West Bend 41077 Just For Dinner Breadmaker

This was an impulse buy - after reading all of the positive reviews here I decided to give it a try. When it arrived I was surprised at how small the bread pan was and was considering sending it back. But then I did 2 things - I looked at other larger breadmakers and realized they take anywhere from 3-5 hours to make a loaf of bread (this one takes 45 minutes total, including the knead cycle) and I made a loaf of bread and discovered it actually can serve 2-4 people with a total of around 6 decent size slices. My first loaf came out a little small and dense so I read the troubleshooting guide and decided it was too little water, so next time during the mix cycle i knew what the dough looked like when it was too dry, added 1 tablespoon of water and the bread came out perfect. This breadmaker doesnt have a timer feature but since it is done in 45 minutes, you dont need one! Other things I like: prep is easy - about 5 minutes (basic bread requires bread flour, salt, sugar, milk or water,...Read more

This machine does an absolutely fantastic job at doing what it does--making a very small loaf of bread. For those reviewers who were unhappy that it makes such a small loaf--that's what it does!

My experience with other breadmakers was so bad (soggy loaves, burned loaves, tough loaves...) that I actually borrowed this unit from a friend to ensure I liked it before I ordered one of my own. But, this machine made such great bread that I was sold. Here is what it does really well:

1) Makes an attractive small loaf that is just the right size for dinner or sandwiches for two people. We get about 6 slices from each loaf.

2) Produces a superior crust that is much better than other bread machines: crisp and flavorful.

3) Creates a loaf in only 45 minutes (instead of 3-4 hours like other machines) and quietly, too!

4) The owner's manual is very clear and has lots of tips and great recipes! (The Black Pepper and Onion Bread is especially good!) The recipes use such interesting...Read more

Q: How do they make a loaf in only 45 minutes?
A: They use lots of yeast :)

I have had this bread machine for almost a year, and I've made many loaves of bread with it. Here's my review, based on my experience.

When I first saw this product, my main question was, "How many recipes does it come with?" The instruction book has 28 recipes (including two for white bread). I haven't made them all yet, but my favorites are: Black Pepper, Egg, French, Honey Cinnamon Wheat, Honey Oatmeal, Italian Herb, Potato Bacon, and Sunflower Oat Wheat.

Ingredients can be tricky: I've had good luck with Gold Medal bread flour, no-so-good luck with another brand. I've also had good luck with both Fleischmann's and SAF bread machine yeast.

Your results may vary; be prepared to experiment. West Bend has a toll-free hot-line you can call for advice, something I found helpful.

Speaking of yeast, I've also learned that if you buy it in a jar, you should refrigerate it after opening, or the...Read more