Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Breadmaker (BB-PAC20) $200 + Free Shipping (expired)

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http://slickdeals.net/f/5698340

I have one and really, not worth the price.

Quote from sunspotzsz : I have one and really, not worth the price.

Can you please elaborate?

Quote from bhoot : Can you please elaborate?

Sometimes it's just funny to read what kinds of things they post. Try clicking his username and reading his other posts.

I just bought one myself from Amazon last week on Friday, and I received the unit on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, I made my first loaf of bread which was plain White Bread. It was absolutely amazing (Perfect everyway possible). I even skipped the dried milk, and it was awesome. Yesterday, I attempted to make Chocolate Bread, and it was terrible (I threw it away). I am making another loaf of white bread today for my parents as I write this email. Each white loaf of bread takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes in the maker and makes my house smell really good. It is very easy to use and clean up is super simple. It is one of my best purchases yet.

Thanks!

I cry a little every time I see this at awesome price. They don't sell them in Russia and shipping 26 pounds will rape my bank account. And 110 Volt isn't helping either...
Gonna stick with tablets deals and put Zojirushi as wallpaper on my Nexus.

I posted this in the other thread, but figured I'd post here as well since it's a new thread, and might help someone looking for a cheaper alternative...

Does anyone know what makes this one better than my current West Bend 41300, which I can definitely recommend to someone looking for a much cheaper alternative (currently just $49 on Amazon [amazon.com]), I should note that it was $89.97 when we got it 2 years ago, so this sounds like quite a deal. It seems to have most of the features of the Zojirushi like settings, dual blade etc, except for the additional heater lid, with some of the same downsides like non-stick coating. We've used the WestBend now for almost two years and it's still going great.

We're not looking for an upgrade, but am a bit curious to what more you're getting for the higher pricetag...

Quote from packerman8 : I just bought one myself from Amazon last week on Friday, and I received the unit on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, I made my first loaf of bread which was plain White Bread. It was absolutely amazing (Perfect everyway possible). I even skipped the dried milk, and it was awesome. Yesterday, I attempted to make Chocolate Bread, and it was terrible (I threw it away). I am making another loaf of white bread today for my parents as I write this email. Each white loaf of bread takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes in the maker and makes my house smell really good. It is very easy to use and clean up is super simple. It is one of my best purchases yet. Thanks!

that's funny because I just bought one myself from Amazon last week on Friday, and I received the unit on Saturday. On Saturday afternoon, I made my first loaf of bread which was plain White Bread. It was absolutely amazing (Perfect everyway possible). I even skipped the dried milk, and it was awesome. Yesterday, I attempted to make Chocolate Bread, and it was terrible (I threw it away). I am making another loaf of white bread today for my parents as I write this email. Each white loaf of bread takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes in the maker and makes my house smell really good. It is very easy to use and clean up is super simple. It is one of my best purchases yet.

Quote from Crabba : I posted this in the other thread, but figured I'd post here as well since it's a new thread, and might help someone looking for a cheaper alternative... Does anyone know what makes this one better than my current West Bend 41300, which I can definitely recommend to someone looking for a much cheaper alternative (currently just $49 on Amazon [amazon.com]), I should note that it was $89.97 when we got it 2 years ago, so this sounds like quite a deal. It seems to have most of the features of the Zojirushi like settings, dual blade etc, except for the additional heater lid, with some of the same downsides like non-stick coating. We've used the WestBend now for almost two years and it's still going great. We're not looking for an upgrade, but am a bit curious to what more you're getting for the higher pricetag...

wondering same thing

I bought a bread machine at Goodwill for $15 and it works great. I would search there first because people get these as presents and never use them and just donate them to Goodwill.

I'm still using my $35 Breadmaker (that's the brand) Machine that I bought back in 2005 (on clearance 50% off at Target). It can make cakes, jelly, all types of breads, and has a beeper for when to add nuts and fruits (raisins).

Most Bread making machines are essentially the same. Some however have some differences - such as -

1. a holder for your additives (so you don't have to manually add them).
2. make the loaf standing up or lengthwise.
3. time delay
4. a holder for your yeast (for time delay)
5. a holder for liquid ingredients (for time delay)
6. can make two smaller loaves at once.
7. Color or Stainless steel outside.
8. non-stick surface types.
9. types of paddles
10. number of pre-programmed bread types - French, whole-wheat, white, etc.
11. number of pre-programmed "other" baking types. Jellies, Jams, Cakes.
12. number of pre-programmed crust types - dark, light, medium.

Almost all, except for the very cheapest have the basic functions regarding bread types, crust types, and other baking types. (at least all the one's I researched a few years back).

Where differences come into play are mostly with the holders for adding things automatically. They can drive up the price by quite a bit. So if you're the type who always misses the Beep-beep-beep to add Raisins to the dough, when you're making Raisin Bread, perhaps it might be better to buy with that automatic fruit cup - but is it worth an extra $50? You tell me.

The same for the Automatic cups for yeast and liquids when you're doing a Time Delay. Is it worth all that extra money? I know my Breadmaker machine tells me that when using time delay, I should just make a depression in the flour, put all the liquid ingredients into that depression, with the yeast - and set the time delay for up to 8 hours. And in all the years I've been using Bread Machines, I've never had any problems using Time Delay with that method.

So paying a higher price for a Bread Making Machine basically comes down to this -

Design and esthetics.

If you don't want a clunky all White Machine on your counter top that costs $35 to $99, you can always get a designer Gourmet Bread Maker Unit, for your Gourmet kitchen for only $279.00. Of course the insides are the same as the clunky white machine the rest of us have...

Remember - Baking Bread smells the same whether it's being baked in a $300 Gourmet Bread Maker Unit ,or a $35 Bread Making Machine.

Korian

Quote from CrashFystFight : I bought a bread machine at Goodwill for $15 and it works great. I would search there first because people get these as presents and never use them and just donate them to Goodwill.

I have seen new breadmakers for $15

I've used my Zojirushi a couple of times a week for years. It works great. Get a scale and weigh the ingredients.Flour weighs 120 grams per cup. Water weighs 1 gram per ml. ! tsp more or less of water makes a lot of difference and it's hard to measure water accurately with measuring cups etc. Don't use active dry yeast. Use instant or rapid rise yeast.