West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise

You know you’ve got a superb bread maker when the bread turns out looking golden-brown lovely, smelling reminiscently of childhood, and tasting just right. And you know you’ve got a bargain when that bread machine doesn’t cost more than $85.

The West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise is that bread machine. It is not the high end Zojirushi, nor is it a popular Breadman, but it produces tasty horizontal loaves and a great many baking options at an affordable price, and that’s what is important.

It is also simple to use – just measure the ingredients into the pan, press button and go do other stuff while it bakes the bread for you. The dual blades kneads ever so well, the dough rises beautifully for light and fluffy bread, and it beeps when it’s time to add fruits and nuts.

Basically all bread machines need you to add in fruits and nuts later on, except for the really high end ones that have a seed dispenser.

Despite the price, this bread machine is made with quality and doesn’t jitter or walk on the countertop while it kneads, but remember to place it on a firm and solid surface. The dough doesn’t stick on the sides as well, making it a breeze to clean.

A tip for the new user: break in your West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise by running the bake cycle once before you bake any bread. This is to remove any stink from the new machine.

The West Bend 41300 Hi-Rise Electronic Dual-Blade Breadmaker has great value for money. It’ll soon pay for itself by saving you all that money buying bread and ordering pizza.

Zojirushi BB-CEC20 has finally replaced its counterpart the BBCCX-20 (which was rated the best bread machine by ConsumerSearch). I highly recommend this bread machine as it is now the best! This bread machine is built to be similar to its sister model. It makes perfect bread every time and is great for making gluten-free bread and pizza crust.

Love the Shape

The very first thing that anyone would love about this bread machine is the shape of the loaf that it turns out. Since it sits on its long side, the bread comes out actually looking like it was oven-baked instead of that tall, weird thing with a rounded top.

Versatile, Convenient, and Makes Delicious Bread

You can customize the length of time for each baking step with this bread maker so that the gluten-free loaf turns out perfect. Of course, you can also make whole wheat bread, meatloaf, jam, cake, cinnamon rolls or bread sticks! Just use one of the 10 pre-programmed cycles. This versatility means that anyone, whether a seasoned baker or a first timer, can find settings to fit themselves.

The best thing about having a bread machine that has delay timer is that you can have fresh bread for breakfast or tea every day, but not having to wake up early to bake it. In fact, if you overslept, the machine keeps the bread warm up to half an hour for you. I was so pleasantly surprised at this thoughtful feature!

At any other time, you can just put everything into the machine, and leave it to do its work while you have hours of free time to do whatever you want, which would have been used to mix, knead, wait for rising and punch dough, if you were doing it yourself. You also don’t have to heat up your kitchen with a big oven. And the bread made by this bread machine will be just as good as what you make yourself.

The two kneading paddles are wonderful. Anyone who bakes bread know that when you get delicious bread in the end most of the credit goes to the kneading process, and having two instead of one paddle means you can be sure to have a great loaf!

Cleaning Up

For the whole baking process, you will only need to clean up a few things afterward: the included measuring cup and spoon, and the baking pan. The pan is non-stick so bread slides out without leaving a trace. If you hate having a hole in your loaf and bits of bread on the paddle, try taking out the paddle when the dough has risen for the last time and before the baking begins.

Buy?
The ultimate question, should you buy? Well, I think at its price the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 is maybe slightly expensive for some, but all the wonderful features and the lovely bread that it turns out make it worth the money spent. After all you’ll be saving money and staying healthy by eating homemade bread in the long run!

Zojirushi has really been a great company to supply kitchens worldwide with the ability to make fresh bread through their array of automated bread makers. I trust only them to provide me with perfect gluten free bread, and now it seems that they have made a mini size bread maker especially for small families and those who do not consume bread as a staple during their meals.

A little heads up for those who are so used to Zojirushi, especially the fully programmable models because the Zojirushi BB-HAC10 does not have those in depth programming, so toss aside all that sophisticated timing for something more simple; a delay timer. Now do keep in mind this bread maker was never intended to bake for a large family, instead it would be put to better use by apartment dwellers or loners who happen to enjoy making their own bread.

