Non-stick coating problem

[Beemer]

I've got a Panasonic breadmaker (model SD-253) that has a problem with the non-stick coating on the bread pan, which bubbled and flaked off after a short time. We've had two replaced under warranty but now it's out of warranty and when I contacted them today to see if I could get a replacement, I was told the bread pan came complete with a new kneading blade and it could be provided to me for just $150.48! Hells bells, the whole unit only cost me $199 in the first place!

At that price I would be better off buying a new breadmaker, but what I'd like to know is whether anything can be done with the old pan? The coating has bubbled badly on the base and in some places there are holes and it's starting to rust. I use it every day so binning it without a replacement isn't an option - but neither is spending $150!

I had a look on Trade Me but second-hand ones are going for about $200 so that's not really an option either.

[icekiwi]

HPC in Auckland do those types of coating give them a call
0800 HPC TECH

[Blackshear]

Remind me to never buy a breadmaker :crazy:

Home-made pizza, toasted sammies with bacon is all I can cook.

Crikey, looking at all the breadmakers around, they're pretty costly!

[steve_t]

I'm assuming that the unit is a little over 12 months old... but you could have a case for getting a new one again for free or a refund or something. The fact that you've had 2 units replaced previously due to defective non-stick coatings shows that they've used an inferior product/process in making this unit.
Even though the warranty is only for 12 months, it can be argued the a breadmaker is not something you would use every day, and that with 'reasonable use' the non-stick coating should last more than 12 months or it's 'not fit for the purpose'. This is of course making sure there aren't scratches or scouring marks from metal scourers, knives etc. Best to talk again to your retailer.
Or is the unit significantly older?

[Beemer]

I bought the breadmaker in December 2005 when Farmers had a sale (found the receipt before and actually paid $279.99) as the Sanyo breadmaker I was using was nearing the end of its life. It kept going for more than a year and even when the electrical part died (some sort of acid was leaking out of the base and corroding the spindle), the pan was fine. It wasn't coated with the silver coloured stuff on the Panasonic one that flakes off, rather it appeared to be made of some form of dark grey non-stick material. Shame the pans aren't interchangeable!

So the Panasonic one didn't get used for more than 12 months after purchase (apart from a test run when I got it to make sure it did actually work!) and the pan started deteriorating within three months. They replaced that one no problem after I explained how little use it had, despite being purchased in 2005. Unfortunately that pan only lasted about six months before it bubbled too. They replaced that one too, but said they had not had a single one returned with this problem, which I found really hard to believe. The new pan took a little longer to start bubbling, which happened about six months ago. At first it was okay, but now it's really bad and I doubt I'll be able to use it for much longer.

I do use the breadmaker almost every day (at least three to four times a week) but considering they advertise them along the lines of "wake up to fresh bread every morning" then this should not be unreasonable. Considering many non-stick frying pans come with a 25 year or longer guarantee, you'd expect a breadmaker pan to last longer than a couple of years. The Sanyo one had been used as often as the Panasonic one for more than 10 years and apart from a few minor scratches and some discolouration, the pan was fine.

When I got the replacement pan I was told they no longer made that model and a new one would be out soon, but I haven't seen one so far. I don't realistically expect them to replace this one for free, but paying half the cost of the original unit for a pan and blade seems excessive. When I got the new pan it came with an invoice which they told me to ignore, but from memory it was for about $50 - a bit more acceptable than $150, that's for sure!

I'll contact HPC as I see they do non-stick coating on food processing equipment and they may be able to help.

[LBD]

So they have not fathomed the mistery of getting the nonstick surface to stick to the surface of the bread maker....?

[Sparrowhawk]

So they have not fathomed the mistery of getting the nonstick surface to stick to the surface of the bread maker....?

Rant time. To get the nonstick to stick is pretty simple.

They heat up the aluminium base (which is toxic when it gets hot by the way). Because it's porous(sp?) it expands, they put the teflon coating on (which also emits toxic gasses when it gets hot), which drips into the pores, which then close as it gets cold, meaning the teflon is stuck there. The problem is, as the unit gets hot and cold repeatedly the teflon comes back out of the pores.

Which is why (to my basic understanding, I'm no professional) teflon doesn't stick for long. Add that to the fact that aluminium & teflon are both proven to give off toxic gasses when they get hot, and you start to wonder why they're allowed to sell it, and why we keep buying it!

