This is so easy to use! I've never actually owned a waffle maker before and I always assumed they weren't worth it because clean-up would be such a pain. Not true here! Making them is easy, they cook pretty quickly, and clean-up is so easy. Honestly, I love this thing and we now make homemade waffles for breakfast every week or biweekly. I never would've thought! Haven't used the pancake plates yet so can't comment on that.