Using this Bread Machine

Well I’d say I would use this if I didn’t have to make at least 2 lbs of bread for a single session, but this works very well when I’m too lazy to get my larger and more versatile bread makers out, not that this tiny one is not versatile enough (no programming? Oh no!). So anyway, just like you would any other bread maker, you place in the ingredients in, yeast powder and liquids, but no fruit, and if you are using the delay start you should never ever use dairy, asking why would be like asking what happens if you were to leave milk out on the counter for more than 20 minutes.

The buttons here are all labeled respectively, so just choose what type of bread you are making and the LCD display will show the always present countdown and temperature, nothing to worry about since you can’t change any of that.

This bread machine has all the regular things you would expect, the only difference would be the size of bread you can produce, this little dough puncher can whip out a maximum of 1pound, cake or bread, whichever you fancy. The regular dough maker functions like pizza and cookie are ever present (I rarely use them but I guess it’s a bonus). The quick bake cycle produces a fantastic loaf in just less than 2 hours, not as fast as others but I can say that there is no compromise in the texture or taste.

Nice Size, Not so Nice Looks

Now with all that aside let’s take a look at the cosmetic details of this bread maker. A big and obvious win would be the size, it’s small and so compact that you could store it, display it and even use it in one spot. A big bummer about the looks is that it has none, it plain white just like other zojirushi, but due to its size it seems very plain and unappealing, I didn’t like the way the edges would make it look like something round. The see through window on top is nothing to be surprised with, but it actually makes it look rather cute, if the unit did not have this I would have thought it was not too far from being a revolting sight. It also comes with a carrying handle.

The kneading paddle and the baking pan are both nonstick, the build is fairly secure but it would still be safe to clean under the paddle to prevent buildup.

For the end of the review I would say that I am satisfied with this Zojirushi BB-HAC10 bread maker, its small and it bakes just as well as anyone could. I would give this to a pair of newlyweds or when my kids are old enough to have a place of their own.

UPDATE: This bread machine is now discontinued and replaced by the Zojirushi BB-CEC20. Read my Zojirushi BB-CEC20 review here.

I have checked out a lot of bread machines, but by far this one – Zojirushi BBCCX20 is the best one. It has all the features I would ever look for in my bread machine, plus it’s so good that I can make other kinds of food as well, such as meatloaf, jam, cakes and cinnamon rolls!

Zojirushi BBCCX20 – Best Bread Machine

It is a pretty big bread machine and can make a nicely shaped 2 lbs rectangular loaf of bread. What I like about this deluxe bread machine is that I can use it to bake bread for everyday and there are automatic settings but you can also customize the controls. During my test run, the 3-recipe memory function came in pretty handy because when I wanted to make a loaf of my favorite French pan d’espices, or French spiced bread, I didn’t have to go looking for the recipe all over again:)

Although it is pretty expensive, you do get what you pay for. In this case: easy baking healthy bread everyday! And tons of settings and tons of features, which will make many a loaf of yummy bread. There is a 3-stage crust control that helps you get exactly the kind of buttery crust you look for in a good loaf of bread.

The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating

They always say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And I think that with bread, it’s the same! Bread from this bread machine tasted great and I tried out some recipes from the included recipe book, which totally helped me in my decision.

I know it’s pricey then most other bread machines, but this is definitely one of the best bread machine that I have ever use. If you genuinely intend to use a bread machine frequently or almost everyday, then this is the one to get! You will be glad that you did because it’s well worth the extra money. I have use many bread machine and if you had used some other cheaper machine in the past and want one that works for sure, work for everyday and bake beautifully, look no further.

Like many other satisfied customers, I would totally recommend this Zojirushi BBCCX20 because it’s simply the best! I’m totally digging mine:)

Further Information

Well, you can check out more review in amazon here – Zojirushi BBCCX20 Bread Machine. And of course, I think you can always get very good deal and fast delivery from Amazon too.