/rant :calm:

If anyone would like to know the solution to this little problem, PM me :)

[Beemer]

Sounds good, but why does some work and some doesn't? The non-stick surface (rather than a coating) on the Sanyo breadmaker never bubbled or altered apart from becoming discoloured yet the Panasonic one did within a few months. Need to go back to the drawing board methinks!

Looks like that coating place does saucepans and frying pans so they may be able to help.

[grusomhat]

There's a breadmaker sitting outside an asian shop near my school. It's been there for over a week so I'm guessing it's rubbish. I can check it tomorrow maybe and see if the pans still in it and if it's ok still if you want. Not sure if would fit yours though. Don't think there is much variation is sizing though?

[LBD]

Rant time. To get the nonstick to stick is pretty simple.

They heat up the aluminium base (which is toxic when it gets hot by the way). Because it's porous(sp?) it expands, they put the teflon coating on (which also emits toxic gasses when it gets hot), which drips into the pores, which then close as it gets cold, meaning the teflon is stuck there. The problem is, as the unit gets hot and cold repeatedly the teflon comes back out of the pores.

Which is why (to my basic understanding, I'm no professional) teflon doesn't stick for long. Add that to the fact that aluminium & teflon are both proven to give off toxic gasses when they get hot, and you start to wonder why they're allowed to sell it, and why we keep buying it!

/rant :calm:

If anyone would like to know the solution to this little problem, PM me :)

So it is not stuck to the surface so much as held to the surface mechanically with microscopic sized keys....

[CookMySock]

I'd take it back. The CGA states it must be fit for its purpose, and last about the amount of time a reasonable person would expect - warranty or otherwise, and quite plain and simple - it isn't.

On the other hand, you are giving it quite a workout. :whistle:

Steve

[Beemer]

What can I say? My other half loves fresh bread for lunch! I'll have a look and see what Consumer say about the lifespan of a breadmaker as someone has just taken Dell to the Disputes Tribunal over a computer motherboard that died out of warranty and they argued that the life of a computer should be longer than two years or something. May still be out of luck, but worth a try.

I'm certainly not prepared to pay half the cost of a new one just for the pan when I know they only last three to six months anyway.

Thanks for the offer of checking out the dumped one - the pans aren't interchangeable as they have a spindle mechanism on the bottom that drives the blade when making the bread, so it would have to be a Panasonic SD-253 to be of any use.

I just had a look at Consumer's website and they say a breadmaker's life expectancy is 3-7 years, but they should last 5+. They say it can be worth replacing the bowl if there are problems with the coating but they don't say how long the coating should last.

I emailed HPC yesterday but apart from an automated reply saying thank you for your email, I haven't heard back from them as yet.

[vifferman]

We've had our Panasonic for around 10 years - the non-stick coating on the paddle has flaked off around the edges (probably because I very rarely clean the thing), but the pan is mostly still OK.
The only problem I've had is with drive belts - I've wrecked a couple from putting too much oatmeal in the bread mix (makes it too sticky for the feeble motor/paddle to turn).

I've also wrecked a few electric breadkives. I now have a much better (manual) Danish breadknife, from a set of very sharp kitchen knives that have inflicted quite a few injuries on hapless fingers that strayed too close...

I considered not replacing the breadmaker if it died, as the boys have decided they don't like bread, and won't eat home made bread unless I cook it in the oven. Focaccia is OK apparently, but they didn't eat the home-made hot cross buns I made (which were baked in the oven).

Fussy bastages. :Pokey:

[The Pastor]

whats wrong with just making it the oven?

[Beemer]

whats wrong with just making it the oven?

While I am perfectly capable of making a loaf of bread from scratch and cooking it in the oven, the convenience factor of breadmaking is what makes a breadmaker so good. You put the ingredients in the night before and it beeps to let you know when it's ready! Whereas with breadmaking by hand, you have to mix the ingredients, knead it, leave it to rise, knead it again, then shape it and leave it to rise before cooking it. I don't know whether I'd bother doing that every day.

[CookMySock]

We have a kenwood chef mixer with a dough hook. That makes damn good dough (pizza!) but I've never made a loaf of bread from it. I'm gunna try it! :eek:


Steve

[grusomhat]

Thanks for the offer of checking out the dumped one - the pans aren't interchangeable as they have a spindle mechanism on the bottom that drives the blade when making the bread, so it would have to be a Panasonic SD-253 to be of any use.



