Breadman TR2500BC Ultimate Plus 2-Pound Stainless-Steel Convection Breadmaker

2010-05-19 Reviewer: gary turner from
I've had this machine for just over a year now, and have made maybe 50 batches. Some are are mixed, proofed and baked in the machine. Others are only mixed in the machine, then the rest is done by hand and oven. The Breadman Ultimate Plus performs flawlessly every time.

Even mixing large batches, 3 to 4 pounds, are no problem (Don't try to ferment and bake these oversized doughs.); better even than top line home mixers. These large batches are for sandwich loaves, artisan and rustic loaves and for dinner rolls and small loaves for subs/giros/tortas. I haven't tried an oversized batch of a stiff dough, as for bagels.

The noise level is very acceptable; no impediment to normal conversation even when standing right beside it. I could see a problem if set on a thin counter top that is resonant, but any solid top will dampen the noise/vibration. (To counter the noise, quarter a computer mouse pad, and put a section under each foot.)

I would recommend this product to anyone looking for an easy to use bread machine--put the wet ingredients in the pan, add the dry ingredients, and turn it on. It just works.

2010-05-24 Reviewer: MidMom from Los Gatos, CA
I bought this to replace a predecessor model TR2200C Breadman Ultimate. The pan on that machine began to leak after many years of service and could not be replaced. BOO HISS. That machine still runs perfectly, but I cannot replace the pan.

What a difference ten years and corporate "merger" (?) has made. The TR2500BC is very noisy and very, very cheaply made compared to the TR2200C. The internal clips for the pan are flimsy and the motor sounds awful. The manual has undergone an obscurity "rewrite" which makes it nearly useless. It seems like it was translated, rewritten, then retranslated back and aranged to make it impossible to locate anything. The old machine had a video manual, an operations manual and a seperate recipe book. The manufacturer should put the old video up on the web site just for clarity. If I hadn't already known how to work this machine I could have become quite frustrated.

New features are a few extra options for "low-carb" and "gluten free" bread cycles. Otherwise the keypad is identical and operates in the same way. My old recipes work successfully which is all I really wanted. The convection feature is a nice touch, but adds even more noise. This machine is also very good for dough cycles. The pizza dough cycle is perfect, great with semolina flour for thin crust. I have also used the machine for soft pretzel, bagel and sweet roll doughs. Otherwise I mostly use the white and wheat cycles.

My machine does not have the handle on the side shown in the picture. This machine is large, but the footprint is almost the same as the previous "Breadman Ultimate". The bread pan is wide, and has it's own unique final size. It will never fit most breadkeeper's, I use a big plastic snapware container for the loaves.

I actually paid less for this machine than I paid for the TR2200C a decade ago, so perhaps I should not complain about the low quality construction. Both machines were made in China, but it looks like everything possible was downgraded to lower quality components for the mechanical and electrical parts. And then it was made to look more modern by replacing the white plastic housing with a fashionable stainless steel wrap. Pretty, but I'd rather have the plastic. It cleans up easier that stainless.

This is my 3rd machine as I had one of the original cyclindrical Welbilt's prior to the Breadman Ultimate TR2200C. My household is a heavy user due to some family allergies. I have also seem my SIL's Zorijushi. The Z is a more complex machine and is easily 2X the cost.

This series of machines always offered a good value and bakes a decent loaf of bread. It still does, but I am concerned about how long this new machine it will last. Also, the moise is just so bad. It's the loudest appliance in the house.

The Breadman machine is more successful when you use good quality flour and a litle extra water in your recipe.

2010-06-01 Reviewer: K. Karas from Middletown, CT
This is EASY and makes the best bread. You just add the ingredients and wait for homemade, warm bread.

I especially like making pizza dough.

Karen

2010-06-13 Reviewer: S. O'brien from
I had an cheaper Oster for years, shortly after purchasing this machine it started to sound like it was going to take off. We've made it work due to the cost of replacing it however on Friday the plastic seal around came off. I wouldn't buy this product again.

2010-06-17 Reviewer: Jessica from
I have had this bread machine for a year and a half, I make 3 loaves of bread a week for the past 4 years. So I know what I am doing when it comes to making bread in a bread machine. It makes wonderful bread, if you leave the bread in for a long time after the baking cycle it doesn't get dried out or burnt.

It does have some major flaws though. Most of the time I use it now I have to wedge something into the medal things that hold the pan locked in place. Almost every time I use it the pan pops back out. It gets very frustrating having to fix it constantly. It makes wonderful bread, but I can't wait to get rid of the machine, it causes huge amounts of frustration. They really need to fix the design of the lock. I didn't do this that often the first year I had it, but after that it is almost every time I bake bread.