Summary

Never made bread before, never bought bread since (well,almost!). If you like bread, what are you waiting for? Go buy it - it's a bargain.
Use the dough setting for recipes in breadmaker books and shape by hand and cook in conventional oven: naan, pizza, ciabatta, rustic loaves. Trust me, it's really easy and the results are stunning.

And don't forget - Fastbake is good!

How long have you used the product?

More than 3 months

What are the strengths?

Perfect bread every time. Simple timer function. Easy to clean. Various programmes, including just dough making (which for me is the best part) .

I dispute every review which claims that the fastbake programme is poor: if you like Scottish plain bread (batch loaf), you'll like this - it is good when warm and fantastic when toasted (even when 3 days old).

What are the weaknesses?

Lack of automatic raisin dispenser is a problem for overnight or delay baking. Recipe book is very limited: you'll need to buy one if you are adventurous. Measuring cup and spoons are inadequate so I tend to use my own measuring utensils.

Summary

Overall an excellent machine and good value for money. I always research what I want to buy beforehand so I get the best value for money. consistent results and lots of fun too ...enjoy.....

Which similar products have you used?

My last bread maker was a cheap one which served me well with good results. I have tried to find another model after it packed up on me that was as good without much success until now !

How long have you used the product?

Less than 1 month

What are the strengths?

Consistent excellent results as long you use the correct amount of ingredients. I have used honey instead of sugar for a sweeter bread and this has not affected the quality of the bread. You have a choice of crust settings and loaf sizes I find the smaller loaf is enough for us. I like the coolwall aspect for safety. It is a delight to use especially with it having a timer and you wake uo to the smell of fresh bread. The children have found it fun too experimenting with adding flavours, and they enjoy the bread very much. We find the bread is more filling than shop bought bread too. Plus you know what is in the bread !!

What are the weaknesses?

The fastbake produces poor results.with a small loaf and denser bread. This is not a fsult of the machine. Having been a baker dough needs to rise twice to make a good bread as it only rises the once on this program the results are only what you can expect Having said that although the loaf is smaller and texture more dense it does not affect the taste. It is an excellent feature I use for emergencies only...when I`ve run out of bread and need some quickly !!!!

Summary

This machine offers many of the functions of higher priced alternatives, and yet is relatively cheap. It has a good range of programs which cover most recipes, and is more than sufficient for general use. The only thing that will persuade me to part with mine is if I decide to go for a model with a bigger loaf size.

Which similar products have you used?

The Morphy Richards breadmaker that only has 1.5lb loaf size

How long have you used the product?

More than 3 months

What are the strengths?

Very easy to use, just throw everything into the pan and leave it. The timer facility is extremely useful for first thing in the morning, as is the 60-minute keep-warm(in case you sleep in!). Functions are simple and straightforward, and the choice of loaf size is handy. Variable browning is good but I tend to stick to the same one mostly. I have used this nearly every day since I got it eighteen months ago and it has proved to be very reliable. It has only let me down once and that was my fault because I forgot to put the kneading blade in.

What are the weaknesses?

Recipes included are limited, it is a good idea to buy a recipe book for bread makers, I did and never looked back. The Fastbake facility isn't up to much, every recipe I've tried in it tends to come out very 'heavy', but it isn't just this machine, it seems to be a common thing with Fastbake or 'one-hour' programs. Also, as I use my bread maker a lot (and frequently on the timer through the night) I think an automatic fruit/nut/extra ingredient dispenser would be useful, as would a bigger loaf size (particularly if you have a family).