So what the hell do I do with this? :D
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1568/dsc00034zet.th.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00034zet.jpg)http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/6127/dsc00035r.th.jpg (http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00035r.jpg)http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1342/dsc00037ffu.th.jpg (http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00037ffu.jpg)

Haha, I didn't check the make of the one I got it from so it could very conviently be the same make, wouldn't that be awesome. I would have grabbed the whole thing but some good person has smashed the glass on top so looking at it in hopes of a repair job isn't worth it.

[Beemer]

Thanks - but unfortunately not the same! Mine doesn't have those sort of 'wing' bits out the bottom of the underneath part! And the non-stick coating is a lighter colour than that! You would have been in for some beers (or a voucher for New World so you can buy them) if it had been the right one as it looks in pretty good nick. It may be from the Sunbeam or Breville - if you're in a shop check them out so you know what to market it as!

Stick in on Trade Me - someone will recognise what it's off and I saw one on sale there the other day - not the one I needed though. You may get a few bucks for it if the price Panasonic quoted me is anything to go by!

[Beemer]

We have a kenwood chef mixer with a dough hook. That makes damn good dough (pizza!) but I've never made a loaf of bread from it. I'm gunna try it! :eek:

Let me know how it turns out - because, doh, I've got one of them too! Never used it for dough, only cakes and pavlovas - yum!:2thumbsup

[grusomhat]

Thanks - but unfortunately not the same! Mine doesn't have those sort of 'wing' bits out the bottom of the underneath part! And the non-stick coating is a lighter colour than that! You would have been in for some beers (or a voucher for New World so you can buy them) if it had been the right one as it looks in pretty good nick. It may be from the Sunbeam or Breville - if you're in a shop check them out so you know what to market it as!

Stick in on Trade Me - someone will recognise what it's off and I saw one on sale there the other day - not the one I needed though. You may get a few bucks for it if the price Panasonic quoted me is anything to go by!

Haha all good. I'll be able too have a look at the make tomorrow as I've got football which will help if someone wants it. I was surprised at the condition of it too, although it's slightly beaten on one of the corners but the inside is in good nick, just need to clean the glass shards out (not too good for bread!)

Looking at a few, including the one we have, the bottom shaft part does seem to differ a fair bit.

Ehh, worth a shot anyway. Someone on trademe can have it for $1 res. Good luck with the CGA

[Max Preload]

I've got a Panasonic breadmaker (model SD-253) that has a problem with the non-stick coating on the bread pan, which bubbled and flaked off after a short time. We've had two replaced under warranty but now it's out of warranty and when I contacted them today to see if I could get a replacement, I was told the bread pan came complete with a new kneading blade and it could be provided to me for just $150.48! Hells bells, the whole unit only cost me $199 in the first place!

Forget their 'warranty'. How old is the unit? You have rights under the CGA in that it 'should last a reasonable time'. The fact it's already been replaced twice for the same fault suggests a manufacturing defect.

[Beemer]

That's what I think too, to be honest. The first one bubbled inside three months (I think the unit had a 12 month guarantee) and they replaced it, then that one bubbled and they replaced it, and now that one has bubbled - but they don't appear to be keen to replace it, instead they want me to pay $150 for a new one. I may draft a polite letter to them this weekend, pointing out that my Sanyo pan was still in good condition long after the actual unit had died (after about 10 or more years constant use) and yet I've only been using this one for about two years and I'm on my third faulty pan already. I certainly won't be buying another Panasonic one when I get around to buying a new one. I'm pretty sure the invoice (that I didn't keep as the guy said it was no charge and to throw it out) said there was a 12 month warranty on spare parts - but I can't remember exactly when I got it.

Edited to add - just found a copy of the letter I sent to Panasonic after I got the last replacement pan - March 2008, so possibly outside the year warranty if there was one, but it should still last longer than that. I will attach a copy of that letter as I said in it: "I am concerned that the current breadmaker I have has only been in use for about 15 months and already I am on my third pan. If the breadmaker lasts as long as the Sanyo one did, I very much doubt the pan will last the distance.

