A basic and inexpensive bread maker that works, is how I would describe the Breadman TR520. If you’re looking for a first bread machine that is affordable and not a fuss to use, this is the one.
At only $50, this bread machine is good for the price. It has the Fast Bake option, perfect for those who never bothered to make homemade bread because it simply takes far too long. Now you just put in the ingredients, press a button, and get fresh bread in an hour!
But if you are a perfectionist, maybe it’s a good idea to pause the machine when the dough is punched down and remove the paddle, so that it doesn’t make a big hole in your baked bread later on.
The Breadman TR520 is not as quiet as most, especially during kneading because that step uses quite a bit of energy, but one reviewer suggests scraping the sides of the pan and adding a little extra water during kneading to eliminate that problem.
It walks on the countertop when kneading too, so you might want to place it real deep in so that it doesn’t fall off.
The Breadman TR520 only has pre-programmed cycles, no custom options, so not good for the real experienced bakers who want to try out their own modes. I recommend this for beginners, and it is good enough for many different recipes, such as basic white bread, honey wheat bread, herb bread, seed bread and pizza dough.
It’s hard to go wrong at that price, and the bulk of good reviews are convincing. If you don’t mind the little quirks, get the Breadman TR520 Programmable Bread Maker.