Toastmaster 1148X Fast Bake 2-Pound Horizontal Bread Machine Review

My husband and I chose this breadmaker as a 10 yr. anniversary gift from his employer. I have used it only 2 days and I have two main complaints about it.One, I don't like that this is a vertical machine, I like the top of the bread to be like the bread found in grocery stores. Two, on the basic medium cycle, the bread got way too dark and I had to turn off the machine even though it had 32 minutes left to bake the bread.My son said the bread was burning. Who knows what the bread would have looked like if I had left it in the machine until the end of the cycle!
The recipe book is easy to understand and has a lot of information; I suggest that you read it a few times all the way through before you start to make bread.I have not used any of the cycles except Basic Medium and French.My husband and I feel that we will only use the 1 lb. and 1.5 lb. setting, because when I made the French Bread on the 2 lb. setting, the bread was not dense like normal french bread--it had a lot of holes due to the need to expand the dough to make a bigger loaf.I made the second loaf of bread--the one I had to remove early--on the 1.5 lb. setting, and it was fine, nice and dense.The machine is noisy when mixing the bread, but that doesn't bother me.The inner pan is very easy to clean, though it cannot be immersed in water/dishwasher.Bread is very easy to remove from the pan.
Lastly, I found that as soon as I start the machine, it mixes, but I have to open the lid and give the machine a little help by scraping the flour from the corners and bottom with a rubber spatula.The blade does not get all the flour from the corners and the bottom.The flour will lay there even after the machine starts mixing the dough ball back and forth. This doesn't bother me either, I don't mind scraping the flour; I'd rather do that than have lumps of flour in the bread or flour on the outside of the loaf.
Since we didn't have to pay for this, this breadmaker is an ok machine. It does what it is supposed to do. My husband is a fresh bread lover, so he is pleased with the bread. However, if you are paying $100 and up for a breadmaker, look at other models first.

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West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise Electronic Dual-Blade Breadmaker Review

I came to machine made bread late, and it was a long road to get here.You could say I was a purist stuck in times past, or I was just waiting for my questions to be answered.I know a bunch of people who swear by thier bread machines, and several folks who've had one die and miss it terribly.Me, I had no real problems making bread the old fashioned way so to speak.I learned how to make bread from my Mom when I was a little girl, and that always worked for me.

I'd read that for features and function the Zojirushi was the top of the line.Great, but there was no way I could cost justify that kind of money for a bread machine.Plus, while it met most of my specifications, it missed on one important one, loaf size.For me a requirment was a horiontal loaf, and an ideal was maximum function and control.Including loaf size and crust.

Enter the Hi-Rise.It's selectable for four different loaf sizes 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 pound loaves.It has three different crust settings that give one control over color and thickness of the crust, accessed with the temp button.

With a horizontal loaf pan, and dual blades, it makes it simple and easy to prepare just about anything.The large windows in the top make it easy to watch how your bread is doing and the display is easy to read and keeps you informed about where in your journey each loaf is.It even has prgrammability in terms of when the bread machine starts, and even allows you to create a custom profile for "Home Made" bread.Wake up to the smell of bread baking?Done!Now you can program the coffee machine to start your morning cup of java, and have fresh baked bread waiting too.Spoil me rotten why don't you!

The acid test of course was actually making bread with it.Took it out of the box, used the basic white bread recipe that came with the manual, hit start and walked away.I looked in now and again to see what it was doing, but I did not hover, chosing instead to believe that this would work just fine and I'd have a wonderful smell to tell me that all was right in my bread machine.

Soon, the unmistakable aroma of rising dough filled my senses, and sometime later, baking bread.When done I took it out of the machine and placed a wonderful looking and sounding loaf on the cooling rack and waited a bit before putting on water for tea.When I say sounding, one of the things my Mom taught me was to tap on the side of the crust lightly like with produce to get an idea of how the bread was inside.A properly cooked loaf should have a slightly hollow sound to it when tapped.Sure enough, this one did.

