HomeCraft HCPBMAD2WH Bread Machine: Full Review

The HomeCraft HCPBMAD2WH bread machine is an automatic bread maker that takes the hassle out of kneading, proving and baking homemade bread. This countertop appliance features a sleek white design and compact size that won't take up too much space on your kitchen counter.

With 15 pre-programmed settings, this bread maker can handle a variety of bread styles including white, whole wheat, French, quick bread, sweet bread, jam, dough and even cake. The large viewing window allows you to monitor your loaf as it bakes. There's also an ingredient dispenser and fruit & nut dispenser to automatically add mix-ins at the optimum time.

Some of the key features of the HomeCraft bread machine include a delay timer, keep warm function, and 3 crust color options. This gives you flexibility and control over your fresh baked creations. Overall, this bread maker aims to provide an easy way to make homemade breads without the effort of kneading and baking by hand.

Design & Appearance

The HomeCraft Bread Machine has a sleek and modern white plastic housing that will look great on any kitchen counter. It measures approximately 14 x 8 x 12 inches, so it has a relatively compact footprint without sacrificing interior bread loaf size. The total weight is around 10 pounds.

The machine is only available in white, which matches well with stainless steel and other modern kitchen appliances. The smooth curved edges give it a softer look compared to boxier bread makers. There is a large viewing window on the top so you can watch your dough as it mixes, rises, and bakes.

An LCD screen and control panel are located on the front of the machine. The buttons have a rubberized coating that makes them easy to press. There is also a handy dispenser in the lid to automatically add fruits, nuts, or other mix-ins during the kneading or baking cycle.

Overall, the sleek white design and curved housing give this bread machine a clean, elegant look perfect for the modern kitchen. The viewing window and intuitive control panel also add to the user-friendly appearance.

Programs & Settings

The HomeCraft Bread Maker has 13 preset programs to choose from including Basic, French, Wholewheat, Ultrafast, Sweet, Gluten-free, Fruit & Nut, Dough, Bake only, Jam, Yogurt, Meat, and Homemade. This allows you to easily make a variety of breads, jams, yogurts, doughs, and meats with the touch of a button.

The Basic program is ideal for regular white or wholewheat loaves. French makes delicious french bread with crispy crusts. Wholewheat is optimized for hearty whole grain breads. Ultrafast prepares bread in under an hour with maximum rising speed. Sweet creates sweet, cake-like breads and Fruit & Nut allows you to add ingredients like raisins, cranberries, apricots, pecans and more for a tasty treat.

In addition to the presets, you can fully customize and save your own programs. Adjust ingredients, crust color, loaf size, kneading time, rising time, baking time and temperature. The delay timer lets you add ingredients in the evening and wake up to freshly baked bread in the morning. Program ahead up to 13 hours so your loaf is ready when you want it.

The wide variety of presets along with the custom options provide exceptional versatility for crafting homemade breads, sweets, jams, yogurts and more to suit any recipe or preference with perfect results every time.

Mixing & Kneading

The HomeCraft Bread Machine comes equipped with a stainless steel mixing paddle and kneading blade to thoroughly combine and knead your dough.

The mixing paddle first blends together all the ingredients you add to the bread pan. It rotates in an orbital pattern to incorporate everything evenly. Once the ingredients are fully mixed, the kneading blade takes over to knead the dough.

Kneading is one of the most important parts of breadmaking. The kneading blade repeatedly folds and stretches the dough to develop gluten. This gives the dough an elastic texture that can trap gas bubbles and allows the bread to rise properly.

The HomeCraft kneads dough very effectively. Its blade plunges down into the dough and simulates the kneading motion of hands. It provides a rigorous workout for the dough for optimal gluten development and structure. The result is a smooth, elastic dough that bakes into bread with an even crumb and good rise.

Many reviewers mention how well their HomeCraft kneads dough of various types from light white loaves to hearty whole wheat. The machine kneads thoroughly without overworking the dough. This gives you great tasting bakery-style bread from the convenience of your countertop appliance.

Baking

The HomeCraft Bread Machine features a powerful heating element to bake loaves with excellent results. The baking process begins once all the ingredients are fully mixed and kneaded.

There are multiple crust color options to choose from - light, medium and dark. The dark crust setting will bake the bread longer to achieve a crisper, crunchier crust. With the custom settings, you can fully customize the baking time and temperature to achieve your ideal crust texture.

The thermal insulation of the baking pan allows the bread to bake evenly. The non-stick surface ensures the bread releases easily once baked. The viewing window lets you monitor the baking progress without having to open the lid.

Overall, the baking performance of this bread maker is outstanding. It can bake 1.5lb loaves with great oven-quality results in terms of taste, texture and crust. The multiple crust color options provide flexibility to suit your preferences.

Ingredients & Recipes

The Bread Machine HomeCraft HCPBMAD2WH comes with recipes included for white bread, French bread, and sweet bread. The digital display includes 12 pre-set programs for making different types of bread like basic, French, whole wheat, sweet, ultra-fast, dough, jam, cake, and more.

