Read First Before Buy Breadman TR520 Programmable 2 Pound Loaves
It is getting harder and harder to find foods that don't contain High Fructose Corn Syrup and other such things, and when I finally do find them they are very expensive. So I wanted to replace processed foods with homemade in my family's diet. But with 4 kids and a very small kitchen that is also used as a classroom, it is hard to find the time and space to hand-knead and etc. Mixers with kneading attachments can cost 4 times as much as this breadmaker, and I would have to be there changing the attachments, timing everything, moving things to different pans, etc. This cheap breadmaker does everything for me! It mixes, kneads, and rises bread, pasta dough, pizza dough, etc. etc. and bakes bread. All I have to do is put the ingredients inside and press a button! And the cost of the ingredients ends up being less than even the unhealthy processed foods; so we are eating healthier and cheaper.
Other people are saying the kneading blade gets stuck inside the bread, and that is true if you try to remove the bread while warm; however I have found that if I let the bread cool inside the pan, when cool the bread will side right out and leave the kneading blade behind. Also, the instructions do not mention this, but if you want the bread to be like store-bought sandwich bread, you have to wait about 24 hours before slicing. Fresh bread tastes great on the side of other foods or alone, but it kind of falls apart if you try to cut it thinly or spread anything on it without waiting a day. Having only made cake-like bread before getting this (banana bread and such, never anything with yeast), I was not aware of that fact.
Another thing the instruction book does not mention is that the pan and blade conduct heat so well that if you wash them in hot water, they will get VERY hot. I have to wash this in warm water, not hot, to avoid getting burned. However, they are so easy to clean that it is not really a concern.
I bought ingredients before seeing the instruction booklet, so if you're planing to do that, here's some tips. You'll need "active dry yeast" for the regular recipes, and "quick rise" or "bread machine" yeast for the "fast bake" recipes. You'll also need bread flour, as all-purpose flour won't work for most types of bread/dough. If you want to use whole-wheat flour, you'll need whole-wheat and bread flour, or whole-wheat that is specifically bread flour, as regular whole wheat alone will not work.
I love this machine. My only regret is that I didn't get one years ago!
We've had this machine for two years now and we love it! We have made countless loaves of all sorts in this machine, often times just using the dough cycle and shaping the loaves ourselves. It is definitely a good value machine, considering there are machines out there that cost over $150. The only thing is that I have had to replace the pan recently, as it was scratched and rusting. I assume that is my fault, though, and probably has something to do with the kind of sponge we used to clean it.
BalasHapusThe recipe book that comes with the machine is great, and I have also used many other recipes successfully. I highly recommend this machine!!!
For the price, it's a pretty good bread machine. One thing I would add is this... If you are not using the brand of yeast recommended by Breadman, your results may not be good. Their recipes were tested using Red Star Yeast Active Dry Yeast. Not all yeasts will yield the same result. Know how the yeast you're using will perform.
BalasHapusI use an organic yeast, and when I used the amount recommended in the first white bread recipe, (1 Tbsp for a 2 lb loaf), the bread rose and fell. The taste was okay, but I knew when the loaf didn't dome, that the problem was too much yeast.
I used (1 3/4 tsp of organic yeast for a 1 1/2 lb loaf) for whole wheat bread, and it came out absolutely perfect. The bread was just as good as the whole wheat bread I used to purchase at the grocery store for $3.50 a loaf. Now that I know that I have to adjust the amount of yeast since I'm not using the one tested for their recipes, I am very happy with my machine. I would not use a bread machine for quick breads because I prefer to do them by hand. I will only use my machine for yeast breads.
I have experience using bread machines and I know how my yeast performs thru trial and error. A novice would not have known that there are differences in brands of Active Dry Yeast. Also, through experience, I know that the relative humidity will affect the outcome of your bread. Check your bread while it's kneading on a humid day to see if a little flour needs to be added, only adding a Tbsp at a time.
I bought this from Amazon just before Thanksgiving when it was $19 more + tax, and now like others I never buy store bought bread anymore. I've made bagels, english muffins, pizza dough, hotdog buns, and cinnamon rolls. My favorite bread is based off the pumpernickel bread using those liquids, salt and sugar, add shredded carrots, flax meal, scissor cut fresh rosemary and sage, a cup each of white, ww, and dark rye (I like Bob's Red Mill white/ ww flour best), at the beeps add seed mixture (pumpkin sesame, sunflower, poppy), walnuts and raisins optional. I have never made anything uneatable, except when the power went out just after the baking cycle started.
BalasHapusSince I never measure anything well, I do sometimes add flour/water during the first kneed cycle and I use a spoon or my hand to get the corners or sides. It's true the tops are often flat, but that doesn't bother me since it taste and feels so good in my stomach compared to store bought. I leave the machine on the counter, it takes a small amount of space, I'm glad the numbers and directions are not glaring at me, though I do put on my reading gasses when I set the cycle. If a crust is too hard when it gets taken out of the bake cycle put a produce bag around the sides and bottom and in five minutes it's perfect. Every time I make something, and I do put anything I can think of in the bread (apples, olives, oat bran, sprouted wheat ...) I'm amazed that it turns out so well, and what I don't use in a day, gets sliced and put in the freezer.
