Kitchencook ‎SMART_I Breadmaker - Review

The Bread Maker Kitchencook SMART_I is an affordable bread machine designed to make the bread making process quick and easy. With its compact size and stainless steel body, it's an attractive addition to any kitchen counter. This machine comes with 12 automatic programs to prepare a variety of breads, jams and cakes. The large viewing window allows you to monitor the baking process. Key features include a 750g loaf capacity, 60 minute keep warm function, and removable non-stick bread pan for easy cleaning. With customization options for crust color and loaf size, this bread maker provides versatility for homemade breads with minimal effort required. Its fast 3 hour program makes fresh bread readily available for any meal. This introductory model offers basic functionality and quality construction at a budget-friendly price point.

Design and Appearance

The Kitchencook SMART_I bread maker has a sleek and modern stainless steel design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. It is constructed with brushed stainless steel that is fingerprint resistant to help keep it looking clean.

The bread maker is offered in silver/black color options to match different kitchen aesthetics. It has a compact and streamlined body measuring approximately 14.5 x 27.5 x 33.5 cm, making it a space-saving appliance.

It has an easy-to-read LCD display with control buttons to select settings and programs. The display shows information like the selected program, time remaining, and status updates. The buttons have symbols that are intuitive to understand for selecting options.

Overall, the stainless steel body and digital display give the bread maker a stylish look with useful functionality. The compact size and neutral colors help it blend seamlessly into any kitchen décor.

Programs and Settings

The Bread Maker Kitchencook SMART_I comes with 19 pre-set programs to accommodate different types of bread and dough. This includes basic white bread, whole wheat bread, French bread, sweet bread, ultra-fast bread, gluten-free bread, dough, jam, cake, pasta dough, and more.

Each program is optimized with precise timings, temperatures, and kneading actions to achieve the best result for that type of bread or dough. For example, the whole wheat program kneads the dough more thoroughly and has a longer rise time compared to the basic white bread program.

In addition to the pre-set programs, there are 3 custom programs that allow you to manually adjust the time and temperature settings. This gives you flexibility to experiment with your own recipes. You can customize the kneading time, rising time, baking time, and baking temperature based on your specific needs.

The large LCD screen makes it very easy to select and start the desired program. There are also options to select loaf size, crust color, and delayed start timer. Overall, the breadth of programs and customization available provides versatility for baking all kinds of breads.

Capacity

The Kitchencook SMART_I bread maker has a generous capacity to make loaves of different sizes. It can make loaves that are 700g, 900g or 1000g. The maximum dough quantity it can handle is 1000g. This allows you to bake standard sized loaves as well as larger loaves for feeding bigger families or when you want leftovers. The inner bread pan itself is a good size at 25cm x 13cm x 8cm. It's large enough to accommodate the different loaf sizes without the dough overflowing. One downside is that it may be too large for smaller households that don't need such big loaves. But overall, the good capacity range makes the SMART_I a versatile machine for homes that need to bake loaves of varying sizes on a regular basis.

Ease of Use

The Kitchencook SMART_I bread maker is designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. The control panel features an LCD display and intuitive button layout that allows you to easily select settings and start the baking process.

The bread maker comes with a recipe book that includes recipes for basic breads as well as more complex recipes for different doughs. The recipes provide clear instructions that are easy to follow. There are also tips and tricks for getting the best results.

Cleaning the bread maker is straightforward. The non-stick bread pan lifts out for easy cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher. The viewing window and body of the machine can be wiped clean as needed. There are no hard to reach areas or complex parts to disassemble and clean.

Overall, the simplicity of the interface and controls, helpful recipe book, and easy cleaning make the Kitchencook SMART_I very easy to use even for beginners.

Performance and Result

The Kitchencook Breadmaker excels when it comes to performance and delivering high quality results. The machine kneads dough extremely thoroughly, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed with no dry pockets. This results in uniform texture and density throughout the loaf.

