Zojirushi Bb HAC10 Home Bakery Mini Breadmaker, 1 Lb (White)

Worring about the fact that my store bought bread had so many preservitives in it, that it stayed semi- fresh for 2 months, My husban and I decided to go the home made bread route... After careful research we choose this Zojirushi 1 lb machine. I NEVER bake bread soo I was concerned that this was gonna be a BIG ol expensive dust grabber... MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, I got the machine on Thrusday, watched the video ( fortunaly I still have a vcr, they do need to up date that) but went straight into the kitchen and MADE MY FIRST LOAF OF PERFECT BREAD ... This is such a NO BRAINER, that my husban came home and has made bread all weekend! You basically slop all your indgredients in the bakeing bowl (IMPORTANT: in the order the book say's to put them) lock the loaf pan in the machine and TA DA !!!! As little as 2 hours later you have Hot Fragrant Delicious Bread! I've already devieated from the recipies and made some artisan breads that I made up the recipies.... you can fudge on dry indgredients, except flour, ie more sugar than it calls for, more spices etc... Right now I have cranberry-raisin,nut bread raising.... I added an extra 1/2 c of nuts and cut the raisin and cranberry to 1/4 cup so I had the correct amount of dried fruit in the dough. I can't say enought about the way this machine works, it is almost totaly silent, and the bread loaf pan is soooo heavy compared to other brands I have looked at. My one and only complain, and it's really weak, is I wish this had an auto dump on it so I didn't have to wait 19 mins to put in my extras. (Really Lazy huh??) But that also might increase the size of the machine, and this is an awesome size, It fits under my cabinets on my counter top and is easy to store away when (if that time ever comes) it isn't in use. Yet the loafs that come out are Big (1 lb loafs but so much bigger than I thought would come out of a machine this small!) So if you want to just jump in and bake wonderful breads this is the product for you! For size 5 stars For ease of operation 5 stars For ease of clean up 5 stars For quality of breads 5 stars For prep time to mix up the dough...5+++++ stars Every one I know is getting a specialty bread for Christmas this year!!! Oops forgot to mention, my hubs is a french bread FANATIC... he made 2 loafs this weekend and they were soooo much better than I have ever bought in ANY BREAD STORE!! I fiugred the cost of a white bread loaf, and it has less than .46 in it, so compared to store bought bread not only are we getting a better tasteing healthier bread but I'm saving over .58 cents (on a 2 lb store loaf) YAY Life is good

I purchased this little guy in 2008. I used it for a year or two and then stuffed it in the back of the cupboard. It worked great but there were a lot of good artisan bakery options nearby. Fast forward to 2020 and with the pandemic options were fewer. I dug it out and plugged it in hoping for the best but expecting something to be wrong. Nope. It still works like a champ! It has a tiny squeak (like a mouse) while kneading but to tell the truth I think it did that when new. It still runs strong and makes great bread. It is easy to use and a perfect size for a 1 or 2 person household. The included recipes will get you off to a good start but I also picked up a couple of books here on Amazon—just be sure that anything you buy has ingredients computed for the smaller 1# loaf size. The two I can recommend are: The Bread Machine Cookbook by Donna German, and, Bread Machine Magic. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy to experiment and still get good results. I’ve even successfully made blueberry jam with this thing. I don’t know what to say about the reviewers that have had issues… all I can say is that my experience has been a good one and I would highly recommend this unit, especially for smaller households. ******* The following recipe I downsized to work in the smaller loaf pan of the “Baby Zo” and is what is pictured below. Even so, depending on how active your yeast is you may need to adjust it up or down a little. You can see my loaf rose a little bit too high into the lid and so the top middle part, although fully baked, didn’t brown all the way. This bread is rich, tastes delicious and the fragrance of the herbs wafting through the air adds to the delight. Perhaps it’s not strictly necessary but I sauté the onion until translucent before adding. Note: Dill seed is not the same thing as dill weed. Weed is the light, blow-away stuff that is commonly sprinkled on salmon. You want the seed which is heavier and more like caraway except rounder. It’s available at the supermarket. It works best if everything is allowed to come up to room temperature first but the timer function shouldn’t be used overnight because of the fresh dairy. Use the basic setting. Enjoy! DAK Dill & Onion Bread 3 Tablespoons of Water 1/2 cup Cottage Cheese 1/2 cup Sour Cream 1 small egg (or 1/2 large) 2 Tablespoons finely minced onion 1 Tablespoon butter cut into quarters 1 1/2 Tablespoons Sugar 1 Tablespoon Dill Seed 1 teaspoon Salt 2 cups Bread Flour 1 teaspoon Active Dry Yeast