UpDate: I did find a solution for the flat top. Use only a teaspoon of yeast and as soon as the final mixing is done and it starts the first kneed process, I put a dish towel over the top to keep the heat in. Since I started doing this, I have never had a flat or fallen top.
This is my first bread machine and it's a beauty! My first loaf was a failure, but the 2nd, 3rd and 4th have been simply delicious. I believe the trick is to sift your flour thoroughly and remove immediately after baking (don't use the 'warm' option). Gotta go...there's bread to be made! ha ha
BalasHapusP.S. Don't be fooled amazon shoppers...this is the exact same model as the 'Breadman TR520'. They're roughly the same price, yet the Melitta has free shipping...or at least it did when I purchased it.
This Breadmaker is exactly what I had hoped for. In all my years of skirting around purchasing a Breadmaker, I never realized how easy it would be to use one and then we found this one on Amazon.com. My husband is the primary cook in our 2-member family, we are retired senior citizens, and he is very pleased. The breads are delicious and there was no trial/error period! The aroma of fresh cooking bread is so good! We find ourselves waiting anxiously for the end of the cooking cycle, slice it after it's cooled, get out the butter/margarine and enjoy a very small piece and critique it. No failures! Thanks. jtf895@aol.com
BalasHapusI've had this machine for a month now and I don't know how I got by without one for so long. Mainly I use it for the dough cycle because the arthritis in my hands doesn't allow me to knead my own dough anymore, but this machine does an excellent job. The dough rises beautifully and all I have to do is shape the loaf and pop it into the oven. I also have let the machine bake some loafs and I have been very pleased with the finished product.
BalasHapusThe manual has some excellent recipes and I highly recommend the cinnamon raisin bread. I do substitute warm milk for water and I add a package of instant sugar free vanilla pudding mix for richer dough, but it's very good. The dough cycle doesn't have an alarm for adding fruits or nuts but I can add those to the loaf before baking. I've also used other yeast than the recommended Red Star and have had no problems.
Other reviewers have made comment about the white letters on a yellow background (not the wisest color combination). I haven't found that to be a problem because the program/timer screen is digital and not hard to read.
The machine itself is quiet and doesn't try to "walk" across the counter top but you can hear it during the kneading process. I don't think it is very noisy at all though. It's also very easy to clean.
All in all, I am very happy with this bread maker and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a user friendly, very good product.
BalasHapusThis is my first ever bread-maker and I have honestly not purchased a loaf of bread in last 1 month (away with those breads with a mile long ingredient list). My aunt recommended this to me who has been making bread at home for a many years. It's awesome to make bread at home and it only takes about 5 mins. of manual labour. I also gifted one to my girl-friend who also loves it.
BalasHapusI rate it 5/5 as far as my bread-making needs are concerned.
It is getting harder and harder to find foods that don't contain High Fructose Corn Syrup and other such things, and when I finally do find them they are very expensive. So I wanted to replace processed foods with homemade in my family's diet. But with 4 kids and a very small kitchen that is also used as a classroom, it is hard to find the time and space to hand-knead and etc. Mixers with kneading attachments can cost 4 times as much as this breadmaker, and I would have to be there changing the attachments, timing everything, moving things to different pans, etc. This cheap breadmaker does everything for me! It mixes, kneads, and rises bread, pasta dough, pizza dough, etc. etc. and bakes bread. All I have to do is put the ingredients inside and press a button! And the cost of the ingredients ends up being less than even the unhealthy processed foods; so we are eating healthier and cheaper.
BalasHapusOther people are saying the kneading blade gets stuck inside the bread, and that is true if you try to remove the bread while warm; however I have found that if I let the bread cool inside the pan, when cool the bread will side right out and leave the kneading blade behind. Also, the instructions do not mention this, but if you want the bread to be like store-bought sandwich bread, you have to wait about 24 hours before slicing. Fresh bread tastes great on the side of other foods or alone, but it kind of falls apart if you try to cut it thinly or spread anything on it without waiting a day. Having only made cake-like bread before getting this (banana bread and such, never anything with yeast), I was not aware of that fact.
Another thing the instruction book does not mention is that the pan and blade conduct heat so well that if you wash them in hot water, they will get VERY hot. I have to wash this in warm water, not hot, to avoid getting burned. However, they are so easy to clean that it is not really a concern.
I bought ingredients before seeing the instruction booklet, so if you're planing to do that, here's some tips. You'll need "active dry yeast" for the regular recipes, and "quick rise" or "bread machine" yeast for the "fast bake" recipes. You'll also need bread flour, as all-purpose flour won't work for most types of bread/dough. If you want to use whole-wheat flour, you'll need whole-wheat and bread flour, or whole-wheat that is specifically bread flour, as regular whole wheat alone will not work.
I love this machine. My only regret is that I didn't get one years ago!