The Cooks' Den » Bread Makers http://www.thecooksden.com Cooking Tools - Gear for Cooks and Chefs Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:49:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Cuisinart Bread Maker Review | Convection Programmable Automatic Gluten Free CBK-200 http://www.thecooksden.com/cuisinart-bread-maker-review-convection-programmable-automatic-gluten-free-cbk-200/ http://www.thecooksden.com/cuisinart-bread-maker-review-convection-programmable-automatic-gluten-free-cbk-200/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:59:33 +0000 Sharon http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=12710 Cuisinart Bread Maker Review Convection n. -- a highly sought-after airflow cooking method that uses fans to circulate hot air inside an oven. This speeds up cooking time and evens out the irregularities in cooked consistency.

And now, this same convection oven technology can be found in a portable bread maker. Sounds awesome, right?

The Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker utilitzes this convection cooking method in a programmable, automatic machine -- and there are hundreds of possible bread combinations to choose from as far as programmability goes. It comes with 16 different settings for low carb, gluten free, artisan and sweet breads, or just kneading dough. The darkness of the crust is adjustable, and the large pan can accomodate three different loaf sizes. Also, in case the dough's already pre-made, the Cuisinart also has a "bake only" function.

Technically speaking, the convection system is of excellent quality and seems to work as well as advertised. Another feat of engineering in this Cuisinart bread machine is a "power save" function. This is a crucial feature to have if you live in an area with frequent power outages, no matter how short the power failure may be. If at any point you lose electric power, the Cuisinart Bread Maker will remember where it left off during the baking cycle when the power comes back on again; it won't reset from the beginning.

For all its feats, however, the Cuisinart isn't perfect. The most frequent complaint is due to the baking pan, which can pop out midway through the baking cycle. This manufacturer's flaw is easily fixed, though -- a quick solution is to pull out the metal tabs where the pan rests until it's a tighter fit. Also, don't assume that the recipes you use in another manufacturer's bread machine will work identically with this one. Start with the recipes that come with it, or are recommended for it online, and go from there. For example, low carb breads with extremely low carbohydrate count might not bake as evenly as other breads that are on the "higher carb" end of the special diet.

The Cuisinart may not be perfect for all, but its vast programmability and excellent convection cooking ability are definitely worth consideration. It's housed in a brushed stainless steel exterior with stay-cool handles and is paired with a manufacturer's 3-year limited warranty.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/cuisinart-bread-maker-review-convection-programmable-automatic-gluten-free-cbk-200/feed/ 0 Westbend Breadmaker, Automatic Bread Machine | Dual Blade Digital 41300 w/ 1 to 2.5 Lb. Loaf Pan http://www.thecooksden.com/westbend-breadmaker-automatic-bread-machine-dual-blade-digital-41300-w-1-to-2-5-lb-loaf-pan/ http://www.thecooksden.com/westbend-breadmaker-automatic-bread-machine-dual-blade-digital-41300-w-1-to-2-5-lb-loaf-pan/#comments Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:03:31 +0000 Sharon http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=12464 Westbend Breadmaker, Automatic BreadLooks like the Zojirushi front-runner for Best Bread Machine has some competition now. The results are in, and this West Bend breadmaker has been shown to perform just as well as its more expensive competition, if not better.

What I like most about this West Bend model is the quality of customized performance. Just about every new bread machine today has their own claims to make multiple kinds of bread with several settings to choose from. But it's a rare thing if one machine performs exceptionally well for all styles of breads it encounters. There are 11 programmable settings for the West Bend that include 3 different crust options, 4 loaf sizes, and the ability to make gluten-free, low-carb, and quick breads.

The bread machine comes with a measuring cup, spoon, manual with recipes, and a special tool for getting the kneading blade out of the loaf just in case it gets stuck. It features a digital timer with 12-hour delay, the ability to create your own custom settings for what you want your default homemade bread to be, and a durable motor that holds up when using thick, heavy dough.