I have followed the instructions, which say to use a soft sponge and mild detergent when cleaning the inside of the pan or kneading blade, so I can’t understand why the coating is not lasting. I use the breadmaker regularly – probably every second day – but that is exactly what I did with the Sanyo one and I never had any problems with that pan.

It’s certainly putting me off buying another Panasonic one in the future if the breadmaker outlasts the pan because it’s not like I can use something else when the pan coating comes off. As you are awaiting a new model, I doubt that spare parts will be available for long – or that any further pans will be replaced free of charge. I can’t see any way of recoating the pan without great expense, and a new pan every few months is not ideal either. I fully expect to be left with a non-usable breadmaker within the next year due to this problem with the pan, which makes this model very expensive!

You said that occasionally you get a faulty pan but two in a row is unheard of. I wonder if perhaps most people only use their breadmaker every now and again rather than several times a week as I do, which is why more have not been returned. This pan is far worse than the one I originally returned, but there is obviously a problem with this particular method of coating if this is the second one to bubble like this under normal usage."

I didn't get a response to the letter but thankfully I kept a copy on my hard drive! I'll let you know how I get on.

[CookMySock]

Let me know how it turns out - because, doh, I've got one of them too! Never used it for dough, only cakes and pavlovas - yum!:2thumbsupokies. It's a little denser than I would like, but for a first attempt, and winging every part of the process (no recipe, no cooking time), its not too bad. It went down damn good with a beer. 5 minutes to hiff everything in the mixer, 15min unattended on the dough hook, an hour in the hot water bath to rise, and 25 mins to cook (200degC).

Good fun!

Steve

[Forest]

The problem is that most breadmakers get used once then put away at the back of the cupboard (beside the electric knife and the other appliances that don't get used).

Where you've gone wrong is that you're using the damn thing.

Stop using it and I guarantee that the coating on the pan will stop bubbling.

[Beemer]

okies. It's a little denser than I would like, but for a first attempt, and winging every part of the process (no recipe, no cooking time), its not too bad. It went down damn good with a beer. 5 minutes to hiff everything in the mixer, 15min unattended on the dough hook, an hour in the hot water bath to rise, and 25 mins to cook (200degC).

Good fun!

Steve

Yum, doesn't look half-bad! I did discover one thing the other day too - the damned power went off twice and the machine reset itself two hours into the cycle. I knew if I started from scratch it would not be ready for lunch, so I set it to the pizza dough cycle, then rapid bake - and the loaf was almost as good as it is normally, just the crust wasn't as browned. Usually that setting is crap! If it hadn't been such a cold day I would have tried putting it somewhere warm to rise and then baking it in the oven.

I had thought using the damned thing was where I was going wrong!

[CookMySock]

Yum, doesn't look half-bad! I did discover one thing the other day too - the damned power went off twice and the machine reset itself two hours into the cycle. I knew if I started from scratch it would not be ready for lunch, so I set it to the pizza dough cycle, then rapid bake - and the loaf was almost as good as it is normally, just the crust wasn't as browned. Usually that setting is crap! If it hadn't been such a cold day I would have tried putting it somewhere warm to rise and then baking it in the oven.

I had thought using the damned thing was where I was going wrong!Haha, never blame yourself! It's either a computer error, or the design is wrong, LOL.

Do let me know how you get on with your bread-from-scratch, as I wouldn't mind improving mine.

Making bread is good for the soul.
Steve

[Tank]

Making bread is good for the soul.
Steve

It is indeed. Using a machine to bake is a waste - and you never get the bread as nice. Its OK to do some of the mixing - but you do miss out on the 'fun' and therapy of mixing it yourself.

Cooking the bread in a nice wood fired oven gives you the best bread you will ever taste.

[Noidy]

We have a Panasonic SD200 with a pan that looks very similar to the one Grusomhat found. Purchased about 1998 and thrashed for 2-3 years by us and then a further few by the inlaws and now only gets used occasionally. Hundreds of loves been baked and apart from the drive belt nothing has been replaced. Pan is discoloured but still non stick. Wonder if the element is too hot causing the teflon to let go rather than the bad pans

[RantyDave]

We have exactly the same kind here. However, we tend to use it to make the dough then raise it in the oven. Takes sixteen minutes once the oven's heated up. We do this every day and put bits of seeds and stuff in the bread and our "pan" thing has really worn from it, the teflon is history. But apart from the occasional burst of teflon poisoning (joke, I hope) it seems fine to me.

