Which Frozen Waffle Pops To Top Of List?

Waffles may be the ultimate frozen food.

Few other foods compare as favorably in a homemade vs. frozen comparison, especially when you factor in the amount of work and special equipment involved in making your own waffles at home.

This is not for an instant meant to put down homemade waffles. One of life's great pleasures on a Sunday morning is taking the time to make a really good buttermilk waffle batter, heat up the waffle iron and turn your kitchen into a Waffle House.

But on a weekday morning, especially with so many of us working extra hours to make ends meet, that kind of time commitment just isn't feasible. Fortunately, some of the better frozen waffles come within a whisker of being every bit as good as homemade.

But which ones are the best? And, perhaps more importantly, which ones are the best buy? That's what we're here to find out.

Each waffle is graded on an A-F scale on taste, texture and overall impression. Nutritional information is provided for each entry, as well. All the information is based on a two-waffle serving size, except for the Belgian waffle, where the serving size is one waffle.

Eggo Homestyle: 180 calories, 6 grams fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 440 mg sodium, 27 grams carbs.

It's a safe bet that anyone who grew up in the U.S. consumed roughly a metric ton of these before reaching adulthood. However, to an adult palate, they are sorely lacking. The outside doesn't crisp up very well, and the middle is somewhat tough and chewy. There wasn't really much in the way of flavor, either. Final grade: C.

Aunt Jemima Homestyle: 190 calories, 5 grams fat, 0 cholesterol, 420 mg sodium, 32 grams carbs

Here was just about the perfect combination of a lightly crispy exterior and a tender middle. It toasted evenly, and while the flavor wasn't terribly prominent, the overall impression was a good one. It's worth noting that these were also cheaper than the Eggos in three out of three major grocery stores checked. Final grade: A.

World Classics Belgian Waffles: 200 calories, 9 grams fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 470 mg sodium, 26 grams carbs.

These looked quite appetizing out of the box, but getting them to toast properly in a conventional toaster was highly problematic. Toasted in the oven, they were excellent, but that was not considered for the final grade. Out of the toaster, either the outside burned before the middle was done, or the middle was dry before the outside was properly toasted. Final grade: C.

Pomegran Plus: 160 calories, 4 grams fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium, 27 grams carbs.

Think of these as the whole-wheat bread to the Wonder bread of the Aunt Jemima waffles. That's not a bad thing, though. These have a dense texture, with a lightly crisp outside and a nice, grainy aroma. The pomegranate doesn't really show up strongly beyond a faint sweetness, and given the price of these you'd expect a bit more. Final grade: B.

Enviro-Kidz Choco-Waffles: 210 calories, 7 grams fat, 0 cholesterol, 400 mg sodium, 32 grams fat

The chocolate promised in the product name is very, very little in evidence in the actual product. What comes out of the toaster is a fairly bland, crumbly waffle that tastes of whole grain but not much else. This is one of more expensive waffles in the test, and should have delivered more in taste. Final grade: D.

Nature's Path Buckwheat: 190 calories, 7 grams fat, 0 cholesterol, 360 mg sodium, 32 grams carbs.

If you ever mix a little whole-grain flour into your pancake mix, you'll absolutely love these waffles. They're light and crispy but have a subtle heartiness that will have you popping a second round of them into the toaster quickly. Top them with honey and you'll have just about the perfect breakfast. Final grade: A+.

Kashi GoLean: 170 calories, 3 grams fat, 0 cholesterol, 330 mg sodium, 33 grams carbs.

There's something odd about these waffles, and it wasn't until a second bite that what that oddness was became clear: The texture and aftertaste are more like that of a rice cake than a nice, toasty waffle. It wasn't unpleasant, but certainly not something that would make these a first choice, especially combined with a fairly hefty price tag.

While the Nature's Path Buckwheat waffles get the highest grade, their steep price tag --roughly $3.99 for a box of 6 -- keeps them from being the best buy. Instead, sacrifice a tiny bit on taste and go with the Aunt Jemima waffles. You'll be quite happy with the taste, and your wallet will be much happier. Final grade: C-.