KBS 17-in-1 Bread Maker-Dual Heaters, 710W Machine Stainless Steel with Gluten-Free, Dough Maker,Jam,Yogurt PROG, Auto Nut Dispenser,Ceramic Pan& Touch Panel, 3 Loaf Sizes 3 Crust Colors,Recipes

The best thing about this bread maker in my mind is the ceramic non-stick pan and paddle.This is my 3rd bread maker. The first one I bought was when there was only one made. Both of these first two failed not because the machine stopped working but because the non-stick became high-stick, so bad you had to break the loaf apart to get it out of the pan.This machine is multifunction which I have no thoughts on. I may use other functions I may not. I would have bought it if it only made bread.It does have an automatic dispenser for nuts, fruit, etc. I may try making some cinnamon raisin bread at some point in which this will be a handy feature.The other thing I really like about this machine is that it makes a traditional shaped loaf. It also has dual heating elements which seems to work better at baking and heating more evenly than my previous machines. The bread comes out very consistent compared to my previous machines.Another nice feature of this machine is a second paddle. It also comes with a hook to remove the paddle if it stays in the finished loaf and a hot mitt.I make bread during the day so I haven't used delay timer but I did ask about it with the exceptional customer support. I was curious because my sister also makes bread. She has a far more expensive, big name, machine and she told me if she hits start there is a 20 minute or so delay before her machine starts as it has a pre-heat cycle. This machine starts immediately (although Anadama bread requires scalded milk which has to be allowed to cool so perhaps this makes my machine sense that there is no need to pre-heat). In any case John with customer support informed me of the heart sensor and should the delay start be used, what the temperature would be raised to prior to actual mixing. Obviously if you have a 10 hour delay overnight in a 65° house temperature has to be raised or yeast will not function properly. I confirmed that this machine does deal with that automatically with a heat sensor, rather than a pre-heat cycle.I also contacted John at customer support regarding what I was concerned could be a potential problem with the non-stick on my pan (included photo of concern). He sent me a new pan which I had in 2 days. As noted customer support is exceptional.As an aside, despite what I've read, bread making is not a precision endeavor. I have family recipes going back several generations including bread recipes for the same bread, Anadama (a cornmeal and Molasses bread introduced by Portuguese fishermen centuries ago). I found 5 or 6 recipes and none are exactly the same, calling for more or less salt, Molasses, cornmeal, butter, milk/water, one even included an egg, so I wouldn't get too hung up on precise measurements. Some of these recipes are old enough that there is no listed oven temperature. It merely states bake in "hot oven", obviously from before ovens had either thermometers or heat controls. I was informed that "hot oven" has been determined to be 350° F. Needless to say baking back then must have been far less precise,no known temperature nor clocks to time the baking process. My mother instructed me how to tell when bread was done by looking at the crust, nicely brown, and thumping (flicking) the crust with finger listening for hollow sound.The only negative I have found with this package is the included measuring cup. It's nearly impossible to read the markings but more importantly it is not close to accurate. I tested it against Pyrex measuring cups I've used for years and it is off quite a bit. However, if you were to use this cup for all liquids it would still be consistent and only perhaps require a little adjustment if you aren't happy with how you're loaves are coming out.I'll include the recipe I've been using for decades adjusted for bread machines for Anadama bread to make 1 1/2 lbs loaf.1 cup milk, 3/8 cup water, 2 Tablespoon butter in pan, scald (bring to just starting to boil and remove from heat. Do not allow rolling boil)Stir in 1/3 cup yellow course ground cornmeal, add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 cup of baking molasses (different from blackstrap molasses, contained sugars are different, check label, black strap may work, I've never tried it)Allow to cool to between 120° - 130° F (for bread machines only, must be cooler for hand kneaded bread 100° - 110°).I use a meat thermometer but use a thermometer because too cold or too hot will affect yeast and bread rise). This is probably the only critical aspect of making bread this way.Put this mixture in the pan, add 2 1/2 cups bread flour, make divot in flour, putting in 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (not rapid rise yeast).Press start.Makes fantastic toast with just butter on it.You used to be able buy Anadama bread at most any grocery store in the Boston area (probably most of New England) back in the 60s but I've only had it since by making it myself.

I have been baking bread for a very long time. Sometimes I knead, proof/rise, knead bake manually, but I also use a bread maker throughout the week to make things quick and easier. I have had an older bread maker for at least 15 years and in recent years have used it less often because it was not performing as well.I eventually decided it was time for a replacement and purchased this bread maker after reading multiple reviews on foodie/bread making sites. Yes, there are much more expensive bread makers, but this one always was mentioned too, so I gave it a try.It is a winner! I have used it to bake numerous regular white, wheat, rye, milk loaves, as well as more recently a variety of sourdough loaves. I have also used it to help me with just the kneading/rising part so I could accomplish other tasks at the same time. I have not been disappointed at all.I think the best feature of this bread maker over others are two specific features: 1) the dual heating elements - which much more evenly bake the bread than a single heating element, 2) the "drop box" which allows you to add nuts, raisons, herbs, etc. automatically during the cycle at the right time without having to stick around.Currently, I bake at least two loaves a week, often times experimenting just a bit by varying ingredients. Only once did I have a bread that came out looking "knurly," but even than, the taste was amazing.This is definitely a bread maker to consider given the price and features. I am not sure how much better bread one of the expensive bread maker can bake, as I am certainly extremely satisfied with the outcome I have.

A little noisier than expected but very powerful and full of options. I sent the first one back for two reasons, made a pretty loud banging noise half way through resting and kneading cycles and I thought it broke. Second reason, the paddle got stuck, even after I layered it with cooking oil... I couldn't get it out even after soaking it. I sent the unit back and ordered another one, since the outside reviews kept saying this unit was the best bang for the buck.The second unit made the same noise during my bread making extravaganza (by the way, the bread itself came out wonderful - first time bread maker!!! Yeh!), but did run a little quieter overall. Turns out the loud bang was the nut/fruit dispenser firing off after the second kneading cycle. I can live with this, now that I know it's normal. Still have issues with the paddle being stuck on firm, but managed to get this one to come off. Glad I did, it really needs to be cleaned after making a loaf.The reason I say it is POWERFUL: I tried to make a Sourdough loaf and it ended up a little drier than it should have. Thankfully, I followed the recipe's suggestion that I check for this throughout the process and add water or flour to get the consistency that was expected. Well being so dry, the paddle was really struggling to get through the first kneading, until I corrected the moisture level. I was very surprised that the paddle kept going because the dough was like brick being pushed around. The motor never stalled and the dough got the right consistency after a little correction with water.Overall, I am very pleased with the design and the built in capabilities of this machine. Their cook book sucks big time, but I had purchased a bread making book separately that leans towards bread making machines and this seems to be a good solution. I really like the enamel bucket, easy to clean and I think it will last for awhile.