I've been thinking about buying an inexpensive bread maker. Anyone here have one and do you like it? Is it worth the effort?

I cannot tell you how many partial loaves of bread I end up throwing out. We don't eat that much bread and there's no option to buy 1/2 a loaf. I've tried freezing it but it seems to dry it out so badly.

I thought if I could just make my own whenever I needed it that might be cheaper. I've googled bread makers and looked at lots of different ones. There's so many! I know I would like a horizontal loaf. Many of them don't make that.

if you have a freecycle group in your area, yahoo has them in my area you can ask for one. I got one from a friend of my moms. it's the breadman machine. it's great except... it takes 2-4 hours to make a loaf of bread but all you have to do is throw in the ingredients and hit the button and you are done. it isn't too heavy or hard to move if you have to, and clean up is really simple just turn the handle to unlock it and it pulls right out and fits in my dishwasher.

I don't like that they are verticle loaves instead of horizontal, and it tends to make the bread crunchier than i usually like. I do like to use it to make dough, pizza crust/ breadsticks/ pigs in a blanket. the dough comes out pretty good but also takes about an hour to make. the other perk, you can make exta dough and freeze it. as long as you can leave it out to thaw overnight, it works great.

Definitely get a machine that makes horizontal loves rather than vertical ones. I think most makers are pretty much the same and easy to operate.

I have a Toastmaster which makes great bread, but it is a vertical loaf maker and I wish I had purchased one of the horizontal ones.

I would buy whichever is on sale if I did it again.

gmi

I make breads and people buy them from me. Have been doing it for over 10 years. One of these days, when Twink is in AZ to visit her daughter, she will get a loaf.

I use Oster. Cheapest on the market.

Mine is Panera.

Mine is the kind from the frozen food section. Put it in a loaf pan and bake.

I know what you mean about the waste of bread. I do wish they made 1/2 loaves. I know you can get smaller loaves from the bakery and have them slice it for you. Since it is just me now, I don't bread anymore.

I tried 3 before finding the West Bend that I liked best - but often around here there a nearly new ones in the goodwill/ thrift stores - you can tell by looking that they never were used or only a few times.

I picked up a extra one just cause it was like new -in the box w/ all booklets - at goodwill for only 8 bucks.
I always wipe it all down with bleach or Lysol just to be sure it's totally clean and then run the pan through the dishwasher too.

It's a Bake It Easy by Betty Crocker.
It's the one I use most now.
the heating element is about 2" up from the base , where the West Bend is at the bottom - I think a bit higher up makes for a more even crust baking.

I usually use the dough cycle and shape/bake it myself.

my west bend - http://www99.epinions.com/hmgd-Bread..._Express_41053

can't find anything about the Betty Crocker one.

there are so many styles & shapes now , another thing is find one that fits nicely on your counter so it is out there to use often.
Some are made to fit nicely in a corner or just blend in to the kitchen decor more than the old big white boxy style.



If you do try one and it burns or under bakes don't be afraid to return or exchange it -

I have two of them. One is a Panasonic I've had for years when they were expensive, which makes a 1 lb. vertical loaf in 3 or 4 hours whatever time you select. You can program it to start whenever. It makes lots of different kinds of bread.

I also have a West Bend Just For Dinner little one which makes a 3/4 lb. nice little loaf in 45 minutes. I've had this one quite awhile too. They are/were expensive but I found it on sale when I bought it.

Love both of them

Schwans..

I buy a loaf and split it with my Mom. That way we both have a fresh loaf of bread.