My new "Mini Zo" just arrived today, January 5, 2007, which was amazing since I had just ordered it in the afternoon of January 2! I have enjoyed my two-pound loaf Zojirushi since I purchased it from Amazon in 2002 and will still use it for larger loaves, but this will be the perfect size for just the two of us and for special breads that we may want for one or two meals. The loaf I made today was for "soft" white bread. This interested me since there is a setting for "regular" and "firm" bread as well, but I thought I would see what the "soft" would be like--this takes three hours rather than the longer time for the other syles (we wanted it for dinner). The loaf could not have been more perfect! The texture was wonderful and the taste excellent! The bread came out of the bread pan perfectly. There is also a "Quick" setting which requires two hours or less, depending on the light or dark crust selected. This machine fits very nicely on the counter taking up only a little more space than a blender. The carrying handle on the machine makes it very convenient for moving it to a storage area if you do not have much counter space. I look forward to many wonderful loaves of bread from this machine. I have a wonderful book of bread recipes that I got several years ago entitled The Ultimate Bread Machine Cookbook by Tom Lacalmita, 1993. It has about 200 pages of recipes with measurements for both one pound or two pound loaves. This will add to the choices that come with the machine. This book may still be available at Abe Books or other used book sellers. Bread Machine Baking by Lora Brody and Millie Apter, 1993 also has many recipes for small (one pound/2cups flour) loaves. Happy bread making with the Mini Zojirushi! Update (April 26, 2013).... My breadmaker is still working beautifully after more than 6 years of two uses per week! I replaced the paddle about six months ago, as it was losing it's non-stick ability. I still make the "soft" recipe from the Zo booklet; however, I substitute 1/2 cup of the 2 cups of bread flour with semolina flour, which I purchase at a health food store (Bob's Red Mill Semolina Flour). The difference it makes to the texture is quite amazing. I also use this substitution (1/2 cup) in my (2 cups of all purpose flour) pizza dough, which is wonderful. I use the recipe from "The Bread Machine Magic Book of Helpful Hints"--2nd revision--by Linda Rehberg and Lois Conway, which is a wonderful resource for all things related to bread machine baking. I tried this idea based on a pizza dough recipe I saw at King Arthur Flour that used beer and some semolina flour, which is also excellent. One more change I have made over time is that I now use bottled water rather than city water, just to eliminate any reaction to the chemicals in the tap water.

I had a much bigger breadmaker back in the days when breadmakers became popular (early to mid 90's?). I enjoyed using it very much, but it made a fairly large loaf of bread. Also, if you added in raisins, nuts or whatever else, they all sank to the bottom of the loaf. I also did not like that the crust was always too brown. I have since disposed of that particular machine, but I so missed having fresh baked bread without going through the manual process of actually making bread. Fast forward many years, and times have changed. So have these machines! I researched several models before deciding on this one. We have a small family so I was not interested in the gigantic models, nor was I very interested in making 100's of different varieties of things. This Zojirushi model seemed to be the perfect answer to what I needed, and it has been. I use this at least once a week, and I have had this for several weeks. No issues so far. I have so far only made soft white bread and soft white cinnamon raisin bread. The bread comes out consistently good, with a near perfect crust. Unlike the former model I had, the raisins are evenly distributed. The bread is very delicious and it is almost impossible for any of us to wait for it to cool down before we dig in. As for the size, this is a narrow, although still tall machine. Clean up is a breeze, but do be very careful when handling the bread pan and the kneading blade after the bread is done. They are both extremely hot, and you will need oven mitts to remove the bread from the pan (tip the pan upside down and shake it!). The baked "loaf" looks more like a lump, but I would say it is about half a loaf of bread. It takes us about two days to finish the loaf/lump. Nothing overly exciting about the appearance; white with buttons. The digital display is easy to read and usage is pretty easy. I have not ventured into making jams or doughs (e.g., pizza, cookies) that can be baked outside of the machine. Not sure I will utilize these features in the future, but they are a nice addition if you are interested in that sort of thing. As a basic breadmachine, I am really enjoying this product.

