Briskind BM8605 Bread Machine: Full Review

The Briskind BM8605 is an automatic bread machine that aims to provide users with an easy way to make fresh loaves of bread at home. It has a compact stainless steel body with an LCD control panel, allowing you to select from 12 pre-programmed settings to make a variety of breads, jams, cakes, and dough.

With its viewing window and interior light, you can monitor the baking process from start to finish. The BM8605 can make loaves up to 2 pounds in size, perfect for individuals and small families who want freshly baked bread without the effort of kneading and rising dough by hand. Overall, this machine simplifies the process of making home-baked breads with minimal user effort required.

Design & Appearance

The Briskind BM8605 bread machine has a sleek and compact design that won't take up much counter space. It measures approximately 13.5 x 13.5 x 10 inches and weighs just under 9 pounds, making it easy to store in most kitchens.

This bread maker comes in either a black or white exterior to match various decors. The black model features a windowed lid so you can monitor the baking progress without opening the machine. The interior bread pan is made of non-stick coated metal to allow for easy cleaning.

Overall, the Briskind BM8605 has a simple but elegant design with a smaller footprint than many other bread machines. The aesthetics allow it to seamlessly blend into most kitchen settings.

In comparison, the Hamilton Beach 29890 bread machine also offers a compact design, perfect for smaller kitchens. Its programmable features and versatile settings enable users to bake a variety of bread types with ease. The exterior is stylish, available in a sleek stainless steel finish that adds a modern touch to any kitchen décor. The Hamilton Beach 29890 is designed with convenience in mind, allowing you to create fresh, homemade bread effortlessly.

Features

The Briskind BM8605 has many useful features that make it a versatile bread machine. Here are some of the key features:

Loaf Sizes

The machine can make loaves in three different sizes - 1lb, 1.5lb, and 2lb. This allows you to bake small or large loaves to suit your needs. Whether you're baking for a single person or a large family, there's a perfect loaf size.

Cycles

12 pre-programmed cycles give you lots of baking options. Choose from basic, French, whole wheat, sweet, ultra-fast, cake, dough, jam, pasta dough, rice cake, home brew, and sterilize cycles. With this variety, you can use the machine to make all kinds of breads, plus cakes, jams, and more.

Crust Options

Customize the crust to your taste with 3 crust color settings - light, medium, and dark. Bake soft sandwich breads with a pale crust or crusty artisan breads with a darker exterior.

Other Features

• 15-hour delay timer to schedule baking
• Keep warm function holds bread for 60 minutes after baking
• Fruit & nut dispenser adds extra ingredients at the right time
• Non-stick baking pan for easy release and cleaning
• Viewing window to monitor baking progress

With this wide range of features, the Briskind BM8605 provides exceptional versatility for home bread baking.

Another excellent option is the Deco Chef BMSTS01, which offers a sleek design and an array of automated programs that cater to different baking needs. It features customizable crust settings and a large viewing window, allowing you to watch your bread rise and bake. This bread machine also includes a delay timer and easy-to-clean parts, making it a practical choice for any kitchen.

Ease of Use

The Briskind BM8605 bread machine is designed to be simple and intuitive to use. The control panel has a few buttons to select your desired baking program, choose crust color, start/stop the machine, add extra ingredients with an alert beep, and more. The LCD screen clearly displays which program is selected and how much time is remaining. The manual that comes with the machine provides easy-to-follow instructions and tips for getting the best results, including details like measurements, ingredients, and program settings for different bread recipes.

There are 12 pre-programmed settings to choose from, including options for basic bread, French or sweet bread, rapid bake, gluten-free, dough, jam, cake, and more. This allows you to easily bake a variety of items with the touch of a button. The machine does the work of mixing, kneading, rising and baking with proper timings. So you can just add ingredients, select the program, and let it run automatically. The viewing window in the top lets you check on the progress and watch as your dough gets kneaded and rises.

Overall, the intuitive controls, clear display, and included recipes make this a user-friendly bread machine that’s simple for even first-time bakers to get the hang of quickly. The preset programs eliminate the guesswork so you can easily bake homemade breads, jams, cakes and more.

Baking Performance

The BM8605 consistently produces high quality loaves with excellent rise and texture. The machine kneads dough thoroughly for an even crumb and light interior, while the heating element and steam injection provide the right conditions for sufficient rising.

Breads have a nice spring to them and retain their shape well through the bake cycle. The crust comes out with a crunchy texture and pleasing golden brown color. Loaves are never doughy or gummy inside. The results are very consistent batch after batch.

Both basic breads and more complex recipes with ingredients like whole grains, nuts and seeds turn out well in this machine. It handles a variety of doughs nicely from light white breads to hearty whole wheat. The consistency from one loaf to the next is impressive.

The BM8605 bakes standard 1-2 pound loaves optimally. It can produce larger loaves up to 2.5 pounds but may require some experimentation with timing and ingredient amounts to perfect the results. For best quality, follow the included recipes and operating instructions closely when first using this machine.

With its strong baking abilities, the BM8605 reliably turns out delicious loaves time after time that rival quality bakery bread. The performance in rising dough and achieving ideal interior and exterior bread textures is excellent.

