Impressive Machine, Equally Impressed With My Bread Baking
I don’t want to sound cliché but if I had known how easy it is to bake bread in a bread machine, I would have bought one sooner.
One reason I didn’t fall prey to buying a bread machine when the demand grew decades ago, was the sticker shock of the price tag. But now I’m older and wiser and much more price conscious of store-bought foods. Storebought bread like many other foods these days are quite expensive. So anytime you can conveniently make it yourself at home could save you big bucks in the long run.
I selected the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker, Model CBK-110NAS. I could have purchased the item for $169.95 online directly from the Cuisinart website. But I purchased my bread maker at Kohl’s for $179.99 and then applied my 30% off coupon, $10.00 in Kohl’s Cash, and a $25.00 gift card. My discounted price alone made it cost justified. Imagine, one loaf of bread that I buy weekly in the grocery store costs $5.99 (for a very small loaf). That’s $311.48 a year for a store bought loaf of bread.
Compared to other bulky models, I selected this model because it was compact. I also like the sleek, stainless-steel design as it has a fancy-ish look for a bread maker.
Impressive Features of the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker
I was a little apprehensive whether I’d be tech savvy enough to operate the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker. But the minute I took it out of the box, I was feeling a bit more confident. The buttons on the bread machine seemed self-explanatory and the options for types of bread to make were amazing. There were also buttons for “cake” … “bake” … and “jam.” The mere thought that I could make fresh, homemade bread and jam in the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker made my purchase a win-win situation.
Displayed on this versatile appliance, you have button options to select the size of the loaf and the shade of the crust that you’re looking to achieve on your home baked bread.
Other notable features:
:: Counter-friendly and compact design.
:: Vertical bread pan bakes up to 2-lb. loaves.
:: Nonstick baking pan is removable for easy cleanup.
I Was Amazed at the Easy-to-Select Options
There are so many delicious bread types to choose from among the 12 pre-programmed menu options. There’s even an option if you decide to use a box bread mix instead.
First decide the size of the loaf you want to make:
:: 1 lb. loaf
:: 1.5 lb. loaf
:: 2 lbs. loaf
Then select from 3 crust shades:
:: Light
:: Medium
:: Dark
Then select from these 12 options:
<1> White
<2> French
<3> Whole Wheat
<4> Ultra-Fast
<5> Sweet
<6> Gluten Free
<7> Artisan Dough
<8> Dough
<9> Jam
<10> Packaged Mix
<11> Cake
<12> Bake
If you’re wondering, the “Jam” function automatically heats up and stirs ingredients for delicious homemade jams. The “Ultra-Fast” function bakes a quick loaf of bread in under two hours using rapid rise yeast as an ingredient.
Simple Bread Making Steps to Follow
Before you begin using your Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker, find a bread recipe that meets your needs. Then, connect the power cord to a standard electrical outlet. Now, you’re ready to start baking.
<1> Remove the bread pan from the bread machine.
<2> Gather your ingredients and place them into the bread pan in the EXACT order they are listed in the recipe that you’re following. Always put the liquids in first, then the dry ingredients, and the yeast last. NOTE: Yeast should never touch the wet ingredients.
<3> Attach the kneading paddle.
<4> Insert the bread pan back into the baking chamber, lock it in, and close the lid.
<5> Select your program by pressing the PROG button until the number of the the desired program is displayed. Each program is numbered right on the control panel.
<6> Select your crust color (light, medium, or dark) by pressing the COLOR button.
<7> Select your loaf size (1-lb., 1½-lb., or 2-lb.) by pressing the SIZE/button.
<8> If you’re ready to bake immediately, press the START/STOP button. If not, you can use the 13-hour delay-start timer.
The non-stick paddle mixes and kneads the dough and the machine will make a “beep” sound when it’s time to remove the paddle. When the baking cycle is complete, you’ll hear 10 beeps. There’s also a “60-minute keep warm” cycle after the bread is done baking. While baking, you can look through the viewing window on the machine’s lid as there is an interior light that helps you monitor the bread baking process.
One slight con is that the exterior of the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker gets hot to the touch when in use. That’s not a dealbreaker, just a heads up to “keep hands off” the hot areas.
Another heads up is that the appliance weighs 11 pounds. That may seem heavy for some people that consider storing it away into a cabinet when not in use. We leave it out on the counter where the old toaster (that we’re no longer using) used to be.
Delay Start Timer Feature
Imagine setting the timer so the Cuisinart® Compact Automatic Bread Maker bakes in the early morning so you wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread. This appliance allows you to program it up to 13 hours in advance to select the exact time you want your bread to be finished baking.
With Creativity, Bread Recipes are Endless
From basic white bread and whole wheat bread to French bread loaf, rye bread, and brioche loaf, the sky’s the limit with the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker. You can even bake gluten-free bread, so it’s ideal for people who have gluten allergies. In addition to ensuring there is no cross contamination with allergens, baking bread at home allows you to select your own healthy ingredients. So, you know you’re eating whole grains that meet your healthy eating plan.
It’s important that you realize early on that baking bread is like a science experiment so follow instructions carefully as improvising is not advised. What you can improvise is the add-ins to your bread creations. One of my favorite features of this appliance is the ability to add dried fruits and nuts into my bread doughs. We love cinnamon raisin bread, seeded breads, and nut breads. The Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker alerts you with a beeping sound that it’s time to place in the add-ins during the bread baking process.
I love the fact that I can make jams and even sauces, as well. There is a great Cuisinart recipe for Blueberry Lime Jam. I always follow the recipes found in the included Cuisinart recipe booklet. It’s always best to follow the easy, step-by-step instructions from Cuisinart. Additional favorite recipes are for Jalapeno Cheddar Bread, Chocolate Cherry Loaf, Herb Focaccia, and Panettone Loaf, great to serve at dinner parties and for holidays.
Product Specifications of the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker
:: Model: CBK-110NAS
:: Dimensions: 10.25″ L x 13.25″ W x 11.25″ H
:: Unit weight: 11 lbs.
:: Color: Stainless steel/black
:: 3-Year Limited Warranty
:: Free shipping
:: 30-day returns
Goodbye Store-Bought Bread
Once you get a taste of warm, fresh bread made in your own kitchen, it will be hard to buy store bought bread ever again. By keeping a few bread-making essential ingredients in the house, you can whip up amazing bread varieties with very little effort. If you’re pressed on time, you can follow the Cuisinart recipes using the “ultra-fast” feature and rapid-rise yeast. Or plan ahead and set the convenient timer to yield freshly baked bread for breakfast.
I am very impressed with the versatility of the Cuisinart Compact Automatic Bread Maker. It’s been a fun addition to our kitchen appliances. Having a bread maker also provides a sense of relief with any forecasted inclement weather so you don’t have to run to the store and grab bread from quickly emptying shelves. You can bake bread at home ahead of the storm, so you’re prepped and ready with multiple bread loaves on hand.
With a little practice and fine-tuning your bread ingredients and add-ins, you’ll be yielding amazing bread creations.
