I don't take many photos of items, and I should have when making these today. I was worried that it would be hard, maddening, messy etc and it wasn't at all! I followed someones's recipe I found, her name was Laura. Great recipe and I followed the directions for the maker just at they were noted. The waffle maker came seasoned, so all i needed to do was wash it and dry it. I did use Bakers Joy to spray the waffle maker with before pouring batter. This stuff sprays out and is messy, so I suggest taking the pieces apart and spray in the sink. I did this each time before I poured another waffle and with a fork, when done, they came right out, no issues whats so ever. Super easy to clean...didn't have anything to get out other than the oil, so i used a mild detergent with a soft brush and washed it well. Dried it on the stove and then seasoned it with coconut oil before storing. This is what I do with all my cast iron skillets and they don't rust. The ONLY thing that is funky about this item is: The connection of the two pieces. They are a little tricky to pull apart. I did heat up both sides separately on burners before using it. Once i felt they were ready, I took each piece with mitts on and held it in the sink and sprayed it with Bakers Joy. Sat it down on burner, sprayed the other side and then connected the together. Then, i slightly lifted the top to pour in some batter...filling just enough before the edges. I put the lid down and set timer for 2 minutes. Well, it took a lot longer then 2 minutes. Just keep checking and then flip, using mitts and holding both ends of waffle maker. I flipped back and forth a few times actually because I like waffles golden and a bit crunchy. The bottom part is what cooks, obviously, but that's why I kept flipping every 3-5 minutes. I got the hang of it real quick and my husband said they were really tasty. This will last a lifetime and is a healthier option than cooking with those non-stick brands....which aren't always non-stick and tend to overflow. I didn't have any spillage, and was surprised with this as well. I decided to make an extra batch and keep in fridge, then toast when ready to eat. Not an easy thing to make for guests, as it's a slow, one waffle at a time kind of process, so making them in advance and toasting quickly should work, i hope. Good luck everyone! Easy to use, just a tad heavy but read other peoples ideas on how to to make and handle this item and you'll have a great experience.