Cuisinart CBK-110 Bread Machine: Full Review

The Cuisinart CBK-110 is a compact, entry-level bread machine ideal for making basic loaves of bread. This machine has a simple, streamlined design with a viewing window and LCD control panel that makes the breadmaking process easy for beginners.

With its brushed metal housing, the CBK-110 has a modern, sleek look that fits well in any kitchen. It has a compact, vertical shape that takes up minimal counter space. The top-loading bread pan is easy to insert and remove. There is a large viewing window and LCD control panel on the front that allows you to monitor the progress of your bread.

Overall, the Cuisinart CBK-110 is a basic, affordable, and space-saving breadmaker suitable for anyone new to bread machine baking. Its simple interface and compact size make it accessible for beginners, while still offering features to create a variety of breads.

Design & Appearance

The Cuisinart CBK-110 has a compact and sleek stainless steel design that will look good on any countertop. It measures approximately 13.87 x 11.42 x 13.39 inches and weighs about 9.7 pounds, making it a great size for any kitchen.

The CBK-110 comes in two color options - brushed stainless steel or black stainless steel. Both color options have a modern, elegant look. The brushed stainless steel finish gives it a premium feel, while the black stainless steel has a darker, bolder aesthetic.

The shape of the breadmaker is squared with rounded edges. It has a large viewing window on the top so you can monitor the bread as it bakes. Overall the design is attractive yet functional.

Features

The Cuisinart CBK-110 bread machine comes with a wide variety of features to help you make delicious homemade loaves.

Loaf Sizes

The bread maker can make loaves in three different sizes - 1 pound, 1.5 pound, and 2 pound. This allows you to bake small loaves for just a few people or larger loaves for big families or gatherings. The 1 pound setting is great for making quick individual-sized loaves.

Cycles

12 pre-programmed menu options are built into the machine, including basic cycles for white bread, whole wheat, French, and sweet breads. There's also a dough cycle that mixes and kneads dough without baking it, allowing you to shape and bake artisanal loaves in your regular oven. An ultra-fast cycle makes bread in under an hour.

Settings

Within each cycle, you can customize settings like crust color (light, medium, or dark) and loaf doneness (light or dark). A delay start timer lets you program the bread to start baking up to 13 hours in advance. An auto keep-warm mode keeps the freshly baked bread warm for 60 minutes after it's done baking.

Ease of Use

The Cuisinart CBK-110 bread machine is very easy to use, even for beginners. The control panel is straightforward with buttons for selecting settings like crust type, loaf size and bread type. There is a large LCD display that clearly shows the selected settings and cycle progress. It also displays alerts if you forget to add an ingredient.

The manual that comes with the machine is very clear and has recipes and operating instructions. Programming the cycles is simple - just add the ingredients, close the lid, select your settings and press start. The machine does the rest. The interface is intuitive and the machine produces consistent results once you are familiar with the basic functions.

One downside is the manual does not explain some of the more advanced features very clearly, like the dual knead option. But overall, ease of use is a major plus for this bread maker. The simple interface and detailed manual make it accessible for home bakers of any skill level.

Bread Quality

The Cuisinart CBK-110 consistently produces loaves with excellent texture, crust, and taste. The bread comes out with a soft, airy interior that is light and fluffy. The crust develops a nice golden brown color and has a pleasing crunch without being overly thick or hard.

Most users find the bread from this machine has great flavor and doesn't taste overly yeasty or sour. It's easy to customize the taste by adding different flours, sweeteners, seeds, nuts or dried fruits. Whole wheat and mixed grain breads baked in this machine have a dense but moist texture and robust nutty flavor. The non-stick pan does a good job of releasing the loaf evenly so it has an attractive domed shape.

Without any added sweeteners, the white bread still has a mildly sweet flavor that most people enjoy. It's easy to adjust the yeast, salt and sugar levels to get the desired flavor profile. The machine kneads the dough thoroughly to develop the gluten, resulting in chewy bread with good rise. Overall, the CBK-110 makes bakery-quality loaves with excellent crumb, crust and taste.