Get it to mix the dough (there is a "dough" setting) the night before; pull the dough out and make it about a foot long; cover and leave somewhere to rise overnight; finish the job off in the morning.

PM me if you want more detailed instructions 'cos I'll have to ask the missus :)

Dave

[CookMySock]

Get it to mix the dough (there is a "dough" setting) the night before; pull the dough out and make it about a foot long; cover and leave somewhere to rise overnight; finish the job off in the morning.Dave, where do you put the dough overnight for it to rise? At what temperature ish?

cheers,
Steve

[Noidy]

We found with ours there is enough capacity to make 1 & 1/2 quantities of dough for oven baking

[Beemer]

We have a Panasonic SD200 with a pan that looks very similar to the one Grusomhat found. Purchased about 1998 and thrashed for 2-3 years by us and then a further few by the inlaws and now only gets used occasionally. Hundreds of loves been baked and apart from the drive belt nothing has been replaced. Pan is discoloured but still non stick. Wonder if the element is too hot causing the teflon to let go rather than the bad pans

I'm beginning to wonder that myself. I set it on the basic white loaf setting, with a medium crust (so I'm not cooking it on the highest setting) and it certainly comes out nicely browned - but if you set it to the light setting, it's a bit anaemic. If, as Panasonic say, they have never had anyone report two pans having this coating problem before, maybe it is the baking unit rather than the pans. I'm about to draft the letter now.

DB - the recipe I use for the breadmaker (but it would probably work okay done by hand too) is 1 1/4 cups water, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 1/2 tsps salt, 1 tbsp butter, 3 cups plain flour and 2 tsps Surebake yeast. I have HEAPS of breadmaking books so if there is a particular recipe you are after, send me a PM and I'll see if I can hunt one out for you.

[vifferman]

As I said, we've never had this problem with our Panasonic (over 10 years old), but my in-law's one is a newer model (the one that makes larger loaves) and is apparently suffering from lost teflon too. Interestingly (or not), my mother-in-law religiously soaks and washes hers after baking, whereas ours almost never gets cleaned.

[Beemer]

As I said, we've never had this problem with our Panasonic (over 10 years old), but my in-law's one is a newer model (the one that makes larger loaves) and is apparently suffering from lost teflon too. Interestingly (or not), my mother-in-law religiously soaks and washes hers after baking, whereas ours almost never gets cleaned.

With the first pan we used to fill it with water as soon as the bread was baked and wondered if that caused it to flake - so with the second one we left it until cold before filling it with soapy water to soak off any dried bits of bread. No difference at all - still flaked within months of use.

[Max Preload]

What a lovely little sewing circle we have here... would you like your own recipe forum? :pinch:

[Beemer]

What a lovely little sewing circle we have here... would you like your own recipe forum? :pinch:

Ha ha - you actually posted with some good advice the other day - what's changed?!!!

I'll attach a shot of the bubbling that I took after the loaf came out a short time ago. I've just emailed a letter and photo to Panasonic and will let you know how I get on. I got a quote back from the coating place - 'around $85' which while better than $150, is still a bit much. Here's hoping Panasonic will replace it AGAIN and it may actually last the life of the breadmaker!

[Lucyloo]

What a lovely little sewing circle we have here... would you like your own recipe forum? :pinch:
Actually now you mention it........
I have recently found a breadmaker in the back of a cupboard - it's my partners - anyway, I have been trying out different recipes but have not yet found one that I like. The one I made last night was better but the top didn't rise.......so any recipes gratefully accepted! Beemer, will try yours next, thanks!
Luce.

[Max Preload]

Ha ha - you actually posted with some good advice the other day - what's changed?!!!

It's moved on from a query on the CGA (which applies to merchantability and durability of goods and can be applied to most everything you buy) into a how-to of baking bread! :rofl:

[Beemer]

It's moved on from a query on the CGA (which applies to merchantability and durability of goods and can be applied to most everything you buy) into a how-to of baking bread! :rofl:

But it's still on the same loose topic, which was breadmakers! Hey, does anyone want a good pav recipe while we're at it?!!! :2thumbsup

[twistemotion]

I also have the SD-253, and haven't had problems with the non-stick coating, although it hasn't seen nearly as much use as yours Beemer. Here's hoping mine doesn't go the same way any time soon...

