Written by: Stacy McCullough Everyone should be able to bake their own bread, but we don’t always have the time. With mixing, kneading, rising and baking, who has the energy to make their own loaf? Thanks to the Cuisinart Programmable Breadmaker CBK-100, we can all be five star bakers!
The Cuisinart Breadmaker creates three loaf sizes: one, one and a half and two pounds – perfect for yourself or a family dinner. I like watching my bread in each stage through the viewing window. The crust gets darker in the baking stage dependent on whether you choose a light, medium or dark crust finish. The CBK-100 comes with twelve baking options – twelve! Besides the normal white loaf, there is French, pasta dough, pizza dough and my personal favorite, gluten-free, among others. The machine mixes, kneads, rise and bakes a loaf of bread for you in two to three hours. And then my house always smells amazing for the next day with the aroma of fresh bread. For $100, the Cuisinart Programmable Breadmaker CBK-100 is a steal.
Once my bread is cooked, the machine keeps it warm for thirty extra minutes. The stay-cool handles and removable pan make it easy to pull the loaf out and place onto a cooling rack. Cleaning is also a breeze with the non-stick baking pan and paddle. In fact, sometimes I remove the paddle before the bread bakes so that no holes form in the loaf. One of the best things is the thirteen-hour delay. I can put all the ingredients in the machine, choose my bread type and hit the delay button. Then when I wake up the next morning, I have a warm loaf of freshly baked bread waiting for me. And since it comes with a measuring spoon, cup and recipes all you need are the ingredients.
Pros:
- Stainless Steel
- Time to add in nuts, berries or extras
- Can leave it cooking
- Easy to make yummy bread!
Cons:
- Beeping that you can’t turn off
- Slightly bulky and hard to store
- Handle for removing bread gets very hot
- Kneading is a little noisy
The CBK-100 breadmaker may not be for everyone. Some people may not need the gluten-free option or may want amenities that come only when you spend more money. Comparable products are the Sunbeam 5891, Westbend 41300 and Panasonic SD-YD250. But if you want an affordable product that makes tasty bread while looking good, the Cuisinart Programmable Breadmaker is your machine.