When the time was right, I poured a cup of tea to steep, waited for it to be ready and cut a slice out of my warm, crusty, perfect, loaf of bread.It was crusty on the outside as it should be, and warm, slightly moist, springy bread on the inside. I grew up in New England, and one of the things I love is "Country Style" bread.Slightly heavier, and moister than your run of the mill bread, it has a wonderful taste, texture and weight to it not generally available outside of New England.

Before I even tasted this I knew I was in for a treat from the smell, feel and texture of bread.The first morsel was a reward beyond my expectations!"Country Style" bread by pushing a button.Plus because I controled the ingredients it is healthy too.I used 1% milk, and "Smart Balance" butter substitute along with Unbleached King Arthur Bread Flour and Fleischmen's "Highly Active Yeast" in the making of my first loaf.Perfect "Country Style" loaf in terms of all criteria.Taste, Texture, Smell, Weight, Crust, Color and Moisture.

It is easily the simplest loaf I've ever made.Put the materials in the pan, select options, press start and walk away.I'm thrilled with this bread machine!Hundreds less than it's nearest Zojirushi in terms of price and more features.Needless to say, I'll make more of this so called basic bread again, because now I can have "Country Style" bread anytime I want it despite no longer living in New England.So far I've only made one loaf, but I know hundreds more are to follow, next I'm going to go for a New York Deli style Rye.

The West End Hi-Rise is a gem at twice the price, and honestly has more features then the high end Zojirushi.Plus this has one touch selectable loaf size & crust type which the Zojirushi does not.

Would I reccomend this again?Oh yes, without question.

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Product Description:
From cinnamon-raisin bread for breakfast to buttery dinner rolls or garlic bread sticks to serve with dinner, this countertop appliance makes it easy to create delicious bakery-style artisan bread right at home. Simply add in measured ingredients, close the lid, make a selection from the push-button digital-display control panel, and it takes care of the rest. Choose from three crust shades--light, medium, or dark--and from four horizontally shaped loaf sizes: 1 pound, 1-1/2 pounds, 2 pounds, or 2-1/2 pounds. Its 11 pre-programmed settings consist of Basic, Quick, French, Super Rapid, Whole Wheat, Sweet, Dough, Bake, Jam, Sandwich, and Home Made. Best of all, the machine's timer can be set to delay the end time by up to 12 hours and 58 minutes, which makes it possible to wake up to the smell of freshly baked, homemade bread in the morning or to come home to a warm loaf at the end of a long day at the office. The bread maker provides two blades for thorough dough kneading and a higher rise, a large viewing window, and a removable nonstick bread pan for easy cleaning. It also includes a measuring cup, a measuring spoon, a handy knead-blade removal tool, and a multi-lingual instruction manual with a variety of recipes, including low-carb and gluten-free. The bread machine measures 18 by 10-1/2 by 11-4/5 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Breadman TR2700 Stainless-Stainless Programmable Convection Bread Maker Review

I have been a breadmaker my entire life. There is nothing like the smell of baking bread as you walk in the door, especially on a cold winter day. The evolution of the bread machine was exciting for me. I remember the first bread machines with the tall, horizontal loaf pan that was somewhat less than exciting. Then, the "horizontal" loaf appeared. I own two of the first Breadman machines, TR845 with the horizonal loaf and as a "basic breadmaker" those are terrific. They are sturdy, relatively quiet for a breadmaker and the pan secures itself well within the machine. This model does not have all the cycles of more current models and it does not automatically add ingredients as do the TR2500, or Tr2700. However, it does offer a signal "beep" when to add ingredients such as raisons, or cranberries. I love to bake bread and give it away. I often have four breadmakers going at the same time during a holiday.
Last year I purchased the Breadman TR2500, Stainless and Black. Initially I was quite pleased with the performance. However, after several uses I did have problems with the bread pan releasing from the holders on each side requiring a bending and adjusting of the snap in prongs of both the pan and the breadmaker itself. I think this is because the stainless steel on the inside isn't quite as strong as with simple steel of the past models I have used. I LOVE THE COVECTION FEATURE. The first thing I noticed about adding convection to a breadmaker was the crust. The entire crust of the bread, not only the top is VERY CRISPY. For those of you who love to cut off the heel of a fresh loaf of bread and smear with butter, this is a dream (of course the heel is still the best part of the loaf). Now, I just aquired the newer model which is a TR2700. I have not had the problem with the pan coming loose from the holders in the machine as of yet and the inside is similar in construction to the TR2500? Both the TR2500 and the TR2700 make quite a bit more noise during the kneeding cycles which I think is due to the stainless steel construction vs. steel and plastic which I don't think conduct noise as well. Still, the TR2700 is still top notch and well worth the money if you love to make bread and would use it frequently. ONE TIP ON ALL BREADMACHINES. If you find that hole in the bottom of the bread annoying, or displeasing simply keep track of your cycle. After the machine has completed the second kneed going in to the last rise, simply reach in and take off the paddle. End result is a nice loaf with only a small hole from the hub of the paddle. Nice little trick and you won't ever mistakingly give a loaf away with the paddle stuck in it. OOPS, where's my bread paddle?,the next time you try making bread.

