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107 of 110 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Machine, Not So Great Price, July 13, 2001
By A Customer
Like every other couple on the planet we received a bread machine as a wedding present several years ago. At first I thought it'd be a "sit-on-my-countertop-taking-up-space" appliance but it turned into an item we use all the item. I love hot, fresh bread and used to enjoy making it by hand--I still do occasionally, just for fun--but who has the time? With the bread machine you can make from-scratch loaves quickly, easily and with no mess whatsoever. After a couple years of using our bargain basement gift model we purchased the Breadman Ultimate--a tool I still use at least once a week after more than two years.Some people have complaints about how a bread machine cooks their bread and if you like ultra-crusty loaves you'll probably want to skip the machine's baking cycle and put it in the oven, but even then this machine is a godsend, doing the "heavy lifting" (i.e. mixing, kneading and rising) for you, all with one touch of a button. Personally, I prefer very soft bread with an extremely light crust so I bake right in machine and am very happy with the results. In fact, I even reduce the cooking time about 10 minutes with the customized program setting to produce very "blonde," super-soft bread. Other people complain of the noise and, to be honest, it's not exactly whisper quiet, but that's not a big concern for me as I don't do a lot of stealth breadmaking (ha, ha). We've got a Great Room, which means our kitchen is totally open to our main living area. I often put bread into bake and then sit down to watch TV with my husband. While this machine is a little louder than a dishwasher, it only makes noise when mixing and the smell of baking bread is reward enough for a few minutes (the kneading/mixing doesn't last long) of noise. I will agree with other reviewers who say that the delayed baking option is mostly useless, as yeast is just too temperamental to produce consistently good results without precise temperature requirements being met. And, on that note, I advise anyone who invests in a breadmaker to also purchase a digital kitchen thermometer. Using water between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit has produced the best results for me. Any hotter--even though most recipes allow up to 85 degrees--and my loaves don't crown properly when cooking. Though I often make my bread from scratch ingredients I have found one great bread machine mix, after trying dozens of lousy ones. I suggest King's Hawaiian Bread Mix, which can be found in most grocery stores. It's a great standard white bread, with just a hint of sweetness. Finally, as a few other reviewers have noted you can purchase this machine for significantly less at many major retailers and other online outlets, so be sure and shop around.
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