Not all waffle makers need to have Teflon, and thankfully, more products without Teflon coating are available on the market. A lot of waffle makers used to have this coating because it would allow for the cooked waffle to slide off the waffle plates easily. While Teflon was effective, it is also very toxic. It could not withstand heat very well, meaning that it would peel and subsequently get absorbed into your food. Furthermore, the process of making Teflon is not very safe for the environment.