Waffles versus pancakes — the ultimate dilemma that ruins relationships. So many people have very specific views on this argument, and it creates a heated atmosphere after being brought up. I can confirm this after asking many people’s viewpoints on the topic; Ka’trina Harbor reacted very defensively after being asked, “Waffles or Pancakes?” and our own newspaper group chat, “Kuhn’s Diciples,” had a very heated argument about this topic as well. Once someone brings up this all-time debate, they will be bombarded with opinions and sentenced to a life of waffles and pancakes.

Pancakes and foods similar to pancakes can be traced all the way back to the Stone Age. The word “pancake” didn’t really begin until the 15th century though, and the standard pancake we have today didn’t become popular until the 19th century. Waffles on the other hand can only be traced back to Ancient Greece. At this time they were called “obelios,” and were cooked between two hot metal sheets. Today we might get our waffles from a frozen package,  or we fry batter between metal in a waffle maker similar to the Ancient Greeks. Waffles today were originally designed to hold toppings better with their square indentations, however, this tends to make things harder to spread.

Marlena Pestrue and Korah Honig agree that pancakes are astronomically better than waffles. Honig said, “I really like the way the outer ring fries … the crispiness tastes so good.” Pestrue added, “Pancakes are better; they are more convenient for spreading peanut butter or other toppings on, while waffles are impossible to.”  On the other hand, Lauren Gager thinks that waffles are easily superior to pancakes. Gager said, “Waffles are so much better. They are more crisp and don’t get soggy.” 

When looking for carb-loaded breakfast foods, waffles and pancakes aren’t your only option. Personally, I think crepes are better than both pancakes and waffles and that everyone who wastes their time and energy in debating about waffles and pancakes is missing out on some good crepes. Crepes originated in France; there is a story of a housewife who spilled porridge on her skillet. Then after that, she decided to eat it, and hence the crepe was born. Today in France crepes have their own holiday, “le jour des crêpes,” or “the day of the crepe” in English.