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Having mourned the demise of my Morphy Richards (M/R) Fast Bake after just over 2 years, on recommendation from family/friends i thought i'd give a Panasonic a try. I've now had my Panasonic for just over a month and have used it 4-5 times a week on average. Once mastering the control panel (only takes a couple of goes!), i'm pleased to tell you that it really is easy to use. But more importantly, the quality of bread has been FAR superior to the M/R. Of course, maybe i never quite got the ingredients right, and room/water temperature do have an impact, but so far the Panasonic hasn't failed to impress and the least successful loaf so far was STILL better than any i ever got from the M/R. The Recipe booklet is clear and concise, with ingredients in recognisable weights (pounds/ounces or metric) rather than the M/R american 'cup' system which i disliked. The Rapid bake 50/50 wholemeal i've found to be particularly successful with the Large size (strangely they just label sizes as being Medium, large or extra large - don't get that!!) producing what i think is the best shaped loaf, on a par with 'Medium' size with other machines. I use Doves Organic stong white and wholemeal flour, Hovis dried yeast and standard Paxo salt, caster sugar and 2 tbsp Grapeseed oil (in lieu of butter). As other reviewers on other sites have commented, the loaf shapes are a bit unusual and certainly the Extra large slices don't fit in a standard toaster - so, you'll just need to cut the slices in half!! The machine is extremely quiet, and is a slightly smaller bulk on the kitchen work top, plus the lid opens just marginally lower than on the MR so it JUST opens up under the wall cupboards - saves hauling it out to the edge of the worktop to insert/remove the bread pan. The matter of the paddle 'hole' is of little consequence. In fact, compared with the M/R, the hole in the bottom of the loaf has less impact in my opinion and just leaves a slim gap (hole) in the bottom of the loaf. And anyway, I found the paddle rarely dropped down on the M/R as it was supposed to, resulting in an even bigger hole as you dug out the paddle! One thing that did surprise me with the Panasonic recipes (ordinary bread) is that you don't need any milk. M/R recipes required dried milk powder so i initially wondered if Panasonic had forgetten the milk on their recipes. I can assure you they hadn't, and their non-milk recipes have come out great, but you can if you wish add milk in order to provide a "higher nutritional content" ! **** UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2008 **** Several months on and i'm STILL impressed. Pizza dough a big success (though my thinning, rolling, shaping skills still leave much to be desired but who cares if the pizza is an oblongy thin-thick-medium crust hybrid?!) The quick 1hr 55mins small (medium) white loaf is delicious (remember to use WARM water to minimise 'resting' time), and the 3 hour wholemeal mix small loaf is great too. Have experimented with the continential-style breads and they've all, without exception, turned out great. I'm still to try out any of the sweet stuff, maybe reluctant 'cos i find my 'handmade' efforts are just fine and not that much effort involved. I'd still say the end of programme 'beep' could do with being louder, but the wonderful smells drifting through the house in the last 10 mins keep you alert! I just hope there's as good a machine available in xx years when this one eventually dies of old age!Read full review
I love this machine. It is so easy to use, easy to clean, not messy and not noisy. It makes the best bread. I have made spelt bread, white loaf and ciabatta so far. I have played with the recipes by partially substituting flours and everything has turned out amazing. Yum. The bread takes so much better than shop bought. Because it's so easy to use, it is no hassle, so I am making all my own bread now. Goodbye supermarket bakeries!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
In my opinion this is the best bread machine ever invented. My 'old' one has lasted for several years and still continues to provide high quality, well baked loaves. The reason for buying another is quite simple, I wanted to 'future proof' my bread making. I've never used the machine for cakes, there are better ways of doing that, but I do use it for quick loaves, speciality breads and a whole spectrum of doughs. In the several years I've been doing this, the only failures have been due to the limitations of my recipe making skills and not to any deficiency in the machine. My biggest sorrow is that Panasonic have 'upgraded' their offerings in the breadmaker market and, as far as I'm concerned, have never again reached the quality of this machine.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Fantastic breadmaker, can bake rapid loaves, fantastic gluten free bread or even just make dough for pizzas or sweet breads. Has a special dispenser which you can put fruit or seeds in to add it to bread or make fruit bread. Everything is lovely and fresh and not dry at all, bread freezes well. Machine fantastic and easy to use, love the fact that you can turn it on, leave it for a few hours then come home to freshly made bread - also a timer which is brilliant.
I had researched bread making machines before I purchased this one. I had had one in the past but a different make and was very disappointed with the results. I love to make my own bread but lack of time prevents this happening. This machine is brilliant we have tried lots of different recipes and all are fantastic, I will never buy bread again. If Ihave one fault to mentuion it is that the amount of seeds recommended in the recipes is not enough for us so I just increase the amount I put in the results are still excellent I cannot praise it highly enough. My husband was very sceptical after the results from out last breadmaker but he loves the bread from this one and has actually admitted it!!
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