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Product Description:
Wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread with this programmable breadmaker. The unit bakes 1-, 1-1/2-, and 2-pound horizontal loaves and can handle any favorite recipe--from cinnamon raisin, honey wheat, rosemary, and cranberry oat to hearty rye, cheesy onion focaccia, and classic French bread, even cinnamon rolls for breakfast or dinner rolls for the evening meal. The machine features a user-friendly control panel with Mylar buttons and an easy-to-read digital display. Choose from over 100 baking options, 16 settings including low carb and gluten free, and the preferred crust color--light, medium, or dark. The unit also provides a delay timer up to 24 hours, a 10-minute random pause control, a one-hour keep-warm cycle that keeps bread warm without over-baking, and instant recall in the event of a power failure. Other thoughtful design details include an automatic fruit and nut dispenser, a viewing window, a convection fan for excellent baking results, and convenient side carrying handles. Avoid the use of metal utensils with the removable baking pan, which should be washed by hand in order to protect its nonstick surface. Attractively housed in stainless steel with black accents, the breadmaker measures 18-3/5 by 11-1/5 by 15 inches.

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Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker Review

I am an experienced bread baker (with and without machines) and this is my third bread machine. It kneads better than others I have had BY FAR. This machine makes excellent bread, but there is one big problem. You cannot cancel mid-cycle to start a different process if you like. As an experienced baker, I like to tweak my loaves by using various different risings, etc., but I can't do that with this machine because once you start a cycle you are committed.Even if you turn the blasted thing off, it does not reset. Other machines allow more flexibility for experienced bakers.This machine does come with an excellent cookbook, and seems easy to operate. I can't explain the negative reviews, except to say perhaps they got a defective machine. This one does not budge on the counter like other machines I've had, either. I have used the dough cycle and have baked in the machine - each time with excellent results.I do recommend that those who are having trouble make sure they are using the proper flour and yeast - see King Arthur Flour company web site for lots of info!

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Product Description:
Fresh Bread doesn't get any fresher - or easier - than this!Cuisinart offers expert engneering in smooth brushed stainless to deliver a sensational-looking Convection Bread Maker that automatically adjusts speed and timing, and circulates air while baking.Exclusive Low Carb, Cluten-Free, and Artisan Dough settings are just 3 of 16 preset menu options available with the touch of a button.Cuisinart adds 3 crust colors and 3 loaf sizes, to give bread lovers a choice of over 100 bread, dough, cake - and even jam - combinations!

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Breadman TR875 2-Pound Breadmaker, Stainless Steel Review

I bought this bread machine from Amazon because it was on sale for $69 about two weeks ago.That seemed like a good price for what looked like a decent machine, so I ordered it. I'm so glad that I did!I have made six loaves so far, all of which have come out perfectly.I tried two other machines before this model, both of which burnt or did other crazy things to the loaves and so required tons of monitoringand adjustments.With this machine, though, it really IS as easy as throwing a few ingredients in the machine and pressing a button! So far I have made french bread, whole wheat bread, brown rice flour bread, irish potato brown bread, and more.The recipes that came with the machine work well, but I also picked up a few bread machine cookbooks for more variety.

