Wake up to Fresh Bread (Panasonic SD 252)

Member Name: samjc1

Product:	Panasonic SD 252
Date:	01/06/06 (1074 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lovely consistent results

Disadvantages: Longer baking time than my previous breadmaker

When my much loved and well used Morphy Richards breadmaker finally gave up the ghost (the spindle fell out and poured bread mixture over the kitchen worktop!) I looked around for a replacement. This machine was available at a brilliant price from Amazon (£60 approx, with free delivery). Having talked to a few breadmaking experts, I knew that Panasonic machines have a great rep, so this was the one!

We have not been disappointed. This machine produces lovely consistent bread, possibly because it's baking cycle is longer than my old machine (4 hours for a normal loaf, 5 for wholemeal) and I have had no craters or lop sided loaves (yet).
It does have a rapid bake option which I haven't used yet. I mainly use it on timer to be ready for breakfast. The timer function is easy to use (unless you have had a few!), you simply set up the machine as normal, then use the time button to add time until you want it to finish. (So last night I put it on at 11, on a wholemeal program (5 hours). I then pressed the timer button, which keeps adding 10 minutes until the readout said 9 hours. Then I pressed start (VERY IMPORTANT) )


The dough option only takes 45 minutes, and makes pizza dough of a very good quality. It also makes rolls.

The dry ingredients (yeast, flour etc) go in first which seemed upsidedown to me at first, as both my previous machines had put the liquid in first, with the dry on top. Once you get used to it, it is fine, although you do have to think a bit before using recipes from books, as the ones I have all start with the liquid.

The recipe book that comes with it is fairly comprehensive, but for some reason doesn't give flour etc. quantites as cups, despite providing a cup measure with the machine.

The bread pan is easy to clean and the paddle design is excellent (I have only had one instance of the paddle sticking in the bread in about 15 loaves - it happened all the time with my old machine.)

All in all, this is an excellent product which I thoroughly recommend.

Summary: An excellent machine, well worth the few extra quid!

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