Starfrit 024707-001-0000 Bread Machine: Full Review

The Starfrit Electric Bread Maker is a versatile appliance designed to make bread baking easy and convenient. This compact bread machine can handle a variety of recipes to create delicious homemade loaves of bread, pizza dough, jam, and more. With its streamlined design and intuitive controls, the Starfrit bread maker simplifies the bread making process so you can enjoy fresh baked goods on demand.

This machine offers the ability to make 1-2 pound loaves using ingredients like flour, yeast, salt, sugar, oil and water. There are 14 preset programs to choose from including basic, French, sweet, ultra-fast, whole wheat, dough, cake, and jam. The large viewing window allows you to watch the bread being made. Overall, the Starfrit Electric Bread Maker delivers simple operation and satisfactory results for home bakers who want warm homemade bread without the hassle.

Design

The Starfrit 024707-001-0000 bread machine has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It has a black plastic housing with a large viewing window, allowing you to watch the bread as it bakes.

Despite its large capacity, this bread maker has a surprisingly compact footprint, measuring approximately 15 x 11 x 12 inches. It weighs around 15 pounds, making it easy to move around and store when not in use.

The machine is made primarily of plastic, with some metal internal components. The interior bread pan itself is non-stick coated aluminum for even heating. The exterior housing feels sturdy and durable.

Overall, the design focuses on form and function. The aesthetic is pleasing, while the size and weight make it convenient for most kitchens. Key features like the viewing window add both visual appeal and utility.

Features

The Starfrit Electric Bread Maker Model 024707-001-0000 comes equipped with several features to help you make delicious homemade bread easily.

• It has two kneading paddles for thorough dough kneading to develop gluten and ensure an even rise. The sturdy, heavy-duty paddles are designed to replicate hand kneading.

• There are 12 pre-programmed menus with 3 loaf sizes and 3 crust color options to choose from. Options include Basic, French, Whole Wheat, Sweet, Rapid, Gluten Free, Dough, Jam, Bake, Sandwich, Ultrafast, and Custom.

• The bread maker has 15 built-in programs. These include Batard loaf, round loaf, basic white bread, basic whole wheat bread, French bread, sweet bread, dessert/cake, pizza dough, pasta dough, jam, rice bread, gluten-free bread, ultra-fast 3 hour cycle, 1 hour rapid cycle, and a custom programmable setting.

• There are 3 crust color options to pick from - light, medium or dark crust. The bread maker allows you to customize your crust to your preference.

• Additional settings include a 13 hour delay timer so you can set the machine to have fresh bread ready when you want. There is also a keep warm function that holds the bread at the optimum temperature for 60 minutes after baking completes.

Ease of Use

Operating the Starfrit Electric Bread Maker is very straightforward. It has an intuitive control panel with buttons for selecting your desired baking mode or preset recipe. There is a large LCD display that shows the selected mode, timer, and any notifications or alerts.

Programming the bread maker is simple - just add ingredients to the non-stick pan, close the lid, select your settings, and press start. The machine does the rest of the work. There are 12 built-in programs to choose from, including settings for white bread, whole wheat, French bread, sweet bread, jam, dough, pasta dough, cake, and more. You can also customize and save your own recipes.

The display counts down the time remaining so you know exactly when your bread will be finished baking. An alarm sounds when complete so you don't have to keep checking on it. Overall, the bread maker is easy to operate even for beginners.

Performance

The Starfrit bread machine performs very well when it comes to mixing, kneading, and baking. The powerful 550 watt motor and sturdy blade design provide thorough mixing and kneading of dough. Even sticky or dense doughs are worked through evenly. The machine kneads dough perfectly in just minutes, with no need to remove and re-knead by hand.

Baked loaves turn out with excellent texture and rise. Yeast breads like classic white or whole wheat are light and fluffy inside with crisp, browned crusts. Quick breads like banana or pumpkin come out dense and moist, just like out of the oven. Breads and doughs baked in this bread maker have comparable quality to handmade or bakery bread. The baking cycle leaves just the right amount of moisture without drying out the interior.

