Applica #TR555LC 2LB Breadmaker

Comment: This machine persistently made a bread with a large hole in the bottom, sometimes so large that half the slices consisted of just a ring of bread. Sometimes there was a lump of uncooked dough in the hole. We complained and were offered a replacement under warranty. The second machine, after an initial couple of weeks of near normal functioning, began to show the same problem until we decided we could not afford to waste time and materials.We bake bread almost every third day, especially since it appeared that the problem was worse with a larger loaf.

Comment: I bought this because I didn't see a BAD review, and the price was right. The first batch I made, using a recipe that came with the instruction manual turned out pretty tasty. Then a week later I tried another recipe. All the ingredients went in, put the pan in, set the program, then ??? The paddle started making a sqeaky noise on every turn. There was no movement from the paddle after the first minute. Took the pan out, reseated, etc. I think it's a dud.

Comment: Friends who have eaten bread and rolls that I have made with the Breadmaker think I am an excellent cook. They do not know that it is the machine that does the work - I just follow the instructions and let the machine go to work. Even the most in-experienced cook can make delicious breads and rolls to enhance their meals. I highly recommend the Breadmaker.

Comment: 1. It is easy to use. it does most of the work for you. The main thing is, follow the directions. Use exact amounts, IE measure with the correct containers, and you can't go wrong.
2.The bread comes out great. No chemicals or preservatives. Super home-made healthy taste you will notice. But note this: the bread is often not as sweet as store bread. It tastes a little different, so don't expect the exact same taste as you get in the store. Whether you like the bread or not is a matter of taste. The bread it makes is healthy and a little less sweet and more fresh.
3.the biggest loaf I reccomend it 1.5 lbs and not 2lbs despite the machine's advertised ability. I have not yet tried a 2lb loaf, but, the 1.5 lb loaf just about fills up the pan. Some jam recipes from sources other than this model's booklet can overflow the pan. Stick to 1.5 lb recipes as a max. The jam it makes is the "best jam I ever had".
4. cleaning takes 20 seconds.
5. saves money and prevents rip-offs.
6. Read the entire manual BEFORE you make any bread.
7.Takes some 3 hours to make a loaf.
8.Fresh bread with no chemicals, like the bread this machine makes, only stays good for about 3 days. Past that it will get stale. The breads with more starch (like whole wheat) will get stale faster as the starch crystallizes. A plastic bag tied off works better than a breadbox in staleness prevention.

So if you want healthy fresh bread, buy this beaut and you can't go wrong.

Comment: I've been using bread machines for many years with great results. Recently my Sunbeam bread machine geve up the ghost and I replaced it with the Breadman since I've read positive reports about the brand. That was a mistake! In spite of varying the quantities of ingredients, the ratios, the cycle options, etc., I have yet to have the machine generate anything but a stubby, dense loaf that is not always fully mixed. If I remove the dough from the machine and let it rise in the kitchen, the bread comes out the way I expect.
Perhaps the rise cycles are too short. I don't know. But I would not recommend this machine for a paperweight.