Cookswork Breadmaker - if I can do it anyone can. (Cookworks Breadmaker)

Member Name: poppyash

Product:	Cookworks Breadmaker
Date:	03/08/09 (214 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to follow instructions and great tasting bread.

Disadvantages: A little bulky.

I have always envied people who can make bread successfully. I don't know how they find the time nor the patience to knead the dough wait for it to rise an then bake it. All my attempts have ended up in the bin. However, I recently asked a friend how she manages to make her own bread, run a farm and do a part time job. It was then she told me that she uses a bread maker and was quite surprised that I hadn't already realised. Her bread is always delicious being fresh, soft and tasty so I thought I would give it ago.

I decided to look at Argos on line to see how much they were and the different types available. It was then that I noticed this Cookworks Bread Maker on offer at £31.89 (catalogue number 422/9399). Compared to some of the other makes it was very reasonably priced and very stylish being black and stainless steel. So I ordered it on line and reserved it at the Argos in Flint.

Packaging

When I went to pick it up it was given to me in a large brown cardboard box measuring 40cmx38cm x28cm. I hadn't realised how big it was. On opening the cardboard box there was another box snugly fitted inside. This box was mainly black with a picture of the bread maker on all 4 sides. On opening this box I was met with a layer of polystyrene which held the bread maker firmly in position and two leaflets, one an instruction manual and the other a recipe booklet. The actual bread maker has a stainless steel body with a black top and handle with a stainless steel function display and was wrapped in polythene bag as was the lead and plug. On removing the bread maker there was another layer of polystyrene at the bottom. However, I nearly threw a stainless steel hook away as it was attached to a piece of cardboard with cellotape at the very bottom of the box.

Overall impression - the goods were very securely wrapped to avoid any damage in transit.

Before use

I always think it is best to read the instructions before I use something just to make sure. The first thing I did was to open the lid, unfortunately due to the height and bulkiness of the bread maker ( height 32cm, width 24 cm and length from back to front 34cm) I had to move the equipment to a work top that didn't have cupboards above it so that the lid did not catch the base of the wall cupboards. Inside the bread maker I found a measuring cup, a kneading bar and a utensil called a measuring spoon for measuring the ingredients in teaspoons and tablespoons. I then read how to remove the bread pan. The bread pan has a handle attached to remove the bread pan you just turn the handle anticlockwise to release the pan and clockwise to lock the pan in place I then followed the instructions on cleaning the bread pan and the kneading bar and about preparing the non stick coating by greasing it and baking for 10 minutes without any ingredients. I then let it cool before cleaning it again. I then fixed the kneading bar onto the axle inside the baking chamber.

The instructions given were easy to follow and the preparation was very easy to do.

First use.

I decided to make a traditional white loaf first and followed the ingredients and recipe for doing so in the literature provided.
The instruction manual recommends that the ingredient should be a room temperature and that they should be added in the order mentioned in the recipe. So following the instructions I measured each ingredient. This was easy to do for the water, salt, dry milk, sugar, bread flour and yeast but to measure 1.5 tablespoonfuls of butter was a little awkward as butter obviously sticks to the sides of the measuring spoon and doesn't just pour into the container. So with all the ingredients in the bread pan it was now time to close the lid and switch the power on and select the baking programme.
This was so easy to do as it is all digital. To make the traditional white loaf I needed to choose programme 1 which automatically comes on display when the machine is switched on along with 3.00 the time taken to cook the bread. You then have to pick the size either a 1.5 or a 2.0lb loaf and the crust colour light, medium or dark by pressing the appropriate sections which are clearly labelled. All done I pressed start .
The machine makes a sort or faint whirling noise as it kneads the dough I kept watching the process as the bread was being made by looking through the glass top. I could see that the bread was gradually getting bigger and bigger and eventually I could see the bread browning. I couldn't unfortunately smell that lovely fresh bread smell while the bread was in the machine. Eventually the beeps signalled the bread was ready. Wow! On opening the lid I got that gorgeous freshly baked smell associated with bread. Obviously the bread pan is very hot so wearing oven gloves I removed the tin and turned it over to shake the bread out. It was then that I noticed a small indent where the kneading bar had left its mark. It was then that I realised that the hook that I nearly threw away was to help to remove the kneading bar if it was still in the bread.
Once cooled I sliced the bread.

I had done it!!!

I had made an edible loaf for the very first time. The bread had a lovely texture with a crisp crust and it tasted as though I had just bought it fresh from a bakers. It made great tasty sandwiches and gorgeous toast where the butter just seeped into the bread.

I can't stop now. I am trying all sorts of recipes:- Italian, Carrot French, Irish Soda etc; I am so pleased that I have taken the plunge and started to make my own bread. I think it is so much more tastier, I know exactly what has gone into it and the family isn't eating loads of preservatives and above all there is no waste.

Other features with this bread maker are:-

A 12 digital programs menu
A 13 hour programmable delay timer
A 60 minutes keep warm function
An adjustable crusty control -either light, medium or dark
It has a dishwasher safe non - stick bread pan and kneading blade
A choice of loaf sizes 750g or 900g (1.5 lb - 2 lb)
A removable bread pan for easy cleaning
There are none slip feet to avoid movement
And a measuring cup and spoon are included

Now this equipment might not be the dearest on the market but it works.

If I can make bread anyone can and I would certainly recommend it for anyone like me who wants to have a go and succeed in making great bread.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Great home cooked bread at an affordable price.

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