Zojirushi is one of the best bread machine makers in the world. Since 2006, Zojirushi bread machines has help many get freshly baked, fluffy, delicious bread from their very own kitchen. I realize that these are not the cheapest that you will find out there but trust me, it is worth every penny spent because they are among the best that you will find. You will get exactly what you’re paying for.

All Zojirushi bread machines have two kneading blades that reduces the time it takes to knead the flour into perfection. The efficient kneading of the flour into a dough helps tremendously in improving the flavor of the bread.

If you are used to kneading the bread dough on your own (props because it’s hard work!), don’t worry about not getting used to the menu buttons. Zojirushi bread machines come with easy-to-control features and automated function settings that you can’t help but to love it completely. And hey, if you’re not a baking expert, no worries – from rye to white bread, you will find that with Zojirushi bread machines, you will not get an amateurish loaf.

Zojirushi BB-CE20 – Best Bread Machine

Among the many amazing Zojirushi bread machines, I would say that the best one would be the Zojirushi BB-CE20. This Zojirushi bread machine will make a freshly baked 2-pound loaf of bread in no time. It is well built, durable and easy-to-use with consistent excellent performance.

Its kneading blades mix all of the ingredients thoroughly and knead it into the perfect dough. Choose among the three shades of crusts and ten programmed settings from different kinds of bread. You can monitor all these through the large viewing window. Did I mention that you can make jams and cakes too?

• Zojirushi BB-CE20 – Review

Zojirushi BB-HAC10 – Best Small Bread Machine

Not everyone are blessed with a big kitchen, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t have what those bigger kitchens have. If you have a small kitchen space, or even a small family, this would be the perfect Zojirushi bread machine for you. A special feature of this bread maker is its ability to bake a loaf of bread from scratch in two hours.

• Zojirushi BB-HAC10 – Review

Zojirushi BBCCX20

With the many automatic settings and customizable controls, you can just about make anything that you want; sourdough bread, pretzels and possibly a banana cake, with this Zojirushi BBCCX20. You can also experiment with its 13 hours timer so that you can wake up or come back home to a delicious smelling home!

A feature that I love about this Zojirushi BBCCX20 is its ability to store three customized recipes of your choice, so that the next time you want to make them again, just fill all the ingredients and let it do the magic. If you can’t figure it out, no worries, because you can just watch the manual on DVD.

Personally, I love that each box of Breville bread maker comes with an extensive manual. Not only does it covers the operational part of the machine but it also comes with several bread recipes. What’s even greater is that each booklet also have baking and measurement conversions/substitutions tips to help home bread bakers.

Breville Custom Loaf BBM800XL

One of the most fancy and expensive bread makers that I have seen on a store shelf would have to be the Breville Custom Loaf. Despite its hefty price tag, I could not resist snatching it off the shelf when I needed a new bread maker recently.

You can customize the bread to your liking with this machine – you will be able to program for any recipe from the get-go, specifying the timing and temperature for each phase. After starting the machine, you will be able to leave it alone and let it do its thing. If you have the impulse to check it midway, there is a pause button. I also like that the smart, backlit LCD screen is large and easy-to-read.

For a first-time baker, you can easily make a loaf with Breville’s recipes. You will be happy to know that the controls and manual are easy to use. The beauty of this machine is that as you master the art of bread making, it will accommodate you as you progress. You will be able to fine-tune your recipes according to your altitude, type of flour, and any other secret tweaks to your bread recipes to get that perfect loaf for you.

After one year of using this Breville bread machine, I have only experienced one collapsed loaf (which was very likely user error) so I think it’s safe to say that it produces consistent results.  I love that the machine makes me feel that I can make just about anything easily, with the help of recipes. Currently, my bread has to have nuts and raisins so the timed hopper on the lid is a great feature. It disperses the fruits and nuts evenly for me. You can even braid or roll the dough before baking.

