Nordic Ware01705 Sweetheart Waffler, Cast-Aluminium Pan, Heart Shaped, Mini Waffle Maker, Black Five 3.5 inch cavities

I purchased this about 2 months ago. The first 4 batches were perfect, and I was planning on writing a 5-star review. Then, for the next several, something happened. I think I went through the same issue that other reviewers went through; something seems to change with the coating. I would use the same recipe, but the waffles didn't turn out well, and there was an awful mess I would have to clean out of the waffler for like half an hour each time. I was about to trash this item, but I made another batch just now and I think I have a figured out what the issue(s) were. Here is my advice =1. Reduce the amount of milk in your batter. My recipe called for 1 and a half cups of flour with 1 and a half cups of milk. I found that if you keep the flour the same, but reduce your milk to 1 and a third cup, the waffler seems to churn out better waffles.2. SLATHER the waffler in something to avoid sticking. I didn't do this as fervently the first 4 batches and it worked fine, but after that it stopped working as well. I used to use butter, and wasn't diligent on how much i used. This last one (which worked perfectly) I used Crisco EVOO no-stick spray.3. Do not use almond flour. Not sure if this is really an issue, but when I stuck with all-purpose flour or a combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flour, the consistency worked better.4. Let your batter sit for a bit. This last batch, I let the batter sit in the fridge overnight then used it.5. Be very meticulous to avoid over-cooking. I used medium-high heat, and you need to listen. As the waffle is forming, you will hear some very subtle noises, not sure how to describe them, but this represents the batter solidifying into the waffle. Make sure you hear the noise, then flip the waffler. I would say about 1 minute on each side after you start to hear the noise [So, hear the noise, flip, hear the noises, then flip before 60 seconds, then take it off heat before 60 seconds]. In the batches that failed, I think I let it sit there too long, and the waffle was fried. This induces it to stick to the waffler, and can lead to a sticky mess.It's definitely a learning curve, but once you get it right you will love this item. Good luck!!!

Love this waffle iron. My new favorite and I have vowed to use this every weekend for family breakfasts. I have not tried another iron before so I cannot compare. But with all the good things about this iron, why get another? I did much research and this is probably the best stovetop iron out there right now.PROS:Easy to useEasy to cleanFlat, takes up no space when stored, can be tucked awayMakes 4 thick waffles with very deep wells for toppingSturdy construction, should last unless plastic handles break offPlastic handles stay coolGreat control over cooking temp on stove topWaffle release beautifully, no stickingHeavy iron cooks and browns evenlyReleases beautifully, no stickingCONS:This could be a lifetime tool if it didn't have the non-stick surface and also if the cast aluminum ran the length of the handles. So even if the plastic comes off, there would be aluminum underneath.I wowed my family at the first use. I just followed the Belgium Waffle recipe that came with the packaging. It was so easy and tasty. If you don't have a recipe in mind, try that one first. I recommend doubling the sugar as it only calls for 1 tablespoon. And then experiment with how much batter to add. If you watched the video on Amazon, they instruct that you add one cup of batter in the center of the pan. And the batter is suppose do spread when you put the top piece down. That is not what happened for me no matter how I tried.I warned the two sides of the iron on separate burners on med-low. I increased the batter to 1 1/3 or 1 1/2 cup starting out in the center and the going out into filling most of the for squares. I put the top piece on and immediately flip. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Then flip and cook for 1 minute (up to 2 minutes if it didn't brown the first time because the speed of how I scoop and drop the batter changes). This ensures an evenly toasted crunch on both sides. You can check the browning as frequently as you want by slightly opening the iron while cooking. Make sure to only do this after the initial 2 minutes when the batter is almost completely cooked.If your batter overflows, but is not dripping, just let it cook. You can easily peel it off when it's cooked. You try to wipe it, you will smear it and the residue will be harder to clean off. Should you insist on cleaning it, just pick up the iron and take it over to the kitchen sink and wipe with a damp cloth and try to get it all off before returning to stove.Now that I've got the technique down, I'm going to try other recipes. Especially recreating the liege waffles of Belgium!