Morphy Richards 48281 Fastbake

How easy is the Morphy Richards 48281 Fastbake to use?

Setting up this Morphy Richards machine is pretty easy to do. The controls are well labelled and fitting the bread pan is intuitive. The outward facing controls make chosing the setting a lot easier; often we've found we have to peer over the top to see what's going on. Although the screen is quite small, the display is clear.

This is one of the more compact breadmakers we've tested. It took up very little space on the kitchen counter and we were able to open it up fully when placed underneath our kitchen cupboards.

For added ease, there's a viewing window, so you can check on the progress of the bread without opening the lid. Although this model doesn't come with an automatic dispenser, the breadmaker does beep during the second kneading cycle to indicate that fruit, nuts, chocolate or other additions can be tipped in.

Two sets of measuring spoons are included, as well as a small measuring pot. There's a useful 13-hour delay timer for those pre-planned bakes.

Results

Any breadmaker worth its salt should be able to make a classic white loaf. We used our easy white bread recipe, set the browning level to medium and used the basic setting. This function takes just under three hours.

Inside, the bread had a nice open texture and was soft and pillowy. The crust was nicely browned on the sides that had contact with the bread pan, but the top was a little paler than we'd have liked. Similarly, the brown-sided crust was nice and crisp, but the top felt soft and pliable.

Whilst the bread slid out of the tin with ease, the paddle came out with it and got stuck. No removal tool is provided, so we had to make do with what we could find in the kitchen, which meant tearing the base of the loaf.

Conclusion

This budget breadmaker is ideal if you're looking for a machine that can make a half-decent loaf quickly. It's equipped with two fast bake settings, but even the basic setting is one of the fastest we've seen. The quality of the loaf won't be the same as some of the premium models we've tested, but this Morphy Richards model gets the job done.

It's easy to use and we loved the front-facing control panel. Clean up is a doddle too, just be aware you might need to purchase a tool to remove the paddle with.

Specifications

Machine size: ‎40.5 x 28.5 x 30.5 cm
Power: 600W
Programmes: 12 pre-programmed
Delay function: yes
Viewing window: yes
Display: buttons
Crust colour adjustment: yes
Loaf size (s): 1.5lb, 2lb
Guarantee: 1 year

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