I am thinking about getting a bread machine. I am paying way to much $$ per loaf to get preservative free bread. Any suggestions? Is it possible to get one w/a slicer? I haven't seen any. tia

By Texannie on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 06:38 pm:

I love my bread machine! I have the Breadman. It's great.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 07:01 pm:

Claire has a bread machine......I don't know what kind though..........

By Colette on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 07:16 pm:

I am looking at one at williams sonoma and also a zojirushi...I want one that makes real looking loaves.

By Texannie on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

Mine makes great looking loaves and it was fairly reasonable.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 08:04 pm:

I hate mine. I don't think it's the best. I have to take the bread out 15 minutes before it's done or it burns. I haven't used it in a LONG time. WE keep thinking about getting another one, but never quite get around to it. I think it's a Regal.

I always hated that I had to pay attention at the end of the cycle. It seemed to me that with a bread machine, you ought to be able to set it and forget it.

On the other hand, my kitchen aid mixer does a great job making bread dough, if I would ever have the time.

By Dana on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 10:31 pm:

I absolutely LOVE mine. We've had it almost 3 years now, and I use it all the time. The thing that makes it better than any other I have seen is the 1 hr setting for bread. Of course it comes w/ the recipes as well. It has settings for regular bread, 1 hr bread, dough and I forget what they are called, but stuff like pumkin bread.

I seldome do regular cooking time bread. I almost always do the 1 hr setting and I often use the dough setting for my pizza crust and when I really want some fluffy rolls or bread out of the oven.

Its a West Bend. REALLY FANTASTIC. Also has two loaf sizes (recipes come in two quantities). The loaf pan makes more of a rectangle than other machines I have seen. East to clean, too.

By Annie2 on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 10:45 pm:

I like mine, too. It is a Toastmaster. I can make three sizes of loaves, dough, sweet breads and butters. Though I have never made any butter.
I noticed that I do have a fast cycle but have never tried it.
My dh bought it for me one year for Christmas so I didn't do any research on it. I'm satisfied with it but not sure if there is a better one out there.
Maybe a mom has access to Consumer Reports and they could check to see if they ran a test on the machines.