This bread machine can handle most standard bread recipes and ingredients. The dispenser makes it easy to add nuts, fruits, seeds, and other mix-ins. However, it's best to avoid recipes with a high percentage of whole grains or heavy ingredients like dense multigrain breads. The motor may struggle with heavy doughs. Stick to lighter recipes for best results.

Liquid ingredients like water, milk, and eggs should be added carefully using the measurements in the recipe. Too much liquid can lead to sticking or messy cleanups. When in doubt, start with less liquid and add more as needed. Avoid adding extremely sticky fruits like dates or prunes which could jam the dispenser. Opt for dried fruits like cranberries or raisins instead.

With some creativity and experimentation, this bread machine can produce a delicious variety of homemade breads, doughs, and sweet treats. Follow the included recipes first before venturing into more complex ones. And as always, keep an eye on the dough as it mixes and bakes to prevent potential overflows.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Keeping your bread machine clean is important for continued functioning and avoiding buildup of flour and dough. The HomeCraft Breadmaker comes with a removable non-stick bread pan that pops out for easy cleaning. It is recommended to wash the bread pan by hand immediately after use. Use hot water and a soft sponge or cloth to gently scrub away any remaining bits of dough. Avoid abrasive scouring pads, as these can damage the non-stick coating over time.

For the bread machine body, wipe away any external messes or spills with a damp cloth. Do not submerge the machine body in water. Check that no crumbs or dough have fallen into crevices or the mixing paddle compartment. Occasionally use a dry pastry brush to sweep away any accumulated crumbs.

To keep the kneading paddle clean, remove it after each use and wash promptly in hot soapy water. Allow it to dry completely before reattaching for your next loaf.

It is a good idea to run an empty "bake only" cycle once in a while to dry out the interior and prevent growth of mold or mildew.

Store the bread pan securely in the machine when not in use. Follow cleaning instructions carefully to extend the lifespan of your breadmaker. With proper care and maintenance, your HomeCraft Breadmaker should continue churning out loaves for years to come.

Noise Level

The HomeCraft Bread Machine operates at a reasonable noise level, neither too loud nor distractingly quiet. During the kneading cycle, a low hum can be heard as the blades mix the dough. This is comparable to the sound of a kitchen appliance like a stand mixer.

Once the baking starts, there is very little noise emitted. Some user reviews mention the fan turning on about 10 minutes into baking to prevent overheating, but this doesn't make much sound. Overall, the HomeCraft Bread Maker isn't overly noisy and can operate in the background without disturbance. Most owners are pleased with the relatively quiet performance, saying it doesn't disrupt conversations or require turning up the TV volume.

The noise level shouldn't deter anyone from purchasing the HomeCraft. It operates at a volume suitable for most kitchen environments. The kneading produces a low and steady hum, while the baking itself is whisper quiet. Customers should have no problem keeping the bread machine running in the home without it being disruptive.

Accessories

The HomeCraft Bread Machine comes with a number of handy accessories to help you get started baking right away. It includes a measuring cup for accurately measuring ingredients like flour, sugar, salt, yeast, etc. The measuring cup has clear markings for common baking ingredients like 1 cup, 3/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, and 1/4 cup. This makes it easy to precisely measure what the recipe calls for. No more guessing with regular kitchen measuring cups!

It also comes with a measuring spoon set. This includes 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon spoons. Again, this allows you to accurately measure small amounts of ingredients like yeast, salt, baking powder, spices, etc. The measuring spoons have a ring that connects them together for easy storage.

The bread machine also includes a hook for safely removing the bread pan after the bake cycle is complete. Since the pan can be very hot, the hook lets you lift it out without burning your fingers. No need for bulky oven mitts.

Lastly, it comes with a recipe book that includes over 100 pre-programmed recipes you can make in the machine. The recipes range from basic breads to more gourmet loaves using ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, olives, cheeses, etc. So you'll have plenty of options to try out.

Overall, the included accessories give you everything you need to start experimenting with delicious homemade breads. No extra purchases required.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large 2 pound loaf capacity
• Includes 13 preset programs for different types of bread like French, whole wheat, sweet bread, jam, cake, dough, and more
• Customizable settings like 3 loaf size options, 3 crust color options, and delay start timer up to 15 hours
• Features an audible alarm and 60 minute keep warm function
• Viewing window and interior light to monitor kneading and baking progress
• Removable non-stick baking pan for easy cleaning
• Dispenser automatically adds fruits, nuts, and ingredients during baking cycle
• Digital display with LED screen
• Affordable price point compared to other bread makers

Cons

• Very large footprint, takes up substantial counter space
• Some user reviews report issues with dispenser getting jammed
• Only comes in white color option
• Manual and instructions could be clearer with more details
• Non-stick coating on pan may peel or scratch over time with heavy use
• Some user reviews report problems with inconsistent loaf shape and density