One thing that I must say about this machine actually has nothing to do with the breadmaker itself per se, but it has everything to do with its manual. The included manual is vague; it's hard and/or impossible to find information for every feature. This is why I have a hard time recommending this West Bend bread machine for a first-time breadmaker user, or for someone without access to high-speed internet. Most of the instructions, recipes, and helpful tips for making the best of the West Bend will be found online -- and there are a lot of bread machine recipes out there.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/westbend-breadmaker-automatic-bread-machine-dual-blade-digital-41300-w-1-to-2-5-lb-loaf-pan/feed/ 0 Sunbeam Programmable Breadmaker Machine 2 Pound 5891 http://www.thecooksden.com/sunbeam-programmable-breadmaker-machine-2-pound-5891/ http://www.thecooksden.com/sunbeam-programmable-breadmaker-machine-2-pound-5891/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:57:31 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4887 Sunbeam Programmable Breadmaker MachineThe Sunbeam Breadmaker has a nonstick baking pan which can be removed for cleaning or for handling the bread. The top of the unit flips open, creating plenty of room to add the ingredients. You can then use the viewing window to check the progress of your loaf without raising the lid again.

It offers twelve cooking functions and a thirteen hour delay bake function, meaning you can choose to wake up to freshly made bread. The unit makes a two pound loaf with three crust color options. The touch control panel is color coded, which makes discerning the functions easier. The kneading cycles trigger an audible signal, so you'll know when the time comes for adding flavorings. There is also an automatic keep-warm function, should you need the bread to wait a few minutes.

Look for a good bread machine recipe book to guide you as you can't count on the recipes provided in the manual. The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook is a helpful resource with hundreds of recipes. The unit allows you to make specialized breads and have control over the ingredients. One tip: You will need a fast-rising yeast and bread machine flour for the ExpressBake cycle, which bakes a fresh loaf in about an hour.

Here's another bread machine to consider from T-Fal.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/sunbeam-programmable-breadmaker-machine-2-pound-5891/feed/ 1 Sassafras La Cloche Brick Oven | Stoneware Bread Bakery Pot http://www.thecooksden.com/sassafras-la-cloche-brick-oven-stoneware-bread-bakery-pot/ http://www.thecooksden.com/sassafras-la-cloche-brick-oven-stoneware-bread-bakery-pot/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:55:28 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3396 Sassafras La Cloche Brick Oven The La Cloche Brick Oven by Sassafras is used for its fantastic baking results. Made from a ten inch natural stoneware baking stone and a cooking bell created from hard fired clay, it fits in a conventional oven. The domed top and Superstone construction help evenly circulate heat for better crusts on bread and more moist meats and fish. Prepare foods the way ancient Greek citizens once did and serve right from the dish. The oven can be cleaned by soaking in water and scraping off any excess food remaining.

The manufacturer suggests this item requires seasoning before use, but certain bakers say this is less effective. Some people prefer to presoak the item in water for the additional steam benefits. This is a very fragile item and breakage is an enormous problem. Yet this item can be used to make bakery-style bread with beautiful results otherwise difficult to achieve. The conditions inside the cloche cause something magical to happen inside the dough. The breads have colorful crusts and are filled with flavor and aroma.

Be warned, this item will get you experimenting with homemade breads. There are many good artisan baking sites which can be of great help if you catch the breadmaking bug. There's really nothing like fresh bread.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/sassafras-la-cloche-brick-oven-stoneware-bread-bakery-pot/feed/ 4 Oster Electric Arepamaker | Bread Machine Family Size 6 Cup 4798 http://www.thecooksden.com/oster-electric-arepamaker-bread-machine-family-size-6-cup-4798/ http://www.thecooksden.com/oster-electric-arepamaker-bread-machine-family-size-6-cup-4798/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:14:51 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=3992 Oster Electric Arepamaker Bake up to six arepas in one batch with the Oster Family Size Arepamaker. The extra large cavities are nonstick for a flawless release and ease in cleaning. The unit is 1400 watts and is equipped with a temperature control dial which allows you to choose light or dark results. A ready light, locking handle, and skid resistant feet are included. The unit can stand upright to save space and the cord wraps for storage. The appliance comes with a one year limited warranty and is made in China.

An arepa is an unleavened cornmeal patty. Its appearance and consistency vary depending on the region of origin. It may be stuffed (often with egg and cheese or sweet cheese) or eaten alone. The patty is grilled, baked or fried. Chefs can choose to process the corn themselves or buy arepa flour. It's a fun new take on cornbread, with attributes unlike North American versions. These South American treats can also be made like biscuits. Arepas are a great way to expose yourself or your family to a new food that isn't too spicy or too far from what they're used to eating.