Try your luck with the CGA.

[Beemer]

Well, you can't fault Panasonic for their response, which was emailed to me yesterday afternoon:

"Thank you for your enquiry. Separately we are sending you a replacement bread pan, which we trust you will accept in the spirit in which it is offered as a special consideration made without prejudice and in support of the product.
Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience you have suffered but we trust our response meets with your approval and goes some way in restoring your faith in appliances manufactured by Panasonic.
Thank you for your letter and for giving us this opportunity to respond."

So, although I'm pretty sure the new bread pan won't last the remaining 7.5 years to match how long my Sanyo breadmaker lasted, I am pleased to hear they will send me a replacement free of charge. I hoped they would react in this manner and I certainly don't think I have anything to complain about right now. I didn't even mention the CGA in my letter, I just stated how long my previous breadmaker had lasted and said that Consumer's website had the life expectancy of a breadmaker as 3-7 years, with most lasting 5+, so I felt the pans should at least last five years.

As I hadn't received Panasonic's response yesterday morning I went looking for new breadmakers in Wellington while I was down there for the Monet exhibition and found the larger model Breville appears to have the same sort of coating as the old Sanyo one. Fingers crossed they will still make that model or will have replaced it with one that has the same pan coating by the time I need a new one!

[CookMySock]

Good on them. Quick, sell it on trademe. ;)

Comes with TWO breadpans! One brand new still in wrapper! :laugh:

Steve

[Beemer]

Good on them. Quick, sell it on trademe. ;)

Comes with TWO breadpans! One brand new still in wrapper! :laugh:

Steve

Very tempting!

[monkeymsea]

I've got a Panasonic breadmaker (model SD-253) that has a problem with the non-stick coating on the bread pan, which bubbled and flaked off after a short time. We've had two replaced under warranty but now it's out of warranty and when I contacted them today to see if I could get a replacement, I was told the bread pan came complete with a new kneading blade and it could be provided to me for just $150.48! Hells bells, the whole unit only cost me $199 in the first place!

At that price I would be better off buying a new breadmaker, but what I'd like to know is whether anything can be done with the old pan? The coating has bubbled badly on the base and in some places there are holes and it's starting to rust. I use it every day so binning it without a replacement isn't an option - but neither is spending $150!

I had a look on Trade Me but second-hand ones are going for about $200 so that's not really an option either.

We do a non stick coating at work.. not sure how cheap it is tho? I could find out?

[davebullet]

Unfortunately, they don't make them like they used too.

Our panasonic breadmaker is like vifferman's - 10 years old.

We use ours every 1 - 2 days. The pan isn't as non stick as it used to be, but doesn't flake off shit onto the loaf. We use a plastic fish slice to loosen the loaf at the sides then slide her out. We make loaves and pizza dough.

The best loaf recipe that suits lashings of butter and marmalade or jam came with the original panasonic recipe book. I'll post a photo of how a good loaf should look - not the shit you get at the supermarket.

Anyway - the recipe. Put it in the breadmaker in this order and preferably delay it - setting to finish after about 10 hours for best results (gets ingredients to room temperature so it rises better)
3 tsp yeast (edmonds surebake is ok)
1 lb flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tablespoon butter (more makes a browner loaf)
2 tablespoons milk powder
3 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)
3/4 cup natural yoghurt
180mls water

set your panasonic breadmaker to large loaf (middle size) and light crust

Best damn bread this side of texas.

PS Ours is a model SD-250... damn good those 250cc machines eh? :laugh:

[Beemer]

We do a non stick coating at work.. not sure how cheap it is tho? I could find out?

Thanks - the coating place I sent an email to said about $85 - but I could be interested in getting the old one recoated if it were a more reasonable price.

Thanks Davebullet - sounds yummy! I like the odd raisin loaf too, and I have a nice recipe for one with rolled oats. The only trouble is, the loaf it makes is quite soft and falls apart when you cut it! Makes lovely toast though.

[steve_t]

Good on Panny for coming to the party (bake off). My guess is they had a bad batch of non-stick coated pans and have a warehouse full of replacement pans ready to go. Hopefully your new one will last much longer. This thread has made me want a breadmaker.... damn you all :bleh: