Bread Machine?

Ask this on alt.bread.recipes, they'll prolly be able to help you. Jack Curry

Don't worry too much about the best one - think of a bread machine like a VCR - it has a drive belt, and a little built in computer microprocessor that runs the thing.

Buy a middle of price range unit from a name brand manufacturer, preferably when they are on sale.

Name brand means you should be able to find a repair shop that will have a part to sell you when the belt breaks (not unusual a few years of every other day service, in our experience).

Buy one that makes a square shaped loaf - round loaves are hell to slice to make sandwiches with.

If the microprocessor starts to act up - throw the thing out - any attempted repair will cost you more than the next machine you buy. My first machine, after 6 years of every other day service packed it in in this manner last fall

If there is a spring clean out garbage week in your area, that allows people to trash pick before the remains are collected, then go looking for 'spare' bread machines to keep on hand in case machine #1 dies. I did this last year, and found 3- all had just had the drive belt pop off from the motor pulley. Likely people had tried to make a too dry or all whole wheat loaf; bacause that is what has happened to me in the past in these cases.

I just took the bottoms off the machines, where the belt is always located, put the belts back, and put them back together. All worked fine after that. One is now in regular service, one sits in the garage high up on a shelf waiting for the day #1 dies, and the third got sold off at a garage sale for $20.

Hi Jo Ann

I've had for my first bread machine a Zo Arishi (spelling), but it is one of the most expensive. Then I bought another one later for the jam setting and quick bread setting. I didn't like either of the settings and never used them.

After the Zo Jorishi's failed me (wore out, I suppose) I bought a cheap Oster at Costco and I used it for several years and dumped it (wore out) and bought another cheap Oster - in the $35 range. The only thing I've had to buy is the little paddle which really get scratched up from me throwing in nuts and things. I bought 4 of them to have on hand cause I knew it would happen again.

If I had to buy another bread machine today, I'd go with the Oster.

Hope this helps.

Dee

Where do you buy those paddles?

As I recall, I called them, and they sent them to me (I recall that I did pay for them, but I can't remember how much). I'm sorry, but I don't remember the particulars, nor do I have anything on it in my files.

But if you have the Oster and it's within a year, I'd call them and tell them that it's scratched up and see what happens. I'll bet they'll send you one free of charge.Here's a number that's in my booklet 1-800-526-2832.

Probably if you go to google and enter "Oster" you'll get to their site, perhaps you can order parts on line, as well. But I don't know.

Good luck, Yes

in article WzIzb.37792$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com, Jo Ann Schiefelbein at snipped-for-privacy@prodigy.net wrote on 12/4/03 10:40 AM:

I love my Toastmaster.

Kohl's department store has them for under $30 for Christmas.

Simple to use, not terrifically big...nice recipes in the owners manual.

Can't help with spare parts, haven't needed any yet.

My Toastmaster is about 3-4 years old and has a very sqeaky kneading paddle. I called Toastmaster to buy a replacement, and they said I would have to replace the entire loaf pan at $60, but they could sell me a new bread machine for $59.99.

I'm hoping my wife gets me a new bread machine for

I have an old Zojirushi bread machine given by my friend. Because of some problem in the pan after I used > two months, I emailed the company about it. Guess what? I got the pan and two new paddles for nothing. It was a great service. By they way, this is the comapny in Japan. I communicated with them in English since I couldn't speak Japanese. They even called me after receiving my email. Of course, it was really difficult to talk with them, but they did try to get a person who could speak a little English. I'm very statisfied with their customer service.

I, too, would buy another Zojirushi if they were just not so darned expensive! As I recall on my first one, the pan non-stick just wore out on me -- but the pan replacement then cost a lot!. I'm sure that this problem has been fixed, it has been so long ago. But right now, I'll just throw out my Oster and buy another one because they are so cheap and they serve the purpose. . The bread is good in it, too.

But mostly I only use it for

Dee

Now, wouldn't _that_ be something!

dry ingredients in one hopper, sauce in another, cheese in another.

The Super Deluxe model would have slots for other hoppers to hold your meats/veggies/anchovies/fruits/whatever...

I like ours because it serves two purposes. It's a Philips Breadmaker/oven. I haven't seen them around lately so perhaps they've gone off the market. I believe Toastmaster made one like this too.

J'amuse!

I assume she means that she makes the pizza *dough* in the oster machine.

Mine, I put in the ingredients, set for "dough" and in 90 minutes, the dough is ready for rolling out. There is a timer on this bread machine and one can set it up before one goes to bed to be ready in the a.m.

I haven't made the cinnamon bun recipe this way with the dough.

Dee