Potato waffles are formed in a grid pattern resembling a waffle.
The grid is created by pressing a potato mixture between patterned plates, giving the finished food the familiar squares and ridges associated with ordinary waffles. Potato waffles are generally savoury rather than sweet and are made from potatoes combined with oil, seasonings, and, in commercial products, ingredients such as potato granules or starch.
They are especially common in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where frozen potato waffles became a popular convenience food. Birds Eye began producing its potato waffles in 1981, helping establish them as a familiar breakfast and side-dish item. They are often cooked from frozen in an oven, under a grill, or in a toaster, depending on the product.
The word grid is more precise than simply saying “waffle shape”: it describes the intersecting grooves that divide the surface into squares. Ring, chevron, and spiral patterns are not the standard form of potato waffles.