It may seem to be a lot to pay for a bread maker, but for this bread machine, it will be a lifelong investment. It fits anyone of any baking expertise. You will be happy that you made the purchase once you smell the delicious aroma of fresh baked bread wafting in your house. Here is the lowest price I’ve seen for this bread machine yet: Breville BBM800XL

More About Breville:

Hailing from the land down under, Breville has been in the small kitchen appliance industry since 1932 and is the maker of the original sandwich toaster. It’s no wonder that they eventually come out with their own line of bread makers. These Breville bread makers have grown popular over the past few years as among the most reliable and innovative models in the market.

Coming from a famous company with good rapport for manufacturing various electronic products, it’s a no brainer that Cuisinart bread makers are among the most popular in the market. Each model is designed to make it special and appealing to the needs of different customers.
From my own experience, and that of many other customers, the bread comes out delicious and perfect. They are usually easy to clean thanks to non-stick properties used to coat the baking surfaces. Appearance-wise, Cuisinart’s design are usually sleek and stylish – making its bread maker perfect for any home.

Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Breadmaker

As long that I’ve used this Cuisinart bread maker, it has given me perfectly shaped and hearty breads. While this bread machine is easy enough to use with foolproof settings and choices and a readable display, there is a learning curve. For example, over time I have found that if you take out the loaf pan immediately when the cycle ends, and remove the bread from the pan to let it air before serving, you can have tastier and chewier bread. This also prevents the bread from over baking in the hot pan.

For the more experienced baker, this Convection Automatic Breadmaker has endless combinations of pre-programmed settings and options. However, you cannot change the programs or tweak the settings in the middle of a cycle if you want. So if you are a baking expert who likes to fully customize your baking, this might be a downside, but if you’re happy to leave the baking to the machine after choosing your settings, this is a great machine.

Cuisinart CBK-100 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker

The CBK-100 one of the most popular Cuisinart bread machines for a consistent supply of yummy bread and it’s also the best bread machine for gluten free bread! People with a gluten free diet loves this bread machine because it makes the tastiest gluten free bread.

It makes small loaves of breads, between 1 to 2 pounds, with 12 pre-programmed baking settings, including 3 crust settings options. The color and taste of the crust is excellent – it is among the best bread that I have ever had.

It is super easy to clean too. The non-stick lid, baking pan and kneading paddles are easily removable for cleaning. The machine will beep a few times in each cycle so that you will know what is the progress of your bread. The only drawback that I could think of is that the beeps can be loud as there is no way to reduce the volume.

Cuisinart BMKR-200PC Fully Automatic Compact Bread Maker

For an inexpensive version of the previous two models, all you need to do is get this one. Its default setting is the “Artisan” option for a rich, textured crunchy loaf. The rich crispy texture is the result of the convection feature that circulates the air in the machine during baking. This lets the heat envelope the dough and result in a more even baking. The gluten free setting works well too.

If you are still searching for a good bread machine that makes gluten-free bread the way you want it, you’re in luck today because the Cuisinart CBK-100 Programmable Breadmaker is the best bread machine for gluten-free bread.

Perfect Gluten Free Bread

Store bought gluten-free bread may be convenient but it can be difficult to find one that is tasty, so many people with a gluten-free diet are now looking to make their own bread too. Cuisinart CBK-100 makes such tasty gluten-free bread that many reviewers have praised it for that. There might be other bread machines with a gluten-free setting but this Cuisinart bread maker gets you the best results. It consistently makes tasty gluten free bread and of course, normal bread as well.

The gluten free cycle is perfect. A couple of reviewers recommended using the Gluten free pantry Sandwich bread mix or Bob’s Red Mill gluten free multi grain mix to make the best gluten free bread. The bread that results is light and the crust is perfect. It is easy to slice and tastes delicious.

I have yet to find another bread machine that receives so much praise for its gluten free bread making function. My friend who has been diagnosed with celiac bought this bread maker and he was delighted that he could finally have tasty sandwiches again instead of the store bought bread he had been eating. He said he would never go back to that.

Tips for Baking Tasty Bread with this Bread Machine

This bread maker beeps loudly for you to remove the paddle before the bake cycle (so that it doesn’t leave a hole in the bread), and again when the bread is done. It’s really loud so if you use the time delay to bake bread in the middle of the night in time for breakfast, you might get woken up by the beep!

