Cookworks 11597

...on my list was the Cookworks breadmaker from Argos.

I have been waiting until I had used this a few times before I write a review on it, to give it a fair trial.

COST
+++++

This model was £24.99 from Argos. There were a lot dearer models and brands, but being a wedding present, I wanted something that was reasonably priced.

STYLE/DESIGN
++++++++++++

The machine ...
...The top of the machine has a clear plastic window so that you can check the bread without opening the top of the machine.

The control settings for the various cook cycles and programmes are all on the top of the machine also. The machine is very heavy.

FIRST USE
++++++++++

I plugged the machine on and it didnt work. Typical I thought, nothing works these days! My husband then located a separate ... more

One advantage of getting married is receiving lots of nice presents. Another household item on my list was the Cookworks breadmaker from Argos.

I have been waiting until I had used this a few times before I write a review on it, to give it a fair trial.

COST
+++++

This model was £24.99 from Argos. There were a lot dearer models and brands, but being a wedding present, I wanted something that was reasonably priced.

STYLE/DESIGN
++++++++++++

The machine is white (as can be seen in the above picture). The top of the machine has a clear plastic window so that you can check the bread without opening the top of the machine.

The control settings for the various cook cycles and programmes are all on the top of the machine also. The machine is very heavy.

FIRST USE
++++++++++

I plugged the machine on and it didnt work. Typical I thought, nothing works these days! My husband then located a separate on/off switch at the back of the machine! So I put this down to a blonde moment.

I then read the instruction/recipe book and loaded all of the ingredients into the bread bowl. I then read the bit about inserting the kneading blade before inserting the ingredients!!! Another blonde moment. This meant that I had to stick my hand into the ingredients in order to fit the blade. It also meant that the ingredients all got mixed up, which isnt supposed to happen.

I selected a white loaf, light crust programme which is about 3 and a half hours long and inserted the bread bowl into the machine.

The machine then comes to life and starts to mix and knead the dough. This is what takes the time.

After about 2 hours there was a lot of smoke coming from the machine. I stood there ready with a wet tea towel while my husband investigated. We put it down to it being a new machine, which sometimes give off smoke on first use. After the loaf had finished cooking, I checked it and there was some dough underneat the basket that had fallen out when being mixed and it was burning outside the bowl.

My first loaf was very heavy, with a hard crust and quite doughy to taste. I thought that this was because it was my first attempt.........

SUBSEQUENT USES
++++++++++++++++++

I now insert the mixing blade before adding the ingredients!! I have made several loaves, always using proper bread flour and sachets of yeast as directed. However, so far I am yet to turn out a perfect loaf. I have tried white and wholemeal, yet the loaves are always quite heavy and doughy, with a hard crust.

I am not sure if I am doing something wrong with the ingredients, or if the machine is not up to the job!!

MACHINE PROGRAMMES
++++++++++++++++++++

There are 8 bread programmes, including one which bakes a 2lb loaf in 1 hour.

The crust contol has light, medium and dark settings

The machine has a beep in which you can add fruit etc if you are making a fruit loaf.

It has a 13 hour timer with a keep warm cycle so that you could wake up to fresh bread each morning.

The machine is very safe and easy to use. It does get very hot while cooking though, so dont touch the inside of it

INSTRUCTION BOOK
+++++++++++++++++

The instruction book is very helpful. It tells you how to get started. It also gives you the recipes for the various loaves of bread and gives advice on how to get the best results out of the machine.

SUMMARY AND MY OPINION
+++++++++++++++++++++++

I think that making your own bread is great. You can always have fresh bread and you also know the exact ingredients that have gone into your loaves.

Howver, so far I have not got on very well with this machine. As stated above, I am not sure if it is me or the machine!. I don't know whether you get better results with a dearer machine.

I have friends who have bread makers who dont seem to have had the problems that I get.

I am hesitant to recommend this machine, however if it is me, not the machine, then it is a cheap nice looking machine!

Also, if you do use it, keep it on the worktop and do not put it on a glass worktop saver! The breadmaker nearly crawled its way off the worktop saver onto the floor when it was kneading the bread!

(I would appreciate any advice from any seasoned bread machine users out there, either by comment, or via my questbook, thanks).

 

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