The Starfrit bread machine can reliably handle recipes for any type of bread. It bakes loaf sizes up to 2 pounds with consistent results. Performance is on par with more expensive models, making it a great value bread machine.

Noise Level

The Starfrit Electric Breadmaker operates at a reasonable noise level that is comparable to other bread machines on the market. When kneading dough, users can expect a low rumbling sound from the motor and gears turning inside the machine. This is to be expected with most bread makers and the noise is not excessive.

Once the kneading cycle finishes, the noise reduces significantly during the rise and bake cycles. There may be an occasional soft whirring or clicking noise as the heating element maintains the proper temperature inside the bread pan. But overall, the noise level is not intrusive or disruptive. The breadmaker can operate in an open concept kitchen or living area without considerably adding to the ambient noise.

Some user reviews mention the Starfrit being slightly louder than expected but not to the point of being a dealbreaker. The noise produced is akin to a small kitchen appliance like a blender or food processor running briefly. While not silent, the machine operates quietly enough for overnight use without disturbing sleep. Users who are accustomed to bread machines in this price range will find the noise level acceptable and on par with other models.

Cleaning

The Starfrit electric bread machine is very easy to clean. The non-stick pan and kneading blade can be removed and are dishwasher safe, making cleanup after baking a breeze.

The viewing window and exterior of the machine can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. There are no hard to reach areas or small gaps where crumbs can collect.

Overall, keeping the bread maker clean is quick and hassle-free thanks to the removable, dishwasher safe parts. This is a major plus for a frequently used appliance like a bread machine.

Accessories

The Starfrit Electric Bread Maker comes with a number of useful accessories to help make bread making easy. It includes a measuring cup and measuring spoon set to accurately measure all of your ingredients. The measuring cups come in 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, and 1/4 cup sizes. The measuring spoons include 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, and 1/4 teaspoon. Having properly sized measuring tools is essential for bread making to ensure you add the right proportions of each ingredient.

The bread maker also comes with a hook for safely removing the bread pan after baking. Since the pan can get very hot during baking, the hook allows you to lift it out of the machine without burning your fingers. Once your bread has finished baking, simply use the hook to pull the bread pan out of the appliance.

It also includes a viewing window on the top of the lid. This window allows you to check on your bread's progress during the bake cycle. You can monitor how risen your dough is and watch as it bakes into a perfect loaf, without having to open the lid and disrupt the baking environment. The viewing window is a handy feature for keeping an eye on your bread as it bakes.

Overall, the included accessories like the measuring tools, bread pan removal hook, and viewing window help streamline the bread making process using this machine. With the right accessories, it's easy to measure, mix, bake, and remove fresh loaves of bread.

Warranty

The Starfrit 024707-001-0000 electric bread maker comes with a 1 year limited warranty. This covers defects in materials and workmanship for 1 year from the date of purchase.

To receive service under the warranty, customers need to contact Starfrit's customer service department. Either by phone or email, customers must provide proof of purchase from an authorized retailer.

The warranty does not cover damages from misuse, abuse, or normal wear and tear. It also does not cover the bread pan, kneading paddles, or any accessories.

Overall, the 1 year limited warranty provides decent protection against early manufacturing faults. But some higher-end bread makers do offer longer warranty periods.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Compact design saves counter space
• Intuitive touchscreen interface
• Produces 1.5 lb loaves
• Includes 12 pre-programmed settings
• Nonstick interior for easy cleanup
• 3 crust color options
• Can make jam and dough as well as bread
• 2-year warranty

Cons:

• Smaller loaf capacity than some models
• No viewing window to monitor progress
• Kneading paddle leaves a hole in bottom of loaf
• Short power cord may require extension cord
• Louder than some competing models
• Unable to add ingredients mid-cycle
• Only includes basic pan, no extras

In summary, the Starfrit bread maker is very easy to use with presets and a touchscreen but has a smaller capacity and lacks some accessories versus other models. It produces good basic loaves and offers versatility with settings for jam and dough. The more compact size saves space but comes at the expense of noise and loaf size. For casual home bakers needing an uncomplicated, entry-level machine, this unit covers the basics fairly well. More advanced users may want a model with greater customization options and accessories.