When it comes to bread machines, there are a few big name brands that come to mind. Zojirushi are certainly amongst this category, and have remained a popular choice for anyone looking to make bread at home. Today we are going to look at the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 model in detail. This model is still sold today for around $300, so it is marketed as a high quality machine. Is it all it is made out to be though? Let’s take a look at that below.
Product Features:
We start off this article by taking a look at the design of the machine. Now the first and most obvious feature of this model is that it is quite long at around 17″, with a height of 12.5″ and 9.5″ width. The main reason for this is that it makes horizontal size loaves, so you end up with a traditional size loaf of bread. Cheaper bread makers use a vertical loaf tin, which can leave you with some odd shaped bread loaves! This model comes in two color schemes including black/stainless steel and white. In our opinion the white one looks a little dated when compared to the more modern looking black and stainless steel variant. The black model has a black top area, while the bottom is primarily stainless steel. This gives it a very classy look that should fit into any home. The Zojirushi logo is on the front of the machine, and above that is the large viewing window so you can keep an eye on your baking progress. On the right hand side of the machine are the main controls which are all easy to operate. The lcd above them is an average size, and is easy enough to read. Overall it is a decent looking design, and we certainly can’t find anything wrong with it.
Now let’s talk about some of the features this machine has. This model only bakes one loaf size which is the large 2lbs kind. This is cooked in the twin paddle loaf tin, which has a nonstick coating. Zojirushi advise against putting the loaf tin in the dishwasher to clean it, so care must be taken to ensure that you don’t scrub or damage the coating. There is no mention of what size motor powers the BB-CEC20, but it is safe to say that it is powerful enough to do a fine job of kneading and mixing any kinds of dough. This model comes with 10 built in recipes which include Basic, Basic Wheat, Basic Dough, Quick, Quick Wheat, Quick Dough, Jam, Cake, Sour Dough Starter, and Home Made. The “Home Made” mode allows you to create and save up to three custom cooking modes. Think that the bread needs to be kneaded for long? Simply set this is the Home Made section and you can save it for future use. Like most other models on the market today, this one also comes with a delay timer which can be set up to 13 hours in advance. If you electricity should cut out for any reason, then you have 10 minutes before the machine powers off completely and forgets what it was doing. Lastly there are the standard three crust types to choose from including light, medium and dark.
Now the big question is how well does it actually work? Since this is such a popular model, it is quite easy to get a decent idea of how well it functions. With over 700 five star reviews on Amazon.com alone, we think it is safe to say that the results should speak for themselves. Hundreds of reviews have proclaimed that this is one of the best machines for baking bread at home. The taste of the finished bread loaves are all highly praised, and the texture is said to be exceptional. The crust is said to be near perfect based on your chosen setting, and many folks have claimed that the produced bread is much superior to store bought bread. This praise is not only limited to the bread recipes, but also to the jam and cake recipes which seem to work very well.
The cooking times are quite acceptable, and the quick recipes for example takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes, while the basic recipes takes around 3 hours 45 minutes. Another important fact that we should mention is that this machine is not too noisy during the kneading phase, so ideal for cooking bread overnight without disturbing anyone. There is also no vibration or hopping around on the counter during the mixing/kneading phase, which often happens with cheaper models. Included with the BB-CEC20 is a double sided measuring spoon, measuring cup and user guide with recipes.
So that is a quick look at the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 bread machine. It may come with a bit of a high price tag, but the performance and price seems to be justified based on the hundreds of positive reviews on it.
User Manual: You can find the user manual for this model over here.
Pros:
- Nice design
- Makes horizontal loaves
- Custom recipe menu
- Quiet
- Works well
Cons:
- Bit pricey
Summary:
The Zojirushi has a reputation for being a high quality bread machine, and it has definitely earned that title. It looks great, works well and makes standard sizes loaves. It may be a little pricey, but we think it is worth it. It comes standard with a one year warranty, and you can find out more about it over at Amazon.com.
| Our Rating: |
|---|
| 4.5 |