Bread shape and rise are excellent thanks to the non-stick pan and precise temperature control. Loaves bake up with good oven spring and an even, rounded top. The crust comes out with just the right thickness and crispy texture on the outside, while the interior crumb is soft and moist.

One of the most impressive aspects is how well the Breadmaker handles different types of dough, from basic white breads to hearty whole wheat. Even finicky recipes with lots of seeds, nuts, or fruits turn out with excellent ingredient incorporation and proper rise. The machine is capable of making basic loaves as well as more artisanal bread styles.

Overall, the Breadmaker delivers exceptional baking performance and consistently achieves excellent results across a wide variety of bread recipes and dough types. The finished loaves have great structure, texture, and taste straight from the machine.

Noise Level

The Kitchencook SMART_I bread maker operates at a moderate noise level that is typical for most bread machines. When kneading dough, it produces a low humming sound that is not overly intrusive. Some reviewers do note that it seems slightly louder than other brands during the kneading cycle. However, once it switches to the baking cycle, the noise level drops down significantly. The fan and motor run quietly and steadily as it bakes.

Overall, the noise is not excessive or disruptive. It can be heard operating in an open concept kitchen or living area, but the soothing hum is not bothersome. With a closed kitchen door, the noise would be hardly noticeable at all. Some users may find the kneading cycle to be somewhat loud if they are sensitive to noise. But for most homes, the moderate and consistent hum of the SMART_I during operation would not be an issue. The noise level is comparable to a small kitchen appliance like a stand mixer.

Accessories

The Bread Maker Kitchencook SMART_I comes with a range of accessories to help you get the most out of the breadmaker.

In the box, you get:

• Bread pan - This non-stick pan has a 1.5lb capacity and is designed to fit perfectly in the breadmaker for even baking. It's easy to insert and remove from the machine.

• Kneading paddle - The paddle attaches inside the bread pan to knead and mix the dough during the breadmaking cycle. It's made from durable plastic.

• Measuring cup and spoon - To help you accurately measure ingredients like flour, yeast, salt etc. The spoon measures in teaspoons while the cup measures in cups.

• Hook - This plastic hook helps you easily remove the bread pan after the cycle is complete. No need to burn your fingers trying to pull out the hot pan.

• Recipe book - Includes 15 starter recipes to help inspire your breadmaking with this machine. Recipes cover basic breads, sweet breads, pizza dough, jam etc.

The accessories included cover everything you need to get started with making a variety of breads. The non-stick pan and kneading paddle are both dishwasher safe for easy cleanup after use.

Warranty and Support

The Kitchencook SMART_I bread maker comes with a 1-year warranty from the date of purchase, covering defects in materials and workmanship.

For customer support, Kitchencook provides an email address and phone number to contact their support team. Based on reviews, response times can vary from a few hours to 1-2 days.

The warranty covers repair or replacement of defective parts, though some customers reported needing to cover shipping costs for sending the unit to Kitchencook. It's recommended to register the product warranty on their website to have a record of purchase.

Overall, the warranty provides decent coverage for the first year, but support response times could be improved. Registering the product and keeping receipts is advised in case issues arise down the road.

Pros and Cons

The Bread Maker Kitchencook SMART_I has many benefits as well as some drawbacks to consider.

Pros

• Generous 1.5kg loaf capacity
• 15 automatic programs for different types of bread and settings
• Delay timer up to 15 hours
• Keep warm function for up to 60 minutes
• Non-stick pan for easy cleaning
• LCD display and control panel
• Includes measuring cup and spoon
• 2-year warranty

Cons

• No gluten-free or specialty bread settings
• No fruit and nut dispenser
• No viewing window to check on bread
• Louder than some competing models
• Short power cord
• Limited recipes included

Overall, the Bread Maker Kitchencook SMART_I is a solid mid-range option with ample capacity and settings for basic homemade loaves. However, it lacks some of the advanced features and quieter operation of pricier models. For simple regular loaves, it's a good value, but may disappoint those wanting greater versatility or very quiet performance.