Pohl Schmitt Stainless Steel Bread Machine Bread Maker, 2LB 17-in-1, 14 Settings Incl Gluten Free & Fruit, Nut Dispenser, Nonstick Pan, 3 Loaf Sizes 3 Crust Colors, Keep Warm, and Recipes

I bought this machine because it has a (a) condiments dispenser and most important, it has a (b) DIY feature where I can set the mix/knead/rest/bake cycles. Not many bread machines at this price point actually allow the user to set their own program as this machine does.After testing the pre programmed settings for various breads, I have settled with using the DIY feature for most of my bread baking. It makes making great bread easy. The machine with its non stick pan does all the mixing/resting of the dough; all I do is prep the dough for proofing and baking.The DIY feature has a few limitations. The program you set does not stay in memory; it’s gone once you unplug the machine. What I do is write down the settings on a slip of paper, and tape it to the machine. Also, some of the steps have duration limits, such as 30 minutes for mixing, and 1 hour for resting.The preset programs are a quick turn-key solution to making fresh bread, but after several years of experimenting w bread machine recipes, we prefer bread started in this machine and shaped/proofed/baked outside the machine. I make baguettes and larger loaves with two different perforated pans by Chicago Metallic. Bread turns out with crisp crusts, soft interiors and bake much faster than a solid pan. I highly recommend these pans. I place the shaped dough directly on the pan, proof in the pan, and pop them in the oven. Being able to proof the dough directly on the pan saves lots of transfer steps from banneton to board to baking tray. Here is a link to the perforated pans by Chicago metallic. Be sure to season the pans before first use. I use coconut oil because it seems to not burn and keeps the surface non stick for a good number of bakes.https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Metallic-Commercial-Non-Stick-Perforated/dp/B003SZBSUK/https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-Metallic-Commercial-Non-Stick-Perforated/dp/B003YKGQWO/Overall, I recommend this machine for its condiments dispenser and its DIY feature.PS. Ignore the recipe booklet that comes with the 2020 model; few recipes actually work. The mixing is inadequate to develop gluten, and the extremely long rise times of 95+ minutes are not really suited for quick acting bread machine yeast. A general program that I enter in the DIY option that has worked for me, for most breads:use SAF premium quick acting yeast,https://www.amazon.com/SAF-Instant-Premium-Yeast-Single/dp/B0049WLQ30/10’ mix/ 15’ rest (before cycle begins, add flour, water, egg. also, add condiments to dispenser)10’ mix/ 20’ rest (at beginning of cycle, add salt, allow to mix, then add yeast)8’ mix/ 15’ rest35’ rise12’ rise (adjust as needed)0’ Bake0’ Keep Warm

Though I'd never heard of this brand before, I'm very happy with the product. Works well and was reasonably priced. I like that it's very steady while mixing, no moving around the counter. It came with two booklets: one has instructions, the other has recipes. The bread pan is square, so a 1 lb. loaf is cube-shaped, and 1.5 lb. and 2 lb. loaves are taller. To get nice square slices from taller loaves, lay the loaf down on its side and slice.You may have read elsewhere on the internet that gluten free yeast bread supposedly can't handle multiple mixes (kneads) and rises. They also say that the bread machine's mix must be 20 minutes, the rise 1 hour and the bake time 45-55 minutes depending on the loaf size. DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF IT!This machine's GF setting has multiple mix and rest periods, yet it produces great bread--no sunken tops! So far I've used two different recipes, multiple times each, and all loaves have turned out well.The first recipe is the only GF one that came with the machine, a 1.5 lb. healthy loaf with whole grains and NO xanthan gum--it uses psyllium husk instead. I had to buy three ingredients I didn't already have (though I found you can leave the flax seed out if you want) but it bakes up perfectly and tastes great.Another good recipe is one I found on jenuinehome DOT com, which also makes a 1.5 lb. loaf. Not as many whole grains but good for sandwiches.Another good feature is the DIY setting, which lets you program the machine yourself--you can adjust or zero out the time for each of the 10 possible steps. A bit annoying when I lose my place and have to cancel and start over, but at least I can experiment with recipes that don't fit any of the preset settings. I tried DIY with a GF recipe that called for the above-mentioned 20 minute mix, 1 hour rise and 50 minute bake (for 1.5 lb. loaf). The top fell in the center, and the loaf could have used another 5 minutes of baking, but it was edible.P.S. The instruction book says to always use non-iodized salt (e.g., sea salt) or else the yeast won't work, but I found the yeast works fine with regular table salt.