In addition to making great bread, I love how quiet the machine is (like another reviewer, I kept checking to see whether it was working the first time).I also likethat it's a little smaller than equivalent 2 lb. machines and so easily fits under kitchen cabinets, and I love the way it looks in my kitchen (it's not a huge, hideous white box!). There's a helpful fruit/nut add-in beep, the shape of the loaf is nicer than the other 2 machines I've used, and the finished bread easily slides out of the pan.

Overall, I am extremely happy with my purchase.5 stars!

Added 10/25/2007:
I am still so happy with this bread machine, so I had to come back and add to my review.Since I bought this more 6 months ago I have been using it often (at least 1 loaf a week) and I have never had a failure yet.In addition to loaves made with bread flour, I have made many loaves with 100% whole wheat flour (the majority of my loaves are 100% whole wheat) or other flours like spelt, rice, and oat, and all loves came out beautifully.This machine produces perfect, perfect bread!I now bring fresh bread to every dinner party I attend, and people are always so grateful.

In addition to homemade bread being delicious, I think it's much healthier, too: I love that I now know exactly what went into every loaf of bread I eat (i.e. no weird chemicals or additives, I can decrease the sugar or replace it with a natural sweetener like maple syrup, etc.).I would give this machine 10 stars if I could, I love it that much.

One helpful tip someone gave me was to buy The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook by Beth Hensperger.I use recipes from this book every time I bake bread, and they always come out beautifully.I'm sure there are lots of other good bread machine cookbooks, but this is by far the best one I've tried.

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Product Description:
Wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread with this programmable bread machine. The unit bakes 1, 1-1/2, and 2-pound horizontal loaves with its super-rapid cycle, 100-percent whole-wheat cycle, and gluten-free cycle. The machine also offers pasta, jam, and pizza-dough cycles. A helpful "add in" beep indicates when it's time to add fruit, nuts, or other mix-ins, while a large see-through window allows for viewing. Other highlights include an easy-to-read LCD display, a pause function, and a detachable lid. Avoid the use of metal utensils with the removable baking pan, which should be washed by hand in order to protect its nonstick surface. Housed in durable stainless steel, the bread machine measures 18 by 11-1/5 by 14-4/5 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

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Breadman TR520 Programmable Bread Maker for 1-, 1-1/2-, and 2-Pound Loaves Review

We bake a loaf about every 5 days, usually basic white or honey wheat. We've also made herb breads, seed breads and pizza dough. This is our first and only bread machine so we've nothing to compare it to, but seems great to us. The loaves are beautiful and almost always perfect - we've only had one loaf that didn't turn out (don't know why). There's a timer that lets us set it up the night before and wake to the smell of fresh bread baking... mmmm......The paddle does tend to take a largish chunk of bread with it when the loaf comes out of the pan. The writing is hard to read as others have said, but we use the default setting 95% of the time so we don't have to read anything - just hit start. For an inexpensive breadmaker, it's really great. We've had ours 7 months.

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Product Description:
Enjoy the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread with this easy-to-use breadmaker. The machine bakes 1-, 1-1/2-, and 2-pound loaves in less than an hour and can handle any favorite recipe--from cinnamon raisin, honey wheat, rosemary, and cranberry oat to hearty rye, cheesy onion focaccia, and classic French bread, even cinnamon rolls for breakfast or dinner rolls for the evening meal. The machine features a user-friendly push-button control panel with a digital display for simple programming. Choose from three crust shades--light, medium, or dark, and from eight different functions for making a wide range of breads and doughs. The unit also provides a delay timer that can be set up to 13 hours--great for waking up to or coming home to a warm loaf ready to be sliced and lathered with butter. Other thoughtful design details include a fruit-and-nut add-in signal bell, a viewing window, a removable lid, and a nonstick baking pan for quick cleanup. The breadmaker measures approximately 13-1/2 by 12-1/5 by 13-1/2 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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