My Zojirushi Mini (BB-HAC10) arrived a few days ago and I'm baking Loaf #4 as I write this. First, the delivery was prompt. I chose Amazon's free shipping but for some reason, it was sent overnight to me. That was a nice touch. This is my very first bread machine and I bought it because my husband and I (no kids) constantly have bread problems: the commercial loaves are too big for us and we end up throwing out 1/2 the loaf, OR we run out of bread mid-week when it is inconvenient to go to the store. Add to that our refusal to buy bread with preservatives and whatnot added to it. So it was inevitable that we'd buy a bread machine. Living in a condo with a small kitchen, this machine was an easy choice because of size (we hardly notice it on the counter now). The price was a bit of an issue but we justified that based on the superlative reviews this model has received. The first two loaves of bread I baked were truly delicious though a bit dense -- got the recipe off a website where the contributor owned an identical unit. But being new to bread-making, I didn't realize that there was a difference between "bread flour" and something called "whole wheat bread flour". I bought the latter... an absolutely delicious (and equally nutritious) version of regular whole wheat flour but of course requires more leavening than "bread flour". I had bought these ingredients ahead of time, having no clue what the Zo's own recipes contained, only knowing that most reviewers liked these recipes quite well. Loaf #3 was Zo's basic white bread and it turned out beautifully. In fact it rose so much that it was flat against the lid by the third rise. I had to open it and deflate it with a toothpick. Anyway, I'd like to save anyone who has ordered this Zo from the trouble of buying the wrong ingredients for the first few loaves you'd probably make if this is your first experience with a bread machine. Here's what you need for the regular cycle recipe for white bread from the Zo manual: water, bread flour, sugar, dry milk, salt, butter, active dry yeast (breadmaker yeast works too). I also bought Beth Hensberger's "The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook" after using Amazon's search-inside feature and reading a bit of it. It's very comprehensive and very educational for beginners like myself (600+ pages for $14). Though most of her recipes are for 2-lb loaves, she says you can halve the quantities for 1-lb. Some people disagree. My Loaf #4 (raisin bread) is such a conversion and I'm hoping she's right! This Zo, by the way, is not made in Japan, but is made in China. The construction is of extremely high quality and certainly has that sort of "Hello Kitty" Japanese look to it. The bread pan is very thick and solid. It fits very easily into the slot in the machine and putting it in and taking it takes hardly any effort. I cannot believe just how easy the whole bread-making process is. I know that other reviewers have been saying that, but I couldn't imagine that bread-making could ever be called easy. But this machine really does make it easy. The hardest part, I would say, is making precise measurements and learning about some of the chemistry behind bread-making. I've also never, ever baked anything that required so little clean-up. The bread pan and mixing paddle barely look like they are used after each loaf is removed. Once, there was a bit hard dough stuck in the tiny space between the paddle and the rod that holds it, and I found that the quickest way to clean it was to soak the whole thing in water for 10 minutes. I'm hesitant to soak it in soapy water because I don't want anything eating into the non-stick coating. I've also been using the soft side of a sponge, not the scrubby side (even though the scrubby side is designed for non-stick coatings). The notch made in the bread by the paddle is quite insignificant. I've eaten airy breads with much larger holes in the slices before. The beeping sound after 30 minutes for adding extra ingredients and for completion of baking is soft and I've been using my microwave's loud timer alongside the Zo to make sure I don't miss it. The operation of the Zo is VERY quiet. My husband was in the kitchen cooking dinner while the bread was baking and I had to ask him to take a look and see if the machine was actually doing anything. (It was. It was kneading). Sometimes you can hear the whirr of the paddle in another room if there isn't any other ambient noise. The unit came with a plastic measuring cup (1-cup size) and a plastic tablespoon/teaspoon measure. It also came with a VHS tape which was useless for me. A DVD would have been so much better, or even an online demo on [...]. The buttons on the Zo itself are simple and self-explanatory. For example, I realized after putting in the ingredients of my last loaf that I'd have to use a new cycle and I was able to figure out in a matter of seconds which buttons to press. The Zo has a cake-making and jam-making feature and those will be my next ventures. The size of the 1-lb loaf, by the way, is substantial for two people - enough for two meals for two people. Lastly, I did feel compelled to buy an additional 2-year warranty after reading some of the reviewers talk about units that conked out. (I bought it via Amazon from Square Trade for $22). I will follow up on this review in a few months. 10/13/2010 - Now that I've had this breadmaker for a few months, I have to say that I really love it. I use it 3-4 times a week. The process couldn't be simpler. The breads come out perfectly every time. When we have company I bake two loaves using the quick cycle. The cake function is great though the loaves are small. They're perfect for 2-3 people but not if you have company. Last week I used a 2-lb recipe for banana bread and had the Zojirushi mix it up but then I took it out and baked it in a regular size loaf pan in the oven. Turned out perfect. I've made jam twice. Both times the results were way too liquidy and uncooked and I had to transfer it to a saucepan to cook for an additional 20 mins on the stovetop. Still it saves you about an hour of stirring. 09/02/2011 - More than a year later, it's still going strong. There are two small worn out patches inside the pan that make taking the bread out slightly harder but I suppose that's to be expected when you bake 3-4 times a week.

