How do I know when the waffle is done with no timer?
Watch the steam. A waffle cooking is driving moisture out of the batter, and steam pours from the seam while that is happening; when it slows to almost nothing, the waffle is done. DASH puts single-serve dishes at under three minutes, and in practice it takes anything from under a minute to about two, depending on the batter. Opening it early to check is the commonest mistake, because a waffle that has not yet set will tear and stick to both plates, which people then blame on the non-stick coating rather than on opening it too soon. Wait for the steam to stop, then lift the lid, and it should come away cleanly.
How much batter should I use?
DASH's recipe booklet suggests a quarter cup, but just under a quarter cup works best, so no batter runs out of the sides. Overfilling means batter squeezing out of the seam and cooking onto the outside of the machine, which is unpleasant to clean and wastes batter that never actually cooks into the waffle shape.
Do I need to grease the plates?
Usually not. Very little sticks: you don't have to spray it at all, and it can go about 20 waffles without sticking. If it does start to catch, a little butter rubbed on keeps it good for a while after that. If you grease it, butter or plain oil brushed on lightly is gentler on a non-stick surface than an aerosol cooking spray, whose additives can bake on as a sticky film.
Is it safe to leave plugged in between batches?
During a cooking session, yes: you can make waffle after waffle, or batches to freeze for the week. But because there is no power switch, it stays on for as long as it is plugged in, so unplug it the moment you are finished rather than leaving it in a socket, and never leave it unattended while hot.
Can I make savoury food in it, not just sweet waffles?
Yes. DASH names waffled hash browns, cookies and biscuit pizzas alongside breakfast classics, and the title calls out keto chaffles, a cheese-and-egg batter. Chaffles are a regular use, and desserts and savoury dishes work as well as breakfast waffles. The principle is simple: a waffle iron is two heated plates that press and cook whatever is between them.
Can I put it in the dishwasher?
No. The plates do not come apart from the body, so the whole thing stays out of the sink and the dishwasher. A wipe with a damp paper towel is all it needs, since very little sticks. Do it while it is still warm rather than fully cold, when batter comes away easily; once it has cooled completely, dried batter is much harder to remove.
