I also have one that I wanted so badly, that now sits in the pantry as the novelty wore off. It does make nice bread though :!: :!:

I have had a Wal-mart cheapie bread maker for several years. In the summer, I use it at least once a week. (My family are carb-aholics!) Its only "feature" is the delay cycle which I use constantly. I've never had any problems and always get nice bread.

In the winter it goes into the basement and I make bread by hand. The only reason for that is I love to bake bread by hand but I hate to heat the house up in the summer.

I had to quit using mine, I think my dh and I gained about 10 pounds the year we got ours. lol...... I did use it a lot though.. made a lot of bread and homemade jam for Christmas gifts.... I like being able to put the ing. in and come back to a loaf of wonderful bread. Mine is a West Bend. It is a little tricky at first... order of ing. is important. If you buy at a garage sale be sure you get the book .... quilter 1234

A couple of years ago, I took my dad's bread machine. He didn't really use it much, I 'borrowed' it with no intention of giving it back unless he asked for it. It was a Black and Decker, and I think he got it when they first started to be popular. I has a few bells and whistles on it, different settings, delay start, etc. Then I used it a lot and it started making funny noises, so I gave it back and bought a new one. Mine is also a Black and Decker, but it has a horizontal loaf pan, so it makes 2lb or 3lb loaves (loafs?) It has more settings, and I think I only paid about 80 bucks for it, on sale. It makes fantastic bread, quick bread, rolls, dough, all kinds of stuff. We use it more in the winter, and there's nothing better than waking up to the smell of fresh baked bread in the morning.

If you use the delayed timer, you're supposed to use powdered milk, I don't think any of the other ingredients can spoil... and you dig a small hole on top of everything for the yeast, so it doesn't activate till the mixer starts moving everything around. I was skeptical at first too, but it really does work great!

I was given a used breadmaker by a neighbor who never used it. I like it for making the dough, which I then turn out and shape into the type and style bread we like. I have made 100%whole wheat, apple cinnamon, French, onion -poppy seed and more. I use either Stone-Buhr or King Arthur bread flour. What I didn't like was that the bread loaves, when baked in the maker, were too big and had to be cut in half, plus the paddle or kneading device at the bottom left a big hole in the bottom of the bread. This is why I use just the dough setting and shape my own loaves.

Several years ago, I just had to have one....now it's a lovely ornament on a shelf....lol
:)

i am on my 4th one. The first one I got was the best. It cost $200 but that is when they first came out. we burned that one up i made bread everyday with it. The last one never worked right. the bread doesn't
rise and is doughy. It is aSunbeam.
It really isn't that cheap to make the bread, by the time you buy the yeast for the machine and dry milk if you use the delay it can cost.

I too have a B & D; my SIL gave it to me for doing some sewing for her :D . It sat for a while-then started using it. Use it couple times a week. Costs me 70 cents a loaf for the egg bread DH likes and now DIL has laying hens so bread costs have come down. :lol: Really like it.