About a year ago, I decided to makeover my meals to eat as healthy as I possibly could, with a goal to eliminate added preservatives, colors, sugar, fat, salt, and chemicals. It has been a phenomenal change and my body thanks me for it, as I am healthier than I've ever been. I have so much energy and feel great all day, every day. Personally, I was tired of buying store bread at astronomical prices. When the price of bread exceeded $4.00 a loaf, I had to wait for it to go on sale at 2 for $4, buy 2 loaves, freeze it for future use, then ration it along the way to make it last until the next sale. As I was thinking of how to avoid buying fresh bread at a bakery every few days, which could also get expensive, I remembered my friend Helen who lives in CA. She had a bread machine and used to bake fresh bread all the time. It was so good that her husband, kids, and I couldn't wait for it to be done and would devour it the moment it hit the cutting board. So, I set out on my search for the perfect bread machine....sturdy construction, small footprint, extremely reliable, and produces excellent bread. Yes, I wanted an overall high-quality machine that would not have issues right out of the box (which is a huge complaint among other brands), wouldn't sound like a train was passing through my house, wouldn't dance off the counter, and would actually produce a beautiful scrumptious loaf every time, not the fallen/sunken loaves and hard bricks I've read about in horror regarding other brands. Truthfully, I was willing to pay more for superior quality just to avoid the hassle of all the disappointing problems and having to return it. I read hundreds of reviews from many different websites, as I always do before buying anything important. "Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner.......the Zo it is!" So, in November 2010, I bought myself an early Christmas present! Woo-hoo! I've had my Zo for six months. It is my new best friend. From the very first use, every loaf has turned out perfect and soooooo good! I have made white, whole wheat, and honey wheat. I have used the recipes in the Zo manual, and Beth Hensperger's book: The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook. There's also a great website for recipes. Just google "Bread Machine Digest". It will take you to the website. This summer I will be venturing into new breads like cranberry walnut, cinnamon raisin, zucchini walnut, apple cinnamon, cheese breads, and a host of others. I'm confident they will all turn out fabulous! The Zo is phenomenal! In my opinion, it really is the best bread machine ever! My family, friends, and neighbors love my bread. The compliments and praise just keep coming. They always ask me to make them a loaf when they visit. I've given fresh loaves as gifts, and will continue to do so throughout the year. I put them in plastic bags and tie a bow on them. Voila! A healthy gift you can eat! Seriously! You could save a ton on gifts, as each loaf costs about 55 cents! I must stress the importance of using quality ingredients. The flour and yeast must be fresh. I use King Arthur Flour (premium), and sometimes Bob's Red Mill. Pillsbury bread flour is good too as a back-up and cheaper alternative. I use SAF instant yeast instead of active dry yeast. Trust me, it makes a huge difference! (I've tried both) For wheat bread, vital wheat gluten is essential for a lovely shaped, higher rise, and softer texture loaf. You don't need VWG for white bread. Since some recipes call for sugar and salt, I use sugar in the raw and sea salt to keep it healthy. If you've been contemplating buying the Zo, don't hesitate! Run, don't walk to your computer! Order yours today before everyone else discovers what all the fuss is about! Grab yours before it's out of stock! Amazon's shipping is fast and it was packed very well. Not one spot of damage on the box! The Zo mini is perfect for me right now. But, when I am expecting a crowd, I make a few batches on the dough cycle in advance and bake the extra loaves in the oven. When I get married and have children, I will be upgrading to the full size Zo. But, I'm still keeping my Zo mini! I love it too much! It now holds a sentimental place in my heart. Wishing you all a healthy lifestyle! Happy bread making! Cheers!

