bread machine reviews?

[geekchick]

I've gotten it into my head that I would like to have a bread machine, since most days I have neither time nor energy to make bread by hand. The King Arthur Flour folks really like the Zojirushi BBCCX20, and as an alternative they recommend a Cuisinart CBK200 model. One thing I like about the Zojirushi, and this is of course totally superficial, is the traditional loaf shape. The generally glowing reviews don't hurt either. Do any of you have one or the other of these things? If so, what do you think of it? If you've got some other particular favorite, tell me about that too.

[Edit: Point in favor of the Cuisinart and the Breadman models: removable paddles. Can't determine if the Zojirushi has the same feature.]

Not sure exactly why (other than maybe because fall's already in the air and cooler weather is much more appealing when it comes to spending a lot of time in a hot kitchen), but I've been wanting to spend a lot more time/effort/money on kitchen stuff.

Comments

[geminigirl]

I got my bread machine about five years ago, and grabbed the Consumer Reports reviews back then to choose. They also liked the Zojirushi machines, which were, when I got mine either out of my price range or impossible to find where I lived at the time. (I like to be able to check out things like that in person and wouldn't feel comfortable buying online without handling it first.)

I went with something that also did well at the time in Consumer Reports-I have a Breadman, though I'm not exactly sure at the moment which model. It had all the features I wanted-the horizontal loaf pan, the time delay feature (hot bread in the AM is fantastic) and lots of other things. It's probably similar to the 220C on the web site. I'm happy with it. It doesn't get as much use as it used to, because there are only two of us, but I'm still very happy with it when I do use it.

[geekchick]

Amazon indicates that a lot of people who looked at the Zojirushi ended up going on to buy the Breadman. =) I'll add it to the list of machines to check out, thanks!

[geminigirl]

You're welcome.

I read the comments below, and I agree with whoever suggested staying away from the two paddle machines. It seems like a minor thing, but it's a pretty good chunk in the bottom of the loaf sometimes, especially if you've made one of the smaller loaf sizes.

[geekchick]

One thing I've noticed in favor of both the Breadman and the Cuisinart is that they have removable paddles so you can take them out before baking. Excellent idea, that.

[simplykimberly.livejournal.com]

The Zo *is* a good machine. I used to bake in my Breadman (which worked just fine) but now I only use my two bread machines to make dough, and bake everything in the oven (the other is a VERY cheap Oster, I got at Target for $20 - and it works for my uses quite well.)

I find that baking in the oven gives me the best of everything, while taking little convenience away. The bread machine does virtually all the work, and I get to touch the dough for about a minute (from machine to bread pan), and I get nicely-shaped bread, without a paddle hole in the bottom!

Fresh, home made bread is the bestest! I haven't bought store bread in years now, and yum!

[geekchick]

Mmmm, homemade bread. Now I'm hungry, darnit. =)

I think the Zojirushi is probably a bit of overkill for the amount I'd use it, to be honest, but I'd like to make sure I get something that I won't have to replace in six months when it falls apart.

You're the second person to mention the Breadman, so I'm sticking that on the list of machines to check out as well.

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

I had one of the older model Zojirushis and loved it. I've heard good things about the model you're considering, too. I'd say go for it. :)

[geekchick]

I'm trying to decide if it's overkill or not. =)

[plaidsheep.livejournal.com]

Zojirushi has been making bread machines for YEARS. Since the beginning, really.

I've never read a bad review of them.

I say go for it. I think they must be the Hondas of bread machines (trusty, well made, work forever)

[geekchick]

(trusty, well made, work forever)

As I get older, I find myself much more willing to shell out a bit more on things like appliances if it means I won't keep having to spend more money to replace them every six months. Now if I could just bring myself to do the same thing with shoes... ;)

[carpee-diem.livejournal.com]

I had one and had to get rid of it.. as I gained what felt like a 1,000 lbs!!!

They are awesome tho.. I'd set both the coffee maker and the bread machine to finish at 7:30am... *sigh* I miss my warm bread & coffee mornings..

[geekchick]

I had one and had to get rid of it.. as I gained what felt like a 1,000 lbs!!!

Heh. That's definitely something to keep in mind. =) Worst case, I bring most of a warm loaf of bread in to the office in the morning and my coworkers help distribute the calories more evenly.

[fub.livejournal.com]

I would never get the Zojirushi, even though it looks like a good machine. The reason? Two paddle holes.
A paddle hole, while not insurmountable, does detract from the 'structural integrity' of a slice of bread. With a two-paddle, traditionally-loaf-shaped bread, almost all of your slices will have a damaged underside.
I have a one-paddle machine myself, and as I slice further away from the bottom, the slices come away without any gaping holes.

This might seem a trivial detail, but wait until you try to eat a jam sandwich riddled with holes. ;)

[geekchick]

Two paddle holes.

Good point, I'd not given that bit too much thought.

wait until you try to eat a jam sandwich riddled with holes. ;)

Oh come on, don't you enjoy a challenge? ;)

[fub.livejournal.com]

Oh come on, don't you enjoy a challenge?
I do enjoy a challenge. But pulling a clean shirt from my closet in the morning, and having to toss that same shirt in the laundry right after breakfast just isn't my thing, it seems. ;)

[geekchick]

The obvious solution is to not get dressed before breakfast. =) (Heck, I'm lucky if I can manage to even brush my hair prior to caffeine.) That said, the Cuisinart and the Breadman that a couple of other folks have mentioned allow you to remove the paddles before baking, which sounds like a fine idea to me.

[fub.livejournal.com]

(Heck, I'm lucky if I can manage to even brush my hair prior to caffeine.)
And you do expect to be able to retrieve a warm bread out of the baker in such a state...? ;)

Removable paddles! Now there's a concept... But how? Do you have to grope through the dough prior to the.. uh.. yeast doing its stuff? (I don't know the English term for it...)

[geekchick]

And you do expect to be able to retrieve a warm bread out of the baker in such a state...? ;)

I figured I'd set the coffemaker for 7:30 and the bread machine for 7:45. ;)

Removable paddles! Now there's a concept... But how?

The person I saw mention taking the paddle out of the Breadman says:

If I'm going to be home while the machine is running, I come back to it just as it's doing the punchdown knead before the third rise. As soon as the third rise starts, I push the "pause" button (note that you have to hold it down for a second or two, until it beeps), take the bread pan out and quickly close the lid. Then I dump the dough out onto my pastry board, remove the paddle, shape the loaf by hand, put it back into the pan, put the pan back into the machine and push "start."

I can't easily tell if the Zojirushi has removable paddles, which makes me thing it doesn't.

[fub.livejournal.com]

Then I dump the dough out onto my pastry board, remove the paddle, shape the loaf by hand, put it back into the pan, put the pan back into the machine and push "start."
By that definition, our bread maker also has a removable paddle -- but as you see, it takes some intervention at just the right time (and groping through the dough!) to do it.