Accessories

The Briskind BM8605 comes with a number of handy accessories to help you get the most out of this bread maker. Here's what's included:

• Baking Pan - This bread pan is made of sturdy non-stick coated metal to easily release baked loaves. It has a capacity of 2 pounds, perfect for standard size homemade bread. The pan is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

• Kneading Paddle - The kneading paddle mixes and kneads the dough during the bread making process. It is made of durable plastic that will hold up to frequent use.

• Measuring Cup & Spoon - To help with adding the perfect amount of ingredients, a measuring cup and spoon are included. The cup measures liquids in ounces and the spoon does dry ingredients in teaspoons.

• Hook - There is a plastic hook which is used to help remove the baked bread loaf from the pan. This helps get it out without damaging the bread.

• Recipe Book - To inspire you to use your new machine, a collection of tasty bread recipes comes included. There are options for basic loaves as well as sweet breads and jam recipes.

The accessories included with the Briskind bread maker help streamline the process from start to finish. Everything needed to mix, knead, proof, bake and remove homemade loaves is provided.

Noise Level

One of the notable features of the Briskind BM8605 is its low noise operation. While many bread machines are notorious for rather loud and disruptive noise when kneading and baking, the BM8605 has received praise for its quiet motor.

Customers report the noise level is significantly lower than most other bread makers on the market. The BM8605 produces a gentle "hum" during operation rather than the loud grinding sound of cheaper models. Even on high speed settings, the noise is not intrusive.

This makes the BM8605 a great option for those living in apartments or small spaces where loud appliances can be a nuisance. You can run a cycle overnight or during the day without the noise disturbing you or others around you. The quiet operation also lends itself well to open kitchen and living spaces where you don't want appliance noise dominating the environment.

Compared to other top bread machine models like the Zojirushi and Breville, the Briskind BM8605 holds its own in terms of quiet performance. While not completely silent, it does not produce bothersome noise that would deter users from operating it frequently. The noise level is comparable to a quiet microwave or fan.

Overall, the Briskind BM8605's noise profile makes it one of the quietest and least disruptive bread machines on the market. This is an important advantage for many buyers looking to avoid loud, abrasive appliance noise in their homes.

Cleaning & Maintenance

The Briskind BM8605 bread maker is easy to clean and maintain. The non-stick baking pan and kneading blade can be removed and washed by hand or in the dishwasher. Be sure to let them air dry completely before re-assembling in the machine.

The stainless steel exterior can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners or pads that could scratch the surface. Don't immerse the main unit in water or try to wash it in the sink.

It's a good idea to wipe crumbs and splatters out of the bread maker after each use. Don't allow wet dough or batter to dry inside the machine. Periodically inspect the heating element and use a soft brush to gently remove any built up crumbs or flour.

The kneading paddle and bread pan will need occasional lubrication. Using a paper towel or soft cloth, wipe a thin layer of cooking oil on the shaft of the kneading paddle. This will help it slide on and off the motor drive easily. You can also spread a light coat of oil on the interior of the bread pan to prevent dough from sticking.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and don't take the machine apart or attempt repairs yourself. If any issues develop, contact customer service for advice before attempting disassembly or service. With proper care and maintenance, your Briskind bread maker should provide many years of reliable performance.

Warranty

The Bread Machine Briskind BM8605 comes with a 1 year limited warranty to the original purchaser from the date of original purchase. This covers any defects in materials or workmanship under normal home use.

The warranty does not cover damage from misuse, abuse, or neglect. It also does not cover the non-durable parts that can wear out from normal use including kneading paddles, bread pans, and stirring paddles.

The Briskind warranty process involves contacting their customer service by email or phone. They will troubleshoot the issue and help determine if it qualifies under the warranty coverage. If it does, they will provide instructions for repair or replacement of the defective part or entire unit.

Overall, customers have had mixed experiences dealing with Briskind's customer service. Some found them responsive and helpful in resolving warranty issues. However others felt they received poor support and had difficulties getting defective parts replaced. So the warranty support seems to vary.

Pros & Cons

The Briskind BM8605 bread machine has numerous advantages as well as a few potential drawbacks to consider:

Pros

• Compact, space-saving design great for small kitchens
• Large loaf capacity up to 2.2 lbs
• Includes 12 pre-programmed settings for different breads
• Features dual kneading blades for thorough mixing
• User-friendly control panel with LCD display
• Delay start timer for waking up to fresh bread
• Keep warm function holds bread for 60 minutes
• Nonstick pan for easy cleaning
• Comes with recipes, measuring cup and spoon
• 1 year warranty

Cons

• On the noisy side when kneading
• No gluten-free or artisan dough settings
• Only 3 crust color options (light, medium, dark)
• Pan not removable for hand washing
• No fruit/nut dispenser like some models
• Short power cord may require extension cord

Overall, the Briskind BM8605 is a very capable bread machine with versatile programming and baking performance. The compact size and included accessories make it a good value for the price point. While not as feature-packed as some high-end models, it delivers delicious homemade loaves for small households. The noise level and lack of removable parts may bother some.