The Oster is my first ever bread machine so I'm no expert when it comes to reviewing bread machines, but I'm really pleased with my purchase, although I have found that it does have some shortcomings.

The idea of baking my own bread has appealed to me for a long time but like most I lack the time to hand mix, knead and bake so I eventually decided to buy a bread machine. I looked at a few different models before I bought. I liked the Breadman bread machine a lot but it was a lot more expensive than the Oster - I don't think I'll be baking my own bread more than once a week, so I couldn't justify paying the extra money for features I didn't think I'd ever use.

I like the overall look of the Oster 5838 breadmaker; it has rounded corners giving it a slightly oval shape, the window is nice and large and the control panel is also large and easy to use. It is larger than the Breadman but my kitchen counter has enough space so I'm not that bothered about it taking up too much room.

There are 8 programs to choose from; basic, whole wheat, 2 ExpressBake cycles, French, sweet, dough, and Bake. I haven't used the whole wheat, French or dough only cycles - I'm not that adventurous and I don't really see the point of buying a bread maker and using it only to mix dough, but not then bake it. It also bakes 1, 1.5 and 2lb loaves, which gives me a lot of flexibility when I bake.

I can vouch at just how easy this machine is to use. I just followed a fast bake recipe in the bread machine recipe book that came with it and, one hour later, I had my first ever home baked loaf! Since then I've been a little more experimental, setting the crust color and trying out more exotic recipes. I just can't believe how easy it is to use.

The pan and paddle are easy to clean. The manual advises against using a dishwasher; I just soak them for 15 minutes in warm soapy water and then wipe them down with a cloth. I was surprised at how small the paddle is - I don't know if it's the same for other brands. It did get 'baked in' the loaf a few times but I got a tip from a friend and now spread some margarine on it before use - the paddle comes out real easy when I do this.

My first criticism about the Oster 5838 bread machine is about the paddle. Sometimes, not all the flour is mixed in - I've had to stop it and then use a rubber spatula to help things along. It doesn't happen all the time - usually when I bake the smaller 1lb loaf - I guess there may not be enough dough to reach into the corners. Still, this is a minor problem.

A bigger problem was when I tried to make a 2lb fruit loaf. I found that the Oster bread maker just wasn't up to the job of mixing the ingredients properly. I had to scrape out all the mixture and hand mix it, then put it back in and use the bake only cycle. I've made 2lb loaves before with no problem, so it must be the heavy mix. I think a more expensive model like the Breadman bread machine wouldn't have this problem, but I'm not sure.

Anyhow, that was my only one, major problem with it. I like the Oster bread machine a lot and don't have any regrets about buying it. I don't think I'll ever graduate to become a 'serious baker' so it really is fine for me; if I were, then perhaps I'd buy a more expensive brand.

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