Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've had a Breadman machine for many years and have made hundreds of loaves in it. It still works well, but a while back it walked itself off the counter during the kneading stage, resulting in dents to the machine and the floor. Miraculously, the machine still seems to operate fine, but I'm worried it may be reaching the end of its long life. I'm not willing to give up convenient fresh bread, so I decided to give this Amazon Basics model a try. So far I've used it only a few times, but I have some early observations. It comes with everything you need, including cheap plastic measuring cup/spoon that will probably not last long. But that's fine. Although the machine has the same capacity as my old one-- 2lbs--it's lighter and takes up less counter space. It has more than enough settings to satisfy me; I've never used more than a few on my old machine. Instructions were clear and it was easy to figure out. The display is also easy to read. Unlike my old machine, this one has a removable paddle which tends to stick in the baked bread. The machine comes with a little tool to pull it out, which is fine, but I'm afraid of losing the tool. And pulling the paddle out is an extra step. I guess it makes the whole thing easier to clean, but I'm not a huge fan. The instructions were clear, and a few basic recipes were included. I tried a couple; they turned out well. I used bread flour (the recipes just say "flour"). The machine has rubber feet. I hope that keeps it from cliff diving like my old one. It also has a longer cord, which is nice. Two drawbacks. First, the motor is very noisy during kneading. Much louder than my old machine. And second, the machine seems to heat a little unevenly, so some parts of the crust end up a little more browned than others. We'll see whether this machine proves as hardy as my beloved Breadman. For now, though, it looks like a good option for easily making homemade bread.