I had been contemplating purchasing a bread maker for quite some time, and of course checked Amazon. I read the reviews on several machines before purchase, and this little machine received 5 stars, and many good reviews. I have a family of 3, and was hesitant at first to purchase only a 1 lb loaf machine,rather than one larger, to be able to make 1 and 2 lb. loaves. I am very happy with my purchase of this product, and have had it for several months now. I hate it when reviewers review a product right out of the package, and haven't truly given it time to establish a proper review. I feel I have utilized this product enough to rate it appropriately. Let it be known, however, that I have no prior bread machine use in the past; this is my first. Pro's: Easy to clean, with a removable pan. Package states not to let water sit too long for fear of rusting the pan. It is also non-stick, and bread comes out perfectly each time. There are multiple settings depending upon type of bread, etc. being made. I like the fact that it is easy to clean the putside of the machine as well with a wipe down, and you can actually see the bread being made from a see through window. There is also a recipe sticker on the side, for easy access of basic white bread, which is the one I use most frequently. It makes it easily accessible. There is also a small recipe book that comes with the machine for other types of bread, and recipes that have been tested on this particular machine. It's small, compact size does make it easy to store on the counter, without taking up much space. It has other setting such as dough and jam settings, or it rises and makes the bread dough for you, and then you can place it in the oven, if you choose that method of baking. It doesn't heat up the kitchen like turning on the oven does. There is nothing like the smell of fresh baked bread! You can just set it, and forget it! Wait, that reminds me of another machine infomercial that came out years ago :) Once yor bread is done, it keeps it warm for awhile, and then eventually, it says "complete" on the screen, and keeps the bread at room temp. Cons: I wish you could turn off the beeping sound that tells you it's time to add raisins or nuts to the bread. It beeps, even though you are making regular white bread. However, it only beeps for a few seconds. I wish there wasn't a hole in the bottom of the bread from the mixer tool, but I think that happens with most bread makers. Small bits of dough get underneath the mixer tool in the pan, and when they harden during the baking process, it makes it somewhat difficult to remove the contraption to clean. So, I just leave it in, and then clean the entire pan as a whole. Once you set the buttons for a setting for baking readiness, you can't change it, at least that I've found. I accidentally hit the Darker bread setting, rather than my usual lighter setting, and I was unable to change it. I also wish this maker had an even lighter crust setting, as I don't like my bread dark-not that it comes out that bad, I just prefer everything lighter. I also wish the company would come out with other colors, such as stainless or black, rather than just white. All my kitchen appliances are black and stainless, so it stands out a little, since I leave it on the counter all the time. But, it certainly doesn't affect the usage of the product. Overall, this is a great little product. It's one of the most expensive on the market, but it's definitely worth it. It's worth knowing the ingredients you put into your bread, and worth the smell and the taste of fresh bread. 1 lb. load lasts about 2 days for my 3 person family, and we usually don't have any left over. It makes about 6-8 slices, depending upon how thin you cut them. I have yet to experience other types of bread, besides white, wheat, and honey wheat, but all have come out fantastic. I also purchsed another cookbook to go with my bread machine. But, if you follow the recipes in the cookbook that comes with it, they have been tested in the machine, and come out well. THis machine wouldn't be optimal if you eat a lot of bread, or have a larger family, unless you desire to make several loaves at a time. It does take about 3 hrs and 30 min minimum for a loaf from start to finish. So, it is time consuming, if you have other loaves to make in one day. It's really easy to use, and it's perfect to teach kids even how to make fresh bread, with supervision of course. The buttons are easy to read as well. I would defintely recommend this product to anyone who wants to cut back on expenses at the grocery store. I use the King Arthur brand of bread flour, and bought the jar of yeast at the store. Making about 2-3 loaves a week, The bread flour package lasted me about 3 weeks, and the jar of yeast, I'm not even half way through. So, it's definitely worth the upfront costs to spending 3 bucks on a loaf of artificial bread at the store.