Some people get creative with the items they cook in their arepamaker. Even if all you make are the corn cakes themselves, you'll get consistent, lovely results each time, prepared in a manner healthier than frying.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/oster-electric-arepamaker-bread-machine-family-size-6-cup-4798/feed/ 0 Breadman Ultimate Plus Bread Machine | Stainless Steel Convection 2 Pound TR2500BC http://www.thecooksden.com/breadman-ultimate-plus-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-2-pound-tr2500bc/ http://www.thecooksden.com/breadman-ultimate-plus-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-2-pound-tr2500bc/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:16:01 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/breadman-ultimate-plus-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-2-pound-tr2500bc/ Breadman Ultimate Plus Bread Machine The Breadman is a programmable bread machine which bakes horizontal loves, producing bread in one, one and a half, and two pound sizes. Crispier crusts are possible through the convection baking system this model offers. A handy dispenser allows you to easily add in flavorings and mix in ingredients. A twenty four hour delay timer for baking, over three hundred preprogrammed recipes and a sixty minute power failure backup are some of the advanced features of this model.

Prepare cake batter, bagel, pizza or pasta dough, create gluten free or low carb items, all in one machine. Like to watch? Remove the lid or use the viewing window to see your goods as they bake. The Ultimate Plus even includes an oven light and a bake only setting (with variable temperature). The Breadman comes with a one year limited warranty.

This product has a very mixed history. About half the people who use it find it a delight and half experience disappointment. There have been multiple issues with the bread pan and the clips meant to secure it in place. People are unable to get the pan to stay in or find it impossible to remove once the bread is finished. The machine's failure to mix ingredients, a number of defective machines and the level of noise are all common complaints.

On the flip side, other people have found the Breadman to be a long lasting, easy to clean unit, offering a fantastic platform for experiments in home baking. The name inspires fierce brand loyalty, but I'd save my paperwork, just in case.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/breadman-ultimate-plus-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-2-pound-tr2500bc/feed/ 1 T-Fal Emerilware Bread Machine | Kitchen Baguette Maker OW5005002 http://www.thecooksden.com/t-fal-emerilware-bread-machine-kitchen-baguette-maker-ow5005002/ http://www.thecooksden.com/t-fal-emerilware-bread-machine-kitchen-baguette-maker-ow5005002/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:12:22 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/t-fal-emerilware-bread-machine-kitchen-baguette-maker-ow5005002/ T-Fal Emerilware Bread Machine Emerilware's T-Fal Bread and Baguette Maker offers 14 pre-set baking options, 4 loaf sizes, three crust settings and a 15 hour timer--all in a compact and efficient counter top design. The T-Fal has two removable mixing blades for higher efficiency dough preparation, and there does seem to be a good balance of accurate recipes and machine capability.

Bread, cake, pizza dough, pasta dough and jam are all within the range of the T-Fal. The baking capacity of this machine also exceeds that of lower quality machines, allowing the creation of family sized two pound loaves as well as baguettes. Baguettes require a special baking pan which is included with the T-Fal, and to create these distinctive small loaves hand shaping of dough is needed. A special knife is included especially for scoring the tops of the loaves in the baguette style.

Although with some recipes the T-Fal only needs the loading of ingredients, for more complex recipes it will signal when it's time to add special ingredients and again when the baking is finished. An Express cycle gives the option of simple delicious loaves in under an hour and a half.

There have been few complaints about the T-Fal's performance--issues that have arisen have been simple machine faults, corrected either by exchanges or by warranty service. The unit is covered by a one year limited warranty.

Here's another breadmaker to consider by Panasonic.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/t-fal-emerilware-bread-machine-kitchen-baguette-maker-ow5005002/feed/ 1 Oster ExpressBake Bread Machine | Kitchen Breadmaker Review 5838 http://www.thecooksden.com/oster-expressbake-bread-machine-kitchen-breadmaker-review-5838/ http://www.thecooksden.com/oster-expressbake-bread-machine-kitchen-breadmaker-review-5838/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:12:21 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/oster-expressbake-bread-machine-kitchen-breadmaker-review-5838/ Oster ExpressBake Bread Machine Everyone loves fresh baked bread, but what a chore it is--from mixing to cleanup home baked bread can be an all day job. The Oster ExpressBake turns that job into a simple process of adding ingredients and setting a three step program. In one hour you'll be greeted with your first loaf of fresh hot bread. With fifty included recipes, eighteen settings and three crust color selections you'll never grow tired of the fruits of this labor.

The Oster 5838 makes 1 lb loaves, 1.5 lbs and a hefty 2 pounder big enough for a family. A thirteen hour delay feature lets you start bread at night or before you leave for work, so the bread is ready when you are ready to eat. A sixty minute keep warm cycle ensures you have plenty of opportunity for that fresh baked flavor.

