An appliance , comprising: a housing defining a cooking cavity with an open front portion ; a door pivotally coupled to the housing along a vertical rotational axis , wherein the door is operable between open and closed positions relative to the open front portion of the cooking cavity to selectively provide access to the cooking cavity ; and a hinge assembly interconnecting the door and the housing , wherein the hinge assembly includes a first hinge element having a hinge pin with upper and lower portions and an engagement portion disposed therebetween with a lower surface with at least one vertically disposed abutment surface , wherein the hinge assembly further includes a second hinge element having a body portion surrounding a hollow interior portion which slidably receives the lower portion of the hinge pin of the first hinge element , wherein the second hinge element further includes a contoured upper rim having at least one vertically disposed abutment surface , wherein the contoured upper rim of the second hinge element is engaged with the lower surface of the first hinge element , and further wherein the first hinge element rotates relative to the second hinge element between a first position, wherein the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the first hinge element abuts the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the second hinge element , and a second position, wherein the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the first hinge element is horizontally and vertically spaced-apart from the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the second hinge element , wherein the first position of the first hinge element correlates to the open position of the door and wherein the second position of the first hinge element correlates to the closed position of the door . a housing defining a cooking cavity with an open front portion ; a door pivotally coupled to the housing along a vertical rotational axis , wherein the door is operable between open and closed positions relative to the open front portion of the cooking cavity to selectively provide access to the cooking cavity ; and a hinge assembly interconnecting the door and the housing , wherein the hinge assembly includes a first hinge element having a hinge pin with upper and lower portions and an engagement portion disposed therebetween with a lower surface with at least one vertically disposed abutment surface , wherein the hinge assembly further includes a second hinge element having a body portion surrounding a hollow interior portion which slidably receives the lower portion of the hinge pin of the first hinge element , wherein the second hinge element further includes a contoured upper rim having at least one vertically disposed abutment surface , wherein the contoured upper rim of the second hinge element is engaged with the lower surface of the first hinge element , and further wherein the first hinge element rotates relative to the second hinge element between a first position, wherein the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the first hinge element abuts the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the second hinge element , and a second position, wherein the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the first hinge element is horizontally and vertically spaced-apart from the at least one vertically disposed abutment surface of the second hinge element , <EOS>