I have been living on my own since I was 23 (I'm 27 as of the time this review was written;). It was hard to get adjusted to having to have a full time job while still maintaining an apartment. One thing that was a little tricky was getting used to cooking for myself. Since I live alone, and live 30-45 mins away from work, I usually prepare simple things like salads and sandwiches because I didn't find a reason to make extravagant, time consuming meals for just myself and well... I am also extremely lazy lol, I am a successful young professional but lately the domestic housewife in me has been slowly coming out. However, my limited cooking skills and experience, as well as my busy life (and ok.. LAZYNESS TOO lol) were still nipping at me. Being able to bake my own bread was something that "Domestic Danielle" always wanted to do, but "Clueless Baker Danielle" showed me a flash into the future and all I saw was my kitchen covered in flour and a cage match between me and a lump of dough trying desperately to knead that thing and then having it jump on my face and start to consume me like the blob. OK.... not a pretty sight I know!! There was only one way to satisfy both of my desires, and that was a BREAD MACHINE!!! My sister has a bread machine and she loves it. When we would get together for family gatherings she would bring a loaf and it was always so delicious, and that too inspired me to start researching them. When I came across the mini Zojirushi, I knew it was love at first sight and absolutely PERFECT for me!! It makes a nice and small 1 pound loaf, which really can last you a couple days if you make small slices. It is also incredibly easy to use and the manual that comes with it is great because those recipes were made strictly for that bread machine. I also love the timer option on it! a couple times I have dumped the ingredients in either before I go to bed or before I go to work and set it so that I can have fresh bread when I wake up or when I come home from work (and waking up or coming home to that wonderful smell is ALWAYS a bonus hehe). And probably the best thing about this machine is that it does EVERYTHING for you!! It kneads and rises and bakes it all in the same cute contraption! As long as you measure everything as it is supposed to be measured then your bread will come out fine. I have made several loaves and they always come out great! The only word of warning is that you might become like me and become a bake-a-holic. Since its so easy to do and since its so cute to watch it in the machine (I love the little window on the top hehe), you might find yourself becoming bake-crazy! Lately I have been experimenting with the recipes in the book and have been baking loaves for work or baking loaves for friends and people I associate with. I am thinking about baking one for my personal trainer and her family, because I mean what says thank you for helping me attain a hot body like a gift of an adorable bread loaf lol!! Bottom line is that this is a great product that makes great bread! I am THE bread winner and this bread machine is a winner too!! Its just win-win all around!! I am also psyched to try out the dough function and try to make my own pizza and soft pretzels!! The possibilities are endless!! Uh oh world watch out!!! DOMESTIC DANIELLE IS TAKING OVER!!!

El producto es de buena calidad, muy fácil de usar. El pan es pequeño pero más que suficiente para dos o tres personas. Llegó en buenas condiciones y días antes de lo esperado.

