First waffles were great. Then we cooled it, cleaned it, folded it up, and put it away on a shelf. When I went to get it out this evening, the hinge broke immediately, coming apart in pieces on the counter. We made the waffles anyway, and they still cook up nicely, but a working hinge would be far preferable. Suggest getting a better-made appliance. We will send the pieces to B & D and see what they say about it.