Panasonic SD253 > Reviews > Wake up and smell the bread

Author's product rating:   

Performance	Excellent
Ease of use	Very easy
Durability	Long
User's Manual	Excellent
Value for money	Excellent

Advantages:	gorgeous bread every time, easy to use and clean
Disadvantages:	have to plan in advance for when you want the bread

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

After experiencing toast made with bread from this breadmaker, I was compelled into buying one myself.....sounds extravagant, however bread made with this machine is always of an excellent quality......and when toasted does not bend or flop when buttered.
I have used this machine for over a year continuously so can happily say it has not turned into a 'white elephant'. Once you get used to this bread, shop-bought packaged bread just is not good enough. I can smell the yeast on shop bought sandwiches and find that offputting now. Making my own bread enables me to know exactly what I am eating.
The machine itself is very easy to operate, and has a foolproof instruction manual, including many recipes for different types of bread: white, wholemeal, french, italian, herb....
You can also make dough and create rolls, foccacia or pizza bases.
There is a handy timer allowing you to set the machine to start baking for the morning so you awake to the fresh smell of bread.....the only limiting factor to this is that you can only set the timer ahead to 13hrs maximum......why 13?
There is a raisin dispenser, allowing you to add currants, mixed fruit and seeds during the bread making process depending on what recipe you are following.
The breadmaker also has a 'bake only' setting enabling you to bake cakes once you have combined the ingrediants. I have tried this a few times and have not been that impressed with the results, so think this machine is best suited for its main purpose....making bread/dough.
The machine is compact, easy to clean and easy to operate. One slight criticism is that the power lead is a little short which will limit where you can use this appliance.
This machine may seem pricey initially, however is value for money as will always produce a quality loaf.
Would recommend that a bread slicer was bought also, unless you can cut in a straight line!