# Can I use regular waffle batter in Belgian waffle iron? NEED ANSWER FAST **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 25, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097 "2011-08-25T23:13:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [August 25, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/1 "2011-08-25T23:13:14Z")
Seems like a dumb question, but I don’t have time for waffle polemics: _yes_ or _no_? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/2 "2011-08-25T23:30:47Z")
Short answer: Yes Long answer: There’s no real difference between “regular” waffle batter and the stuff you put in a Belgian maker. The primary difference is in the shape, not the recipe. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/3 "2011-08-25T23:35:37Z")
Thanks! I thought the Belgians put yeast in, so it might require larger holes. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/4 "2011-08-25T23:35:47Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > There’s no real difference between “regular” waffle batter and the stuff you put in a Belgian maker. The primary difference is in the shape, not the recipe. Belgian waffles are yeast-leavened and other sorts are not. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/5 "2011-08-25T23:45:35Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Belgian waffles are yeast-leavened and other sorts are not. No, _some_ Belgian waffles are yeast-leavened. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/6 "2011-08-26T00:22:42Z")
I’ve used Belgian waffle mix in my regular waffle iron. I see no reason you couldn’t do the opposite. The iron just heats the batter. About the only thing that can go wrong is that you either over- or undercook it. You’ll figure this out with the first waffle and be able to compensate if you have to. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/7 "2011-08-26T00:39:06Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No, _some_ Belgian waffles are yeast-leavened. The distinction of “Belgian” (that is, Brussels–there are other kinds in Belgium) waffles is their cooked structure and consistency, not just their shape. You can tell the difference between a Belgian and a “classic” or buttermilk waffle from just a forkful. Yeast leavening is what creates that. A non-yeasted batter in a Belgian iron will either not fill the spaces, or with more batter and more baking powder will be too heavy. Either way it won’t be a Belgian waffle. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/8 "2011-08-26T00:46:23Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > The distinction of “Belgian” (that is, Brussels–there are other kinds in Belgium) waffles is their cooked structure and consistency, not just their shape. You can tell the difference between a Belgian and a “classic” or buttermilk waffle from just a forkful. Yeast leavening is what creates that. A non-yeasted batter in a Belgian iron will either not fill the spaces, or with more batter and more baking powder will be too heavy. Either way it won’t be a Belgian waffle. This distinction has ceased to be a requirement for Belgian waffles in common cooking terms for quite some time. You can find hundreds upon hundreds of Belgian waffle recipes in the US that don’t include yeast. On top of that, there are at least 2 types of waffles made in Belgium that don’t include yeast. We can get as technical or as broad as you want, but the various batters work just fine in the various waffle irons. We can debate why one may or may not be better suited for a particular recipe, but it just didn’t matter for the purposes of the OP. The answer to his question was “yes”. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/9 "2011-08-26T00:55:51Z")
I noted as well that there are waffles in Belgium other than the Brussels style. But outside of Belgium, to my knowledge “Belgian” has always meant Brussels. Until now, apparently, when it no longer means anything. You’re saying that in “common cooking terms” the term has been drained of its most useful and distinctive meaning–that “Belgian waffle” is now to be understood as any waffle in a “Belgian” shape, regardless of its consistency? If true, this is deplorable. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/10 "2011-08-26T01:12:12Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > I noted as well that there are waffles in Belgium other than the Brussels style. But outside of Belgium, to my knowledge “Belgian” has always meant Brussels. > > Until now, apparently, when it no longer means anything. You’re saying that in “common cooking terms” the term has been drained of its most useful and distinctive meaning–that “Belgian waffle” is now to be understood as any waffle in a “Belgian” shape, regardless of its consistency? > > If true, this is deplorable. It’s true, and it’s a common theme in cuisine. You just have to be specific. If you want a real omelette, you have to ask for a French Omelette. People make barbecue in crock pots. Etc, etc. Just make sure you include yeast in your internet search for Belgian waffles. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/11 "2011-08-26T01:45:02Z")
All right. I encourage **guizot** and any other readers who have not experienced authentic yeast-leavened Belgian (Brussels) waffles to try them (and not from mix, either–get some fresh active dry yeast). ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/12 "2011-08-26T03:13:11Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > All right. > > I encourage **guizot** and any other readers who have not experienced authentic yeast-leavened Belgian (Brussels) waffles to try them (and not from mix, either–get some fresh active dry yeast). Seconded. Yeast-leavened waffles are fantastic and rather easy to make. The only hassle is preparing the dough ahead of time, but, well, a little planning will do ya. ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/13 "2011-08-26T09:08:54Z")
The OP asked if s/he could use regular batter in a Belgian waffle iron, not if the result would be termed a Belgian waffle. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-regular-waffle-batter-in-belgian-waffle-iron-need-answer-fast/594097/14 "2011-08-26T12:02:50Z")
> [@gatorslap](#): > > The OP asked if s/he could use regular batter in a Belgian waffle iron, not if the result would be termed a Belgian waffle. Right… and the first part of the first answer was “yes.” It won’t break his waffle iron, and the result will be edible. You _can_. Even if _you_, or the OP, want your questions answered in the most minimal, least interesting and least educational possible ways, I don’t think most readers are looking for that. I sure as hell wouldn’t bother with this site if that’s all that was here.