This is my second Zojirushi bread maker. I'm impressed by how quiet it is and how well it works. It's simple to use and although the load size is small, it serves 1 or 2, and for me that works just fine. Any more would be a waste in my situation. Let's talk durability. This machine is well built and solid. I've seen a couple of its competitors, and you can tell quality. This one is far better than the couple I first considered. This machine also comes with a handy instruction booklet with colorful pictures and recipes. The Zojirushi website offers even more tips, recipes, and videos. Pretty cool. Overall, this one cost me a bit more than I'd planned to spend, but the quality is such that I can depend on it not to fail me anytime soon. It doesn't have 20 settings like some of the others out there, but seriously, I don't need 20 settings. I want to keep it simple and I'm happy with their recipes and all you can do with this great bread maker. As Forrest Gump would day at a time like this, "And that's all I gotta say about that."

Excelente producto, hace el pan perfecto, también probé hacer mermelada y funciono genial.

I wanted this machine for a while, based on the reviews, but held off due to the price. So when it came on sale around Black Friday, I couldn't say no. So far I haven't regretted it. This is a great little machine, made well, easy to use, and not too large. It works for three people who don't eat a lot of bread; the loaves are only 1lb (small). Get a bigger one if this seems too small. It does come with a recipe book with basic breads. Pick up another recipe book if you want to be more creative. Just keep in mind that 1-lb loaves aren't as common, so you will have to adapt recipes for this machine (such as halving a 2lb recipe). I haven't had a chance to try any of the other features such as jams or dough, but I will update once I do. Update: 2015 - I have had this machine for 2 years and it is still going strong. Very well made. I mostly use it to make pizza dough, as I've not been eating bread as much. The dough setting or quick bread setting makes epic pizza dough and pockets. The quickbread setting seems to go faster for making dough, because the dough setting can take up to 1.5 hrs to make dough. (It takes the whole kneading and rising thing quite seriously) and I'm not too picky about the pizza dough being a certain way, so pulling it out before the quickbread starts to bake is long enough for my taste. Other thoughts: Cleaning isn't difficult but handwash only. The non stick interior helps, but it is not PTFE free. (The coating has not chipped at least and I have taken care not to scratch it.) But being teflon, you cannot dishwash it. Additionally, since it has some iron on the outside, you cannot soak it - soaking may cause the outside to rust. So handwash the inside only and you will need a chopstick to clean the area around the paddle. They used some sort of silicone seal down there and it tends to collect dry baked on crumbs. The paddle is removable, so you will also find that the hole collects crap that needs to be cleaned with a small skewer. This is the only thing I really don't like about the machine. I'd love to upgrade to a larger size that would allow me to dictate how long to rest, kneed and rise but the larger footprint is holding me back for now (Not enough cupboard space). I haven't tried to jams but I did try the cake setting. Personally I found the baked banana bread/cake to be almost too small and the square shape was...odd? Not a big deal, but ultimately, because desserts don't rise and don't need special kneading, it would be just as easy to use a stand mixer and pour it into a traditional baking pan. This would also be easier to clean. But the cake feature is still nice to have and would work well if you didn't have an oven or mixer. You also can't control the temperature so you have to watch that it doesn't over bake your goods. I would still recommend this machine. Just make sure to invest in a good quality bread knife and pizza cutter.

This is my very first bread maker and I purchased it because I hated the mess on my counter-top by hand-making my own bread. - This machine makes the best tasting old fashioned - German style ryebread I ever had on the North American continent! Nice hard, crusty, tooth-breaking-aching, hard, chewy rye-bread solid like a brick! Perfect crispy crust and exactly how most Europeans want it! - Super easy to make, just follow exactly the instructions, press Start and let the machine do the job. Clean operation, no mess and the bucket is very easy to clean. - Loaf comes out without any problems, so does the blade out of the loaf... - Very silent operation, doesent move around on the counter-top, and the loafs are in the perfect size for a single or a couple. B U T: - Well, it is a machine shaped loaf and doesent look as nice than a handmade bakerstyle loaf. But that doesent mean the machined loaf is ugly and it doesent really matter very much.... I am very pleased and hopefully the machine lasts very long.