taste like bird). Dee-licious. Try them after next time. Maybe you will have discovered a new taste sensation. Mmmm, turkey donuts. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/4 "2012-02-25T04:14:45Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I see dozens of models of [donut makers from $14 to $100,](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=shop&q=donut+maker&oq=donut+maker&aq=f&aqi=g2g-m8&aql=&gs_sm=3&gs_upl=5495l8171l0l8338l11l10l0l1l1l0l282l1598l0.4.4l8l0) each making 4-7 donuts per batch. Are these worth it? They just look like waffle irons to me, in a different shape. Isn’t a proper donut supposed to be deep-fried? ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/5 "2012-02-25T04:16:25Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] {snip} Mmmm, turkey donuts. [/QUOTE] With a gravy glaze. Yum! ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/6 "2012-02-25T04:38:51Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Try them after next time. Maybe you will have discovered a new taste sensation. Mmmm, turkey donuts. I hate myself for saying it but I’d try one of those (and probably like it). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/7 "2012-02-25T11:54:04Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > They just look like waffle irons to me, in a different shape. Isn’t a proper donut supposed to be deep-fried? Glazed, raised donuts, yes. Aren’t cake donuts (think dunking) baked (I’m no cook)? ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/8 "2012-02-25T12:37:48Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > They just look like waffle irons to me, in a different shape. Isn’t a proper donut supposed to be deep-fried? Not too off the wall, just another variant on the cake dougnut; the 1950s [Brown Bobby](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Bobby) was pretty much a waffle iron designed to cook cake doughnuts, tarted up in a franchise scheme. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/9 "2012-02-25T13:23:30Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Glazed, raised donuts, yes. Aren’t cake donuts (think dunking) baked (I’m no cook)? Nope. Cake donuts are made by an [machine](http://www.belshaw-adamatic.com/products/donut-depositors-type-B-F-N/type-B-F-N.html) that plops ring-shaped bits of cake batter into hot oil. The [plungers](http://www.belshaw.com/plungers/plungers.html) determine the final shape of the donut. I used to be the “Time to make the donuts” guy in high school. 😃 My thoughts are that the waffle iron style ones will be easy to use and last quite a while, but the donuts won’t taste the same as bakery items. They’ll probably still be tasty though. The Nostalgia Electrics $100 machine is supposedly an updated version of the one [ThinkGeek used to sell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpkyRLUDZhk). That sucker makes proper cake donuts! I would have concerns about temperature control (The wrong temp will ruin them) and durability. But damn, I want one now. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/10 "2012-02-25T13:32:14Z")
Missed the edit window. Skip the auto donut machine. [It got horrible reviews on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Nostalgia-DON-100-Dough-Nu-Matic-Doughnut-Maker/product-reviews/B000XB541Q). The waffle-iron ones have [much better reviews](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=donut+maker&x=0&y=0). ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/11 "2012-02-25T15:10:34Z")
I once sent away for a cheapie donut pan, you mixed up a donut recipe and poured it into the forms and baked. Low-cal donuts, yay! They tasted just OK, were seriously lacking the deep-fried taste. But I can’t get with pots of boiling oil in the house. There’s a reason there are so many donut shops. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/12 "2012-02-25T15:27:06Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > There’s a reason there are so many donut shops. Yes, and it’s the same reason why the ubiquitous (usually Cambodian-owned) donut shops of Los Angeles often also sell egg rolls, etc. Or even fried chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/13 "2012-02-25T15:50:08Z")
Unfortunately for my neighborhood, all 27,000 county residents have to do without any donut shop at all. It’s 50 miles to the nearest city with one. You can get donuts at 2 supermarkets and one lousy bakery, but they are not fresh and not good quality IMHO. Maybe there’s a business opportunity here; certainly we have enough cops and truckers to justify a specialty donut shop. ---
**Author:** ![notsoheavyd3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85e7bf/32.png) [@notsoheavyd3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notsoheavyd3)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/14 "2012-02-25T16:32:22Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > There’s a reason there are so many donut shops. Really? Damn, I wish I could find some in my area. (Massachusetts) I mean when I tried googling on it google keeps giving me Dunkin Donuts. (Most of which truck their donuts in.) I mean they’re ok but not as good as having a donut that’s been made in the last 4 hours, which is what they used to do. (The only Dunkins I know that cooks their donuts on site is in Weymouth. Oh and some you’ll get a really stale one there.) ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/15 "2012-02-25T17:27:48Z")
We have a Krispy Kreme bakery 5 minutes away - perfect when I want the doughnut fix. But a doughnut machine? Just what I need - a gazillion more calories at the press of a button. I’ll pass. Plus, I would probably do like I did with my bread machine - use it a lot at first and then, well…it went off to Goodwill. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/16 "2012-02-25T17:35:09Z")
If you need donuts, move here to RI. There’s a donut shop on every corner. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/17 "2012-02-25T17:37:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If you need donuts, move here to RI. There’s a donut shop on every corner. I’m surprised RI is big enough for more than one. Don’t you have to stack 'em? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/18 "2012-02-25T17:40:05Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If you need donuts, move here to RI. There’s a donut shop on every corner. But isn’t there only like four corners? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/19 "2012-02-25T17:40:23Z")
We have Dunkin’ Donuts, Tim Horton’s, and there are donuts found in the bakery section of every grocery store. (Not including Freihoffers and Hostess, which look like donuts but don’t apply here.) Wegmans has the best donuts, so good they’re beyond donuts. There were Krispy Kremes up at the gas station for the longest time, don’t know if they’re still around. Donuts are everywhere! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898/20 "2012-02-25T18:06:23Z")
> [@notsoheavyd3](#): > > (The only Dunkins I know that cooks their donuts on site is in Weymouth. Oh and some you’ll get a really stale one there.) Can this really be true? I think the _only_ justification for a donut shop at all is that they make their own donuts on site (usually at about 3:00am, so they’ll be fresh for the earliest risers). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-home-donut-makers-worth-it-best-models/613898.md?page=2)