Breadman TR2500BC Ultimate Plus 2-Pound Stainless-Steel Convection Breadmaker
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Breadman TR2500BC Ultimate Plus 2-Pound Stainless-Steel Convection Breadmaker
Customer Review: Loving my Breadman!
Summary: 5 Stars
I received this bread machine for Christmas and after reading through most of the reviews on here, I was nervous. How could one machine produce so many conflicting opinions??
In the week that I've had the Breadman Ultimate Plus, I've made 3 wonderful loaves of bread. I used the gluten-free cycle twice and I programmed my own setting once.
The first thing I did was to run the machine empty on the suggested "rapid white" cycle with the lid open (as suggested by other reviewers) to work out the manufacturing oils. It was a little loud but I attribute that to being empty with the lid being open. So far, so good...
For my first loaf, I tried the gluten-free county white bread recipe listed in the user manual. I followed the directions exactly (liquids first, then the dry ingredients, and yeast on top), popped the pan into the machine, set it to the gluten free setting and off it went. The entire time the machine was on it seems to work perfectly. It did not make any excessive noise or "hop around on the counter" as some reviewers reported.
The gluten free setting only allows for a 1 1/2 lb loaf with medium crust. It cannot be altered, though there is an option to create 5 of your own personal settings.
I used other recipes for the other 2 loaves and they came out great as well.
I'm not sure why so many people have had problems with this machine. I can only guess maybe the pan isn't snapping into place properly, causing it to get tossed around during the knead cycles.
This is a great machine at a very reasonable price. Hopefully I will be able to say the same after I've made many more loaves of bread.
UPDATE 3/8/09
I'm making about a loaf a week and haven't had any problems whatsoever with my Breadman. The pan stays put, the machine does not jump around on the counter and makes a great loaf of bread.
Customer Review: Glad I picked this one....
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't decide between the "Zo", the Cuisinart, and this one. I quickly decided against the Cuisinart.
I loved the black/stainless combination that is not available with the "Zo". This is ultimately how I decided.
I bought this machine about 2 weeks ago and have made bread almost every day. The white, wheat, french, quick white, quick french, and amish bread I have made have all been excellent along with the pizza dough. It is great that you have the option to extended rise and rest cycles as needed. The programmable cycles are also a great feature, but one I have not needed to use yet.
When making a 2 pound loaf, the top of the loaf has a half dollar sized area that doesn't brown because it sticks to the top of the machine. It is cooked, just not browned. This doesn't bother us so we continue to make the 2lb size. When I did make a 1 1/2 pound loaf we did not have that problem.
The recipes included are great (although the "cookbook" is just made of regular paper and would have been a great improvement if the pages were laminated.)
After reading some of the reviews, I ran the machine empty the first time with the pan removed and lid open. Also, I have always used a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the pan to avoid flour on the loaf. I have set my kitchen timer on several occasions to remove the mixing blade so it doesn't dent the loaf. Either way, the loaf easily slides out of the pan. (even with these additional steps it is MUCH easier than making bread by hand!)
Lastly, I bought the $9.99 extended warranty. I figured it was a small price to pay for piece of mind...if anything breaks, I will retun the machine postage paid and get a check to buy a new one. I hope that doesn't happen because I LOVE THIS MACHINE!
Customer Review: Good bread, some features questionable
Summary: 3 Stars
I've had this machine over a year, replacing a Regal breadmachine that I've had for 10 years that still worked and gave to my daughter who still uses it. Regal no longer makes this and I would have bought another if they did. Breadman makes a wonderful loaf but has some problems. For one the dispenser isn't reliable, raisins swell and if you're going to use this feature do not use as much as your recipe asks. The dispenser will not open if it is too full. There was some problem in removing the pan from the machine, after adjusting the sides (bending the metal tabs) where it's held in there was no problem. It's noisy and vibrates as it's "kneading" the dough.
What my main concern is, is the paddle. It stays in the bread about 95% of the time, which leads to the question, why is this coated with Teflon? It doesn't work with this. If anyone else has noticed, the Teflon blisters and flakes off into the bread. I don't like the idea of eating Teflon. This problem occurred with my Regal's paddle too and I'm supposing that it may be true with all that use a Teflon coated paddle. So,why is it coated? Why risk the possible negative effects of using this product on the consumer? The pan is a different story, the coating does not flake off. One can scratch it if not careful, but at least it doesn't come off into the bread as it's baking. Using Teflon on the paddle really must be addressed to the makers of bread machines. It doesn't work and the Teflon comes off into the bread, not a good thing. So other than eating Teflon,the paddle hardly ever stays in the pan when removing the bread and one has to tear up the bottom center of the baked loaf removing it, and other than the questionable action of the dispenser, it bakes the bread great.
Customer Review: A bit more than your average bread maker
Summary: 5 Stars
The machine is well built. As for the pan jumping out? If you really pay attention to locking it in (I found it fit one way better than the reverse) you don't have that issue. My initial concerns were that the paddle didn't fit snug to the bottom. After one cycle, and two washes, I learned that the hole hadn't been punched out completely. Problem solved! The oven light is more about shining on the counter. It seems to shine out the vents on the side of the machine where the controls are and not in the oven well. It comes on when the bread has finished baking and the "Keep Warm" cycle kicks in. I am very thrilled with all the options for crust control, loaf size, add ins and you can customize your own settings too! The pan is light, but for that matter it cools quickly too and won't burn the counter top or cutting boards!! But if you choose to leave it in the maker, the Keep Warm cycle will slowly cool the machine and after 4 hours, the bread was still warm! I made the mistake of adding ingredients for a 1 lb loaf and started the cycle for a 2 lb loaf. Only difference for the cycles was 5 minutes! Very user-friendly! I've tried the dough setting, loaf settings and add-ins setting. It mixes the add-in fruit VERY WELL. In older machines you had to help things along a bit. If you are a perfectionist, the loaf may end up baking a bit lopsided, as the horizontal pan often leaves the ball of dough leaning more towards one side than the other. I have really enjoyed the quick bread feature. Cuts down the time and you still have a great product! This is an upgrade for me. I used to have a 1-1.5 lb machine but found that it didn't make enough. I am very satisfied with this product, have owned and used it daily for over 2 months!Customer Review: "Thanks Honey, but I'll wash the pan."
Summary: 4 Stars
Just got this thing and I am in love already. Works great right out of the box. Making my third loaf of bread with it ( :D Cinnamon Almond Bread! :D ) as I type this. Wonderful machine.
But be warned, and I didn't catch this little nugget of information until it was already on the FedEx truck...
The pans for this machine APPEAR to be irreplaceable. APPEAR to be. I have not found anything on the net, so far (12/13/09), other than frustrated people hunting for a pan they cannot find.
"Do not immerse in water."
The above phrase is used in the manual in regards to the pan. That sounds pretty ominous, does it not? So I do find myself slightly apprehensive at this point.Perhaps Breadman will read one of the many emails i intend to send them and provide something as obvious as a replacement part for what appears to be an accident waiting to happen.
Enough about that.
My first loaf of bread turned out...well...lets just say that it is now sitting on the forest floor not far from my house where woodland creatures can enjoy it. That is because I put one too many cups of flour in the mix. Hilarity ensued.
My second loaf ( with correct measurements ) turned out BEAUTIFUL! 1.5 pounds of wonderful, fresh, warm, sensual euphoria. <3
My third is in right now. And it smells sooooooo good.
The machine is a little noisy. The "extras" dispenser almost gave us heart attacks. But it works really well. Does exactly what it's supposed to do. Looks pretty sharp on the counter, as well. Cleans up easy (mind the pan). Really a nice machine for a really nice price.