Reliability

The Cuisinart CBK-110 bread maker has proven to be a very reliable appliance for most users. The bread maker features sturdy construction and quality materials that allow it to withstand frequent use without any issues.

Many reviewers mention that the CBK-110 has lasted them several years of consistent bread making. The appliance seems capable of churning out loaf after loaf without any decrease in performance or breakdown of parts. Even with heavy usage of 2-3 times per week, the bread maker continues humming along reliably.

Cuisinart offers a 3-year limited warranty which provides additional peace of mind. The warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship, with Cuisinart promising to repair or replace any defective parts. While few flaws or malfunctions seem to occur with this model, it's nice to have the assurance of the warranty coverage in case any issues do arise down the road.

Overall, customers find the Cuisinart CBK-110 to be a sturdy and dependable bread maker that provides years of service when properly cared for. The solid construction and generous warranty help contribute to the excellent reliability that users enjoy with this appliance.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Maintaining the Cuisinart CBK-110 bread maker is relatively easy. The non-stick interior pan slides out for convenient handwashing or can be placed in the dishwasher. It's recommended to wash the pan after every use to prevent baked on debris.

The pan needs to be dried thoroughly before reinserting into the bread machine to prevent moisture buildup. Make sure the paddles are wiped clean after every use and the body of the machine is kept free of crumbs and debris. It's wise to periodically check that the lid gasket is clean and undamaged to ensure a proper bread baking seal.

One maintenance tip is to periodically wipe down the heating element with a dry cloth to remove any buildup or debris. The exterior of the machine can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Avoid submerging the electrical base in water.

Overall, the Cuisinart CBK-110 is designed for easy maintenance with removable, dishwasher safe parts. Just be sure to clean it regularly and thoroughly dry all parts after washing. Simple wiping down and air drying will keep it running like new.

Noise Level

The Cuisinart CBK-110 is one of the quieter bread machines on the market. There is minimal noise during the different cycles, especially compared to many other brands.

The kneading cycle produces a soft, steady hum that is easy to tune out. It's much quieter than hand-kneading dough. The mixing paddle rotates slowly and doesn't make loud noises.

Baking produces a very subtle hum and doesn't disturb you. There are no annoying beeps or alarms either.

Overall, the noise level is discreet enough for kitchen, bedroom or living room use. You don't have to raise your voice or pause conversations when it's running. The CBK-110 allows you to multitask without disruption.

Accessories

The Cuisinart CBK-110 bread machine comes with a number of handy accessories to help make the bread making process easier.

It includes a measuring cup for adding in flour and other dry ingredients to your recipes. The cup has clear markings on the side indicating cup and ounce measurements. There are also markings for common bread ingredients like yeast, salt and sugar to help get the proportions right.

Also included is a measuring spoon set. You get 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon and 1/2 teaspoon spoons. These help add small amounts of ingredients like yeast, salt and sugar.

To remove the bread pan safely, the machine comes with oven mitts. The mitts protect your hands from the hot surface when taking out the finished loaf.

For checking if your dough is ready, a plastic dough hook is provided. You can test the texture and consistency of the dough during kneading to ensure it's not too wet or dry.

Finally, Cuisinart provides an instruction booklet and recipe book. The instruction manual walks through how to use the bread machine. And the recipe book gives lots of ideas for making different breads, dough and jam.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact, small footprint perfect for apartments or smaller kitchens
• Simple interface with 13 pre-programmed settings for different bread types
• Viewing window to watch bread as it bakes
• Automatic fruit & nut dispenser and kneading paddle included
• 2 loaf capacities - 1.5lb or 2lb
• 3 crust color options - light, medium, dark
• Includes recipes and measuring cup
• Quiet motor operation
• Dishwasher safe baking pan and kneading paddle

Cons

• Loaf shape and rise could be improved, bread comes out short and dense sometimes
• Unable to program custom settings or timings
• No gluten-free or artisan bread settings
• Only bakes rectangular loaves
• No delay start timer
• Kneading paddle can get stuck in bread occasionally