The recipes that come with the machine is nice for the normal users but doesn’t include gluten-free recipes. The pizza dough recipe is really good, by the way. I’ve used it for my pizzas all the time since the first time I tasted it.

A tip to have better tasting bread is to remove the bread from the pan soon after it is done, and let it air for a while before slicing. Don’t let it sit in the pan until cool or the bread will become slightly moist. Also, you may have to use lukewarm water for the bread. It’s so that the bread will rise properly. Someone also mentioned that you should select the program cycle first, before selecting the loaf size and crust option, so that the latter will not be reset to default. Great tip!

This bread machine is just under $100, which is a good bargain for those who crave some delicious gluten-free bread. You might want to get this Cuisinart CBK-100 Programmable Breadmaker now because it is selling fast.

This Cuisinart CBK-200 convection bread machine is probably one of the most controversial, with heaps of rave reviews on one end and not lacking bad comments on the other.

The Good Side:

This bread machine kneads really well, so says J. Hrametz, an experienced bread baker with or without machines, at Amazon. This could be due to the solid construction of the bread machine and its weight. It is good looking on the counter too, and the convection helps with the thoroughness of the baking. Another reviewer says that the crust comes out exactly as you want it, and that is important to some.

This Cuisinart bread machine has a combination of the following good features, which the Breadman or Zojirushi bread machine may not have:

• a low carb cycle
• a beep to remove paddle
• horizontal loaf
• jam cycle
• pause option
• power failure backup
• convection fan

The Bad Side:

Some experienced bakers like J. Hrametz would like to use different risings and so on to tweak their loaves, but this bread machine doesn’t allow that. Once you start a cycle you cannot stop it. Even if you turn it off, the program does not reset. So if you are the kind of baker who want flexibility, this is not a good bread machine for you.

Another reviewer said that this machine is not the kind where you put in the ingredients, then go away and come back for a perfect loaf of bread every time. The user needs to check what’s happening with the bread maker.

Many of the negative reviews could have stemmed from getting faulty machines, but they may also have been due to high expectations such as wanting the bread machine to be totally hands off automatic or expecting it to be as quiet as a whisper. This bread machine is only averagely silent, as a reviewer said.

Conclusion?
I would say that the Cuisinart CBK-200 2-Pound Convection Automatic Bread Maker is a great bread machine, and it actually does have a pause option if you read the manual carefully. Obviously you have to come back to it to add fruit and nuts if you like, and remove the paddle to avoid that big hole in the bread. So what’s the fuss about it not being fully automatic if it produces really good bread? Plus, it only costs around $100, which is a great buy. Recommended!

For those of you who want a totally hands free bread machine, this is probably it. The Breadman BK1060S is great for those who are really too busy to even add fruits and nuts to the bread.

Fully Automated
Most people don’t like the big hole that is left in the bread by the paddle, so they like bread machines that beep to tell you to remove the paddle in mid cycle. This bread machine not only has a collapsible paddle that leaves only a small hole in the bread, it also has an automatic fruit and nut dispenser, so you practically don’t have to do anything after putting in the ingredients and setting the cycle.

The Pros and Cons
Speaking of cycles, this bread machine does have a few special cycles besides the regular bread and sweet bread, like quick cycle, jam cycle and gluten free cycle. You can bake a cake with the quick cycle that uses baking soda or baking powder.

The shiny stainless steel exterior of the Breadman BK1060S 2-Pound Professional Bread Maker looks nice compared to the usual plastic exteriors so many bread machines have, but a couple of reviewers have also mentioned that the aluminum is thin and shows surface flaw easily.

The sides of this bread machine does get hot when it bakes, but what do you expect with a metal exterior? Be sure to keep it out of reach of small children and tell everyone else not to touch it while it’s operating.

This bread machine can be programmed to start baking later but a couple of users have exclaimed that the noise is loud enough to wake you up.

Breadman BK1060S 2-Pound Professional Bread Maker is not the best out there but it is an affordable bread machine for the really busy people who’d still like to bake their own.