When it built the Oster ExpressBake, the company's goal was a perfect loaf every time. Does the 5838 actually deliver what Oster promises? In many cases, yes. Customers do complain of a learning curve even for those with bread machine experience. The mixing paddle tears up the bottom crust when the loaf is removed from the pan. And yes, you'll still have to walk softly when the bread is rising, otherwise you'll have the all too familiar fallen plank bread instead of perfection.

Mechanically, customer reports show that when it works properly and the owners cooperate everything is good. The few machines that are faulty won't do anything right--usually the electronic control system is the problem. Customer service has been haphazard when units do fail. Deal with returns or warranty issues quickly if results don't meet your expectations. If you don't get good bread after trying a few times (not a hundred) then something is wrong.

Here's another programmable breadmaker from Sunbeam.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/oster-expressbake-bread-machine-kitchen-breadmaker-review-5838/feed/ 1 Cuisinart Automatic Bread Machine | Stainless Steel Convection CBK-200 http://www.thecooksden.com/cuisinart-automatic-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-cbk-200/ http://www.thecooksden.com/cuisinart-automatic-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-cbk-200/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:12:20 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/cuisinart-automatic-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-cbk-200/ Cuisinart Automatic Bread Machine Make bread, doughs, jam, and even sweet cakes in this compact convection oven bread machine, the Cuisinart CBK-200. With separate cycles for Low-Carb, Gluten-Free and Artisan bread and thirteen more preset options, the programmable settings allow more than a hundred options.

The unit beeps when it's time to add mixed-in ingredients like fruits and nuts, and again when mixing is finished--giving you the option to remove the mixing paddle to preserve the unbroken crust when baking is done. Starting the bread cycle can be delayed as long as twelve hours, and a backup circuit maintains settings up to fifteen minutes in case of power interruptions.

Although customer reports are generally positive, most will see a long learning curve with this machine. Recipes provided with the Cuisinart CBK-200 have been the most common problem, yielding dough too stiff for the machine to handle and loaves that are flat and hard. Those home bakers with the best results from the CBK-200 are the ones willing to adjust recipes, perform manual stirs when needed, and otherwise tweak the process. Although the cycle can't be reset at the push of a button, unplugging the unit for fifteen minutes will override the blackout circuit and allow a restart.

Some of the most positive comments come from customers in need of gluten free breads. The customized cycles and recipes for that complicated choice seem to work especially well. In spite of some problems, Cuisinart customer service has been cooperative and the warranty is a good one--three years of coverage.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/cuisinart-automatic-bread-machine-stainless-steel-convection-cbk-200/feed/ 0 Zojirushi Home Bakery Bread Maker | Mini Programmable 1 Pound Loaf BB-HAC10 http://www.thecooksden.com/zojirushi-home-bakery-bread-maker-mini-programmable-1-pound-loaf-bb-hac10/ http://www.thecooksden.com/zojirushi-home-bakery-bread-maker-mini-programmable-1-pound-loaf-bb-hac10/#comments Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:20:21 +0000 Cheyenne http://www.thecooksden.com/zojirushi-home-bakery-bread-maker-mini-programmable-1-pound-loaf-bb-hac10/ Zojirushi Home Bakery Bread Maker What a cool idea: a mini breadmaker that creates adorable little 1-pound loaves. That's the perfect size for my family. I'm always buying larger loaves that end up moldy or in my freezer, where I always forget about them.

This breadmaker is small, too-- small enough that you could actually leave it out on your countertop to use every other day. (It's the same size as my toaster.) The best part: It's programmable so you can set up the mini Zoji at night and have fresh bread in the morning. It's so easy to use. It even comes with a video instruction guide, although I can't imagine needing it. It's pretty easy and intuitive to use.

Of course, it does a lot of other things besides making bread. Honestly, it's so good at making bread that I would be fine if that was the only thing it did. But it has a cookie/pasta setting that you can use it to make (you guessed it) cookies and pasta, plus cakes (fresh fruit jams?!?!) and dough for croissants. So, in short I can use it to make all my favorite things.

Don't you just have to love any machine with a cookie/pasta setting?

I'm not much of a brand fan; I try to take every product on its own merit. But Zojirushi really makes top-quality products with tons of smart features. Bravo!

Oster's ExpressBake isn't half bad, either -- and may be more affordable.

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